Betrayal and Rebirth

"Hey, Issei."

A beautiful young woman with snow white skin, sapphire eyes, and gorgeous red hair dressed in her school uniform currently had her backed turned to the boy, unable to see his face and him hers. However, the sudden change in the atmosphere told him that something had changed. Now that he thought of it…his heartbeat was faster than normal. He placed his hand over chest to feel the thunderous beat within, wondering what the cause of it was.

"Yeah?" He asked.

"What exactly am I to you?" She asked, her voice slightly lower than normal.

…

This question, seemingly harmless, was enough for Issei to lean back onto the balls of his feet. Where was this coming from? Hasn't he always told her since he first rescued her from the arranged marriage with Riser?

"I would have done anything to get you back safely."

"Then I will give up my other arm, and then my eyes if I have to."

"I will do whatever it takes…nothing is going to stop me.

"I am your pawn after all."

He had been there when he was needed, always. It was him that saved her from being Riser's trophy wife, he who fought by her side during the battle with Kokabiel, fought and endured numerous rating games for her, struggled against the Nordic god of mischief, suffered through the impalement he received from Fenrir, the list went on. While anyone in the peerage would, and have, in some cases; done the same; save the part about him bombing the wedding between his King and the flaming turkey; he went through quite the number of tough times for her. Ever since she brought him back to life, he had to witness the murder of his best friend Asia, sacrificed his arm during his battle with Riser, fought with Tannin, a literal, full grown ex-Dragon King to get stronger for her, died to a Nordic wolf, and almost kicked the bucket again when he was lost in the depths of his own negative emotions after Asia got beamed to the Dimensional Gap, activating the Juggernaut Drive and placing everyone in grave danger, himself included.

Was that not enough?

"Huh?" Was all he could say. His head began to cloud with worry and confusion, his already accelerated heartrate beating faster and harder as a foreign emotion constricted it.

"What am I!?" The elevated volume forced the boy to jump off the ground slightly. Did she really have no idea after all they had been through? Issei's eyes welcomed darkness as his lids blocked reality from view, teeth gnashing away at each other without notice. Why couldn't she just see it!?

"I am your pawn after all."

…

Did…did she want more? Was she trying to tell him something?

There are three men in the peerage: Kiba, him, and Gasper, even though he doesn't act like one just yet. Rias treats everyone like a genuine member of her family, yet; Kiba and Gasper don't get the same attention as he does. She also has a deep desire for romance, probably had it since before he even entered Kuoh, hell; possibly longer than that since devils live almost forever. But, even with that, she doesn't try to have sex with either Kiba or Gasper…he was the only one that had been offered her virginity.

Is she in love with me? No…there isn't any question about it. She is in love with me.

If he was being honest with himself, he felt the same. Issei Hyoudou did not just Rias Gremory: president of the Occult Research Club and his King, Rias Gremory: a proud and noble albeit somewhat selfish woman. There was no way he would go through the vast lengths he has for her if there was nothing between them.

So, what was the big problem? He loves her and she loves him! All he had to do was to say the words she wanted to hea-

Would you die for me?

…

There it was.

The five words that cast him into the supernatural world, that shattered his trust like fragile glass, the reason why his true feelings will remain forever locked in the deepest confines in his heart. He literally died when he attempted to let someone in the first time.

What would happen the second time?

Would you die for me?

What about Rias? Surely, he could trust himself to her…right?

Would you die for me?

What about the others? Koneko, Akeno, Asia? Maybe Gasper and Kiba?

Would you die for me?

Well…what about his parents? They were the ones that raised him after all.

Would you die for me?

Is there anyone, anyone at all, that he can trust himself to??

Would you die for me?

A lengthy silence took place within him as Issei fought bravely against his reluctance, desperately wanting someone to see the true him: a man who is simply hurting deep inside, rather than the mask of a pervert he always wore.

The entire peerage looked on with hopeful expressions on their faces. Every girl present knew that if any of them wanted any chance to be with the man they grew to love, he had to realize his own feelings for Rias. If he couldn't even see what he meant to her after everything they have been through…

What were the chances of him realizing what he meant to them?

"To me… the President will always be the President." A single voice, almost inaudible, cut through the quiet clubroom. Issei's head hung low as the words struggled to be vocalized.

"…you idiot!" Rias cried, rushing out of the room, two damp trails slowly slithering down her cheeks as she did so. The tik tak of her heels on the hard wood outside the room echoed in his ears. Unable and unwilling to remove his gaze from the carpet below, the sound bounced around in his head, each bounce constricting his already tightened heart.

Why was he getting called an idiot? She had asked him a question and he answered with all the honesty he could muster. Yet, she still got upset? Why? Because he didn't give her what she wanted?

Rooted to the spot, the only movement he performed was twisting his neck in the direction Rias had stormed off. She wanted him to acknowledge the feelings she knew he had for her…and he refused. It was an unforgivable sin…but to insult him? After everything they have been through?

