"Want some tea, Issei-kun?"
"Oh, sure."
Issei nodded, smiling at Akeno as he glanced up from his homework, which he had been working on since arriving in the clubroom that afternoon. It was a relatively peaceful day at Kuoh Academy, two weeks after the Sport Festival and the attack of Khaos Brigade in the Underworld. Things had remained calm since then, giving Issei and everyone at the Occult Research Club a rare chance to settle back into their usual high school routines.
Setting the tray she carried down on the table in front of him, Akeno returned his smile with her own before pouring her signature green tea into a cup. Steam rose in delicate swirls, filling the clubroom with a gentle fragrance. Smiling and nodding his head in appreciation to his girlfriend, Issei accepted the cup from her hands, feeling the warmth seep into his palms before taking a sip.
"Having trouble?" Akeno asked, leaning slightly forward at the waist as her eyes drifted toward his notebook. Currently, there was only just them in the clubroom, with Rias leaving to meet with the Student Council with Kiba, and the others having their own classroom activities to attend to before continuing with their daily devil activities at the end of the day after school.
"Not really. It's just the same math problem, that's all." Issei answered with a shrug, setting the half-full cup down before picking up his pencil again to spin it between his fingers.
Akeno looked a little closer before pointing at one of the lines he had written down. "If you try rearranging the equation from here instead, the problem works itself out much more easily."
Issei blinked, then used the eraser to clear the mistake before marking down the corrected steps. "…Huh. That actually works."
Akeno smiled, resting her chin in her palm. "See? Sometimes all you need is a little guidance."
He gave her a lopsided grin. "Guess I should start asking you for help more often."
"You know I'm always happy to help you, Issei-kun, regardless of the problem."
Akeno beamed at her boyfriend, making Issei turn to her and stare for a moment before returning the smile with a wide grin of his own. As he turned back to do the rest of his homework, he soon noticed Akeno still lingering nearby. When he glanced over again, he caught the small frown on her face as she lowered herself onto the couch beside him.
"Say, Issei-kun…" She began softly, "Did you know that Rias recently signed her name up for Raiding?"
"She did?" Issei asked in surprise. The Devil Jobs Rias usually took on was nothing like that, as they varied from listening to the troubles of wealthy clients to removing curses from their heirlooms. Taking part in raids, venturing into Gates filled with magic beasts and participating in its clearing by defeating those monsters… not that he had any doubt on his crimson haired girlfriend and her capabilities to handle it, but that kind of Devil Job was still a big leap from the kind of work she normally accepted. He had nothing against it, though, since he had been meaning to ask if she wanted to join him ever since requests for his assistance started flying in from the Heroes.
Normally, it was the responsibility of high-class devils and their Peerage to handle Gates that appeared within the territory they oversaw, unless the level of the threat was beyond their ability to manage, at which point they had to report back to the professionals. Rias and Sona, however, had never been forced to face such challenges. For reasons no one seemed to be able to explain, Gates had never appeared in Kuoh since their first appearances over seventeen years ago, meaning the two heiresses had never needed to lead raids despite being fully qualified to do so, as Issei had heard.
"Yes. I heard she'll be working with a Raid Team from the Crimson Emporium next week. Her father only allowed her to participate as a supporter for now though… you know how that goes." Issei nodded his head in understanding. Rias working for her father and his Emporium was something he had no trouble expecting, but he could also imagine Lord Gremory opposing her participation with the main strike teams at first. Raiding was dangerous, easily one of the most dangerous Devil Jobs currently, after all, and it must have taken quite a bit of persuasion on her part to win Zeoticus over, with how much he cared for his daughter and her well-being.
Pausing for a second, Akeno smiled before adding. "As soon as I become a Middle-class devil, I plan to do the same."
"You too?" Issei asked, his eyes widening slightly in surprise.
"Yes, and I… Rias and I both, we are hoping that you can show us the rope when the time comes." Akeno nodded, her smile fading slightly as she looked down at her hands, making Issei stop and look at her before he could wholeheartedly agree to her wish. "The recent events have made me truly understand just how weak I was, Issei-kun."
Issei blinked, taken aback by the seriousness in her tone, and for the moment, the usual teasing glint in her eyes was nowhere to be found as she looked at him.
Then it hit him. Issei had been thinking about it a lot, about his battle against Sillad, how utterly outclassed he had been by the Ice Elf, how Sillad had overwhelmed him in every way. His mind had been fixed on how he could get stronger, how much he needed to level up to stand against such an overwhelming foe… In a way, he could still feel every blow Sillad had brought against his body, despite the fact that his recovery had been swift thanks to his ability.
