Chapter 18

(This more like a filler chapter for what I left out on prev chapter)

Chapter 18

It has been a few days since the reopening of the Kuoh Academy. The fallen angel and its gang of rogue exorcists occupied the abandoned church.

There also was some skirmish between Freed Salzen and the poor exorcist. This indicates that the first event is going to happen soon where Raynare or Yuuma kill Issei in the park.

But wait, isn't his Boosted Gear taken by Ray? How will Raynare put attention on him?

Well Ray had created an Artificial Sacred Gear that mimicked Ddraig aura and looked like its Twice Critical form and behaved like one which doubled the user strength for some time. Ray added a vague feature where it raises the host's luck but its effectiveness is doubtful.

(Note: Reason for Issei to still have plot armor.)

Ray secretly implanted the Artificial Sacred Gear inside Issei and made it to only activate after he died once. Just for insurance purposes, Ray even manipulates reality to make Raynare detect and interested in Issei and the sacred gear.

…

Few days after joining the former all girl school, Kuoh Academy. Issei was confessed on by a cute girl name Amano Yuuma. He feel like he was dreaming but he made sure he isn't with a slap on his face and accepted her request for a date.

He was in cloud nine as he keep anticipating for the date next day. On his way back home from his high school, he saw weird lady handing out paper with strange symbol but didn't feel much about it and had a strange feeling that he must keep it with him always.

That night, he hardly able to sleep due to excitement and end up sleeping after midnight as he keep thinking of what to prepare for the date.

When he woke up next day, he instantly check the time and saw that he woke up just in time. He quickly wash up and wear his best clothes before he take the paper with strange symbol and the condom that he brought just in case if he is lucky…

He quickly leave to the rendevoze spot after taking a small bite of the breakfast and say his goodbye to his parents. As he is running, he feel strange feeling like someone is looking at him but didn't pay mind to it as his anticipation flood his mind.

When he arrived, he saw Yuuma already arrived and check the time to see if he is late even when knowing he isn't. Yuuma that saw him quickly greeted him before their date started.

Meanwhile Ray with his weapon souls and Ddraig without her draconic feature look at Issei and Yuuma or Raynare little farce of a date through the building's fully glass front. Ddraig clearly look agitated as she look longingly at her previous and rightful host. She wanted to escape but clearly know that she couldn't ever since her attempt few days ago, just after she returned to Earth with Ray.

-Flashback Start-

During the moment of what she thought as opportunity to escape this place, she eacaped but she didn't know that it was Ray purposely giving her opportunity to see her loyalty. She couldn't use the Boosted Gear without her host allowing her to, thus her chance of escape are very slim to begin with.

She ran away only to suddenly blacked out and awake again, striped of every piece of cloth and strapped to the familiar surgical room that Ray use for some of his experiment.

"My my, is this how you repay my kindness. After I have shown you mercy, you throw it away the moment I gave you the opportunity of escape. Tsk tsk tsk." Ddraig heard Ray says while preparing his tools and wearing a rubber glove that send her into panic as she hyperventilated.

"Ma.. Master Ray, I was wrong. Please give me a second chance… I will definitely not run away again… I even submit my loyalty to you, I swear on my own true soul… Please don't remove my counsciousness." Ddraig pleaded while struggling weakly to escape the binding.

"Do you think I'm stupid? You will just find another chance in the future to escape." Ray said as he carried a tray filled with his tools and several objects.

"I swear on my true soul and my true name. I will die a true death if I lied." Ddraig try to convince Ray.

"Hum…" Ray pretend to consider before he replied with. "No"

"Perhaps you might try to use suicide to escape me and I dislike leaving a loose end you see."

"That's why I will have to you on a leash to keep you on the line. That shouldn't be a problem for you right… unless, you are harbouring thought to escape hmn…" Ray explained to Driag while calmly select his magic tools for installing the 'leash' on Ddraig body and soul.

"Yes… master Ray." Ddraig reluctantly agree since if not then it mean that she is confirming Ray's word as truth. She given up and accepted her fate.