"Issei…you are horrible. This is too much! Why can't you…why can't you understand Onee-sama's feelings!?" Asia, the girl who he had come to see as a sister, scolded him harshly. A creaking sound, a flash of blond hair, more creaking, and a subtle click followed by more heels on wood signaled her departure.

This time, the object of the room's disapproval turned to watch the blond as she left, and unknown sensation stirring within his bosom.

Her too? He didn't even do anything to her…at least… he thought?

'…Why can't you understand my feelings?'

Bum-bum.

Suddenly, the confused and disheartened male grasped at his chest in a shocked pain. His heart…it hurt. A dark and violent thing clawed and scratched away at it, like a hand made from the blackest darkness, slowly choking the thin sack of tissue that made living possible.

"That wasn't right Ise-kun." A more masculine voice sighs, the owner giving Issei a dirty look with his arms folded, seemingly unaware of the pain Issei was currently going through.

'…you don't have the right to talk to me about being right or not…'

Bum-bum.

There it was again. That undesirable feeling that stuck knives into the very pits of his soul. This wasn't any normal kind of pain, it honestly felt like something was attempting to pull his heart out through his ribs.

"It is only natural for Rias and Asia to get mad." Another voice spoke, this time Akeno. Was she also trying to reprimand him?

'…it is only natural for me to get mad…'

Bum-bum.

'Damn it, again!?" Every time this pain announced itself, Issei's eyes scrunched shut and his breathing became less and less natural. What made the devil in further confused was that despite the rather obvious signs of enormous pain, not a single one of them seemed to realize it. They just continued to belittle him about things they didn't fully understand, acting as if they didn't even see suffering he was in, physical or emotional.

"Even I, who is dense at these sorts of things thought you were a bit off, Ise." Xenovia contributed, her hair flowing freely as her head shook in disappointment.

'…you weren't even fucking here, what the hell gives you the right…'

Bum-bum.

"Irk!" Each time his heart lurched, the agony grew worse and worse. Now Issei was actually grasping the area over his heart, panting like a Huskey in the summer.

"Mou! Ise-kun sure is a no-no! Poor Rias-san."

'…you too...Irina?'

Bum-bum.

"Hnn!" He was even whimpering at this point! What the fuck was causing all of this pain? Was this torturous sensation because of the belittlement everyone was dead set on giving him? Sure, the words were like knives but the pain couldn't solely be just from that.

Issei glanced over at Koneko, expecting her to say something as well. If everyone is going to belittle him then he wanted to hear what everyone had to say. Oddly enough, however; the smallest female in the room didn't say anything. Her scrunched eyebrows, pursed lips, and set jaw creating quite a frightening glare. This intense gaze wasn't directed at the resident Harem King wannabe, taking her time to look every other member in the eyes to convey her evident disapproval.

If anyone of them noticed, they showed no noticeable reaction from Koneko's ire.

Issei glanced over at Gasper, hoping…nope, no such luck. He was hiding in his box, but despite this; the look in his eye was noticeably darker.

The Red Dragon Emperor tossed Koneko another glance to affirm his suspicions, the female now leering at Gasper with a silent anger.

'She does understand…' A thin shard of light pierced the darkness that had begun to cloud his mind. 'Makes sense I guess; Rias did have her observing me since day one after all.'

'Ddraig?'

{…}

That single ray of light within his psyche became even more luminescent as the clouds obscuring his mind grew darker and darker by the second. 'Why won't you answer...? Are you also upset with me? You, who has been with me since the very beginning. You, of all people should understand!'

Biting back the sourness, he stood impatiently as he scowled at his hand, failing to comprehend how the one individual closest to him for so long couldn't even utter a single word, in his defense or otherwise.

'So that is how it is…" Koneko's tiny ray of hope barely stood a chance against the betrayal and rage attempting to crush his very spirit.

The vile, invisible waves of absolute disgust lashing out from the tormented boy seeped over Koneko's senses, barely fighting the urge to flee in terror from the enraged dragon that stood in such close proximity. Unsure if she was exempt from his anger, Koneko hesitantly shuffled her away to his side, wrapping her tiny hand around his soft skin in an attempt to comfort him, not sure of what to say to the livid creature. Issei glowered at the hand currently resting on his arm for only a second before traveling into her honey-golden eyes. They held the gaze for seconds before the smallest of grins pierced Issei's scowl.

Relief could not even begin to explain the overwhelming emotions that were happening inside the yokai. Certain that she was not one of the recipients of the intense hatred that slithered across the room, the almost irresistible desire to sprint as fast as she possibly could vanished. replaced by a healthy warmth across her face and a pounding in her bosom.

Gone with the grin, Issei intermingled his fingers with Koneko's, a slight tug notifying her of his intentions. They began moving towards the exit, the same door Asia and Rias fled through, acknowledging the fact that attempting to speak to the rest of the peerage would only prove to be a fruitless endeavor.

Just as they were about to depart, however; a busty female with long black hair tied into a ponytail blocked their path.

"The current Ise-kun will just hurt her more, even if you go after her."

