The final school bell rang, signaling the end of classes. Sho wasted no time—he dashed straight out of the gates, his mind fixed on only one thing: the Orb of the Water Serpent Dragon.
Something like that couldn't be tested within school grounds.
If he wanted to consume it safely, he needed isolation. His feet carried him swiftly toward the mountains, and before long, he found a secluded spot, free from wandering eyes.
Extending his palm, he summoned a magic circle on the ground—about five meters in diameter.
A thin, shimmering barrier rose up around him, translucent like glass. It wasn't large, but it was the best he could manage with his current mana reserves. Bigger barriers would only decrease durability.
Sho lowered himself onto the ground, folding his legs like a monk preparing for meditation.
His hand reached into his inventory, and when it emerged, it held the glowing blue orb.
It radiated an almost divine light, its surface rippling like liquid, carrying the scent of fresh water.
If he stared long enough, he could almost swear he saw a serpent coiling within.
Taking a deep breath, he tilted his head back and swallowed it in a single gulp.
THUMP. THUMP.
His heart pounded violently, each beat sending shockwaves through his chest.
A tidal rush of energy surged through his veins, overwhelming and unrelenting, like a tsunami threatening to split him apart from the inside.
He gritted his teeth, forced his breathing steady, and shut his eyes in concentration.
The ground beneath him trembled faintly. Tiny droplets of water seeped out of the soil, drawn toward him as if by instinct.
They gathered, circling his body in translucent streams that shimmered with a faint blue glow. A cold sensation washed through him, numbing yet invigorating.
And then—
SPLASH! 💦
A violent burst of water erupted from his body, coiling upward into the form of a massive serpent-like dragon before shooting toward the sky.
For a brief moment, Sho's body itself became a fountain, streams of water bursting outward in a spectacular display of raw, untamed power.
> Congratulations, Host, for unlocking Demonic Energy. Orb absorption rate: 5%.
Sho's eyes snapped open. His entire body was soaked, his school uniform clinging tightly to his skin as water dripped from every fold. Catching his breath, he glanced at the system's message.
Only five percent absorbed... and yet— he could already feel it. His mana reserves had expanded, overflowing with energy that hadn't been there moments ago.
"System, how much did my mana reserves increase compared to before?"
> Calculating in numbers … Host's mana reserves have risen from 100 to 1,000.
Sho let out a satisfied grin. Ten times... this is insane.
Then, something strange happened. He looked down at his drenched clothes—and as if guided by instinct, the water began pulling itself away from the fabric, gathering into a hovering water orb above his palm. He stared at it in disbelief before whispering:
"So... I can even do this?"
The sphere shimmered for a second before sho dispersed it into the air. His clothes were now completely dry, as if he'd never been drenched at all.
As Sho got up to leave—
"Whoa, is that some kind of new Sacred Gear?"
An amused voice.
Sho immediately went on guard, turning toward the voice. He saw a tall man who looked to be in his twenties, with an average build, black hair with golden bangs, and a short black goatee.
He was wearing a V-neck maroon long-coat with a wide, open high-collar that spread at the hem. The coat had two black belts around the waist and four black bands on each arm—two near the wrist and the other two close to the elbow. He also wore grey slacks and brown shoes.
"Azazel…" Sho muttered Thinking why the fuck is this guy here.
"Well, that's a surprise. You recognized me," Azazel said.
Shit, I said that out loud… but what is this guy doing here now?
"Hello, kid. Don't be so tense—I just helped you, you know," Azazel said as he casually pointed upward.
Sho followed his finger and saw a large barrier covering at least 500 meters.
"Wait… where did my barrier go?" he wondered aloud.
"Kid, the amount of energy you leaked a moment ago shattered your little barrier to smithereens," Azazel explained with a smirk.
But seeing Sho still silent, his eyes sharp with suspicion, Azazel raised a hand in a casual wave.
"Don't be so on guard—I'm not here to harm you. You see, I was nearby when I sensed faint traces of magical energy coming from the mountains. So I rushed here, saw your barrier crumbling, and even caught a glimpse of that water-serpent-like dragon. To contain the energy you were leaking, I immediately set up this barrier."
Then, suddenly, Azazel paused, a faint tingle tingle senses alerted his brain. His expression sharpened.
"It seems like some uninvited guests are closing in," he muttered.
