Chapter 1: The Broken Gear and lost life
The Broken Boosted Gear
By Try Another Time
The waves clash against each other as a battle rage on. Amongst the night sky covered in storm clouds, two adversaries faced each other head-on with all they got.
A red warrior and a white one clashed against each other with no remorse or care. Time after time, these two opponents faced each other while partnered up with different humans. The identity of these adversaries was that of the Welsh Dragon, Y DDraig Goch, the crimson emperor of domination, and his rival, the Vanishing Dragon, Albion Gwiber, the white emperor of supremacy. These are two creatures that, after losing their bodies, continue to test their strength through different human hosts. Ages have come and gone as the fight between these two continued with no definite winner.
Their fights were gruesome affairs that had caused incalculable damage to families, cities, and even nations over time. A bloody rivalry that had gone too far and now was nothing more than an accursed cycle of death and sorrow.
"Albion!" Screams the host of Ddraig. The red armor warrior, driven mad by his desire to defeat the white armored warrior, continues to fight his opponent while wielding a great sword. His body was no longer that of a human. The effects of the sacred gears had twisted his appearance beyond recognition.
"Ddraig!" Screams the host of Albion, finding himself in the same situation. The white armored warrior held a spear as he clashed with his opponent.
Both opponents continued to fight in this violent and harsh storm without caring about their own lives. Their bodies push to their limits and their minds beyond salvation.
The rivals continued to clash repeatedly as their sacred gears powered their bodies up. Both continued to exchange attacks such as punches, kicks, and massive fireballs without a second to breathe.
"BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!" The voice coming out of the Boosted gear continued to repeat.
"DIVIDE! DIVIDE! DIVIDE! DIVIDE! DIVIDE! DIVIDE!" Said the voice coming out of the Divine Dividing gear.
Blood dripped from the armors as the fight raged on while deep within the boosted gear, the soul of Ddraig felt the pain of his host. How many times had he repeated the same scenario alongside Albion? How many hosts had been driven mad by the gears and their powers? Ddraig had lost count after so many centuries of endless battles without an actual winner. No matter how strong the host was, the armies they dragged into their conflict, or the tools and strategies they used against each other, the fight always led to the same end.
Nobody truly won. Both dragons always ended with their human hosts dying one way or another. Although humans such as Belzard, one of his previous hosts, had survived two fights against different White Dragon Emperors, he had lost himself in the end. He had become a husk of his former self.
"This has become meaningless." Ddraig thought as he tried to communicate with his host. "Mikhail?" Ddraig's voice tried to reach his partner, but Mikhail didn't reply. "Even you are gone. You promised to return to her after this fight, and here you are. We have yet to use the Juggernaut Drive, yet you lost to the desire to defeat Albion." The dragon told himself in a depressed tone.
Ddraig looks through the eyes of Mikhail and sees the state of the current White Dragon Emperor. The armor was severely damaged, and the amount of blood dripping from it was insane.
"He must be gone like Mikhail. How many lives have I sacrificed for this rivalry, Albion? I think I can't endure this weight on my shoulders anymore. I don't think I can continue like this, Albion, my eternal rival." It had taken years for him to realize how far he had gone, but his sins finally caught up to him. "I know there is only one way to stop this, and it has to start with me." Ddraig stops powering his partner's body, leaving the current Red Dragon Emperor defenseless. The body of the warrior begins to fall to the ocean below.
The White Dragon Emperor sees this as a chance to use his ultimate attack, Compression Divider, to eliminate his adversary. The human quickly powers up and releases a wave of energy against his opponent.
As the attack connects, Ddraig feels all the pain his host is feeling. "I'm sorry, partner. Mikhail, this will be our last dance. I pray that the person who comes after can choose a different path than this nightmare I created for myself."
Something happens as the attack of the White Dragon Emperor continues to erase the body of the current wielder of the boosted gear, something happens. Such an amount of power and the lack of defense leads to an unexpected effect on the sacred gear. The attack begins to affect the gear, which had never happened before. As the body of the current Red Dragon Emperor is erased from existence, the jewel of the boosted gear cracks, but this time, the damage is not something just physical.
Without realizing what he has done, Albion and his current host set a chain of events that will change many people's futures.
The beginning of a different path had begun.
Many years after, Location: Japan.
A young child with unruly spike brown hair and light brown eyes awake in his room to another one of his unusual dreams. The name of this child is Issei Hyoudou, and he was feeling drained physically and mentally; the child grabbed his head as he tried to understand what was happening to him.
He was only six years old, but he continued having these weird dreams for some unknown reason. These dreams felt strange to him, and yet they were so real; they almost felt like memories of what seemed to be the past. Wars, fights, and places he had never visited consume his nights.
His parents took him to doctors and psychologists to figure out what was happening to their son, but nobody could figure out what was happening. His parents began to be affected by the lack of answers. They discussed the possibility of a possible possession. Unfortunately, the heavy amounts of medicine and treatments didn't help improve their lives since they weren't rich, nor could they afford many expenses.
All of this led to the child deciding to hide his dreams for the sake of his family. He began to lie about them and created a fake smile to conceal his fears. He didn't want to see them sad, and he didn't want to hear them fighting anymore; he just wanted them to be happy, so he decided to hide everything.
He smiled and laughed more for them while feeling sad, even lying to his friend Irina to ensure that nobody knew what was happening to him. Inside, his insecurities and fears continued to pile up.
Issei got up from his bed and approached his mirror. While other people would probably see their reflection in a mirror, Issei could only see a giant red reptile with wings sleeping. It wasn't always like this, but he couldn't see his reflection for the past week anymore. He was scared and wanted to cry but feared what his problems could do to his family once more. "I need to be strong. All of this is just my imagination. Is not real."
The boy tried closing his eyes and denying what was in front of him, but once he looked in the mirror again, he continued to see the same dragon. The same sleeping behemoth continued to sleep deep within him without anyone, including him, knowing.
"No, please stop this. I don't want this." Issei said as tears began to appear.
Issei continued to sob while ensuring his parents didn't hear him. He was losing his sanity but couldn't let those around him see it.
Next day.
A young girl with short light brown hair and violet eyes walks alongside Issei from school. This girl was named Irina, and she was his closest friend. She cares deeply about him as his friend, but the girl feels he hides things from her. The dark marks below his eyes, his lack of energy, and the fake smile were signs of something wrong with Issei, but he evaded any questions.
She wanted to help him, but he kept denying his problems and pushing her away, but she wasn't willing to give up. Not on Issei, not on her first and most important friend. She grabs his hand and talks to him. "Issei, let's go to the park."
Issei turns to look at her. "But we have homework, and our parents are waiting for us."
"Just follow me, dummy." Irina begins to drag the boy against his will towards the park.
Issei tries to escape her hold, but Irina doesn't let go. She is determined to help him even if she doesn't know what is happening to him. Issei tries to escape her clutches for several minutes until he just gives up. The lack of sleep wasn't helping his stamina, and Irina was consistently more potent than most children her age, although she was a girl.
Most kids claimed that Irina was a boy due to her tomboyish attitude, but Issei knew she wasn't one. Blame the weird dreams that showed him strange things that no child should see or that he had taken baths with her, which confirmed the differences between them; he knew that Irina was no boy.
After some time, both arrived at the park. The place was spacious, with many trees to hide from the sun and a small lake to fish in. Irina wasted no time dragging him to one of the trees closest to the lake.
"Why are we here?" Issei asks.
"Just keep quiet and trust me." Irina forces him to sit down under the tree before she does the same.
Issei looks at her with curiosity. "Are you going to tell me why we came here now?"
Irina smiles and grabs his head before forcing him to rest on her legs. "We have been friends since I can remember my own name, Issei. I don't know what's happening to you, but I want to try to help you. So just close your eyes and rest. Forget about everything and just focus on my voice." Irina starts singing.