-Flashback End-

"Hum… our little dragon queen have rebellious thought again are we." Ddraig instantly stiffen before she trembles as she heard Ray.

Ray who sat on a rather large single seat sofa with Artemis and Tsukuyomi on his side materialize a leash that connected to the collar on Ddraig's neck. Ray pull the leash like he is pulling a disobedient dog toward him.

"Just few days had passed and you already seems to forget your lessons huh. Should I punish you again or what? I'm generous today as I'm in good mood. So, your suggestion?" Ray asked as he look at Ddraig.

Artemis and Tsukuyomi didn't mind his now darker personality as he is only like this to anyone that isn't his subjects. They are also his weapon, they shouldn't questions their master's action, they only do whatever their master needed. Weather its defending his people or punishing his enemies, they will only try their best to be useful.

Ray's personality become like this after his long years research and development of longinus and everything else he researched and produced in his man cave. His frustration and failure keep piling on him before he start expressing darker thought when ever his research or creation didn't go the way he would liked. This is his way of venting his frustration… It raised few disagreement amongst his companions especially Nia, a victim of experimentation but the rest only tell him to not go overboard since he sole victim is Driag only.

"Forgive me master Ray, I didn't mean to have such a thought. It happens beyond my control." Ddraig bowed her head as she apologized.

"Apologies accepted." Ray nodded, satisfied with Ddraig behaviour and patted her head like he was praising a dog that did well and trained.

"You should be satisfied that according to what I learned, I am your strongest wielder yet. Way stronger than any previous wielder you ever had and I can bring out more of your potential than anyone in this world." Ray then made the evolved Incinerate Anthem, Incinerating Impalement of Mortality to appear in the form of a purple flaming chain spear.

"You can see how strong it became, right? That was something I did randomly out of interest and I plan to try to create another evolution… Perhaps I could do better than my last attempt." Ray said as he manipulated the chain spear to change form and demonstrate some of its effect to Ddraig.

Ddraig looks at the demonstration of the Incinerate Anthem base ability and the evolved ability. He does look tempted and convinced by Ray's ability to further evolve her to achieve better evolution.

"Isn't this what you wished in the depths of your soul? To gain stronger power. To awaken from your dominance rise up and transcend the boundaries of your limit. To surpass the Dragon God, Great Red." Ray described the chant for Diabolos Dragon God transformation.

"How!..." Ddraig was shocked. The chant should not be known at all. Especially after knowing that Ray isn't a native of this world.

"You might think my greatest power is my Astromancy magic or Psychic ability right? But that isn't the case. My greatest power is knowledge." Ray spoke with grandeur.

"I possess multiple abilities that allow me to obtain any information through multiple ways but one of them allows me to peer through almost anything although with limitations. The past, present, future, another dimensions, another universe or even another multiverse. As long as I know what I want to find, I will gain them." Ray explained with great passion as he tried to convince Ddraig to side with him willingly.

Even Tsukuyomi woke up from his comfy nap on his master when he felt Ray's hand was missing from his head.

"Nothing is concealed from me, as long as I know they are coming. I will strip them bare and play them like my specimens." Ray finally returns his hand to Tsukuyomi's head and immediately falls back to dreamland.

"Just like that, I know everything about you, your actions and thoughts. Your thoughts and actions are laid you bare to my eyes, nothing escape it just like how I know you still plan to escape and only put up act to be obedient… am I right, Ddraig?" Ray said as he smiled while looking at the terrified and shocked Ddraig.

"Please, master Ray. I will not repeat my grave mistake again. Just give me another chance… I will do anything, I be a obedient servant for master-" Ddraig instantly prostrated to finally and genuinely submitted when knowing she is hopeless to escape but stopped by Ray.

"I don't need meaningless words, I want to see action and results. I also don't mind your unruly behaviour, in fact I prefer it that way because it's more fun experimenting with a live specimen than a dead one. They give the best results after all."