He turned back to Sho, his tone firm but not hostile. "Boy, trust me—I have no ill intentions toward you. I'm simply curious about your powers. So, how about we continue this conversation somewhere else?"
Sho hesitated, but eventually nodded. After all, he knew Azazel's personality from the anime; he wouldn't harm him for no reason.
A golden magic circle flared beneath their feet, and in the next moment, both vanished into its light.
As both Azazel and Sho vanished into the golden circle, four girls appeared at the very spot they had stood, their eyes scanning the area.
Meanwhile, Sho and Azazel reappeared inside a dimly lit room.
"Sit down, make yourself comfortable. Do you want some juice? Or maybe alcohol?" Azazel asked casually, dropping onto a chair himself.
"No, thank you," Sho replied.
"Well then," Azazel smirked, "since you already knew my name, I'm guessing you've recognized me. But still, let me introduce myself again—I am Azazel, the Governor-General of the Fallen Angels."
"I'm Sho," he answered bluntly. Nothing more, nothing less.
Seeing Sho's guarded expression and lack of further words, Azazel leaned back, folding his arms.
"Alright, kid, just one quick question. Did you awaken some kind of Sacred Gear or something? Because I definitely felt human energy coming from you—then suddenly, a surge of demonic energy blasted out. You don't seem like a devil, but you definitely carry demonic energy within you."
Sho let out a small sigh. "Yes, I am human. I don't know if it's a Sacred Gear, but… let's just say something awakened in my body."
It was half-truth, half-lie. He couldn't exactly reveal that he had a system that handed him overpowered rewards.
"I see… Maybe it's some kind of mutated Sacred Gear," Azazel muttered, rubbing his chin with curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
Then he leaned forward. "Okay, kid—how about this? You let me study your powers, and in return, I'll help you grow stronger."
"Also, I am not forcing you, it's your's choice "
Sho thought about it. There was no real reason to decline. After all, he knew Azazel had even trained the White Dragon Emperor. Having someone like him as a mentor wouldn't be bad at all.
"Alright. I accept," Sho said firmly.
Both of them stood up, shaking hands as if sealing the deal. Azazel then handed him a slip of paper with his number scribbled on it.
"Call me whenever you're ready," Azazel said before conjuring a golden circle. In the blink of an eye, Sho found himself standing near a park not too far from his house.
Now Azazel alone in his room and suddenly From the shadows of the dim room, a middle-aged, gruff-looking man with black hair, a thick beard, and a muscular frame stepped forward. His stern presence filled the space.
"Azazel," he said in a low, gravelly voice, "don't you think you're putting too much trust in that kid? What if he's some kind of spy from the devil faction?"
Azazel leaned back with his usual easygoing smirk. "Baraqiel, you're overthinking. I can tell from experience—he's no spy."
Baraqiel narrowed his eyes. "And on what basis do you make that claim?"
Azazel chuckled. "Firstly, if he were from the devil side, there's no way he could've followed me here. Secondly…" he tapped his chin with a sly grin, "my instincts are rarely wrong."
Baraqiel exhaled sharply, crossing his arms. "Or maybe you're just curious about his so-called Sacred Gear again."
Azazel didn't deny it. His obsession with unique Sacred Gears was infamous, after all.
As Baraqiel continued, "By the way, there's some problem at the Grigori. We need your presence there, so you can't linger around here."
Azazel sighed.
"That Kokabiel… what new troubles has he caused now?"
"Baraqiel, order Raynare to keep an eye on that Issei kid—and do nothing else." Azazel's tone was firm as both men vanished into a magic circle.
---
Meanwhile, back in Kuoh Academy, four girls had gathered in the student council office—Sona Sitri, her Queen Tsubaki Shinra, along with Rias Gremory and her Queen Akeno Himejima.
Rias folded her arms, her crimson hair gleaming under the light. "What do you think, Sona?" she asked seriously.
"I've already sent the report to the Underworld," Sona replied, her tone calm and precise. "All we can do now is wait for confirmation."
Tsubaki adjusted her glasses, her eyes narrowing. "Could it have been a stray devil?"
"Maybe," Sona admitted, though her sharp gaze suggested she had her own doubts.
Akeno, standing silently beside Rias, let out a faint giggle, though her eyes carried a hint of intrigue. "Whoever it was, they certainly caused quite a stir…"