Her voice is charming, unlike anyone, and like a snake charmer, it hypnotizes Issei. The boy slowly closes his eyes and clears his mind. Issei stops thinking about his dreams, his fears disappear, and just for that afternoon, he feels released from the things that had been invading his mind for many years.
The minutes go by until Irina realizes that Issei has fallen asleep. She stops singing and looks at the boy. "We have been together for many years. You have been my most precious friend. I wish we never separated from each other." Irina approaches his face and gives him a little kiss. This small sign of affection wasn't the first kiss she had given to the boy.
"When you fall in love with someone, a kiss demonstrates your feelings for that person. That's why I kiss your mom so much." Those were her father's words when she asked about the continuous kisses between her parents. She was only six years old and didn't fully understand what love meant, but she was sure that what she felt for Issei was love. When he was happy, she felt pleased. In those moments when she felt sad, he supported her and made her smile once more. She was deeply attached to him, and her parents knew it.
She had enjoyed birthdays, holidays, vacations, and everything else alongside Issei. Their connection was strong, and they might be fated to be together. Yet, this connection was also making it hard for Irina's parents to break the news regarding their departure for England. The girl wasn't going to be happy about it, and the fact that she was so worried about him wasn't going to make it any easier for them.
But fate has a way of causing events that could lead to separations that nobody could see coming.
Later that day, Issei's home.
"Darling, are you sure we should wait until tomorrow to fix that gas tank?" Ask Issei's mom as she takes care of the dishes.
"Dear, trust me. I called the company this afternoon. They're going to come tomorrow and check it out. I'm sure that everything is going to be alright. You haven't smelled any more gas since I last checked it out?" Issei's dad replied.
"No, but you never know what could happen." Issei's mom seemed worried about it.
"Dear, just trust me this once. The tank is ok. The gas company will come tomorrow, and they will take care of it. So don't stress yourself out, and let's just enjoy a quiet afternoon together." Issei's dad got up and approached his mother before kissing her.
Issei was sitting on the couch while he read a book for school. Then, out of the corner of his eyes, he could see the affectionate interaction between his parents; the boy couldn't hide a sincere smile that formed on his face. Although he had to endure the weird dreams and fears he had developed, he was happy that his parents were fighting less. Since he stopped talking about them, his parents had returned to their cheerful attitudes, and he was okay with it.
He was okay with not knowing what to do to stop the dreams and not knowing how to see his reflection instead of a sleeping dragon. He was willing to hide all of it for the sake of his happy family. Maybe one day, everything was going to stop, and he would be able to go back to normal.
The night progressed with no problems or disturbances. So Issei and his parents went to sleep knowing everything would be alright, but fate can be a cruel mistress who destroys even the most innocent lives.
While the family slept in their rooms, a particular figure entered the home without using the front door or windows. "So, this is where the new Red Dragon Emperor has been born." The figure holds some tool in his hand, allowing him to track a particular sacred gear he has been afraid of for a long time. "Ddraig, the Welsh Dragon, you have been a troublesome piece in the battlefield just like Albion. If I eliminate your current host before he has the chance to learn how to use you, I'll be saving myself from facing you soon." A small fireball appears in his right hand. "So please die for the sake of my plans."
Issei's Point of View.
For the child, it was hard to sleep each night, but today it felt even more challenging. He twists and turns in his bed while trying to find a way to relax. His parents were just a few steps away from his room, but he knew they were already deeply asleep. His father had an early workday tomorrow, and his mom needed to be awake for the appointment with the gas company.
Issei sat down on his bed and looked through the window like any other night. "Reading the rest of the book might help me to sleep."
The boy got up and walked towards his bookstand, but he stopped when a specific smell invaded his nose. "Smoke?" The boy turns his sights toward the door. A dim light was visible under it, and not even three seconds passed before the flames started to consume the door. "A fire? But how? Dad said the gas tank was fine!"
Issei backs away from the door as the flames continue to spread.
"Mom! Dad!" Issei began to scream.
"Issei!" The boy was able to hear the voices of his parents.
"Mom! Dad! Save me! There is fire. I can't escape my room." So he started inhaling the smoke, and breathing became more difficult. He began to cough.
"Issei, drop down and get closer to the window. You need to escape. We can't-" The explosion cut his dad's voice. The gas tank located closer to their room seemed to have exploded due to the fire.
"Dad? Mom? Dad! Mom!" Issei screamed after not being able to hear their voices anymore. The boy drops to the floor and tries to approach the window, but luck doesn't seem to be on his side. The flames had spread around the house even more. The fire had even begun to reach his window preventing him from trying to jump away from the fire.
POV: Outside the house.
The being responsible for the fire that was consuming Issei's home watched the carnage from the sky. His dark feathered wings flapped in joy as he saw what he had done.
"Die, child. Die for the sake of the war that I'm going to start. You and the White Dragon Emperor shouldn't even exist. You're monsters that can drastically affect the battlefield, and I don't need you interfering in my plans. So just die." The fallen angel said before disappearing with a smile on his face.
He was sure that this was going to be enough to kill the brat, and there was no way in hell in which he could activate the sacred gear at this age. It was a common occurrence amongst those humans blessed which such powers as a young body seemed unable to endure the strain such powers could put on the user. All previous holders of the booster gear had shown their abilities around the age of 14 at the earliest, and this child was very young, so he knew there was no way the boy could save himself.
But how wrong he was to expect the same situation when he didn't even know what had happened to the current host of Ddraig.
Deep within Issei.
Ddraig sleeps peacefully without a care in the world, like any other time after his host dies. The boosted gear was his container and his prison. His soul couldn't escape from it, or that was what he believed.
"I don't want to die."
Ddraig began to hear a voice.
"Mom, Dad. I need you. I can't escape."
The voice of a child started to disturb his slumber. The boy's screams became louder and more apparent as the seconds passed until Ddraig had enough.
The Welsh Dragon opened his eyes and found a massive crack in the void in front of him. "What is this?" Ddraig didn't seem to have a clue of what this crack was. The inside of the booster gear was usually an abyss of dark green mist while the gear wasn't awake, but now, he found a massive crack of light through which one could hear a child's voice.
The dragon approaches the crack with interest. His soul seemed drawn into it, but something stopped him in his tracks before he could move another centimeter.
Ddraig turned his sight towards his back, and he saw them. The husks of his previous hosts, souls that had been driven mad by the rivalry with Albion. Their hands were like chains attached to his body, preventing him from escaping from this place. "All of you are as trapped as me inside of this place. Never knowing the afterlife or what happened to those you left behind. I'm sorry for everything that happened to all of you, but we can't let this opportunity go away. I'll drag all of you alongside me if that's what I have to do, but we are going there." Ddraig's soul spread his wings and flew into the crack while dragging the husks of his previous partners alongside him.
He didn't know what to expect from this, but he was willing to do what was necessary for an opportunity to escape this prison.
POV: Back in the real world.
Issei lay on the floor of his room. The flames had spread all around, and he didn't see any way out of this inferno. The smoke made it hard for him to breathe. The fire continued getting closer to him, and the boy lost all hope with each second that went by. "Mom, Dad, Irina… I don't want to die."
The boy closes his eyes and awaits his end. No amount of tears was going to save him now, and he couldn't lift a single limb. The flames finally reached the boy's body, and he began to feel the insane pain that being burned alive meant. First was his legs, and shortly after, the rest of his body.
"Make it stop. Please, somebody, make it all stop!" The boy prays for a miracle, and shortly after, It happens but not in the way he was expecting.
His chest began to hurt; his heart was beating even faster. His ribs crack and readjust themselves around like many other parts of his body. The boy's body stood up while still burning, thanks to an unknown force.
"Let's fly away." A voice deep within his mind said.
His eyes changed shape and color. Instead of looking human, they turn into reptilian eyes. A pair of fleshy wings grew from his back within seconds.
Before Issei couldn't even understand what was happening to him, his mind began to hear the voices of other beings.