Bum-bum.

'…you dare…" The free hand that hung by his side balled slowly balled into a fist, his arm shaking as his sheer overwhelming emotions began to take control of the dragon emperor. The crippling pain deep in his heart, body and soul certainly failing to help ease the torrent of feelings born from broken trust and rage. '…you dare lecture me…insult me…verbally harass me…now you won't even let me leave!? Why!? To lecture me some more!!??'

A heavy silence thicker than peanut butter draped the room all of them were in before a younger voice spoke out for the first time during this...meeting.

"Umm…this is my mother's and my fault, isn't it?" Ravel asked, the miniature civil war currently taking place forcing butterflies down her throat as the phoenix tried to understand exactly what was happening here.

"No," Issei betrayed no emotion as he interrupted Akeno before she could even begin to reply, her mouth already open and ready to answer the question. "This isn't your fault Ravel."

?

Everyone in the room became very confused, no one dared to move or so much as whisper. Only the inhales and exhales reached the ears of Kiba, Gasper, Xenovia, Akeno, and Irina.

Unknowingly thinking the same thing, everyone but Issei, Koneko, and Ravel began to wonder, hoping.

Does Issei now why we are doing this? Does he truly? If so, is it okay for him to leave?

Drawn out of their thoughts, Issei continued to speak, ignorant and uncaring of their mental questions. "This is not your fault Ravel." Issei repeated, his voice growing hoarser and hoarser as he continued to speak, lips trembling as he feebly attempted to control himself. "This is their fault. All of them."

!!!

"What?" Gasper squeaked from his box before quickly retreating into the cardboard enclosure, afraid that since he actively spoke against Issei, he would be mad at him. Gasper didn't agree with what Issei was doing, but that didn't mean he wanted to be on his bad side.

Will you die for me?

"Would you care to repeat that?" Kiba growled as he drew a Holy-Demonic sword from a summoned magic circle by his waist, the blade only the size of a standard knife. He knew full well that he was going to get yelled at by Rias just for drawing his blade in the first place, however; Issei's ignorance was proving too much for the blond knight to tolerate. Perhaps a smaller weapon would lessen his King's wrath?

Will you die for me?

"Mind telling us how your ill manners and inexperience are our fault?" Xenovia also stepped forward alongside her fellow knight, no so much as daring to draw Durandal despite her desire to. As much as she wanted to pound some sense into their dumb friend's skull, she still had trouble controlling its aura. If she pulled it out in a heavy populated area without their lives on the line…she was not willing to find out what the repercussions would be.

Akeno also remained silent, the crackling of lightening that danced over her skin and the roar of thunder it came with did all the talking for her.

Koneko, sensing the inevitable conflict, raised her fists as two furry objects popped out of her head and an equally fluffy appendage grew out of the back of her skirt.

Will you die for me?

"Umm…guys?" Small beads of sweat fell from the angel's forehead, slowly distancing herself from the powering up members of the devil household. The hesitant action drew the attention of the two rebelling members of the ORC, Issei's eyes softening somewhat as Koneko made sure to remember her hesitation and apparent lack of knowledge of her friend's actions. "What are you guys doing? I thought we were just going to talk this out!"

"Talking won't make him understand." Xenovia growled, her resolve hardening as a faint but growing white aura spread from her body, coating herself in holy energy. "If I have to give him anything, it is his prowess in a fight. Maybe crossing our blades will make him understand."

"Make me understand?" The Red Dragon Emperor, who had remained silent for the most part, spoke with an odd, calm tone that greatly disturbed everyone in the room, his eyes hidden beneath the wild hair.

Will you die for me?

"First, Pres and Asia run out of the room…"

Will you die for me?

"…then you guys antagonize me…"

Will you die for me?

"…now you intend to fight me?"

Will you die for me?

Before, the whispering in the back of his head had been just that, a whisper. Now, that small question that was causing him so much suffering was beginning to grow louder. Each time those words echoed inside his brain, that gut-wrenching pain returned greater than what is was before.

He couldn't keep this up.

Will you die for me?

…

"Issei-kun," Akeno finally spoke, a tone of finality in her voice, "you said that this was our fault…but the fault for Rias' and Asia's anger towards you is nothing but-"

"I WILL NOT DIE FOR YOU!!!" Issei roared suddenly but viciously, all of the pain that he was feeling, every single putrid emotion coursing through him condensed into a single, resolved cry that ripped into the ears of everyone in and out of the clubroom.

{Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!!!}

Unable to hold back anymore, the boy's aura exploded out in a violent boom, blowing everyone but Koneko away, the yokai still grasping his arm for dear life. The aura that poured out of him traveled down his body instantly, flashing across his arm and jumped onto Koneko's, covering her figure in his crimson hatred. The ceiling overhead ripped away from the walls as they bent under the sheer force of his fiery outburst, the hallway quickly rendered little more than tatters from the sudden, devastating increase in power.

Issei, noticing that the fallen figures were already getting up, did not allow them to voice their questions, growling as the blood red energy surrounding him clung to the armor that had manifested around him like a lethal flame.