It had never occurred to him how the others felt, how desperately they had wanted to rush in to help him, and how their inability to move even a muscle, paralyzed by fear and terror, must have weighed heavily on their own thoughts. They kept it to themselves well, but he could see it in their eyes back then.
After all, they cared about him just as much as he cared about them.
"I couldn't do anything when you fought that Ice Elf. I was rooted to the spot, too scared to even do anything to help you. I don't ever want that to happen again." Akeno stated firmly, her voice carrying a burning determination that left no room for doubt. "I want to become stronger, stronger than I ever will be… so I could stand and fight by your side, Issei-kun."
Issei opened his mouth, but no words came out. He wanted to tell her it was his job to protect her, Rias, and everyone else. That they would never need to shoulder the same dangers he did, because he was there to take them on, because that was the very reason he pushed himself to grow stronger.
But the look in her eyes stopped him. Akeno, and probably Rias too… they had never wished for him to carry those burdens alone. What they wanted was the strength to stand and fight beside him, to help him in any way they could.
"We can sign up as a group, right?" Issei asked, making Akeno nod her head in confirmation. For the time being, the only devils that were qualified to participate in Raid from their Peerage were him and Rias, with Akeno being able to join them soon since she would take her Middle-class Promotion Test in a few days. It was normal for an entire Peerage to be hired, since strength in numbers and teamwork were crucial in every Raid, especially with the current outbreak of Red Gates all over the world.
Issei would love to know if Ravel and Ingvild were interested to join as well. He had a feeling the former would be great working as a supporter or even a raid leader.
"Great, let's do it then. Soon as you become a Middle-class devil, the three of us should register together for Raids." Issei then said, nodding his head to Akeno, who beamed at him in response.
"Thank you, Issei-kun." She said, making Issei grin at her. "To tell you the truth, Rias and I were a bit worried about how you'd react, since we have never done anything like it before, and you know all too well how dangerous a Raid could be…"
Issei scratched the back of his head, letting out a small laugh. "Yeah, I know. But to be honest with you, I'd rather be supportive with these kinds of decisions that you girls make. Besides, I have always wanted all of us to become middle-class devils and take on a Gate together. It'd be really fun."
The smile Akeno wore on her face widened as her eyes lit up. "Then it's a promise. Once I pass the test, we'll make it happen."
"Definitely." Issei said, making Akeno lean forward and give him a quick peck on the cheek. "I think I'll talk to Rias about it later as well. Maybe we can convince her father to let her join the Raid team as well whenever I'm around to make sure that she's safe." Not that he doubted the men and women working for the Crimson Emporium wouldn't do everything in their power to protect her, but the pressure of having to safeguard the daughter of their boss would for sure hinder their combat capabilities. As for him? He had an entire army to make sure that nothing even came close to laying a hand on her.
"Rias will be glad to hear that. And honestly, so am I." Akeno smiled at him just as the door to the clubroom swung open. Rias entered with Kiba walking beside her. The crimson-haired heiress made her way across the room and slid into the seat Akeno had just vacated as her Queen gave their boyfriend a playful wink before standing up to move back to her station, letting her best friend settle down right next to Issei.
"So, how did the meeting with the student council go?" Issei asked, turning toward her.
Rias smiled. "We have the School Festival coming in a month. It will be just like last year where each club and classroom will prepare a shop or attraction for everyone to enjoy."
Issei let out a small chuckle. "We sure have a lot of events and festivals here. Didn't the Occult Research Club open a haunted house last year? I didn't get to see it myself, but I heard it was really popular and scary because everything looked so realistic."
"Yes. We did use real ghosts after all. It turned out better than I expected." Rias replied as if it was the most natural response ever.
"…Seriously?"
"Yeah. I also hired some local Youkai living in town for the job too. Since they were having trouble finding work at the time, it was a win-win situation for us. Heard they took the experiences and opened a really popular haunted house in Tokyo." Rias answered with pride in her tone, which drew a playful giggle from Akeno and an amused chuckle from Kiba as well.
"Good for them then." Issei smiled. "So, are we gonna do a haunted house again this year? Or do you have something else in mind?"
Rias leaned to the side and rested her chin against her hand, her crimson hair slipping over her shoulder as she thought aloud. "I was considering it, but it will be boring recycling the same content two years in a row."
"How about a maid café?" Akeno suggested, making Issei instantly point at her with a wide grin "Ara, I knew someone would be excited by the idea."
"That sounds good too. I'll think about it." Rias said, giving a small smile.