"Sleep…... let us take care…. Sleep." The cracked and paranormal voices said in unison.
Issei felt how many hands began to drag him into the depths of his subconscious. The pain started to disappear while somebody else took over for him as the driver behind his body. The boy couldn't say a word as he sank deep and lost sight of himself, falling deeper into unconsciousness.
With Issei no longer in control, Ddraig assumes full charge of this infantile and broken body. The dragon was used to the pain and didn't mind the flames much, but he knew this wasn't a situation where he could relax.
His wings flapped a few times before he pierced the house's ceiling and flew as high as this body allowed him to. "This body won't last any longer. It is too weak, and my power is too strong for it. I need a place in which I can shred this skin." Ddraig thought before he made a choice.
There was only one place where nobody could approach him without paying the consequences. Ddraig uses a small amount of his power and opens a small rift in space, allowing him to reach the Dimensional Gap.
The realm of the void in which few could survive.
"I hope he accepts," Ddraig says as he leaves the human world behind.
POV: Great Red.
Within the vast void of the dimensional gap, a massive red western dragon continued to fly around. This beast was as big as a continent. It also was as dangerous as the most feared beings within all of the realms of Yggradssil. Its name was Great Red. This behemoth was acknowledged as the strongest being in all creation, and this also meant that only the biggest of idiots would dare to invade his home.
Suddenly, the massive winged creature felt a disturbance. A small number of beings could reach this place, and an even smaller number had the guts to do it willingly. The Dimensional Gap was his territory, and everyone knew the risk of crossing it.
But Red knew this presence all too well. A presence Red never expected to feel in all of his might ever again. It had been so long since Great Red met him in person.
The massive dragon approaches the being that had entered his territory. Its body was nothing like his previous one, but Red knew who he was. "Ddraig, what are you doing here? No better yet, tell me why I can feel all of your power and no seal holding you back. Your soul is supposed to be inside the boosted gear."
Ddraig watched the massive dragon before him and lowered his head in respect. "Great Red, I don't have all the answers you are looking for right now, but I need your help. As you can see, my current body won't resist much longer if I wait. I ask for asylum within your territory until I can shred this skin and make this body into something capable of holding my soul and the one of my current host."
"Current host? Are you telling me you are controlling the body of your current host? Something like this has never happened before. How did this happen? Did that child surrender his whole body to the power of the booster gear?"
"I don't know it myself, but I'll answer your questions as soon as I can change this body. I ask you once more for asylum, and in exchange, I'll pay any price you ask for, but I need your protection right now."
Great red sees how Ddraig lowers his head. It knew how prideful he used to be many millennia ago, but Ddraig had changed a lot since then. They weren't friends, but they weren't enemies either. Their relationship was far too complex to be defined in just a few words. The dragon showed interest in its fellow dragon's current condition, so it made a choice. "I accept, but you better be ready to answer all my questions and pay the price for this. So go ahead and do what you have to do. It'll prevent any harm from coming to you for as long as necessary."
"Thank you, Great Red," Ddraig says before using his power again. Green crystals sprout from under his skin. These crystals grow and spread out as they take shape around the body. It takes a short time until a large green cristal egg is completed.
Great Red looks at the egg and pays attention to the beating heart of the body inside it. "Truly unexpected. I don't think any other version of myself has ever seen something similar within their timelines and realities. Maybe this can help me in the future, but I can't be watching this egg all of the time." Great Red thinks of how to take care of this for some time until it remembers a particular blueish-pale dragon who also owes it a debt.
Great red roars in a specific frequency across the dimensional gap. This roar crosses the realms and reaches out for its intended target.
Meanwhile, Underworld.
A pale blue-haired girl was drinking tea alongside a well-dressed young man with greenish hair. She was wearing a blue navy skirt with a matching jacket and blouse. Her body could capture any male's attention, but the dangerous aura that usually surrounded her advised them against making any approach. Her deep blue draconic eyes were enough to tell anyone what her identity was.
The name of this beauty was Tiamat, one of the five great dragon kings, a being feared and respected all over the underworld due to her strength.
The girl was calmly enjoying her time, but before she could continue with her tea, she heard the roar of the apocalypse dragon.
The man looks at her in surprise. "Tiamat, was that what I think it was?"
Tiamat gulps and nods. "Yes. That was Great red, and that frequency was just for me. Ajuka, I'm sorry, but I need to leave. I might be gone for quite some time so look for a temporary replacement for me."
"Understood. Good luck, and please ensure you don't ignite Great Red's anger. I don't want to go to your funeral." Ajuka says.
"I won't. I'm smart enough to know my limits." Tiamat says before she opens a rift in space and jumps into it.
Ajuka looks at her before he sighs and hopes for the best. He knows that Tiamat owed Great Red a debt even more significant than the one she had with him. Great Red wasn't a being you could easily evade after gaining a debt with him, and he had heard the legends of what happened to those who tried to escape from him. "Best of luck, my dear friend."
Back with Tiamat.
Tiamat appears before Great Red, but her eyes quickly turn toward the crystal egg next to him. She knew that smell and power all too well, but she couldn't believe what she saw. "Great Red, is that Ddraig? How is this possible?"
"I have as many questions as you do. Ddraig appeared before me and asked for asylum. He promised answers as soon as the shredding process gets completed. That body was far too weak to endure all of his power."
"You agreed to help him? I'm sorry, Great Red, but we know you can't trust Ddraig. He has yet to pay the debt he owes me. You truly believe that he won't do the same to you?"
Great red laughs. "Ddraig knows what I can do to him if he tries to escape or evade his debt with me. I told you what you should have done with him and that debt. He isn't going to find a replacement for any of the objects he lost during his fight with Albion. So ask him to sign a contract for his life as payment. Once you have that contract, he is as good as yours, but let's talk about why I asked you to come here. I need you to take care of that egg until he gets out of it."
"What? I can't do that. I despise Ddraig, and you know it." Tiamat says before she sees the anger in Great Red's eyes.
"You owe me a debt; this is how you will pay for it. I once saved your life, and now you have to pay that debt. I don't care about your feelings regarding Ddraig, so you better do what I say. I eliminated worlds, nations, and more for debts some beings couldn't settle, so don't push your luck. So do what I'm asking you, and that will settle your debt to me. So, Tiamat, what is your answer?"
Tiamat gulps and lowers her head. Her instincts advised her against any actions that could anger Great Red even more. She had a good relationship with the dragon and knew it was best to keep it that way. "I accept. I will protect Ddraig's egg until he comes out of it." She transforms into her dragon form. She was another Western dragon, but her color was similar to a pale jewel's. Her large wings wrap around the whole egg and protect it as if it was her own.
"Good, don't leave the dimensional gap without telling me first. I have plans for Ddraig, so don't kill him when he comes out." Great Red says before he leaves Tiamat and the egg behind.
Tiamat sighs before turning her eyes towards the egg. "Such a small body for a heavenly dragon. How long is it going to take you? And what sort of thing happened for you to escape from the boosted gear?"
So many questions and no answers until Ddraig exited the egg.
Meanwhile, the faction of Heaven.
The angels were in chaos. They were trying to figure out how something like this happened. When their former leader, the God of the Bible, created the sacred gears, he also developed a system that would tell the angels all the information regarding the gears.
Now that same system sounded an alarm across heaven, telling them something terrible had happened.
"Alert: Boosted gear is severely damaged. The signal has been cut. The seal has possibly been broken. Ddraig has likely been released from his prison."
This one message could lead to a war, and the angels didn't know what to do. Nobody could repair such a complicated item, and they didn't even know where he was.
This whole situation was just the beginning of their problems.
Chapter 2: Those that remain and snake kiss
Hours had come and gone since he lost control of his body before falling deep within his subconsciousness. His body was floating on top of what seemed to be the waters of an endless ocean surrounded by darkness except for a few light spheres. It was quiet, peaceful, and lacking any form of pain, but Issei couldn't sleep forever, nor could he escape the cruel reality he had to face.