"Why?" The dead, frigid voice asked no one in particular. "Why is it always the people I trust?"

{Blade!}

Without a single utterance, the crimson Dragon Slayer Ascalon quickly protruded from the Boosted Gear, an unnatural shade of draconic aura swallowing the sword eerily as it billowed and swayed in an invisible, unfeeling gust.

The peerage could do nothing but stare at the very ominous appearance of the Welsh Dragon in shock and fear as the murderous intentions of the creature of legend washed over them like ice water.

"First it was her…now it is you?" That cold and lifeless voice differed greatly from the red-hot rage burning in and around him, not even the air itself was spared from its molestation. Such a voice matched with that appearance…

…was very unsettling.

'How did this happen?' No other thoughts could be made audible within the peerage's minds, even the Nekomata felt unable to aid the unnerving situation or appease her ally's wrath. Releasing her shaking arms, soaked with sweat, from the Red Dragon's forearm, she cautiously eyed the glowing blade as she slowly retreated, the slow steps quickly sprinting as the dragon took no notice of her, fear and concern taking over.

'I need to get help! Before Issei-senpai does something he could regret!'

"Issei…what are you-!"

CLANG!

Before Kiba could even finish his question, Issei seemed to phase out of existence only to reappear in front of the poor knight, Ascalon already mid-swing. It took all of the devil's training and speed to block the attack, the force behind the holy weapon cracking the Balance Breaker throughout its entire frame.

"I am disappointed Kiba." That cold, dead, monotone voice chilled the him to the bone. The fact that his aura was acting more like a raging fire, something that didn't even come close to matching the frozen bite in his voice, tripled with the fact that he couldn't see Issei's face only made it that much more terrifying. "I think I finally know what the whole point to all of this was."

"Y-you do? Then-!" The blond knight channeled his energy into his blade, all of the cracks instantly filled and glowing with newfound strength, the angle of the sword suddenly shifting so that Ascalon would slide down and expose the dragon's neck. Obviously, death was not the aim of this maneuver, but a good shot at the throat should stagger Issei enough to gain distance. It was much safer to speak outside of his fists after all.

Ascalon never moved.

{Boost!}

Suddenly, the knight's legs were swept out from under him by a single clawed leg.

"What the-!?"

In a single, fluid motion, the crimson armor had spun in a circle and took out Kiba's legs, tripping him with an extended his right leg. The motion still going, the Balance Breaker burning with a cold anger slammed his left fist deep into Kiba's gut, the momentum carrying additional force to the already boosted punch.

"Gah!?" Blood and spittle leapt from his mouth, splattering the carpet below. The full body weight of the knight pressing down on this boosted fist full of momentum…never before had he felt so much pain from a single punch! A myriad of randomly colored specks floating in his vision, Kiba could barely make out a red energy glowing out of his stomach.

"Dragon shot."

PHING!!!

Following through, Issei released one of his very few long-range attacks at point black range, the already limp body shooting into the sky like a bullet as the energy beam carried him higher and higher into the vast blue expanse above.

"Kiba!!" Stunned by how one sided the engagement with Kiba and Issei, Akeno quickly flew up to retrieve the now falling body of the unconscious devil. Glaring at the hybrid for a moment, Issei turned his attention to Gasper who was shaking in his box, biting his teeth as they clattered in fear. 'W-We are going to die! Issei-senpai is going to kill us!'

"You have anything to say Gasper?" Said devil quickly shook his head back and forth, instantly responding to the question in favor of avoiding anything that could further enrage the already pissed dragon. "Really? Because you were giving me quite the awful look just a few minutes ago. If you have something to say, you should say it. The others certainty did."

'And look what happened to them!' Gasper screeched mentally, fearing that returning to his cardboard quarters would only provoke Issei further.

As if cardboard was the best form of protection from a being capable of killing gods.

After making that comment, Issei realized that it had suddenly gotten very quiet. Before, the entire peerage plus Irina were here; now, all that remained was a very shattered room and the scared-out-of-his-wits vampire.

If he had to guess…since Rias wasn't here, Akeno took temporary command of the peerage and told them what to do. Xenovia should be getting Sona while Irina went to go get Rias and Asia, taking care of the students and the neighboring civilians as she went. That would leave Ravel, Koneko, Gasper, and Kiba. Koneko probably went to Sona too and Ravel should have escaped with a magic circle… Gasper and Kiba were supposed to...yeah. Seeing Kiba get absolutely obliterated, Akeno likely changed plans and contacted them with a magic circle and is probably carrying Kiba over to them to get healed.

So, if he follows them…they will lead him to the two people who hurt him the most.

…

(Meanwhile)

{What is going on?} A certain red dragon pondered in hurried frustration, his influence over the Boosted Gear literally nonexistent as he once again tried to exert his will. Again, the gear failed to respond to him.

