After that, Rias suggested we take a short break to let Issei process everything.
"Fufu~ The tea is ready."
Whoa! So this is the famous tea made by the one and only Akeno-senpai!
"This tea is amazing, Akeno-san!"
"Yeah! I've always been a coffee guy, but I might switch to tea after this!"
Such a rich aroma and subtle bitterness, truly divine.
"My, thank you. If you'd like, I can brew you some coffee next time."
"Really!? Thank you so much!"
"Hey! No fair, Ikki! Akeno-san, please make some for me too!"
"Fufu~ If it makes you that happy, I'd be delighted."
As we relaxed, Rias-senpai spoke up again. "Alright, shall we resume the explanation?"
"Issei, do you understand everything so far?"
"Yeah... I still can't fully believe it, but I saw your wings and all..."
"Good. That's a start. Ikki, are you following?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Then let's continue. Issei, try summoning your Sacred Gear. Stand up, and raise your left arm."
"O-Okay!"
Issei stood and lifted his arm.
"Now, imagine your strongest form. It's okay to mimic something if it helps."
"Wait, right here?!"
Rias nodded. "Yes. Go on."
"W-Well... here goes! Doooraaaagooon... BREEEEEAK!!"
Pfft!
"You laughed, didn't you, Ikki?!"
Ka-CHING!
Before he could rush me, his left arm lit up, and a crimson gauntlet appeared.
So that's it... One of the Thirteen Longinus, Boosted Gear, the gauntlet of the Red Dragon Emperor.
"W-Whoa! A gauntlet?! So this is a Sacred Gear? I can't believe something like this is inside me..."
"Looks like it worked. That's your Sacred Gear. Judging by the look, it's Twice Critical, a dragon-type gear that doubles your power for a limited time. It's fairly common. Unfortunately, having even that made you a target for the Fallen Angels."
Issei slumped over in disappointment. But maybe this is the right time to nudge him in the right direction...
"Issei, why don't you give it a try? Rias-senpai, is it alright?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"But... how do I use it?"
"You need to will it strongly. Sacred Gears respond to their host's desires."
"A strong desire... Got it!"
This time, Issei struck a dramatic pose like a certain masked rider.
"TWICE! CRITICAAAAAAAAAAAAL!!"
...
Pfft!
"YOU LAUGHED AGAIN, DAMMIT, IKKI! THIS TIME I'M SERIOUSLY MAD!!"
Issei stormed over, red-faced.
"Okay, okay! My bad! But I'll give you some advice in return!"
"Advice?"
"Yeah. Come here for a sec."
We moved to a corner, and I disrupted the air flow with Taoist magic to keep our voices from reaching the devils.
"Listen, Issei. A strong desire doesn't have to be about rage or battle strength. You said it before, right? That your love for boobs is heavier than the universe itself? Then unleash that passion, right here, right now!"
Issei looked at me, stunned, yeah, what the hell am I saying? Maybe I should just own it...
"...Alright, Ikki. If you're going that far, I won't back down. Also, Ikki, you're totally a secret perv!"
With that, he sprang up.
"Rias-senpai! I'm good to go now! Please let me try again!"
"E-Eh? Sure, go ahead..."
He stared at her with bloodshot eyes, probably burning her image into his memory as impure thoughts swirled in his head.
Then, after about thirty seconds...
Blood started dripping from Issei's nose.
Seriously?! From imagination alone!?
"I-Issei!? Are you alright? You're bleeding..."
"I'm fine! I can do it now! GOOOOO, GLORIOUS BOOOOOBS!!"
[Welsh Dragon!! Dragon Booster!!]
"The Welsh Dragon!? No way, that's one of the Thirteen Longinus, the Red Dragon Emperor's Boosted Gear!?"
Rias was stunned, so were the others. Understandably so. The power to slay gods had just awakened before their eyes.
And so, Hyoudou Issei, the Red Dragon Emperor, finally awakened.
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