Hello, everyone. ThunderReborn from 2025. This chapter has originally been edited by TM11 when this chapter was originally released. On April 1st, 2020, this chapter was edited again by Darklord331. Finally, in April 2025, this chapter was edited again by my current beta reader, Waroyer123. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the story.
The following is a fan-based parody.
Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo, TV Tokyo, Viz Media, Studio Pierrot... and other people.
Highschool DXD is owned by Ichiei Ishibumi, Miyama-Zero, Fuhumishobo, Funimation, ATX, and TNK.
All other references of characters or abilities are not mine.
Please support the official release.
"Hello." -Normal talking
"Hello." –Ichigo's thoughts.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō speaking
"Hello." – Zanpakutō thoughts.
Kon'nichiwa [Translation of Hello]
Chapter 7:
Both Sirzechs and Grayfia were doing paperwork in the office.
"Ichigo-kun should be arriving shortly," Grayfia said.
"Yes. I hope he didn't hurt Ria-chan too badly," Sirzechs replied. Soon, they saw a red Garganta open up in the middle of the office, and Ichigo casually walked out of it.
"Hey. I just finished testing Rias's peerage," Ichigo said. "Except for her new pawn, everyone has a basic foundation, but they need help."
"Oh? How so?" Sirzechs asked.
"They all need more variety in their techniques," Ichigo explained. "During my match with Rias, all she did was fire her red energy attacks. The attack wasn't that powerful, and it consumed much of her energy and power."
"I see… What else did you notice?" Sirzechs asked, pulling out a sheet of paper to take notes.
"For Koneko, different fighting styles would be beneficial. During our match, she used a generic fighting style and relied on her increased strength from being a rook," Ichigo continued. Sirzechs motioned for him to proceed. "During my spar with Yuuto, he showed himself to be a very good swordsman, capable of using different kinds of swords. However, he lacks the magical capacity to maintain the swords for a long time. He should also explore different ways to use those swords."
"What about Akeno?" Sirzechs inquired.
"She suffers from a similar problem as Rias. She has access to a diverse set of spells, but none of them are particularly powerful," Ichigo noted.
"So, what can I do to help?" Sirzechs asked.
"I believe I can take care of Issei, Koneko, and Yuuto, but I need someone knowledgeable in your magic style to teach them all magic," Ichigo said.
"I believe I can teach the peerage some of the magic I know," said a stranger who appeared in the room. The stranger, a male in his late twenties, had long slits for eyes, a shallow smile, and slightly wavy hair, which was a mixture of black and blonde. He wore a crimson robe with a distinguished design and radiated a creepy aura.
"Ah, MacGregor. I forgot about you. Sorry, old friend. With your vast knowledge, you can teach Ria-chan's peerage some additional magic they can use," Sirzechs said.
"Okay then. MacGregor-san, please come by the clubroom after school tomorrow," Ichigo said.
"Sure. I was getting bored here anyway," MacGregor replied. Ichigo ripped open another red Garganta and was about to walk into it when Grayfia called out.
"Kurosaki-sama!" Grayfia called out.
"Yes, Grayfia-san?"
"I forgot to give you this," she said, handing Ichigo a white envelope.
"What is this?" Ichigo asked.
"It's the key and address to the house we rented for your stay here," Grayfia said.
"Wait. You rented a house for me?" Ichigo asked. "Why?"
"Do you take us for fools, Ichigo-kun? We know you don't have a place to live, so we found a house near Kuoh Academy for you. It's also near the Hyoudou residence, so if you need to talk to him or provide more training, it'll be more convenient," Grayfia explained.
"Okay. Thanks," Ichigo said and walked into the red Garganta.
Scene Change: Temporary Home
Ichigo arrived outside the house. It looked like a normal two-story terrace house with a light red exterior, a balcony on the second floor, and a brown roof. Ichigo walked inside and took in his surroundings. The house had a standard living area and kitchen. Ichigo walked upstairs and saw that it had five bedrooms and two bathrooms. He then went back to the kitchen and saw that it was fully stocked. On the fridge was a note from Grayfia: "Every week, we will restock the food in the fridge and cabinets. If there is anything you do not want or want, please write it down and place it on the fridge."
"Hey, Hōgyoku and Kyōka, can you cast some house protection kidōs?" Ichigo asked.
"Sure, Ichigo-kun," Kyōka replied.
"Okay, Ichigo," Hōgyoku answered. Kyōka and Hōgyoku appeared and began to cast kidō around the house.
"We're done," Kyōka said.
"Okay then. All four of you can come out of my mindscape if you wish," Ichigo said. All four of Ichigo's spirits manifested in the house. "You guys can do whatever you want, but Zangetsu, if you decide to get drunk, don't get too wild or I'll use that kidō on you," Ichigo warned.