"Get up, child. We have things to discuss." The voice of Ddraig called to him.
Issei reacted to the voice, opened his eyes, and began sitting up before looking in front of him. "What?" The boy screamed after he saw the form of Ddraig in front of him. The large crimson western creature was a sight that could scare anyone off. He tries to move away from Ddraig but finds his escape route blocked by several human bodies. He turns around and screams even more after seeing their faces.
Several humans, women, and men stood around, forming a wall preventing Issei from escaping. Their bodies seemed mangled and almost mummy-like. Their faces didn't have eyes, but each husk was focused on him and his movements.
"This can't be real! None of it can't be real! Mom! Dad! Help me!" Issei says as he takes a fetal position trying to protect himself. He was about to have a complete mental breakdown.
Ddraig sees this and sights. "I should have expected this. You're still a child, after all." Ddraig decides to change shape into something more approachable. It has been millennia since he took human form, so he decides to copy Issei's form, at least for now. His body shrinks in size before transforming into an exact copy of Issei except for his green draconic eyes.
After his body is done transforming, he approaches the crying child. Issei is still crying, and his body is shaking in fear. "He is not in the best state. I need to be careful with how I approach him." He extends one hand towards Issei's head before patting him. "It's okay if you need to cry; go ahead. We have all the time we need. Cry as much as you want, and I'll wait until you feel ready."
Ddraig says no more and pats his partner's head until he can relax.
Hours came and went as the crying continued until the tears stopped. Ddraig watched as the child sat silently and focused his sight on him. "Are you ready to talk?"
Issei nods.
"Good. My name is Y Ddraig Goch. What is yours?"
"Issei, Hyoudou Issei."
"Issei, good. I imagine you have many questions, and I may have answers, so work with me. You're the first child I got as a partner, and our current state is completely unexpected. So go ahead and ask anything."
"You're that dragon, right? The one that I saw in the mirror?"
Ddraig looks surprised after the question and figures that something else is happening. "Don't move; I need to see something." He touches Issei's forehead. The dragon starts to see Issei's memories at a fast speed. Before long, Ddraig understands the whole situation. "So that's what was happening. This whole thing is truly a strange case. Yes, Issei, I'm that dragon you kept seeing in the mirror."
Issei looks at him and gets angry. "Why did I see you? What's all of this? What are those things?" The child begins to ask, but Ddraig stops him.
"One question at a time. I will explain this as clearly as possible, so try to pay attention. I'm Ddraig, a heavenly dragon. I fought against gods, demons, and fallen angels long ago. They killed my original body, and one of those gods decided to seal my soul inside an object created out of my flesh called the boosted gear. Got it?"
Issei slowly nods.
"Ok. The booster gear is one of many sacred gears, objects put inside humans randomly while inside their mothers' wombs. These objects give humans superpowers."
"Like in the books I read?" Issei asks.
"Like in those books but much cooler." Ddraig slaps himself mentally after realizing how dumb he sounds but decides to continue since it seems to work. "Many people like you had gained the booster gear since birth, and you're my latest partner, but something went wrong this time."
"What went wrong?"
"All those dreams you've been having, my image in the mirror, all of the weird things you've been experiencing shouldn't have happened. Those dreams were memories, and some of theirs as well." Ddraig points at the husks that surround them. "They are most of my previous partners. Now they exist as symbols of my sins."
Issei looks around in fear but recognizes a few faces, although they lack eyes. "So those were their memories and yours? Why was I seeing them?"
"I don't have all the answers, but I'm guessing it has something to do with the crack I saw within the boosted gear." Ddraig focuses for a second and makes a replica of the boosted gear arm appear in front of them. "This is what the boosted gear usually looks like. I'm supposed to be caged within this thing for the rest of eternity, and you weren't supposed to see any of the things you saw. It may be due to the damage the gear received during my last fight against Albion, my rival, but my memories and theirs had flowed into you since you were a baby. You were supposed to live a normal life until you awakened the booster gear around 16 or 17. Heck, maybe never even actually using it. Some people never awaken their sacred gear throughout their whole lives. None of this should have happened, so I'm sorry. I imagine that it wasn't fun seeing all of those things. There are things nobody your age should see."
Issei sees how the Ddraig lowers his head as a sign of apology. "So, it wasn't your choice?"
"No. Kid, I have done many things that I'm not proud of, but I'm not a fanatic about making my partners have traumatic childhoods due to weird dreams. I'm not that kind of being. I don't even choose who becomes the next boosted gear's host. It's a random system, and I don't think anyone controls it since the god of the bible died."
"Gods can die?"
"Yes, gods can be killed or die due to certain circumstances, but we have other things to discuss. Right now, you and I are sharing a body thanks to my soul escaping the boosted gear. I know you didn't ask for any of this, but I saved your life. Your body was a mess when I took over. So what's the last thing you remembered?"
Issei stood quiet for a second before the memories flowed in. "Fire, flames, Mom, and Dad. They need help. I need to go back." He turns to the dragon expecting to get some help.
"Kid, I'm sorry I must say this, but your parents are possibly dead. Those flames covered your body when we escaped the house; I doubt any human can survive those flames. They are dead, Issei." Ddraig watches as Issei starts to have a mental breakdown.
"No… no, no, no, no, no. They can't be dead. My parents can't be dead. We were going to be a happy family. I lied about my dreams. I kept them hidden. It can't be true." In a moment of desperation, Issei begins to punch Ddraig's chest. "Give them back. Give me my parents back!"
The dragon couldn't help but feel sorry for the child.
Ddraig extends his arms and catches him in a hug. "Go ahead. Let it all out. Blame me, scream at me, bite me, and let all those feelings run wild. I'm going to be right here until the end."
Thus, began many hours of emotional outbursts. Issei did everything in the book, from kicks, biting, and punching the dragon, but Ddraig didn't move an inch. He stood right beside the boy at all times. At some time, Issei pushed himself so hard that he went to sleep again after draining all of his energy, thus leaving Ddraig alone with his thoughts.
Ddraig saw his partner's body shivering in his sleep, so he decided to go back into his dragon form on a smaller scale and cover Issei with his body. His wings warmly covered the small figure of the child. His body heat offered the boy the support he needed at the time, leading to the shivering stopping.
"This wasn't supposed to happen, but I can't go back. I need to do this if I truly want to free myself from that prison and the endless cycle of fights against Albion. I'm sorry, Issei, but I'm making this choice for both of our sakes; you're stuck with me. You're alone, and your life will never return to normality, but I will ensure you find happiness along the way." Ddraig thought as he looked at the boy.
With Issei taken care of, Ddraig refocuses his attention on the body he now shares with Issei. The damage the flames caused was extensive, but it was nothing he couldn't resolve. The major problem was the broken booster gear within the child's body. Ddraig feared the chance that it might get used against him again, and he also saw the item's use for him, so he made a choice.
What was once a piece of his body should return to him.
While the body was being altered within the egg to accommodate his power, Ddraig was also dissolving the gear and fusing it into this new body. "I will never go back to that prison, but I'm going to make sure that the boosted gear still helps us to survive. Return to me, my former prison. Become a tool that can protect us."
Outside of the egg.
Tiamat continues to watch the egg patiently. For Tiamat, this was the first time she had seen a human body undergo a shredding process. Dragons were similar to snakes; one would shred their skin to cure their worst injuries, but this was far from a standard case. "A human? Can this even be possible? What about the nutrients he needs? How long is it going to take?" Tiamat had many questions but could only see and wait for the results.
Although not widely documented, the process was a fascinating subject. A dragon usually sheds its skin after gaining a certain amount of power or after serious injuries. A regular process usually takes months, and dragons find hidden places to do it since it leaves them open to attacks. Unfortunately, Ddraig's current case was something never seen before. Instead, he was forcing a human body into the process to make it a viable vessel for his soul and power.