"I very much prefer the carrot on stick method over the whip because it's more efficient when the subject is cooperative. So, your choice Ddraig? Cooperate and we both benefit or resist and we both waste time and effort." Ray offers Ddraig an olive branch because it will truly benefit him if Ddraig is cooperative, especially on the matter of evolution.

Ddraig considered the offer, and she was bound to benefit from it as Ray said. She cannot deny that deep inside she wishes to be stronger, to surpass the Great Red and Ray is her only clear chance to reach that goal. The longinus that Ray showed had evolved so strongly that she doubted even her previous strongest wielder was able to defend against it. If boosted to max with her ability, the attack can even kill her true self with a single attack which makes her shudder lightly.

After thinking for a while, Ddraig looks up from the floor to see Ray patiently waiting for her response with a smile like he already knows she will definitely accept. She sighed before she took his hand that he offered to accept the olive branch he was offering.

(Note: Left on Tsuku, Right to Ddraig)

"I Y Ddraig Goch, pledge with true name and true soul that I will serve you Ray Elliot as my master and never betray you as long as you will help me achieve my one true goal of surpassing the Dragon God Great Red." Ddraig pledged before a translucent chain appeared on her body and shackled her soul to the pledge she just did which is visible to Ray's Psychic Sight.

"I'm glad you are able to recognise what is good for you. It would be a waste if I have to tamper with your soul, although it would be a new experience for me. Regardless, I accept your pledge and will strive to achieve your goal to keep your loyalty to me." Ray expresses his opinion.

Ray smirked victoriously since his main components to achieve this world's zenith already in his grasp. With this, his path to victory already cleared up with shining light from the darkness of the night that obscured the path.

…

During the evening, the event played out as expected when a spear made of light pierced his abdomen before he look at Yuuma in shock as he believed it to be a nightmare and tried to wait for the moment he wake up on his bed.

He cannot hear what Yuuma tried to say before he fell to the ground and lay flat on the brick paving as his blood flowed profusely. The paper with a strange symbol drops out of his pocket before it touches the blood.

The symbol then shone brightly before a girl with long crimson hairs and bountiful body proportions appeared and healed Issei before they both vanished.

The next morning, Issei attends the school while being distracted by what happened this morning. He woke up to find Rias Gremory, their school's most beautiful girl next to him. He slapped himself and hit his head to the wall and affirmed that this isn't a dream.

He prayed to god, asking if this is him granted his wish to fondle the tits of Rias Gremory but received a splitting headache instead before his mother entered and saw him with a girl on his bed naked as the day they were born with only a thin sheet as cover.

Later that afternoon, he was invited by Kiba Yuto. The prince charming of Kuoh Academy invited him to Occult Research Club to meet Rias Gremory who invited him. There, he was explained about his recent reincarnation into devil race, the supernatural worlds and he is a Sacred Gear wielder.

Just when he was teached to activate his Sacred Gear, he saw a screen pop up that said.

———

Welcome user Issei Hyoudou to Artificial Sacred Gear beta testing program created by Ray Elliot.

To boot up the program, user Issei Hyoudou must agree to all of the following term:

-Any effect caused by the gear malfunction is user own responsibility.

-Allow the system to record and send data of the program to the creator.

-Must attend to random inspection requested by the creator.

Please agree to all term to proceed.

———

He tried to explain to Rias and the other peerage member and their reaction varied but Akeno Himejima reaction is by far the most shocked as she recognised the name of Ray Elliot from Tsubaki Shinra, the Queen of Sona Sitri peerage.

Akeno tried to explain who is Ray Elliot and Rias immediately went to Sona to ask for advice regarding the Artificial Sacred Gear which she immediately contacted her sister since this quite a important matter which they requires to inform the maous.

Few minutes later Sona appeared and took away Sona, Rias and Issei to meet Azazel who currently already with Sirzechs to discuss this urgent matter.

…

"Fuck!" Azazel in a fit of rage punched the wall and broke the whole wall of the meeting room.