"Which one?" Zangetsu asked.
"Number 69," Ichigo glared.
"NO! NO! Anything but that kidō! I'll be a good hollow zanpakutō!" Zangetsu yelled before running to the kitchen. Yhwach got himself a glass of whiskey and went moon gazing. Kyōka and a hesitant Hōgyoku went to watch some TV. Ichigo decided to go to sleep.
Scene Change: Next Day: Morning
The next day, Ichigo woke up in the rented house Grayfia had given him. He went through his usual morning routine, ate breakfast, and decided to walk around town. As he passed by a convenience store, he noticed a little girl sitting on the curb. Ichigo observed that the shoppers were ignoring her presence. When he walked closer, he noticed she had straight, long silver hair and blue eyes. She was wearing silver armor with a purple dress underneath.
"Hello?" Ichigo asked, moving toward her. She looked up and gave him a confused look. A moment later, she took out a notebook and began to write something down.
"Hello, how are you?" she wrote.
"I'm fine. Why are you sitting here?" Ichigo asked.
"I don't have a place to go," she wrote.
"I see… Where are you from?" Ichigo asked.
"You wouldn't believe me," she wrote.
"Try me," Ichigo replied with a smile.
"My name is Eucliwood Hellscythe. I came from the Underworld," she wrote. Ichigo stared at her. Eucliwood expected the worst and tried to curl herself into a ball, anticipating ridicule about her name or home.
"Wait, the Underworld that Devils and Fallen Angels inhabit?" Ichigo asked. Hearing this, Eucliwood paused and scribbled in her notebook.
"Wait, you know about the Underworld?" she wrote.
"Yes, I do, Eucliwood. My name is Ichigo Kurosaki," Ichigo said, introducing himself. "Hey, Eucliwood, do you want to get something to eat?"
"…No thanks," she wrote back, but then her stomach growled, causing her to blush in embarrassment.
"Looks like that's a yes. Come on," Ichigo said while he picked up the torn piece of paper Eucliwood had written on. Ten minutes later, they arrived at Ichigo's house.
"Hey Eucliwood, can I call you Eu?" Ichigo asked.
"Why?" Eucliwood wrote.
"I have a bad habit with names," Ichigo said. "I have a friend named Yasutora Sado, and I nicknamed him Chad."
"I see… You can," the newly dubbed Eu wrote.
"What do you want to eat?" Ichigo asked.
"Anything is fine," Eu replied. Ichigo looked into the cupboard and decided to make some rice with sesame chicken. When everything was placed on the table, both Ichigo and Eu sat down.
"Itadakimasu," Ichigo said and started eating. While they were eating, Ichigo heard a tap and a scratching noise. He looked up to see Eu pointing to the notepad on the table.
"Thank you for the food," Eu wrote.
"No problem," Ichigo said. A few minutes later, both Ichigo and Eu were full.
"Gochisou-sama," Ichigo said and began to get up. Eu quickly tapped the table to gain his attention.
"Let me help with the cleanup. It is the least I can do," she wrote.
"No, it would be rude as a host to make a guest clean up," Ichigo said.
"Go and relax on the couch," Eu replied with a tap on the table, pointing at the note again. Ichigo sighed, realizing that Eu wouldn't accept his answer.
"Just help bring the plates to the sink. I'll wash them later," Ichigo said. A few minutes later, Ichigo and Eu were sitting in Ichigo's living room with some tea set aside for later.
"What do you want to talk about?" Ichigo asked.
"What are you doing here?" Eu wrote.
"Well, I had issues that forced me to leave Karakura Town. On my journey, I ended up finding Sirzechs. From there, he employed me to train his sister and her peerage for a few weeks until the date of the meeting," Ichigo said.
"What kind of meeting?" Eu asked.
"Well, Sirzechs is planning a meeting with the three factions in Kyoto. The meeting will be at Yasaka's temple. The main participants will be Sirzechs himself and Serafall Leviathan to represent the Devils, Azazel to represent the Fallen Angels, and Michael to represent the Angels."
"So, young Sirzechs and his friends won their war in the Underworld," she wrote.
"Wait, you know Sirzechs?" Ichigo asked.
"Know him... Do I know him...? Of course, I know that little red-haired brat!" she wrote. Ichigo noticed how deeply the words were pressed into the pad, showing her annoyance.
"I know that the Devils had a civil war in the Underworld, but how did you not get involved?" Ichigo asked.
"One second, a lot of writing," she wrote. Ichigo gave her a few minutes to write out her story. She ripped out some pages and stacked them face down.
"Are you done?" Ichigo asked once he saw her stop moving. She nodded and handed him the stack of papers.