Tiamat was curious to know if it could be successful, but Great Red had high hopes. She could expect a successful shedding at the end since Great Red was so sure about its success. The dragoness could only wait and see.
"You better be ready to answer my questions when you come out, Ddraig, and now that you're free from the Boosted Gear, there is no excuse for you to escape the debt." She thought as she looked deep into the inside of the egg. The calm unconscious of the child was still visible, but Tiamat knew that the appearance wouldn't last long if the process were to be successful.
Meanwhile, Irina.
She didn't want to believe what she was seeing. Instead, she completely blocked her parent's voices as she watched the remains of what was once Issei's home.
Paramedics and firefighters walked back and forth while searching the whole house for the bodies. The entire neighborhood was distressed after seeing the destruction the flames had caused. Everyone saw how the official brought two body bags out of the remains from the burned home.
The tears began to flow at the horrendous sight.
"I can't believe this."
"How can such a tragedy happen?"
"They say they can't find the child's body."
"Were the flames so strong that they didn't leave any remains?"
"That poor child."
Irina felt how her whole world came crashing down. Her heartbeat decreased, and her voice was gone. The tears continued as she tried to make sense of this. "We were together just yesterday. You were sleeping on my knees. Issei..." Her mind shut down after not being able to endure the shock. She loses consciousness due to stress.
Her parents were forced to grab her and walk away from the scene with her unconscious body, but her dad saw what others couldn't see. Almost hidden from the human, a single black feather lay trapped within the leaves in one of the trees closest to the house. He also detected the remains of magic within the area and knew that this incident wasn't typical.
Someone had done this, and he had an idea of who was responsible.
Meanwhile, within Grigori, Private Laboratory 00.
A fallen angel continued to ponder about the object in his hands. He was one of if not the most famous beings in the fallen angel's faction. He was known as the cruelest fallen angel and a former seraph; his name was Azazel.
The leader of the fallen angels had created many things throughout his life, but this specific tool was possibly the best. "The sacred gear seeker? This object was supposed to be inside my private vault, so why is it here?" Azazel asks himself as he looks at the artifact.
The tool was something he developed to find specific candidates that could be useful as part of his faction, but he also produced it to know where the next red dragon emperor would appear. Vali, the current white dragon empress, was under his protection, and he knew that keeping her away from her possible rival was the best option.
The fight could mean Vali's death or, even worse, lead to her losing her sanity. Azazel wasn't willing to let that happen, so he found the current Red Dragon Emperor through this artifact. Then, after seeing his position, he put the artifact in his vault to prevent any problems with Vali. Finally, he found the artifact on his lab table. Now, he needed to determine who could have taken it out or for what purpose.
Suddenly, the door to the lab opened up.
"Azazel!" Another fallen angel approached him. His name was Shemhazai, and he was known as number two in the faction. "Kokabiel and several other fallen angels have disappeared. Nobody has seen them in the past 16 hours, which is weird even for Kokabiel."
"What? Did he leave a note?" Azazel asks.
"None. Kokabiel's chambers are empty as if he had departed to no return. The other missing members' chambers were found empty as well."
Azazel grows silent before he turns back to the artifact in his hand. "Wait! Kokabiel? Could he? No, it can't be. Damn it! Tell everyone to find Kokabiel and his group right away. Bring them back to me no matter what!"
Shemhazai nods and leaves the room right away.
Azazel was seeing red at the moment. "Kokabiel, how could you? Did you kill that child? You insane bastard!" Azazel wasn't a saint, but he would never go as far as to kill a child that hasn't even awakened his powers. "Damnit!" He looks at the sacred gear seeker and destroys it in anger.
He was tired of fighting and looking to enter an era of peace with the other factions, but it seemed that Kokabiel had other plans.
"When I get my hands on you, Kokabiel, you will wish for a swift death!" Azazel said as he moved to check his lab. If Kokabiel took the sacred gear seeker, he could also have taken other things.
Many hours later, back with Ddraig and Issei.
The boy began to wake up once more after sleeping for many hours. He felt drained of tears and energy, although those things didn't apply in this place. He was sad and depressed after remembering what Ddraig had told him.
He felt empty and devoid of any driving force.
"Issei?" Ddraig asks while he turns back into his human form.
Issei's eyes look at him but lack the life and desire that any human should have. Ddraig wasn't surprised by it as he understood how serious the situation was. Issei was a six-year-old child and lost his family.
He could have easily ignored the child and continued with his plans, but the dragon wouldn't let that happen.
"Issei, grab my hand. I know everything seems meaningless, but I promised to help you fill that void. Nobody can't replace them, and I don't expect you to forget them, but we're going to get through this together. Just keep following me." Ddraig extended his hand towards Issei.
Issei looks at the hand for a moment before he slowly takes it. He didn't know what future awaited him, but Ddraig seemed like one of only two lights in his life at the moment. The second one was Irina, and he doubted that he would see her anytime soon.
Outside of the egg.
Tiamat continued to protect the egg until a particular presence captured her attention.
"My oh my. Another being has decided to take residence within my 'Home.'" The steps of this figure resonated within the dimensional gap as it approached Tiamat and the egg. Its presence was undeniable, and its strength was comparable to Great Red's.
Tiamat saw the figure, and her scales shivered before her presence. Although she looked like a small petite girl, she was far from being just that. "Ophis."
"Would you look at that! My dear Tiamat. How many centuries had passed since we saw each other? 10? 15? I still remember your past self. Afraid of nothing and ready to face any challenge until I smacked some sense into that little head of yours. What do you have there?" Ophis asks as she approaches the egg.
Tiamat quickly hides the egg and disregards her own security to protect it from Ophis. "Stay away. I don't care how strong you are. This egg is mine to protect, and I prefer dying than facing Great Red's anger."
Ophis smiles at her reaction. "It seems you have changed a lot. Just look at you! The big dragon king protects an egg with her life on the line. Don't worry; I don't need to touch it to know who that is. Ddraig, isn't it? That is something I didn't expect to see. The old Welsh Dragon has finally escaped prison and found a new vessel for himself. This is truly an event that needs to be celebrated! Tell me, how did he do it? Did you help him escape?"
Tiamat stays quiet and continues to guard the egg. She didn't care about Ddraig, but he owed her a debt, and Great Red had given her a task, so she was willing to put all in the line for this.
"Not feeling talkative today? Are you worried that I might try to hurt him? My dear Tiamat, you can relax. I won't touch either of you. I'm happy for Ddraig. A dragon like Ddraig will benefit me, so don't stress yourself out. To prove it to you, I will give him a gift." Ophis disappears from Tiamat's sight before reappearing next to the egg. "Ddraig, my sweet Welsh dragon, this is my gift to you. Just a little drop of my power for you. Grow strong, and may one day we meet each other again like the first time we meet back then." Ophis kisses the egg, and a snake pattern appears in the egg for a second before disappearing.
Tiamat is in shock and quickly opens fire against Ophis. Several energy attacks are fired against Ophis, but she gracefully evades each one.
"Are you mad because I kissed your mate?" Ophis asks with a smile on her face.
Tiamat blushes before continuing her assault against Ophis with no positive results.
Before Ophis can continue to enjoy the fun for longer, a massive beam attack connects with her. She blocks most of the damage, but she still is injured by it. Her eyes turn, and she finds him, her nemesis. "Great Red. So, you finally show yourself."
"Leave this place!" He orders before charging a new attack against her.
Ophis smiles before disappearing. "Until we see each other again, Ddraig and friends."
Tiamat takes a couple of deep breaths while feeling how the heavy task in her shoulders has become even worse. She then turns her attention back to the egg and carefully examines it.
"Did she do something to it?" Great Red approaches Tiamat.
"She said she gave him a gift. I don't know why, but she gave him some of her power." Tiamat says.