"I knew that bastard was hiding something from me. How could he left me out in his Artificial Sacred Gear project." Azazel wanted cursed Ray's entire ancestry but refrained because bad things will happen if he did.

"So, was this a bad thing? This boy, Issei now posses the Artificial Sacred Gear and it was asking some sort of permit to proceed." Serafall ask Azazel who instantly stopped his tantrums and focus on Issei who feel weird as he feel like being physically molested by Azazel's eyes.

"Sorry err… Azazel, but I'm straight as a flag pole. I'm not interested with men… So, please don't stare at me like that." Issei said.

"Ahem, I'm interested on the gear only but please explain what you see from the screen." Azazel replied.

Isseis then read and explained what he sees on the screen to everyone. Azazel was calmly listening before he suggested Issei to accept the term.

"What if it's dangerous to my Issei?" Rias then quickly butt in to stop Issei from doing it.

"I highly doubt he would but if he does get injured, I'm will take the responsibility to get him healed." Azazel said firmly.

Issei then proceed when everyone agreed. He quickly shown more screen that show messages and interface.

———

Congratulations for joining the beta testing program, you will be given a interface that shown basic informations regarding your body and the gear. For further information, please confront the creator through special messaging feature. Warning! Only use when important, the creator is very busy to entertain pointless chatter.

———

Name: Issei Hyoudou

Gender: Male

Race: Reincarnated Devil

Title: Leader of Perverted Trio, Pawn of Rias Gremory

———

STR: Pathetic

VIT: Good Meat Shield

AGI: Almost Pathetic

DEX: Almost Pathetic

INT: Questionable

WIS: Years of Education Wasted

LUK: Only Redeeming Quality

———

Twice Critical (Model Boosted Gear)

-Double attack power

-Infuse draconic attribute on attack

-Slightly increase base stats when activated

-Boost luck

———

"Model Boosted Gear? Did that mean that Ray posses the Boosted Gear… plus the Sepiroth Graal. His faction now own two Longinus Gear." Sirzechs mumbled while listening to Issei reading the content of the screen.

"He actually manage to complete a Artificial Sacred Gear before I did… that's it, I'm storming his house now. Azazel then jump from his seat and vanished with a magic circle, leaving the devil to themselves to deal with the situation. Issei was fuming from his stats description and demanding a refund.

…

Azazel appeared on the back alley before rushing into the restaurant to reach the top floor where Ray's home is located at but stopped by Kurumi.

"Sorry but the top floor is off limit. If you have any business with Ray, I can relay them for you when he returned later." Kurumi stopped Azazel from using the special lift lobby for top floor.

"I urgently need to meet Ray. Where can I find him?" Azazel requested which Kurumi point to one of the adjacent office building and Azazel quickly left.

When he entered the office building, one of Ray's maid greeted him and lead him to the directior room where he found Ray with his weapon souls lazying on the sofa while facing the glass plane wall overlooking the street.

"Finally I found you bastard, how could you left me out when you created your first Sacred Gear!" Azazel quickly shouted at Ray which cause Ray to open his eyes and look at the fuming Azazel.

"That's my payback for lefting me out when you are making your Down Fall Dragon Spear bitch." Ray reply flatly to Azazel.

"That was… prototype, I had yet to complete it until even now." Azazel tried to make an excuse.

"Hmn… then my reason also the same, its still a unfinished product." Ray replied mockingly while looking at Azazel disdainfully.

"Alright alright, I its my fault that I didn't let you join but I simply wanted to keep it a secret. It's my trump card and I wanted to keep it a secret from anyone." Azazel finally confessed.

"Well I can understand that feeling of yours. I would do the same anyway." Ray said.

"Well what else you need? If not then I would have to see you out, I have more administration stuff to manage."

"About the Artificial Sacred Gear you have made, it was based of Boosted Gear… does that mean you possess it?" Azazel asks.

Ray simply nodded as response before he lift his left hand and the Boosted Gear gauntlet appeared.