"I was once a part of a unit called the Seventh Abyss. We were created to protect the Underworld from all enemies. The Seventh Abyss was made up of the seven strongest warriors in the Underworld at that time. When the civil war in the Underworld started, both Satan's faction and the Anti-Satan faction tried to recruit us many times. However, we said no to both factions. We did not interfere with the war because we feared our strength. Even just one member would instantly turn the tide. Eventually, the Seventh Abyss disbanded when the captain was killed," she wrote.
"I see. What do you want to do now?" Ichigo asked.
"I do not know," she replied.
"Eu, why do you wear armor?" Ichigo asked. Eu signaled Ichigo to give her a moment and began writing on multiple pages again. Soon, she signaled that she was finished and handed him another stack of papers.
"I can change reality," she wrote.
"This reminds me of Orihime and her powers," Ichigo thought as he continued to read the notes.
"However, I cannot control it. My best friend, Naegleria Nebirosu, is a blacksmith, and she forged this armor for me to control my power."
"Hey Eu, does your power affect everything or only the things you choose?" Ichigo questioned. Eu gave him a thoughtful look. Eventually, she wrote a reply back.
"I do not know," she wrote.
"Hey, when we have some time, let's experiment to see if you can control these powers," Ichigo said.
"Why?" she scribed.
"It sounds like you are scared of your powers. Is that correct?" Eu nodded her head. "I was just like you once. I feared a part of my powers due to its origins. Because of this fear, I wasn't strong enough to protect my friends. In the end, I had to gain control of that power to defeat my enemy," Ichigo said.
"I see… but I don't want to hurt you if I say the wrong thing," she replied.
"Do not worry. I trust you," Ichigo assured. "Look at the time," he said as he glanced at the clock. "I need to meet Rias and the gang for their first day of training," Ichigo said as he got up from the couch. "Eu, do you want to come?"
"Me? Why?" she wrote.
"I asked if you wanted to explore this town, as well as see Sirzechs' sister," Ichigo said.
"Wait. Venelana and Zeoticus had another child!?" she quickly wrote.
"Who are Venelana and Zeoticus?" Ichigo asked as he locked the door.
"They are the parents of your boss," she wrote back.
"Oh," Ichigo said. Ten minutes later, they arrived at Kuoh Academy. Many of the students had already left for home. The only ones remaining were students in clubs or the Student Council. The two walked towards the Occult Research Club when suddenly they heard someone yelling at them.
"Stop. Who are you and what are you doing here?" a girl yelled. Ichigo and Eucliwood stopped and looked at the girl. The young woman had long, straight black hair that extended down to her knees, with split bangs and heterochromatic eyes—a violet left eye and a light brown right eye. She was wearing the standard Kuoh Academy uniform in addition to blue, semi-rimmed glasses with square lenses.
"Hello. My name is Ichigo, and this is Eu. We have an appointment with Rias at the Occult Research Club," Ichigo said.
"I or Shitori-sama were not informed of this matter," she said. "I will personally escort you there," she added.
"Okay. Wait, what is your name?" Ichigo asked.
"My name is Tsubaki Shinra. I am the Vice-President of Kuoh Academy's Student Council," Shinra replied.
"All right then. Can we hurry a little? I do not want to be late for our appointment," Ichigo said and resumed walking. Eu and Shinra followed behind Ichigo. A few minutes later, they arrived at the clubhouse.
"Thank you, Shinra, for the escort," Ichigo said.
"No problem. Make sure you tell Rias next time to inform the school if she has any non-student guests," Shinra said.
"Okay," Ichigo said as they walked into the clubhouse. They arrived at the main office area, where all five members were present.
"Hello, Kurosaki-sensei," Rias said. "Who is the girl behind you?"
"Hello, please call me Eu," Eu wrote.
"Hello, Eu," everyone said.
"So, Ichigo-sensei, how are we going to train?" Rias asked.
"Well, a while back, I obtained a device," Ichigo said as he took out the Trainer. "It allows me to create a pocket dimension we can use to train in," Ichigo explained.
"I see," Rias said.
"Anyways, this is what I noticed during our sparring match yesterday," Ichigo said as he pulled out a sheet of paper. "During our spar, both Rias and Akeno used the same spells repeatedly with little change in power. So, we decided to have someone come here to teach both of you more advanced spells and help grow your powers. Yuuto will also join you two because he needs to increase the amount of energy he has." Suddenly, a red transport seal appeared on Ichigo's left side. Rias looked at the seal and recognized it as her brother's transport seal. From the seal, MacGregor appeared.
"Speak of the devil," Ichigo said. Everyone cringed at Ichigo's pun.
"Sorry that I was slightly late," MacGregor said.
"No problem. I was just telling them about the training plan," Ichigo said.
"Okay then. Please continue," MacGregor said.