{Why? The Boosted Gear is a container that houses my power and my soul! Why isn't it answering my will!?} Was Issei's anger so great that he is subconsciously suppressing him? A human turned demon suppressing a dragon? Then again, Issei always did make the impossible possible.

The dragon sighed, the long neck craning to look in another direction as its mind raced in reflection. {Perhaps I should have objected towards the Gremory girl's plan.}

Several nights ago, the Gremory girl approached Issei while he slept. However, instead of calling to the boy, they called out to him, Ddraig. Curious, he answered their call and they told him their plan to get Issei to realize his feelings for Rias. Of course, the dragon had long knew of the existence of these feelings since before his wielder could manifest him. In addition, with Issei continuously going on and on over a woman's breast and his unfathomable lust for the opposite gender, the prideful dragon was nearing the edges of his sanity. He agreed to their plan, however; he was curious as to what the group of devils had planned if Issei remained ignorant.

(Flashback)

{If this plan of yours aids in curbing his sexual tendencies and alleviating some of his outlandish behavior, I will concur to this scheme.}

"Excellent," the Gremory spoke, proud and relieved that she had Ddraig's approval, "it helps knowing that you aren't against this or us getting together." She was garbed in only a thin nightgown so she walked around the bed to join the boy and the rest of her peerage in bed.

{But let me ask you this, Gremory…} The girl, who had shed her nightgown, freeing her bosom from the loose fabric, paused in her actions, holding the covers of the bed up with one arm. {What is your plan should Issei either refuse you…or remain ignorant?}

Two arcs of hair over her eyes fell as she finished getting into bed, her generous assets spilling over her crossed arms. "Honestly…I don't know. Issei is dense, but I don't think he is that dense. This is as close as I can possibly get to him realizing his feelings for me without me blatantly telling him."

{So… why don't you just tell him?} A familiar feeling rising within the legendary lizard. {I fail to understand why such a roundabout method is required. By being honest with him, he is forced to acknowledge his feelings for you in a less confrontational manner and you can tell him how you feel as well. Would that not be the better course of action?}

"No, Ddraig, it isn't." A heavy exhale filled the air, a single strand of hair getting curled round and round. "I shouldn't have to tell him in the first place! What kind of girl tells the man she likes that the strange feelings he has is love and that she loves him too?"

{Several of my feminine hosts have done exactly what you just described.} The glowing lights from the red gauntlet flashed brighter than they normally do. {They knew what they wanted, struck, and were always successful with their romance because they were straightforward with their loved one.}

Another heavy sigh. "I know what you are trying to tell me Ddraig, and I get it. But in this time and age, men are supposed to make the first move when it comes to relationships. I have ignored that and gave him every single signal I can think of that I am interested in him. Sleeping in his bed, wearing raunchy clothes, letting him see me naked, I even offered him my virginity! I have done literally everything a girl can do. If Issei can't see the writing on the wall even after all of that... no, that won't happen. Issei just needs a little push, that is all."

{And if he needs more than a push?}

"I will think of something."

(Flashback End)

While he was still unsure of what the red-headed female had planned, the severity of the current situation did more then prove his doubts were well placed.

{Hmm?} A dark and sinister sensation slithered up the spine of the fearsome reptile. A great evil was stirring in the core of the sacred gear, something that was quite familiar. Ddraig dove deeper into Issei's god given gift, rage motivating him to remove anything that was deemed harmful to his host.

While he could not directly enter the core, he could still gaze and speak to those within. Focusing his will and bracing himself for whatever was the cause of this sinister aura, the seemingly endless space ripped before him.

{What business do you have with my previous hosts, god?} He questioned the entity before him, gazing into the area that holds the grievances of the Red Dragons of Old.

Said individual was a handsome man with eyes that you would normally see on an average delinquent. This man had light blue hair that floats behind him with two small bangs similar to a blue lightning bolt, a blue jewel on his forehead and yellow earrings. The god apparent stood in the center of a circle, gazing at the previous hosts of the Boosted Gear with the back facing the Welsh Dragon.

"Them? Nothing." The deity replied casually, feeling no fear even with the full attention of one of the 13 Longinus directed towards him. "Although I do have some business with your current host. Issei Hyoudou is his name, correct?"

{I was led to believe you were sealed in ice for eternity." The feeble attempt at provoking an angered response failed miserably.

"And I was…at least…most of me was." He remarked, finally turning towards the mighty reptilian creature. "Before I was struck by that cursed hammer Mjolnir, I placed a curse of my own inside of this boy and his bitch, separating two parts of my soul and implanting them inside their souls."

{And do you plan on getting revenge for what they did to you in your last battle?}

"Revenge? No, something that petty is below me. What I want is for Ragnarök to be invoked. However, thanks to these ants, I can no longer do that. So, this is my…what do the humans call it…back-up plan?"

{And what exactly do you mean by 'back-up plan'?}

"Exactly what I have just said lizard. Because after all…" Lips cracked upwards as a sinister smile plastered itself in place.

"If I can't invoke the original Ragnarök, I'll just have to make a new one."