"Well, I will bother you no more. Also next time, let me join your project."

"I will consider after you do the same." Ray replied before Azazel left the room and left Ray alone with his weapon souls snuggling on him.

They had been in these sleepy conditions due to them adjusting to the Incinerate Anthem Balance Breaker mode. After this, can use them instead to use the Incinerate Anthem Balance Breaker ability.

When he feel that Azazel had left this area, he summon Ddraig again to continue his experiment after being disturbed by Azazel. He didn't want to expose Ddraig existence yet this early, not before his first modification.

Ddraig can feel the feeling like her soul being sculpted as Ray continue to fill the gaps of the longinus gear. She can vaguely understand the effect Ray is adding to the Boosted Gear as the knowledge is being inscribed into her origin.

The effect is [Path of Victory] a conceptual effect that ensure the highest likelihood of reaching a victorious outcome regardless of obstacles as it will manipulate the reality itself to ensure the outcome is victorious. However Ray is modifying it into [Path of Dominance]. Instead of reaching a victorious outcome, it will reach a outcome where the person is dominant.

The efficacy of course is quite dependant on several factor and the main factor is the will. The power that it grant is proportional to the user's will to reach dominance and it was quite vague as will is unquantifiable. The easiest comparison is to dominate the world is easily doable but to dominate the Great Red is impossible for now as the Path only show blurry path which mean she is far from able to achieving it.

Just the potential of this Path is already frightening as it make her feel like nothing is impossible to her. The euphoria of gaining such ability made her power drunk. When she woke up from her imagination, she immediately shudder as Ddraig look at Ray who are fully focus on thinkering with the Boosted Gear in terror. Her host and master didn't know the extent of his capability.

If Ddraig still in her heyday, jut having [Path of Victory] or [Path of Dominance] she will walk uncontested in this world. Nothing can ever pose any challenge to her at all, not even Great Red.

She is glad that she able to recognise Mt. Tai and go under Ray's wing than continue resisting him. She thinks that it's isn't impossible for Ray to simply replace her counsciousness and only keep her due to the effort he need to use to remould her into his liking.

"Hmn… The affinity is great since your attribute is already about Dominance but the modification is incomplete because the full concept is too advanced for me…" Ray mumbles as his psychic manipulation expertly moves like a top of the class surgeon.

"I could only add minor effects… down to the base of the ability, it's merely a destiny manipulation. Manipulation of causality to ensure every outcome is ended with the user being in a dominant position… However, the scope is too wide that the efficacy reduced significantly…"

"If a simple strike that ends with absolute dominance, it's easy to achieve. However the whole person, its power and its actions must end with dominance… the scope is too wide."

"What it lacks is payment, every action has its price, one cannot gain without loss… then the reason is the price isn't enough to achieve the results… the will isn't enough… mere self hypnosis cannot achieve the will required." Ray mumbled then stopped before he looked at the floor.

"If the problem is my lack of willpower, perhaps I should create a reason for myself to produce such will… I lived in relative peace, I lost nothing and gained nothing. I must lose something important to gain the willpower to achieve the results…" Ray then look at Tsukuyomi who had already woken up from his rambling and looked at Ray cutely while the tail swayed at the side of the sofa.

"If Issei can gain power from breasts… it isn't impossible for me to gain from those fluffy animal girls… or traps." Ray look at the heavenly creation that swayed as he considered sacrificing them for power.

"A big price to pay however… one cannot gain without loss." Ray said reluctantly as intense war waged in his mindscape as his researcher persona clashed head on with battering ram on the fort defended by his desire and love for fluffies.

Both Ray's weapon souls and Ddraig are able to feel Ray's conflicted mind as his power is visibly destabilized and some that are influenced by his emotion state lashed out like the divinity and Psychic Manipulation.

Ray quickly uses Dimension Shift to the planet he previously used before the situation worsened. He didn't expect his conflicted mind to have such a strong effect and it would be hard to reign back. He knows this is the price of power, the law of equivalent exchange. The more powerful he is, the stronger his ability will influence him.