"Okay. I will upload all of you, including MacGregor, into the game dimension. I will have an AI with you to act as a Game Master. With the AI's assistance, MacGregor will be able to manipulate the surrounding dimension to help train you," Ichigo said. He pointed the video game at the group of three and said, "Install." A green beam of zeros and ones shot from the video game and hit the group of four. It converted them into zeros and ones and absorbed them into the video game. "Now then, I will be in charge of your training personally." Issei and Koneko grew slightly nervous, with Koneko remembering how easily Ichigo defeated her, and Issei recalling all the damage his comrades suffered. "Let's go," Ichigo said. He handed the video game to Eu and showed her how to install people. Once Ichigo got into position, he gave her the signal to install them into his dimension. Soon, the green beam shot at them and transported them into their separate dimension.
Scene Change: Game Dimension: With MacGregor, Rias, Akeno, and Yuuto.
The four of them appeared in an empty field with a cloudy sky.
"Wow," the three young Devils said.
"Wow indeed," MacGregor said.
"Looks like you like it," someone said. They turned around and saw Ichigo. Unlike what Ichigo wore outside, this Ichigo was wearing a dark blue dress shirt and necktie with a French continental dark suit.
"Hello, everyone. I am an AI created to help you with your training," the AI spoke.
"Wait. What do we call you if we need you?" Rias asked.
"Just call me Gamemaster or GM if needed," the GM replied. "Now then, in the game dimension, the time ratio is 1 minute to 30 minutes. Since Ichigo-sama set the timer for 1 hour of outside time, you will train for 30 hours here. I can create anything needed for training, such as targets, enemies, or allies."
"Well, let's get started!" MacGregor said. "GM, I want you to create two targets for Rias and Akeno. The targets will have the durability of a mid-level Devil. Once the targets are destroyed, the dummies will immediately regenerate and restore their energy."
"Done," the GM said, and two dummies appeared. The GM then disappeared.
"Good. Rias, I want you to blow up that dummy over there with your Power of Destruction. Akeno, do the same with the other target using your lightning," MacGregor instructed. The two complied with MacGregor's order. "What I want you to do is perform this drill constantly. Each time, use a little less energy to fuel that attack than before. Call me over once you can no longer destroy the dummies with one shot. Got it, ladies?" MacGregor said.
"Yes," they answered. MacGregor turned to Yuuto. "Ichigo told me that you need to increase your magic capacity. Is that correct?"
"It is," Yuuto replied.
"How come?"
"Ichigo suggested that my weapons' powers are not strong enough. He also mentioned that I should try to develop ranged attacks to further diversify my abilities."
"Do you have any ideas?"
"I considered using my swords as projectiles," Yuuto said.
"Show me." Yuuto nodded, closed his eyes, gathered his magic energy, and fired a sword into the air. The sword appeared to be an ordinary sword. It flew a few feet before falling to the ground.
"Hm…" A few magic circles appeared around them. "I see…" MacGregor mumbled. Yuuto looked confused. "It appears that your Sword Birth isn't accustomed to creating weapons and firing them in that manner."
"So, I need to practice doing that?" Yuuto asked.
"Correct," MacGregor said. "I need a target with the defense capability of a low-ranked Devil." A target appeared for Yuuto. "For now, you will be 25 meters (82.2 ft) away from the target. I want you to concentrate, form the sword, shoot it at the target, and hopefully hit it," MacGregor instructed.
"I will try," Yuuto said as he began to concentrate on the task at hand. Ten minutes later, Rias was the first one to call MacGregor over.
"MacGregor-sensei!" Rias said.
"Coming, Rias-sama," MacGregor said as he got off his chair. "Now then, I am going to call GM to reset your dummy's durability and recover all the energy you used. The next phase is for you to use the absolute minimum amount of energy needed to destroy the dummy in one shot. The dummy will immediately regenerate, and you should continuously do this until you exhaust your magical reserves. The GM will set a counter to track how many dummies you destroy and your rate of fire," MacGregor instructed.
"Not to be rude, MacGregor-sensei, but why?" Rias asked.
"The reason is simple. The first phase allows the user to determine the minimum amount of energy needed to destroy the target. When we started, you were wasting extra energy in your attacks. Now, you should be able to control your energy more efficiently. By constantly doing this, your body will gradually increase its magical reserves and improve your speed with the Power of Destruction," MacGregor said. Five minutes later, Akeno finished the first phase, and he had to set her up for the second phase.
"MacGregor-sensei," Yuuto called out. MacGregor walked over to see that Yuuto had managed to pierce the target with the sword. "Good, good. Now then, let's try this again at a slightly farther distance," MacGregor suggested. Yuuto walked a few meters away from the target and redid the exercise.
"MacGregor-sensei," Rias said.
"I think we're done," Akeno said. Both girls were on the ground, drained from the exercise.