As the discussion continued, moving to other subjects, the door to the clubroom opened again. Ingvild was the first to join them, giving everyone a polite bow before making her way toward her usual spot by the window. It was clear that she had grown accustomed to Japanese tradition.
A little while later, Asia, Irina, and Xenovia stepped inside, the trio chatting lively as they carried themselves in. Gasper followed behind them, clutching his bag close before slipping into the room with his usual nervousness. At least he no longer immediately tried to hide his face behind a paper bag or himself in his usual box.
Konek and Ravel arrived last, the two of them coming straight from class together. Issei heard that their rivalry had gotten pretty intense lately, carrying over into their performances in class as well, with both girls constantly trying to outdo each other. It seemed to be a good thing, because it pushed Koneko into being more social with her classmates. Before, she barely spared them more than a few polite gestures, but now she had started to talk to them more. Accepting herself for who she was had clearly done her a lot of good.
Within minutes, the room felt full and lively again, with each member of the club naturally falling into their usual routines.
Still, it was in the middle of another discussion about their shop at the upcoming School Festival that Rias' phone buzzed on the desk beside her. She glanced at the name flashing across the screen before picking up. "Sona? Did you forget to tell me something during the meeting earlier?"
Her tone was calm at first, but her expression steadily shifted as the other heiress spoke. A crease formed between her brows, her lips pressing into a thin line as the room around her carried on before Issei noticed her expression and signaled the others to turn their attention to Rias.
"…I see. We'll be ready."
When she ended the call, all eyes were already on her.
After sunset, Issei and the Occult Research Club found themselves teleporting to the abandoned factory on the far side of Kuoh town, the same place that they had hunted down the stray devil Visor long ago. The moment that they reached the area, everyone could feel an unusual weight in the air, a suffocating heaviness that pressed against their senses.
The factory itself was in disrepair, with broken windows, rusted metal beams, and the faint smell of oil and decay hanging in the air. Anyone with a keen sense could detect multiple presences within, scattered but alert.
"… Gremory, huh. You guys sure came quickly."
A man wearing a black robe came out from the darkness. Around him, abnormal, black, human-shaped creatures emerged. Not just in dozens. A single glance around was enough for Issei to instantly tell that there was easily over a hundred more of these devils and monsters inside the factory, all poised and waiting.
"Remnants of the Old Maou Faction." Rias said coolly as she took a step forward "You guys sure look like headless chickens without your masters."
The devil in black laughed, a low, menacing sound that echoed through the factory. "Mock all you want, sister of that false Maou. But we have enough strength here to tear you apart. The question is… would you join them, Ingvild-sama, or you would join us so together, we can take back what was rightfully yours from these filths you are standing with?"
With that, he turned his gaze to Ingvild, who said nothing at first, her hand clenching the Thetis Grimoire tightly before she stepped up to join Rias, speaking up loud and clear for the entire factory to hear. "I have no interest in joining you."
"Such a pity."
With a sudden motion, the devil in a black robe snapped his fingers. The black humanoid creatures around him surged forward, their fangs and claws aimed at the group.
Rias and Ingvild acted first, their hands extending forward as they called for their demonic power. The Thetis Grimoire Ingvild held in her hands flared with a brilliant blue light as twin currents of water swirled around her outstretched arm, blasting forward alongside the wave of Power of Destruction unleashed by Rias. The two waves struck the advancing creatures, annihilating several and blasting the others across the factory floor.
Several devils shot out from the abandoned factory, leaping over the scattered monsters as they rushed toward the group. Issei met them head on, slashing his Kamish daggers through the attackers before they could get close. Kiba moved right beside him, his Holy Demonic sword materializing in his palm as he parried a strike aimed at him from the side before countering with a clean sweep that sent two devils collapsing while screaming in pain as the holy energy of his Balance Breaker seared into their fleshes.
"Out of my way!" Xenovia roared as she brought Durandal down, striking the ground with such force that the ground cracked and several devils closest to her were sent flying across the factory floor. Without a moment of hesitation, the former exorcist spun on her heel, slashing through two more attackers who had tried to flank her from behind before locking her eyes on a massive humanoid monster. Charged forward, she leaped into the air and brought Durandal down toward the creature in a devastating overhead strike. The blade sliced through its arm and chest in one motion, cleaving the monster in two while it let out a deafening roar.
"Behind you, Xenovia!" Irina shouted from above, her wings carrying her effortlessly as she swooped down. In a fluid motion, she summoned two spears of pure light and hurled them toward the devils attempting to sneak up on Xenovia from behind. The two spears impaled the attackers through the and pinned them to the factory wall, their bodies crumpling under its holy energy.