Great Red stays quiet while he thinks. "That child will never learn and only continues to cause problems for me no matter the place or time. I will take action since there's no other way around it." He turns his eyes towards the much smaller dragoness. "Tiamat, stay still for me." Great Red puts one of his claws on Tiamat's head while the other is placed on top of the egg before he transfers some of his power onto the pair. "I have given you two some of my power. I need you to protect that egg at all costs. I need Ddraig to be even stronger than before. Ensure that nobody gets close to Ddraig until he can defend himself."
Tiamat feels the boost she has received and nods. "I'll ensure he is safe even if my life is at risk."
"Good." Great Red says before going silent. He knew what was approaching and was preparing everything to ensure that his fate didn't repeat itself. Ddraig was a blessing he didn't expect, but he was willing to play his cards much better than his other selves.
With that event out of the way, time kept moving forward. Days became weeks. Weeks became months, and months became two years.
A particular day.
Tiamat was resting while paying close attention to her surroundings. The egg had turned darker and bigger after so long. She wasn't able to distinguish the insides of the egg. Since Ophis, few other entities have approached the dimensional gap. Fallen angels got too close once as curiosity got the best of them.
Rumors began to circulate regarding her and the egg. Devils around Ajuka had said that Tiamat had finally found the perfect mate and was now taking care of the egg. Some angels had to go all the way to the dimensional gap and tried asking her about the egg, but she pushed them away with all her power. But nobody except for her, Great Red, and Ophis truly knew about the true identity of the egg.
She had even started to become a little attached to the egg. She had begun to imagine what new form Ddraig would have after he exited the egg and how much she would grind him into the dirt to make him pay his debt to her.
"I might even consider Great Red's recommendation. Taking ownership of your new life doesn't sound too bad. Making you into my slave sounds like a good idea." She thinks, yet while daydreaming, the egg begins to crack.
"Eh?" The first cracking sound got her attention. "Is it happening?" Tiamat moves the egg a little away from her and watches the process take place.
More cracks began to appear all around, and within a few moments, the egg exploded into pieces. A bright light blinded Tiamat for a few moments before the dragoness saw the awaited dragon.
His body was much more prominent now than his original one. He was as big as a small country while Tiamat was barely city size. He had two sets of wings instead of just one. Bright red pointy feathers constituted the first pair of wings, while the second pair was similar to Tiamat's draconic wings but much more extensive. His scales were mostly ruby-colored, but he also possessed several black and golden-colored ones. Several parts of his body appeared protected by armor, and a bright green jewel shone brightly in his chest. His tail ended in the shape of a trident, unusual for dragons. He had six limbs instead of four, two strong legs, and four monstrous arms that could overpower anyone. His head possesses two curved horns that point toward the front and not just two but six eyes. Finally, instead of one mouth, he had two now, one sitting right on top of the other.
It was indeed a scary sight to witness.
Tiamat was in shock after seeing his appearance, and she even felt a little afraid, but she took the chance. "Ddraig? Is that you?"
This new dragon turns his sight towards her. His six eyes watched her every movement and analyzed her from head to toe. "Thanks for protecting us, Tiamat." His voice was a mix of two very different beings. His body shines once more, and his shape changes again.
Instead of the massive dragon, Tiamat sees a small child with spiky dark brown hair and a few strands of green hair. His eyes were green, and his whole torso had red tattoos that only Ddraig could have. His legs and lower half were currently protected by armor pants and clawed boots that seemed similar and different from the previous armor that the boosted gear offered its user.
His eyes lacked brightness behind them.
Tiamat turns into a human and approaches the child. "Wait, are you Ddraig? Who are you?"
"I'm Issei Welsh. A pleasure meeting you, Tiamat-san." Tiamat heard a child's voice, but his tone was a little somber, and he didn't smile.
The child's eyes turn darker and more draconic before Tiamat hears a different voice. "Yes, I'm Ddraig, the Welsh Dragon in the flesh. Who else are you expecting, Tiamat? Albion?" The voice was deeper and more adult-like.
Tiamat is in shock. "Great Red needs to see this with his own eyes," Tiamat says as she touches him with her claws to ensure she isn't dreaming.
Ddraig seems annoyed by this but says nothing.
Two years had gone by, and the egg had finally opened. The story of Issei Welsh and Ddraig was just starting.
Chapter 3: The future and the Gremorys
Great Red was analyzing him with interest. Now, he knew the backstory behind Ddraig's new freedom; it seemed all thanks to Albion, and he enjoyed every second of it. Ddraig's rival had given him the keys to freedom, but he didn't know it yet. He had many hopes for Ddraig newest vessel, but even he needed help figuring out the current situation. "So, tell me once more, who is in control here? Is it you, Ddraig? Or is it the child who is in control?"
"Both. Right now, it is me who is in control, but we can switch or take control at the same time. We are in synchronization, and the process is not over, but I hope that one day both will finally become one entity. We shared memories and emotions right now, but Issei's soul is still too young to match my own." Ddraig said as he stood up in front of the apocalypse dragon.
"So, you choose a partnership with him? I thought you would take over the body. Now is a perfect vessel, and nobody here is stopping you from doing it. What made you choose this option?" Tiamat asks.
"I never said that I was going to steal his body. He is the latest host of the booster gear. He didn't choose this for himself, nor did he ask for a giant flying lizard to take residence on his body. I have been the cause of many of my previous hosts' madness and destruction; he is my final one. I wasn't going to eliminate him or erase him from existence just because I wanted his body. From now on, we are two entities working in harmony, but one day, we will be one single dragon." Ddraig explained.
Great Red laughs after hearing this; the whole affair was far from what he expected to happen. "You have changed. All of those hosts had their toll on you. So, what are your plans now? I want to know what the great Welsh Dragon will do now. Are you going to look for Albion and his current host? Is a new war going to start?" Great Red wanted to see what Ddraig would do now that he was free. He knew he was far stronger now than back in his previous body, especially after receiving his and Ophis' gifts.
"Japan. Issei wants to look for his parent's graves, and after that, I have some business that I need to take care of before I do anything else. I won't fight Albion, not now nor in the future. I'm not going to continue with our rivalry. The endless fights and destruction of multiple hosts have become unbearable to me. War is also not in my plans. I know that conflicts might come to me even if I don't want them, but I'm not going to attack heaven or the underworld to start a new war. I don't need to prove my strength or challenge nobody." Ddraig lifts his right arm, and a deep crimson flame starts to come out of it. "But if someone tries to fight me, they will pay the highest price."
Tiamat and Great Red were amazed after seeing those flames again. The crimson fire could consume gods and will never die out until his enemies disappear. Ddraig was indeed back and didn't seem willing to offer mercy to his enemies.
"Good, but not enough, Ddraig. I need you and that child to grow far stronger. I'm telling you now, your debt to me is not something you can't easily pay. Get allies and grow even stronger Two-Headed Red Dragon of Chaos. That is your new title, so don't forget it because I'm the one blessing you with it. Now fly and keep growing stronger, my reckless child. Until the day that I require your assistance, keep growing." Great Red says before he begins to leave. "Tiamat, your debt to me is settled. You're free to go."
Both dragons watch as Great Red disappears into the vastness of his territory.
Ddraig stood in silence as he reflected after hearing Great Red's words. "Partner, it seems our future will be even more troublesome than we thought."
"We knew that this was going to happen. You asked Great Red for help, and we'll have to pay the price one day. Nothing more and nothing less. We still need to talk to Tiamat." Issei replied.
Ddraig turns towards Tiamat. It had been a long time since the two of them met. He knew this would happen, so he took a deep breath before talking. "Sorry. I know I will never replace those objects, but I'm willing to pay any price. If you give me some time, I might be able to get you some other items as initial compensation."