"Now then, ladies, let's look at the numbers. Rias Gremory destroyed a total of 75 dummies in 15 minutes. Rias's rate of fire is 5 dummies per minute. Meanwhile, Akeno destroyed 40 dummies in 10 minutes, resulting in a rate of 4 dummies per minute," MacGregor reported. Rias was smiling a little while Akeno pouted since she scored less. "Now then, Rias, I want you to read these books," MacGregor said as he brought out some books. "These will help you start learning offensive and defensive magic. Once you understand the theory, practice on this dummy. If you need any help, call me over. Got it?" MacGregor asked.
"Yes, MacGregor-sensei," Rias said and moved to the table with the books.
"While you, Akeno, have the versatility of magic, I know you are holding back. I know who your father is, and I have seen his lightning. I know that you can use it, but you stick to just normal lightning. Why?" he asked.
"I do not need his powers," Akeno said coldly.
"Stupid girl. If you used the holy magic within you, you would be stronger," MacGregor said.
"I will be stronger without his power," Akeno said.
Sigh "I guess I need to get someone else to talk to you about this," MacGregor said. "GM!"
"Yes?" The GM appeared.
"Can you send a message to Kurosaki-san?" MacGregor asked.
"It is possible. What is the message?" the GM asked.
"Tell him she needs the talk," MacGregor stated.
"All right then," the GM said and disappeared. "Akeno, since you used your lightning throughout phase one, I want you to use the rest of your magic until Ichigo arrives," MacGregor said angrily.
"Okay," she said. As the GM healed her and prepared her for phase one again, Ichigo arrived an hour later to find Akeno using ice magic for phase one. She soon finished it when Ichigo reached her. The GM appeared and healed her.
"Hello, Akeno," Ichigo said.
"Hello, Sensei. What are you doing here?" Akeno asked.
"I am here to talk to you about your hatred towards your power," Ichigo said. Akeno was about to get angry, but Ichigo continued speaking. "Look, let me tell you a story. If the story does not change your feelings on the matter, I won't force it upon you," Ichigo said.
"Fine," Akeno said.
"Before I start, you know about Shinigami and Hollows, correct?" Ichigo asked.
"Yes. I was told about them," Akeno said.
"Good. This makes my story easier to tell. There was a boy who was nine years old and was walking home with his mother. That day, it was raining very hard. While walking, he saw a girl standing by the river. Suddenly, she fell in. At that moment, the boy ran and tried to save the girl. His mother realized that the girl the boy saw was not real but a trick of a Hollow. The boy reached the girl and then realized that the girl was a ruse. Soon, the culprit revealed himself as a Hollow and attacked the child. The mother rushed in and protected the child. The child's mother died, her warm body lying on the child. The Hollow disappeared, and the child realized his mistake. The child blamed himself for his mother's death."
As time progressed, the child grew into a young man. The young man eventually encountered a Hollow and risked his life to gain Shinigami powers. The girl who gave him her powers ended up being tried and found guilty of the act. The young man lost that borrowed power and decided to take the risk of gaining power once more, this time risking the possibility of becoming either a Shinigami or a Hollow. He succeeded in obtaining Shinigami powers. However, by using that method, he gained something he hated: an inner Hollow. The madman who caused one of his friends to be charged with an unjust crime almost got killed, kidnapped another friend, and took her to the land of Hollows. The young man went into the land of Hollows to rescue her. When he arrived there, he found a child being chased by two Hollows. The young man soon discovered that the girl he saved was, in fact, a Hollow. The child Hollow realized that the young man was a Shinigami and feared for her life, as Shinigami are the enemies of Hollows. Over time, the child Hollow came to trust the young man. The young man was forced to use his Hollow powers to defeat his enemies.
While in battle, the young man died. When he died, the Hollow took over his body. At that moment, his friends saw the Hollow manifest. The beast was the antithesis of what their friend was. Their friend was a merciful protector; the beast was a merciless berserker. The beast easily decimated the foe and then attacked his friends. His friends eventually managed to help the young man regain his consciousness and take back control of his body. However, everyone who witnessed the being became scared of the young man. When he discovered this, he too became frightened by his powers.
The young man continued to face other battles and ended up losing due to his fear. In the end, with his friends and family at risk, he had to accept the Hollow instead of shunning it away to protect them. The young man made peace with his Hollow." Ichigo finished his story. Akeno sat there lost in thought. She could see the obvious connections in the story. His Hollow was equivalent to her Fallen heritage. His story was a warning of what could happen to her… or the peerage.
"Thank you, Ichigo-sensei, for telling me that story," Akeno said.
"No problem, my dear," Ichigo said. "Now, any last questions before I go back to training with Issei?"
"One question, Sensei," Akeno said.
"Ask away," Ichigo replied.