Xxx

"Akeno!?" The red-haired king ran towards her queen with bishop in tow, the fallen demon hybrid carrying the knight over her shoulder, sprinting out into the front of the school where her servant was landing. "What is going on? What happened after I left!?"

"I don't know Rias." Was the stressed reply, handing the boy in her arms over to Asia, standing side by side with her King. "But I think we may have gone too far."

"Hold on…is that Kiba!?" Hurriedly lowering him to the ground, the gentle bishop placed her hands over his chest, a green light spawning from the rings on her hands, bathing the body in a magnificent emerald brilliance. She scanned the body for any form of injury that may need immediate focus, instantly noticing the bloody mess splattered and caked all over his abdomen. "Issei did this!?"

"Yes." Akeno looked away from her fellow club members, a hideous regret boiling over at the mere thought that she was involved in turning one of their own against them. A harsh slap of reality should have brought Issei around to realizing his feelings for Rias. But…did she…did they take it too far?

"Akeno…" Rias knelt down to look into her queen's eye, searching intently for a suitable explanation as to why everything went awry. "What…happened...?"

"I can answer that.��

BOOM!

An explosion of sound blasted their ears with deafening force, the devils unfazed by the violent assault of noise.

Normally, the devils would be worried about humans discovering the supernatural way beyond this point, however; Rias already contacted the student council and they could still be seen carrying humans who had fainted beneath the power of a Heavenly Dragon to unknown destinations and dispatching those who managed to maintain hold on their consciousness.

That, and the pawn's mere presence erased any other concern in place of ensuring their own safety.

"I-Issei!" Surprised to see him in his Scale Mail, she stepped back in shock while Asia remained unmoving as she continued to heal Kiba, seemingly scared stiff. Both of their faces reflected various forms of unease, confusion, fear, and worry as Issei slowly closed the distance between them, striding forward with each 'tik' he made on the concrete.

"Hello, Rias."

There it was. The single most important thing that the Gremory always wanted to hear…

Her name.

However, it was not at all like she imagined it. She believed it would leave his lips like sugar and honey, when he finally realized his feelings for her and was ready to accept her.

The cold gravel that fell from his lips was far from what she wanted.

The change in facial expression must have given away what she was thinking because a voice left the helm of the dragon. "Isn't this what you wanted? To be called by your first name? Was hearing your name leave my lips worth everything else I have done for you?"

"Wh-Wh-What are you talking about?" Rias' mind proved to be incapable of thinking of what he was talking about in favor for getting as much distance between her and the enraged dragon as possible, backing away with each step he took.

"Really? You don't know? Then let me remind you Rias." Emphasized like it was disgusting to even say further crushed the heart of the red-haired devil. "First: who was it that fought off the flame chicken and freed you from the arranged marriage you never wanted? Me! At the cost of my arm! I gave up a part of my body, a limb mind you, to save you that day in case you forgot!

Second: who fought off Vali when he tried to kill you to entice my anger?

Third: who was it that nearly died when we were fighting Fenrir, fighting Loki?

Forth: who was it who went berserk when Asia was beamed to the Dimensional Gap?

Lastly, but certainly not least, the way I was made into a devil: letting me die at the hands of a being that you knew was invading your territory! You let me die at the hands of my first girlfriend, the very first female aside from my mother who acted like she gave a damn!! YOU LET ME DIE TO SATISFY YOUR AGENDA!!! YOU ARE JUST LIKE RAYNARE, WHO ACTUALLY MURDERED ME TO SATISFY HERS!!!"

As the angry lecture/berating wrapped up, small orbs glowing the color of grass sprouted from the draconic armor and hovered a slight distance away from him. This spectacle forced their hearts even lower as an icy chill began to take over their spines, this sensation all too familiar to them. What made it worse was that they all knew there was nothing they could do to stop it. In fact, if they tried anything, it would probably make the situation worse than it already was.

"…You are right."

"Rias!?"

"Rias-oneesama!?"

The other two conscious members of her peerage turned their fearful gazes from the personification of rage itself to their leader, shock and disbelief dancing across their faces.

Rias had tears streaming down her cheeks, but still managed to speak in a clear and even tone. "You are right. I had an idea of what the fallen angel would attempt, although I didn't know for certain. That is why you had that flier given to you, so that I could step in should your life be put into danger. But I was too late. You were stabbed and bleeding profusely. It wasn't the way I wanted it to go, but I wasn't about to let you die before you even had a chance to live your life!"

"Live my life? Is this the life you wanted me to live!?" Issei exasperated, signaling the vast amount of debris surrounding them, the humans that had yet to be collected for fear of enticing the Dragon of Domination's wrath, and the remains of what used to be the school building. "Fighting for your desires? Offering parts of my body to a dragon to protect you? Having my heart shattered by a girl who I genuinely thought cared!? Having what was left stomped on for doing everything but saying a single word!?"

Speechless, Rias realized what Issei was saying and couldn't help but think that he wasn't wrong. A foul move was made to get him into her peerage. He fought for her, cared for her, protected her, almost died for her, and what did she do in return?