"Nice save!" Xenovia called out, spinning Durandal around to strike the next wave of approaching devils. Issei stepped forward alongside Kiba, cutting through the remaining attackers with swift, precise movements. Beside them, Koneko weaved through the approaching enemies, her palms striking each of them just once, leaving them crumpled on the floor with blood spurting from their mouths.
"Akeno!"
"Right with you, Ingvild-chan!" Akeno shouted back, her fingers crackling with arcs of holy lightning as she thrust her hand forward, sending a blast of energy toward the water dragon Ingvild had summoned. The lightning coursed through the water, illuminating the factory with a blinding glow as the two forces merged into the shape of a massive, electrified dragon, which coiled and lunged forward, plowing through the advancing humanoid monsters. Any creature caught in its path was electrocuted instantly, while the force of its movement slammed the others to the ground. Dust, debris, and crackling energy filled the air as the combined attack carved a clear path through the factory, leaving their enemies either dead or incapacitated just long enough to see their life being removed by the close ranged combatants.
"Rias, with me!" Issei shouted, sprinting forward as the remaining monsters scattered, leaving the black-robed leader exposed. The man turned, his eyes narrowing as a pair of swords shot out from under his robe, the blades clashing against Issei's daggers with sparks flying from the impact. Issei twisted and kicked off the floor, using the momentum to land a series of rapid strikes, each one forcing the leader to block and step back.
Sparks flew with every clash of their blades, the sound echoing throughout the factory before the enemy leader let out a desperate roar, his demonic power flaring around him as he swung his first blade. Issei raised his daggers just in time, blocking the strike before narrowing his eyes slightly as he sensed the second blade from the other side, aimed to catch him off guard, but Issei reacted instantly.
[Boost!]
With Boosted Gear materializing on his left arm, Issei grabbed the incoming blade and shattered it by clenching his fist, turning the expression the enemy leader wore on his face into that of horror. Before he could react, Issei surged forward and smashed his forehead into the enemy leader with a brutal headbutt that broke his nose and staggered him back. The man stumbled, dropping his other sword and leaving himself wide open.
[Skill Activated] – Vital Slash.
Without hesitation, Issei dashed forward, his movement becoming a blur as he zoomed past the enemy leader with the larger Kamish blade flashing in the dim light before slicing cleanly across his neck. The man let out a strangled gasp before collapsing to the floor, his black robe pooling around him as it was slowly soaked in his blood.
Issei stepped back, lowering his blades as he scanned the factory. The remaining humanoid monsters and enemies were being efficiently taken down by his friends, with Rias, Akeno, and Ingvild clearing paths with their combined demonic powers. Gradually, the chaos faded, settling the abandoned factory once again into silence, with nothing but the occasional clatters of fallen debris and the heavy breathing of the fighters breaking the silence.
Issei wiped the blood from his blades and glanced at his friends. "Everyone okay?" He called out, his voice echoing slightly in the vast, empty space.
"Yeah. Is that all of them?" Xenovia asked, resting Durandal on her shoulder while scanning the factory.
"Think so." Issei confirmed, watching as Asia and Gasper rushed toward them from the backline. Issei just gave a reassuring smile and waved his hand at the blonde when she went to him, signaling that he was completely fine and letting her move on to the others.
"Yuuto, can you go outside and inform Sona that we're done here?" Rias asked, glancing at her Knight, who nodded his head to her in understanding before swiftly moving toward the exit. Per agreement between Rias and Sona, the Sitri Peerage would stand guard outside the factory, not only to ensure that none of the enemies could escape but also to serve as a backup plan if the Occult Research Club failed to eliminate the enemies. Not that Sona had any doubt in their abilities, but a backup plan was always necessary just in case.
"You didn't summon your shadows, Issei-kun?" Akeno asked as she walked over to Issei, who glanced over to her and gave his girlfriend a quick, meaningful wink.
"Well, I thought you guys had it handled pretty well." Issei replied with a grin before looking over to Ingvild to ask her "How's the Grimoire, Ingvild?"
"It's amazing, Ise." Ingvild said, her eyes beaming with excitement as she looked at the Thetis Grimoire in her hands. As the descendant of the original Leviathan, her skill in water magic had already been impressive, but the Grimoire had clearly pushed her abilities several levels beyond what Ingvild was already capable of. Even Sona, who came from a devil household specialized in water magic, had complimented her power with the Grimoire after seeing them in action during the terrorist attack in the Underworld.
"We're clear, everyone." Rias spoke up after Kiba returned "We can head back now."
"Fun night." Issei commented with a smile as he stretched, cracking his shoulders before putting away his weapons to ask. "Alright, anyone up for grabbing some snacks before we call it a night?"