"Who was that story about?" Akeno asked.
"You are looking at him," Ichigo said and disappeared.
Scene Change: Game Dimension: With Ichigo, Issei, and Koneko
The three appeared in an empty field with a cloudy sky.
"All right then. Issei, you need a lot of help in general," Ichigo began.
"I know. I know," Issei said.
"Koneko, you need to learn an actual fighting style and not just rely on the strength boost from the rook piece," Ichigo said to Koneko.
"Okay, Ichigo-sensei," she said.
"Issei, you are going to be taught by me," Ichigo said. Issei looked very worried. "Koneko, you will be trained by Kyōka."
"Who?" Koneko asked.
"Me," Kyōka said as she manifested herself.
"Do not worry, Koneko. She is someone I trust with my life," Ichigo said.
"Okay," Koneko replied. Kyōka grabbed Koneko and used Shunpō to move away.
Scene Change: Game Dimension: Kyōka and Koneko
Koneko and Kyōka soon arrived at a clearing in a forest. The clearing was surrounded by trees and flowers.
"Okay, Koneko, I know you are a Nekomata, so please change into that," Kyōka asked politely.
"No," Koneko said.
"Why?" Kyōka asked. Koneko didn't respond. "Sigh. Koneko, I will give you two options. Option one is you tell me right now. Or option two is something very bad. Which option do you want?" Kyōka said. Koneko thought it over and eventually made her decision.
"Option one," she said and transformed into her Nekomata form. A pair of white cat ears and matching white tails appeared, and her eye pupils became more cat-like.
"Good. Now, why didn't you want to change?" Kyōka asked.
"Because of my sister," she replied.
"Your sister?" Kyōka asked.
"Neesan took care of me after Okāsan and Otōsan died. At one point, we were rescued by a Devil. Neesan was reincarnated as one of his peerage members. At some point, Neesan lost control of her powers and killed her master. She fled the scene, abandoning me. She was labeled as a Stray Devil, and I was blamed for his death. Eventually, Lucifer-sama intervened, and I ended up in Rias-sama's care. I am just scared that I will become a monster like Neesan," Koneko finished sharing her story. Kyōka walked over to Koneko and hugged her.
"Dear, let's get comfortable," Kyōka said.
"Why?" Koneko asked. Kyōka sat and leaned against a tree.
"I want to tell you a story. It might help you get over your fear of your powers," Kyōka said. "Do you want me to tell you?"
"Okay," Koneko said and lay down on Kyōka's lap.
"You know what Hollows and Shinigami are, right?" Kyōka asked.
"Yes. When I was younger and Neesan was teaching me Senjutsu, she mentioned them," Koneko said. With that, Kyōka told Koneko Ichigo's story. When Kyōka finished her story, Koneko was amazed by the young man's tale. She realized that to protect Buchou, she needed to accept her powers instead of fearing them.
"Thank you for the story, Kyōka-sensei. But I have one question," Koneko said.
"Yes, dear," Kyōka replied.
"Who was the young man in the story?" Koneko questioned.
"Who do you think it is? I'll give you a hint: you've met him before," Kyōka said.
"Who? I met him before… NO! It can't be," Koneko thought. "It's Ichigo-sensei, isn't it?" she replied.
"Ding! Correct! Let's give the girl a prize!" Kyōka yelled. Out of nowhere, a plate of fresh Taiyaki appeared in front of Koneko. She was surprised by the sudden appearance of her favorite treat. "Go on, eat one," she encouraged. Koneko grabbed one and took a bite. It was delicious.
"How?" she asked.
"As a GM, I can tell the game to create anything, including food, a house, or a cat toy," she teased. "Okay, we've used quite a bit of time. Let's resume training," Kyōka said.
"Okay, Kyōka-sensei," Koneko replied. The two stood up and walked toward the clearing once more.
"The first thing is going to be your hand-to-hand fighting techniques," Kyōka began. "Put these on." Kyōka handed Koneko two silver-looking bracelets.
"What are these?" Koneko questioned.
"These are special bracelets that will not allow you to use any of your powers," Kyōka said. Koneko looked surprised at the bracelets. "The reason is that these will allow you to learn hand-to-hand combat without relying on your powers. As you improve with the techniques, we will gradually reduce the amount of power the bracelets bind."
"Who will be my opponent?" Koneko asked.
"I will teach you the techniques first. After that, you will practice with your sparring partner," Kyōka said. Koneko spent four hours mastering the techniques. These included how to punch and kick properly, how to fall correctly and quickly get back up, counterattacking when facing stronger foes, and learning to use pressure points. After that, she spent another two hours slowly integrating her Senjutsu with the new techniques she had learned. At that moment, she could only enhance her offensive powers.