Tiamat stays quiet. She was thinking about how to approach this issue. Those items were irreplaceable to her, but she had allowed him to borrow them because they used to be friends, and she had a crush on him back then. It was quite a massive crush on the wild and careless Red Dragon Emperor, and now he was willing to pay any price. Maybe it was due to the long wait, her lack of any mate, or the previous suggestion of Great Red, but she went ahead and said. "I want you. I know that I might not be the only one, but I want you as my mate. I want a child with you. A child is not replaceable and has no price tag. I want one with you, the Welsh Dragon." She said just like that.
Everything went silent. Ddraig and Issei were in shock. They couldn't believe what they were hearing. Tiamat, one of the dragon kings, had asked them for a child. Ddraig had no interest in relationships since he came into existence, and Issei was still a child, although one with the memories of many adults. He had absorbed all those husks into himself during the two years they were inside the egg, but he was still eight. "You want us to become parents?" Asks the fused voice of Issei and Ddraig. "We're still a child."
"No, you're not. That appearance of a child is not your real self. You're a dragon, quite the massive one. You two are almost one entity, and you said you would fuse into one at some point. You are Ddraig and Issei, The Two-Headed Red Dragon of Chaos, so take responsibility and stop escaping from me. I have been chasing after you for several centuries, and now is my chance, so don't give me more excuses. I'm tired of waiting and tired of the chase. You can take a thousand more mates, but as long as I'm the first and number one, I don't care." Tiamat says before she transforms into her humanoid form. She then lunges forward before she grabs him and forces a kiss between each other. She had waited centuries for this stupid hot-headed lizard with wings, and now that he had gained a body. He was also more mature and seemed stronger than before; she wouldn't let him escape.
She was rash and seemed very inexperienced with her kiss, but something special was behind it. Her feelings towards Ddraig were transmitted to the pair through that single kiss.
Ddraig and Issei didn't move or back away. Instead, the pair seemed frozen in place. A thousand emotions and thoughts were going through their minds.
The kiss continued for a few more moments until Tiamat let go of them. Her eyes didn't move away from the sight before her.
The Welsh Dragon was immobile and silent. His eyes turned lighter, and before long, he began to talk. "He shut down," Issei said.
"What?" Tiamat asks.
"He is still coming to terms with your confession. He doesn't want to talk to you for at least now, but he says he accepts. I'm still unsure of this. I don't know you personally, although he and I shared memories. No matter what you say, I'm still a child, so I ask for some cooperation. We can be mates, but I can't become a parent without knowing you, so I ask for a period for us to get to know each other. Ddraig says that this would be the best for us." Issei says as he bows to her and awaits her answer.
Tiamat stays quiet and reflects on this. She had waited for him this long, and now he had him, but Issei was also in the mix. She didn't consider him and made her declaration without caring about his opinion. "Why are we so impulsive as a species?" She asked herself as she realized the mess she had created. "Issei, right?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry for all of this. I was too impulsive."
"Yes, you were."
"How long do you want us to get to know each other?"
"I'm eight, but at least three years of getting to know each other might work for us. None of this is normal, but I must adapt and stop thinking like a human. If you give me three years to get to know each other, we can make this work. Ddraig might also need that time. He has zero experience with romantic emotions, although he has seen many things through the previous hosts' eyes. He says that he doesn't find you distasteful or unattractive, but he has never thought about any kind of relationship before. Back then, it was far from possible for him, and he knew it. Fighting Albion and being strong was far more important than having a mate."
"Got it. Ddraig was far too violent and destructive for females other than me to approach him easily. So, three years of being 'boyfriend' and 'girlfriend'?"
"That's the plan, and about those other mates. Do you think we will fall into that kind of relationship?"
"Issei, you're a dragon and one of the strongest. You will surely find other females for whom you might develop feelings, and trust me is bound to happen. Your instincts will tell you to make them yours once they kick in, and that will surely happen unless you gain control over them. Tannin is a dragon that lives in the underworld and has many mates. He has a clan full of his children with different females. It is part of males' nature and is not uncommon in the supernatural world for it to happen. Devils do it quite often, and dragons aren't that different." Tiamat says before she approaches Issei and hugs him. "Thank you for not denying my wish. I hate both of you for what you did, but I've been waiting far too long for this." She says before she bites his neck. The injury isn't significant, but blood still comes out.
Issei twitches a little and feels a burning sensation throughout his whole body.
"Now, do the same to me. This action is how we mark each other as mates." Tiamat says after she releases him. She licks the blood from her lips and shows her neck to him.
Issei feels a driving force pushing him to do it. His eyes grow wide and more draconic. His teeth moved to attack her neck. He is a beast enthralled by the hunt; he bites her more and falls deeper into his draconic desires.
"Do it. Make Tiamat yours." The voices of the husks were like the small devil pushing people into doing evil deeds.
Tiamat moans after feeling his teeth sinking into her flesh. Her body rejoices after feeling that he is finally hers. She smiles after he releases her. She watches as he cleans the blood off his lips. "Good. Remember to keep those instincts in check when you control your body. Your emotions can be a brutal force driving you into unpleasant situations. Now follow me."
Issei sees how she opens a rift in space. "Where are we going?"
"Underworld. You need clothes, especially if you want to go to the human world. I don't think armor and a naked torso are adequate for someone to walk around the human world." Tiamat says before she grabs his hand. "Let's go."
Issei nods and follows her. The warmth of her hand was a welcoming sensation, and the former human couldn't help but smile again.
Back in the Underworld.
The devil world was relatively peaceful that day until Lilith's citizens fell under that immense presence. Demons all around turned their sights toward where Tiamat and Issei had appeared.
"A child?"
"How is that child so strong?"
"This can't be real."
The voices of the devils' present reach Issei's ears. He had forgotten to hide his power.
"Issei, hide it now! We don't want to start a fight with whoever is in power." Ddraig advised his partner.
Issei did as told. The flaming aura surrounding him decreased and almost disappeared, reducing the area's tension just a little bit.
"Follow me and ignore them. They will relax after some time." Tiamat said.
Issei nodded before following Tiamat around. The buildings, sky, and atmosphere felt different from the human world. Devils looked similar to humans, but their wings, tails, horns, and other minor physical characteristics ensured that he never confused the two; although not many devils possessed tails or horns, they were still devils.
"Here we are," Tiamat said as they stopped in front of a clothes store. "I'm paying, so I can choose what you will wear."
Issei didn't object to it. "I trust you with it."
Time went by pretty quickly. Tiamat had fun as she chose many different styles of clothes for him. Suits, jackets, shirts, and many other clothing articles were bought for the Welsh Dragon.
"Use this chance, Tia. He looks way too good like this. He is cute enough to rock almost any style." Tiamat told herself with a cheeky grin on her face.
Now Issei was wearing a nice black business suit and a red long-sleeve shirt. "Nice choice." Instead of Issei, it was now Ddraig who was talking.
"So, you finally decide to talk. I thought Issei would accompany me for the rest of the day. I bought it for him because he looked cute in it." Tiamat said with a hint of anger in her voice.
Ddraig sights. "Tia, this is not easy for me. I have zero experience with love affairs."
"Neither do I. Do you think I had one-night stands throughout all these centuries? I'm freaking Tiamat, The Chaos Karma Dragon. I don't sleep around with any cute male that comes around. I had my eyes on you since the beginning, and no one else has taken that place. I hate you so much, but at the same time, I waited for you, and now you're hiding behind Issei instead of talking to me." A flaming blue aura surrounds her body.
"I'm sorry for not considering your feelings for all of this time. I also found you attractive back then, but my mind wasn't interested in any of it. Just don't attack me and try to rip my head off. We can work through this and make it work, but you have to give me time." Ddraig pleads.
Tiamat looks at him and thinks for a second before cooling down. "You better not run or hide behind Issei. You know what I can do to you even if you're stronger than me."
"I know, and I won't run away; just don't get physical. Issei shares all the pain with me, and I prefer evading that if it's unnecessary." Ddraig says after seeing that he evaded a landmine. "Now I think we should focus on those devils outside the store. I can feel their anxiousness and fear."