Eventually when his mind calmed down, large devastation had occurred on their surroundings while Ray hugged Tsukuyomi and played with his tails while apologizing for even considering sacrificing them for power.

Tsukuyomi was bewildered but nonetheless calmed his master while giving him a tail pillow instead of a lap pillow where Ray rested his head on Tsukuyomi's lap with his tail covering Ray's head.

"I didn't expect that master liked those abom- heavenly appendages so much that he lost control of his power…" Ddraig is about to call the tail an abomination but feels dread as if his soul is about to be crushed by an imaginary hand grasping it.

"Master had always loved those fluffy tails and even before he rose in power. Artemis wouldn't be exaggerating when Artemis says that his purpose of seeking power is to get more of those fluffies. If the Youkai faction isn't protected by Shinto mythology, master would have long conquered them and filled his bedroom with those fluffy animal girls." Artemis explains to Ddraig who looks at Ray with a ridiculous stare.

"This is the reason why the master didn't even bother with those exceptionally beautiful virgin vampires that keep throwing themselves to master's bed. Master is diagnosed with chronic fluffies addiction." Artemis added before she joined Tsukuyomi to pamper Ray to calm his mind.

…

Three hours later, they return home and are quickly asked by Ray's companions who also feel his mental distress through their link. After explaining, they appointed the fluffies to stay with Ray full time in incase if it flared up again. This includes Tsukuyomi and Shinano who are used to this emergency since this isn't the first time it happened.

Ray spent his next few days accompanied by Tsukuyomi and Shinano constantly while he did the tweaking on Boosted Gear. He successfully completed the modification of the Boosted Gear during that period of time and modified its base form.

The effect is rather basic since this is a test before he delves into Balance Breaker but it doubles the power of normal boost but only if his enemy is stronger than him. What it means is instead of double the power per boost, it quadruples the power per boost. It also removes the limit of stack it can reach through clever immiting of Haki to strengthen the body to withstand the sudden power increase.

Ddraig was mindblown of what Ray created in less than a week which made this form indefinitely stronger than even the Scaled Mail form of the Balance Breaker. She is convinced, totally convinced that Ray can achieve her goal of surpassing the Great Red and this made her heart feel weird.

She then remembered, the dragon kind only recognised a stronger one as a mate and now, she recognised Ray as superior in their relationship which is similar to declaring him as stronger one between them. She can feel her heartbeat and blood pumped faster as her body warms up.

'No this, my own body and thoughts are rebelling against my will.' Ddraig thought in her mind as her body and mind wanted to recognise Ray as her mate. They desperately want to mark Ray as their mate against her will and she knows that resistance is futile as a dragon's instinct is stronger than the mind.

"What happened to you Ddraig… Does the modification have a problem?" Ray asks worriedly when Ddraig suddenly heats up and whole body becomes flushed as her blood pumps faster.

When Ddraig didn't reply to him and only looked at him while seems to be struggling, he quickly tried to lay her flat and start to diagnose her. When he tries to lie her down, she opens her mouth wide with the fangs becoming apparent before sinking them into his right arm.

Ray didn't retract his arm because he didn't feel any malicious intent on the bite. He instead looks curiously as he feels some sort of exchange occurring as his blood was drawn by Ddraig and mixed with the magical equivalent of stem cells before a newly made blood infused with her aura ejected into his bloodstream and changed something in him.

After a while, Ddraig dilated reptilian eyes finally back to normal and sees what she just did. She sighed before she sat on the floor and explained what just happened to Ray. Although she knew that Ray already understood what she just did. Ray just shrugged it off and simply welcomed her to his harem if she wants. Ray immediately returned to documenting the results of the modification and planning the future one.

"I guess you are promoted from experiment subject to my harem member then." Ray said.

"Should I be happy about it?" Ddraig asks, genuinely curious.

"Perhaps, commander is very protective of his lovers and would never allow them any harm. Perhaps your fear of being dissected in you sleep can be relieved." Shinano said with a sleepy tone and half awake.