"Sensei, I've mastered the various techniques you showed me, and I know a few Senjutsu techniques. Can I now meet my sparring partner?" Koneko asked.
"Sure. She is standing right behind you," Kyōka said.
"Hello," said a girl behind Koneko. Koneko immediately jumped and turned around, ready to fight her opponent. Koneko stared at a girl who appeared to be about her age. She had a faint blush on her cheeks and wore a white t-shirt and a knee-length pink skirt with white dots. She had round purple eyes and long black hair with a purple tint, parted down the middle, with two strands of bangs framing her face. The rest of her hair was shoulder-length.
"This is your opponent. Her name is Ururu Tsumugiya. In some ways, she is like you—small for her size but very powerful. She is your sparring partner," Kyōka said. The two fighters assumed a fighting stance, with their right hands blocking their faces and their left hands ready for quick jabs. "Begin!" Kyōka said.
Tsumugiya quickly delivered a powerful right punch to Koneko's gut. Seeing this, Koneko dodged to the right. She then used Senjutsu to locate various points where Reiryoku flowed in the arm and attacked those points (1).
"AHHHHH!" Ururu screamed. Many of the pathway systems are closely intertwined with the body's major organs, so debilitating and even fatal damage can be done easily. With her right arm now disabled, Ururu vanished above Koneko and tried to strike down with an ax kick to the head. Koneko sensed the attack, and quickly jumped back, causing the ax kick to hit the ground and kick up rocks and dust. Koneko closed her eyes and tried to sense her surroundings for Ururu. She found her behind, ready to perform a roundhouse kick. Koneko let the kick come but grabbed the leg. Ururu was surprised by the tactic, and Koneko used the momentum from the roundhouse kick to spin Ururu before flinging her into the sky.
"END!" Kyōka said. "Winner: Koneko." Koneko smiled, having won with her new skills. "Congratulations, Koneko, for winning. Thank you, Ururu, for fighting," Kyōka said. Ururu smiled and disappeared in rainbow sparkles (2). "Now then, rest for a few hours, and then we can move on to illusions," Kyōka smiled.
"Hai, Kyōka-sensei," Koneko said. The two spent a few hours training.
"All right then, Koneko, you've learned all the basics I could teach you. For future training, you need to review fighting styles and learn how to combine them," Kyōka instructed.
"Hai, Kyōka-sensei."
"I have to go report to Ichigo. Before I go, here is a tablet. It allows you to summon anything you want as long as it helps you relax," Kyōka said. "Think of all the yarn balls…" Kyōka teased before disappearing.
"Baka Kyōka-sensei," Koneko said as she looked through the tablet options. Suddenly, a bucket of water appeared out of nowhere and fell on Koneko. Koneko was angry but then noticed a note.
"Do not be mean to your sensei, or I will take away your reward," Kyōka wrote.
Scene Change: Game Dimension: Ichigo and Issei
"Now then, Issei. I want to ask you a question. A simple question. Why do you want to be stronger?" Ichigo asked. Issei was about to open his mouth when Ichigo continued talking. "It better not be something trivial like becoming a Harem King or anything." Issei closed his mouth. "I'm going to read this book. We won't start training until you figure out why you want to get stronger," Ichigo said. Ichigo took out a book titled The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Ten minutes passed before Ichigo heard anything from Issei.
"Ichigo-sensei, I think I found an answer," Issei said.
"What is your reason for fighting?" Ichigo asked.
"I must fight for Buchou since she saved my life," Issei said.
"Good, I want you to remember your reason for the first exercise," Ichigo said as he stood up and put a fedora on his head. "The first exercise is to knock this fedora off my head."
"Seems easy," Issei said. Suddenly, a fist flew towards Issei's head. Issei dodged the attack.
"While you survive me attacking you," Ichigo said as he got into a fighting stance. "Now then, Issei, I recommend you activate your Sacred Gear," Ichigo added. Issei willed for his Sacred Gear to appear and got into a typical fighting stance he had seen in various animes. "Timer online!" Ichigo yelled. Above them, a timer was set for one hour. "Countdown, 5 seconds, start!" Once Ichigo finished, they both heard a voice around them.
"THIS MATCH IS ABOUT TO START. FIGHTERS READY? 5! 4! 3! 2! 1! FIGHT!" Ichigo charged in with a straight punch. Issei did the only thing he could do—he ran. Issei fled into the forest and hid behind a tree, breathing heavily.
"Come on out, Issei. You won't be able to knock this fedora off my head if you're hiding," Ichigo taunted.
"Damn. Ichigo-sensei is too strong. I need more power…but how?" Issei thought.
"You can use me," said a deep voice in his thoughts.
"Who are you? Where are you coming from?" Issei questioned.
"Look down at your left arm," the voice replied. Issei looked down and saw his Sacred Gear.