"It was bound to happen. At least the group is being cordial enough to wait until we were done with our shopping. Do you want me to save the clothes in my pocket dimension?"
"No, I have my own." Ddraig looks at the bags of clothes and makes them disappear instantly. "Now, let's see who the new person is in charge of this city."
"That would be Sirzechs Lucifer. After the previous hosts of the boosted and dividing gear died, many events occurred. There was a civil war in the underworld. The old satan faction and the anti-satan faction clashed against each other, and in the end, Sirzechs and his allies won. He and Ajuka Astaroth are the most known figures in the underworld. I work for Ajuka at the moment." Tiamat explains.
"Sirzechs as in Sirzechs Gremory? I never thought the kid would finally have it in him to kill the old farts. Well, let's see what he looks like now." Ddraig says as he moves towards the door.
The store owner, who was shivering through all of this, bows to her customers, Tiamat smiles at the devil and drops a bag of money on the table closest to her.
"Thank you for the clothes. I enjoyed the selection you offered." Tiamat says before following her mate.
POV: Sirzechs.
He was calm, but those around him were a mess. He heard the rumors and even felt the surge in power when they arrived at the city, but he still couldn't believe it. "Ajuka, if everything goes to hell, please take care of my family."
"Sirzechs, what are you saying?" Ajuka replied.
"We both know I'm the one that can prevent the most damage even if I get killed at the end. I hope Rias can forgive me and Grayfia can find happiness after I'm gone." Sirzechs says.
"Oh, you- "But the doors opened before Ajuka could say something else.
Ajuka, Sirzechs, and all the other devil soldiers accompanying them turn their sights toward the pair. They knew Tiamat very well, but her partner was a completely different case.
"Ajuka, Sirzechs, how are you doing?" Tiamat asks.
"Tiamat, who is he?" Ajuka asks, completely ignoring her question.
"I don't think we should discuss my identity in the middle of the streets. But, Sirzechs, I believe we can talk in a more peaceful place. I expect better treatment for someone who is the bright star of the Gremory family." Ddraig says.
"That voice… no... is impossible... but how?" Sirzechs asked after remembering that voice. He had met him once many years ago while the previous Red Dragon Emperor was still alive.
"Sirzechs, relax. We can talk about it once we are in a more private place." Ddraig said as he approached the current satans. "Don't worry; I will not attack or do anything against you, so just guide us to a more private place."
Sirzechs sighs. "Lower your weapons; this being is an acquaintance of mine."
Ajuka looks surprised at this but says nothing against it.
Sometime later, Gremory's residence.
Ddraig sat at a table alongside Tiamat, Ajuka, Sirzechs, Grayfia, Zeoticus Gremory, and Venelana Gremory. The tensions were still high, but not one of the devils was willing to move a finger.
"Ajuka, Grayfia, mom and dad, this person is Ddraig, the Welsh Dragon in the flesh," Sirzechs says after being unable to endure the tension for longer.
The shock on the faces of those present was less than unexpected, and their fears only increased.
"But how? None of this should be possible. You're supposed to be inside the boosted gear." Ajuka says.
"Indeed, I was, but that is the past. Please relax; I'm not going to attack any of you. Yes, I'm free from the boosted gear, but that doesn't mean I will start blasting attacks all around." Ddraig says.
But nobody truly believes it. It took an alliance of gods, devils, and fallen angels to kill him once. They didn't have the same resources to do it again, and the situation between the factions could have been better, but it wasn't.
Tiamat sees their faces and decides to interfere. "Ddraig, bring Issei out. It might be better for him to talk for the both of you."
"Sure," Ddraig says before he changes places with Issei. "Hello, members of the Gremory family and Ajuka-san. My name is Issei Welsh; I'm the original owner of this body."
"Wait, what? How? When?" Asks Sirzechs after hearing the change in tone.
"If all of you give some of your time, I will give you the answers you want. So please pay attention to my story." Issei said before he began to tell them his story.
A short time after Issie's story.
"So, you were human?" Zeoticus asks.
"Yes," Issei replies.
"And you are sharing a body with Ddraig?" Venelana continues.
"That is the case, although we're trying to become one single being in the future." Issei continues.
"Are you fine with that?" Ajuka asks.
"My body was burned alive; I prayed for salvation, and Ddraig saved me. I lost my family and my humanity and have nothing else except for him. Sharing a body with him is not something I dislike, nor do I worry about becoming one being with him. I lost far too much, and I can't go back. What's done can't be reversed." Issei explains with a somber tone.
Tiamat grabs his hand as a sign of support, and the other watches the interaction with curiosity.
"What about the booster gear? Do you have it? Or was it destroyed?" Grayfia asks. After hearing the story, she had curiosity regarding the sacred gear and its final fate.
"We absorbed it. Right now, it is no longer what it initially was. It can't even be considered sacred gear after what we did with it. Its remains had become part of this body." Issei focuses for a second before some kind of gauntlet covers his left arm. It was very different from the usual booster gear armor; this one was red and black with golden jewels. His fingers were sharp like knives.
Ajuka and Sirzechs watched the gauntlet with total surprise. The aura that emanated from the arm was strong; neither of them wanted to receive any attack from that arm.
Issei focuses once more, and the gauntlet disappears.
"So, no more humans having the boosted gear? That surely has heaven in complete chaos. Who else knows about your freedom Welsh Dragon?" Ajuka asks.
"Ophis, Great Red, and Tiamat are the only ones that know about it. I have been trapped within an egg for the past two years, and as you might expect, Tiamat was protecting it. I don't think someone else knows about it, but I can't be 100% sure." Issei admits.
"We can expect that the heavens at least know. The fallen angels might lack this information." Sirzechs says. "What are your plans now? You are free from the boosted gear, and it doesn't seem you possess any alliances. Are you open to starting a treaty with us?"
Issei stays quiet before he responds. "I want to return to the human world. Kuoh town is my home, and at least I want to find the remains of my parents. Ddraig has other places he wants to visit as well. For now, I can agree to have a relationship of no aggression between each other but nothing else, at least for now."
"You know that Kuoh town is part of our territory. If you need help finding their tomb or getting your last house back, we can help you without any additional conditions," Sirzechs says.
"Not a single one?" Issei asks. He was analyzing all of Sirzechs actions and words for any possible lies.
"None; just accepting a treaty of non-aggression with us is enough. I know that Ddraig can cause more deaths than I could ever imagine, and not having you as an enemy is a big step. I can even offer you a room within this house until you're ready to leave for the human world." Sirzechs says before extending a hand toward Issei. "Do I have your word?"
Issei looks at him for a few moments before closing the treaty with Sirzechs. "You can trust us. We will not attack the devil's faction or its members."
The other devils present sight in relief after hearing this. A heavenly dragon wasn't an enemy they wanted to have, especially now that he was free to do as he pleased.
Ajuka and Sirzechs also knew that if they played their cards right, they could gain an ally instead of an enemy.
Tiamat was happy that the current satans were smart enough not to provoke Ddraig and chose a peaceful approach with him. If they decided to attack him, she would fight with Ddraig regardless of her association with Ajuka.
The reunion was going well, but a certain red-headed girl entered the room catching everyone by surprise.
"Rias? What are you doing here? This is a private meeting, Rias." Zeoticus asked after seeing his youngest daughter.
"Sorry, I just-" Before Rias could say another word, her body froze after seeing him.
His green eyes were so scary but, at the same time, so appealing to her. She feared his presence, but it also called her to approach him. Her heart stopped for a second, and she felt she couldn't move her eyes away from him. "Who are you?" She asked with difficulty.
His face told her about the deep sadness he had to endure, but that small smile towards her was enough to capture her attention. "Issei is my name."
That was the first time they met, and it became the beginning of something she couldn't let go of for the rest of her life.