"If that's the case… then it's indeed something I should be happy of." Ddraig nodded to herself while adopting the thinking pose.

"Anyway, let's go to the underground city. I finished my plan for now and need time to review my research. I need to take care of the paperworks piled up in my office." Ray said before he teleported everyone to his office located in the central area of the underground city.

…

Another few days later, everything went in a relatively peaceful state. Issei is finally able to use his sacred gear which he named Dragon Fist. His first encounter with a stray devil allowed him to get a grasp on the sacred gear main ability.

His punch deals double damage and his draconic attribute adds more damage to it and infuses a draconic aura to the attack which will interfere with enemies internal energy which weaken them.

He also met a nun named Asia Argento and spent time with her which felt like a date and made him want to protect that girl's precious smile. Later that day, their little outing almost ended but Raynare or formerly Yuuma attacked Issei easily. Asia then pleaded Raynare to spare Issei and just take her with him.

Issei cursed himself, his weakness and wished that he is stronger than he currently is. Suddenly the screen appeared again, saying that he met some conditions and requested to meet the creator or his gear would become inactive.

Issei confronted Rias and asked if he should meet the creator. Rias is worried and contacted her brother about this since she never met Ray Elliot before but watched the one and only time he was seen by the public, during the Tepes faction annihilation war. Her natural assumption of Ray is a merciless and cold hearted person due to the way he fights during the war, fast and efficient.

Sirzechs however meet him once during the issue of devil poaching their people, his view on Ray is a rather kind person but will not hesitate to retaliate if threatened. He sends his wife and peerage queen, Grayfia Lucifuge to accompany Rias just in case.

When Issei accept the request to visit, a magic circle appear on the clubroom floor waiting for Issei to confirm the transfer as if predicted there will be extra participants. Issei, Rias, Akeno and Grayfia then entered the magic circle then instantly appeared in another location. Grayfia noted that it isn't a teleportation circle, rather its a spatial displacement magic but kept it to herself.

"Welcome to my residence, Princess Gremory and Lady Grayfia. Ah and the speci-, participant of my Artificial Sacred Gear program." Ray about to call Issei specimen but manage to stop before Rias could noticed.

"Pleasure is ours, Pale Blood King." Rias gave a formal greeting while everyone else except the shocked Issei bowed slightly.

"Follow me to more proper room for our business." Ray lead them to one of the room prepare fo entertain his guest. The room isn't very big but quite lavishly decorated by Nia who suddenly have interest in internal decor.

"So, from the look of the situation. Spe- Issei manage to reach one of the condition for a new function which are missing from the prototype." Ray explain while inspecting Issei with his Psychic Sight.

"Prototype?" Issei and Rias asked.

"Yes, changes is needed to further something. Same with Sacred Gear, if its already perfect then it cannot be change anymore and will stagnate which is nothing more than a junk. This prototype is made with continuous improvement in mind and thus will probably stay a prototype forever." Ray enthusiastically explain his creation.

"Then what will you need to do for adding the missing function?" Rias asks.

"Well, that is my secret and I will have to ask for S- Issei cooperation to do improvement in my lab." Ray answer Rias before urging Issei to follow him but stopped by Rias.

"Wait, I never agreed to let him go with you yet." Rias said disapprovingly since she afraid Ray would do something to her Issei. She noticed few slip up of Ray almost calling Issei as specimen and lab is a last place she want Issei to enter.

"Then I will have to take back the gear and find another sp- willing participants." Ray replied naturally as if he already predicted this.

Rias then look back at Issei's arm and decided that she cannot lose the Sacred Gear since its her ticket to escape the arranged marriage with Phenex clan.

"Let me accompany Issei." Rias suggested her compromise.

"I afraid I cannot allow you unless you willing to do a contract of secrecy that didn't damage your soul but extinguish your soul instead if breached." Ray explain his condition.