"You're the one who's talking to me?" Issei thought back.
"Yes. My name is Ddraig. I am the spirit that resides in your Sacred Gear, Boosted Gear," Ddraig revealed.
"So, what can you do?" Issei asked as the forest rumbled from one of Ichigo's attacks hitting a nearby tree.
"I can temporarily boost your attacks," Ddraig said.
"That means I have a chance against Ichigo-sensei!" Issei shouted.
"It does. Let's fight your Sensei together!"
"Yeah!" Issei said. "Wait, how do I use your power?"
"My power, at this state, can only boost your power every 10 seconds," Ddraig said.
"Alright!" Issei said. "How many boosts can you provide right now?"
"Unfortunately, due to your weak body, you can safely handle three boosts," Ddraig said.
"Okay. I hope I can get this right," Issei said. He thought for a moment before looking up from his hiding spot. Issei gasped. While he was talking to Ddraig, Ichigo had somehow destroyed the entire forest except for a few trees Issei had tried to hide behind.
"Issei, are you done talking with your Sacred Gear?" Ichigo asked. Ichigo had gotten a chair and resumed reading from it.
"Yeah!" Issei said.
"Good. I decided to clear the remaining forest to make this a fair and even fight," Ichigo said as he placed the book down and stood up from the chair. He walked toward Issei.
"Looks like I have one shot," Issei said. He then charged toward Ichigo.
"Boost!" the Sacred Gear said. Issei then punched Ichigo right in the face. He expected Ichigo to flinch or react in some way, but he didn't.
"Is that all the power you can muster?" Ichigo asked. Ichigo tightened his fist and punched Issei in the face, sending him crashing to the ground.
"Ow," Issei mumbled.
"Come on, Issei," Ichigo said. "Are you giving up already?" Ichigo asked.
"No," Issei said as he tried to get up.
"Good. You're not giving up yet," Ichigo said as Issei got into a fighting stance again.
"Ddraig, can you give me any more support?" Issei asked.
"Everything in life has a price," Ddraig cryptically warned. Before Issei could reply, Ichigo charged in with a right hook to Issei's face, sending him back to the ground.
"Come on, Issei. You said your goal is to protect Rias. How will you protect her if you can't even stop me with your base strength?" Ichigo said.
"Ddraig, I want it. Give me more power," Issei begged.
"I will grant you a small boost of my power. You will feel it tomorrow," Ddraig warned.
"I DO!" Issei shouted. Suddenly, a wave of large green energy blasted from the Boosted Gear. "I have the power to punch God off his feet right now! All right! You're going down, Ichigo!" Issei then raised his hand.
"Explosion!" Suddenly, the Boosted Gear on Issei changed. It grew longer to the size of Issei's elbow, with yellow spikes and side blades. Ichigo sent a punch toward him. Issei dodged the attack, raised his fist, and punched Ichigo in the face, knocking him off his feet. Suddenly, the Sacred Gear vanished as Issei collapsed, falling unconscious. Ichigo walked over and picked up the fedora, dusting it off. On his face was a small bruise, which quickly healed as he chuckled.
"Looks like you have potential," Ichigo said as he picked up the unconscious devil.
Scene Change: An hour later
Issei opened his eyes. His blurry vision could make out something red.
"Buchou?" Issei asked.
"Oh, Issei," Rias said. Suddenly, Issei's face was wrapped in something warm and soft.
"Oppai," Issei thought as he recognized the feeling.
"Rias, I think you should let go before he collapses again, this time from blood loss," Ichigo commented. Rias quickly let go of Issei's head. Issei began to have a small nosebleed. "Anyways…" Ichigo said, getting Issei's attention. "I'm pretty sure you're wondering why I put you in that dangerous situation," Ichigo began.
"And I would have shown you my fury if Issei had died," Rias commented.
"It's due to your Sacred Gear," Ichigo said.
"My Sacred Gear?"
"Issei-kun, your Sacred Gear is one of the thirteen Longinus. These are weapons that can kill gods. Yours, Issei-kun, is a mid-tier Longinus possessed by a dragon named Ddraig. Because of that alone, many will want to attack you," Rias explained.
"Just like Raynare," Issei mumbled, remembering what she had said before attacking him.
"Indeed," Rias said.
"Issei," Ichigo called out. "Even though you appear weak, you managed to draw that much power from your Sacred Gear. Now I want you to talk with Ddraig a little more, and then we can begin basic training to get you physically and magically stronger," Ichigo said.
"Yes, Ichigo-sensei," Issei replied. Ichigo turned to Rias.
"You can return to your training," Ichigo said.
"You better not break him," Rias warned before she flew away. Ichigo chuckled.
Author's note:
The same fighting style Neji uses when against Naruto.
SAO played death animation.