Ignored everything he did and turned her back on him when she didn't get what she wanted.

"I've said my peace. Now it is your turn, Asia."

The blond girl, staring into the cold eyes of the enraged dragon, was frozen where she knelt; the poor girl could not even think of moving. Not because Kiba was still in her lap, not because she was still not finished healing him, but because she feared that if she tried to move, or even avoid eye contact…

…she would die.

"Who was the one who helped you when you needed it? You remember, don't you? Of course, you do, how could you ever forget about the church? You know, the place where you literally died?? And…correct me if I am wrong, but who was it that begged Rias on his hands and knees to bring you back to life? The person who is responsible for you even being alive. The person who went on an actual rampage when he thought you were dead?"

"…You." She whispered quietly, her body shaking as tears began to stream down her face, only to fall on the knight's head on her lap, truly realizing how much Issei had done for her and how she had treated him in return.

"What was that Asia? I couldn't hear you; would you say that again louder?"

"Y-You." The tears turned into rivers and her cry's became sobs; the memories of all that Issei did for her coming back to her, haunting her and the actions she took today.

"Really? Me? I thought it may have been Kiba because I am a horrible person who can't understand Rias' feelings. Do you realize how horrible all of you are for not realizing my feelings!?"

"Y…Yes-!"

No sooner had she attempted to answer the question with the awful truth, Issei dashed forward, stopping mere inches from the terrified teen, her eyes slowly moving to gaze into the blackened emerald pools on his helm.

"No. You don't."

Akeno tried to speak up in Asia's defense, not even getting a word out before being instantly cut off as Issei plowed forth with his enraged beratements.

"Akeno: you were with Rias when she made the decision to add me to the peerage! Don't you think you could have spoken up about your master letting someone die just so she could have another piece? Apparently not since why would a queen dare question her King?

Irina and Xenovia didn't even know about Raynare or the circumstances of my devilification and they automatically decided to side with Rias without even hearing my side of the story! Thanks a lot you two!

Gasper turned his back on me after I helped him get better at using his powers. Really appreciated that."

"Issei," Rias interrupted him before he could continue, a single arm raised to wipe the salty liquid from her eyes and cheeks, "I know you are mad at everyone but leave them out of this. I was the one who told them to say those things."

"Oh really? So, I guess you were also the one who told Kiba to pull his Balance Breaker on me? Or maybe you told Akeno to threaten me with her Holy Lightning?" Her eyes grew wide and glanced towards her queen and her knight, still unconscious from the point-blank Dragon Shot. "Didn't think so."

"Now that everyone has had their verbal lashing…Ddraig…out of everyone, I expected you to be by my side."

There was no response. Silence was the only thing that came from the red device on his arm.

"Oh? Not even going to acknowledge me? How about I dive into the sacred gear and talk to you directly? Would you like that? I sure would!"

{Don't.} The green gem on his gauntlet shining to life for but a second, surprising the distraught boy.

"Oh?" The enraged male glared down at the offended gem in his left arm. "And why exactly shou-"

{Why don't you let him in lizard? After all, this was bound to happen sooner or later.}

Every single thought of his vanished as this new voice entered his head. Gone with the desire to reap vengeance on the Gremory peerage, gone with the anger at the being he hosted, and gone with the emerald orbs that surrounded him.

Unbeknownst of the internal conversation taking place within his cranium, Rias and the other two girls looked on in confusion and the faintest bit of relief. All of the pressure of the dragon's aura forced on them seemed to magically vanish from the atmosphere.

"…Loki…how…"

{Tch, tch, tch. The how and the why doesn't matter now does it? All that matters now is that I am. Fear not, however; I will not kill you. Why, you might ask? Nothing overly difficult, I just need you to lay waste to this land in Ragnarok's stead!}

The only sound that could be heard, both inside and outside of Issei's head, was the cracking of concrete and brick in the distance as birds chirped overhead, oblivious to the conflict that churned within the dragon.

The emotional suffering had not lessened nor vanished…but now a sudden sensation of clarity overcame him.

"Oh…I see." The frigid voice that had haunted the ears of everything within hearing range slowly, but surely, began to warm. "So, you don't want Issei Hyoudou…you just want the Red Dragon Emperor."

Warning bells began to go off in everyone's head, all of them glancing at one another to see that they were thinking the same thing.

"Issei, that isn't it! We don't wan-gah!?"

A heavy, invisible force pushed down on them all, the dragon's aura growing to surround his figure in a blanket of murderous red and green, unknowingly cutting off the link he had with the sacred gear.

"You're telling me that if I never became the Red Dragon Emperor, then none of this would have happened to me?? That, if I never had this gear on my arm, I would have had a normal life?? Everything is because of this???"

{Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!}

{Blade!}

A sharp, pointy protrusion suddenly sprouted from the area above the dragon's left palm, the crimson blade donning the dragon's aura instantly. The already red sword grew disturbingly eerie as the blood red aura hinted with green snaked around it.