"Why would it requires such severe contract to enter? It just a lab right?" Rias offhandedly replies.

"Its my secret and you shouldn't have problem agreeing unless you plan to breach it in the first place." Ray reply flatly.

"What if I accidentally slip up? Wouldn't my soul just extinguished by accident?" Rias retorted.

"Well, just never even think of it after you sees them or I could offer you selective memory wipe as precaution." Ray offered which cause a raised eyebrows from Grayfia.

"Well, yes or no? Please decide quick." Ray ask for their decision.

In the end, Rias agreed and Grayfia also wanted to join for reason that she is tasked to always follow the heir of Gremory Clan. This leave Akeno behind which Ray allow her to be led by one of the maid to visit the underground city.

When they finish signing the contract and reach the lab, Grayfia instantly feel weird sensation like she is not on earth which is true but unnoticeable since the teleportation is instant.

"Disable Lock Down mode" Ray commanded the AI which caused the trio to be bewildered at such a futuristic looking lab. Well they are correct since this tech are from the age during the great space colonization.

Ray told Issei to lay on the table and bring out the Sacred Gear for him to start the process. Ray then summon Ddraig out which shocked Grayfia to the core to found that Ray is in possession of Boosted Gear and somehow manage to turn it into a Avatar type Sacred Gear. Rias is oblivious for now.

"Infuse some of your power and energy to this orb." Ray show Ddraig an small transparent and clear orb that turn red as Ddraig infuse her power.

"Who is that?" Rias finally noticed something weird when she feel the aura from Ddraig.

"Ah… She is my lover. She recently promoted from experimental subject to my lover after some accident. It's sad to lose such a fine specimen. I wonder if I should replace her with the other one…" Ray reply casually while implanting the power and aura infused orb into the green orb on the Artificial Sacred Gear.

Rias only nodded on Ray's explanation while focusing deeply on the implementation process to make sure no foul play. Grayfia however able to see Ddraig in the form of little girl tremble for a bit when Ray mentioned 'experimental subject' and 'specimen'.

From what Grayfia can conclude, the Boosted Gear are now turned into a little girl which probably inspired by Ophis due to the familiar face. Ddraig seems to be a victim of experimentation by Ray and turned into this and now probably forced to become Ray's lover to preserve her livelihood.

Now Grayfia can understand the precaution of Ray since this will cause massive uproar that the longinus and former Heavenly Dragon was reduced to a traumatized little girl. Grayfia sees pity in Ddraig's eyes when Ray mention to replace her with Albion, the White Dragon Emperor as his experimental subject.

She was binded by the contract and cannot warn Albion host or Underworld even if she sacrifice her soul since the contract curse will take effect immediately when she had the thought of telling anyone.

She finally sees how dangerous Ray is and could be disastrous if he become enemies with Underworld. His faction is neutral and never express any hostility unless attacked first which made he feel some relief but that didn't remove the dread when she see the Heavenly Dragon Ddraig act obedient and submissive to Ray. She was there during its rampage and seeing her reduce to this…

When the implementation process finished, Issei do some testing on the new power under Ray's supervision before he is released and returned home.

The new ability allow Issei to have more capacity in magic and faster growth as the draconic aura and power in it will nourish his body to allow better growth in physical stats when trained.

Then the attack on the abandoned church happened the next day and Asia Argento joined Rias Peerage and became a reincarnated devil while the fallen angel was taken by Ray when he suddenly appeared when Rias wanted to finish Raynare off. His reasoning is they are needed to prove the existence of another bigger threat which is Chaos Brigade and Ray also assured them that these captured fallen angels will be given proper punishment by Azazel, the Grigori Governor himself.

Later, Ray set up a meeting with Azazel in his hidden pub within the restaurant building to explain about how these fallen angels tried to kill Issei and attacked the Princess of Gremory. He also hinted that one of the Cadre is behind Raynare and her group's action.

—————

(Note: Quite rushed in plot quality and story because Ray will only become more involved in the later arc especially after Kokabiel's attack.)