"Count me in, Issei-kun!" Irina replied cheerily, with Xenovia and Asia joining her. A few more nods and murmurs of agreement also went around, before the group made their way back outside to say goodbye to the Sitri Peerage and used the magic circle they had set up for them to teleport home.
"Welcome back, Issei-sama, Rias-sama, everyone!"
As they teleported back, arriving in the VIP meeting room on the sixth floor of Hyoudou Residence, Ravel was there to greet them, appearing to have been waiting on the couch the whole time. After a brief exchange of greeting, she walked over to Issei and handed him a sealed envelope bearing the crest of the Heroes Faction.
"This just arrived for you, Issei-sama. It's from the Hero Faction." She said, making Issei widen his eyes slightly before accepting the envelope from Ravel. With a hurried, but swift motion, he tore it open and pulled out the letter inside, glancing down at the neatly written words and scanning through them quickly, his expression shifting from curiosity to shock before finally breaking into a wide, excited grin.
"Ise, is it…" Rias asked curiously as Issei turned around and showed her the letter.
"My job application got accepted!" he announced, his excitement practically radiating as smiles spread out on the faces of everyone in the room. "Cid wants me to come to the Hero Faction headquarters in Tokyo tomorrow for a tryout!"
"MASTER CID! MASTER CID!"
Cid looked up from the paperwork he was signing to see Isla rushing into his office, breathless. "What is it, Isla?" He asked.
"Sir… the Raid on the S-rank Gate on Jeju Island in Korea has failed!"
She gasped, struggling to catch her breath. Cid immediately shot up from his seat, his eyes widening while the tension in his expression made it clear he already knew what his personal assistant was about to inform him next.
"The Gate… it has broken."
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Race: Reincarnated Devil / Dragon
Class: Level 50 Dragonsworn / Level 39 Shadow Monarch
HP: 25,821/25,821
MP [Current Attribute: Draconic/Demonic] : 8450/8450
Link Gauge: 120/120
Title: Champion of the Dragons
Strength: 277 (28)
Vitality: 221 (22)
Intelligence: 244 (24)
Dexterity: 226 (23)
Perception: 206 (21)
Charisma: 196 (20)
Unique Class Skills: Fire Imbue (LV3), Shadow Extraction (LV1), Shadow Storage (LV1), Karma (LV1), Shadow Exchange (LV1).
Active skills: Doubling (LV4), Transfer (LV4), Penetrate (LV4), Sprint (Max Level), Vital Slash (LV1), Jump (Max Level – Equipment Ability), Observe (LV2), Ruler's Hands (LV1), Phoenix Shift (LV2).
Active spells: Fire balls (LV4 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Firewall (LV4 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Lightning Strike (LV2 – Lightning Dragon Pact Affected), Water Blast (LV2 - Water Dragon Pact Affected), Earth Shield (LV1), ...
Current Pacts: Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) – Pact LV3, Chaos Karma Dragon Tiamat (Fire) – Pact LV1, Rassei (Lightning) – Pact LV1, Ingvild Leviathan (Water) – Pact LV4
Current Shadows: 350 / 520 (Wolves 29. Panthers 18. Shadow Troopers 118. Shadow Elementals 27. Magicians 34. Shadow Elves 42. Fallen Angels 13. Orcs 69)
Elite Shadows: Asterius (Knight), Vulcan (Knight), Tempest (Knight), Lycaon (Elite Knight), Tora (Elite Knight), Blade (Elite Knight), Gladio (Elite Knight), Glacia (Elite Knight), Katerea (Elite Knight), Aegis (Elite Knight).
Items: Boosted Gear (LV5), Razan's Blade (LVMAX), Magitek General's Helmet (LVMAX), 1.[High-ranking Demon] Armor Set (LV1), [Obsidian] Jewelry Set (LV1), Kamish's Awaken (LV?), Key to the Demon's Castle, Ascalon R1 (LV40), Orb of Avarice, Yarn of Ariadne.
Potions: Healing Potions x15, Mana Potions x15, Greater Healing Potions x10, Greater Mana Potions x10, Miracle Potions x3...
Gold: 15.251.720 (G)
Ultimate: Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker – Boosted Gear Crimson Scale Mail (LV.2 – Pact Affected), Soul Link (LV1).
Finisher: Rage of the Fire Dragon (Crimson Scale Mail), Twinflare (Soul Link), Hammer and Anvil (Soul Link), Draconic Assault (Soul Link)
Sigils: Sigil of the Shadow Commander - Igirs, Sigil of the Shadow Ice Bear -Tank.
End of Chapter 38