With a low growl, the heartbroken boy wrapped his other hand around the base of the blade and pulled it away from the gauntlet, now holding the holy weapon in his other hand.

No one dared to speak when the distraught child stepped towards their King, the knight still unconscious from the blast to the stomach.

"Issei-senpai!?" The voiced interruption ceased his advance, separating the Crimson Princess and the Dragon of Domination were but measly inches. A quick glance determined the owner of the voice was Kuroka's younger sister, a blue-haired devil president besides her, alarmed and muttering something lost to distance into a magic circle rapidly. "What are you doing!? Please stop!"

"Hyoudou, please; I must advise you to ca-ahh!?"

Sona, stressing over the life of her best friend, a murderous dragon bordering on a Juggernaut Drive, and giving commands to her own peerage to escort the civilians to safety and setting up a perimeter around Rias' pawn, noticed a small ball of energy flying in her direction a fraction too late as it barreled into her pancreas, blood spilling out of her mouth in a pained cough.

"I'm sorry. Were you trying to tell me to calm down?" Crimson colored energy spilled out of the ball exactly like the move he had used on Kiba. "No thanks."

BANG!

The president of the student council couldn't even let out a cry as the explosion took away her breath and sent her speeding into a nearby wall, what was left of the school corridor collapsing on top of her fallen figure.

"Sona!!" Akeno and Asia hollered. There may have been a third, more masculine voice mixed in, but Issei couldn't tell nor did he care. The dragon pointed a single talon at the Nekomata, Koneko backing away slightly at the perceived threat.

"Stay right there Koneko. I don't want you getting any closer."

Despite being told that, the Nekomata still tried to approach. "Issei, plea-"

The earth exploded mere inches away from her foot, shudders sprinting through her figure as she fell flat on her ass.

"Don't. Move." The growl forced the self-preservation instinct within the yokai to kick in, compelling her to obey, teeth chattering and eyes round in fear.

He…he actually shot at me…

Issei, finished dealing with the outside nuisances, redirected his attention to the frightened but steadfast King, both of them staring at the other in the eye.

"You shouldn't have done that!" She protested as vehemently as she could under the circumstances, "This is between you and me! Neither of them deserved that!"

"We both know that Sona was going to get involved sooner or later, nothing you wanted was going to change that. This isn't like the wedding with Riser, Rias." So long as her course of action did not endanger the Devil Society, her peerage, or her family; Sona was more than willing to do everything in her power to make sure that her friend was safe; even if it meant using herself as a shield for her. They both knew that and Issei took steps to prevent that, merciless as they may have been. For her part, Rias couldn't accept his methods…but it did spare Sona worse pain later, for which she was grateful. "Koneko, while her intentions are good, will suffer if she gets too close to me. Look at those two…" the dragon of domination indicated Asia and Akeno, "they can't even move due to the weight of my aura. The only reason you can is because I'm intentionally holding back on my power around you. And belive me when I say there is nothing more tempting right now then squash you with every ounce of it."

Armed with this information, Rias tried to formulate a plan only to cease seconds later.

Issei had her…and he knew it. The Gremory heiress couldn't run, Issei would easily be able to catch up to her or turn towards her peerage and Sona's. She couldn't fight him either, maybe earn several seconds depending on how long Issei wanted this to drag out.

There was nothing she could do…except one thing.

Slowly, defeatedly, she lowered her head in a bow and exposed her neck to him, careful with each word she spoke.

"I'm sorry it had to end like this…if that means anything at this point." Rias apologized as sincerely as she could. "Please do what you want with me. Just leave my peerage out of it. Sona's too."

The dragon's aura did not change; nor did its stance; nor it's emotions; the only noticeably difference was that, when he spoke, his voice was faintly warmer… a sad and hidden smile straining the child's face.

"You were the reason my sacred gear awoke. If you had let me die, I would have entered the reincarnation cycle and the Boosted Gear would have found another host, sparing me from everything. But, despite everything, I am sorry as well."

Unable to move, Akeno and Asia were forced to remain prostrated and watch as Ascalon rose into the air, the blood red aura gathering around the blade as the murderous force left the Scale Mail, the holy dragon slayer now appearing to be pure black rather than red. "And I promise that I will not harm them."

"Issei, please!!!"

"Issei-senpai!!!"

"Issei!!!"

The other three devils, Akeno; Asia and Koneko, cried out in anguish, begging for the life of someone they all knew and loved. The girls placed all of their hopes that, beneath all of the negative emotion and hatred, the boy they came to know was in there somewhere.

He was not.

He was dead.

They killed him.

And this is what happens when the only people he trusts betrays him not once…but twice!

"Hey, Rias," the dragon called softly, the girl raising her head in question, "will you die for me?"

???

The cries of anguish feel into shock and dread as the Gremory smiled sadly in acceptance.

"If that is what will make you happy." Her hair fell forward once more to expose her neck.

""""Rias!?""""

Issei smiled beneath his helm.

"Good."

The pitch black Ascalon swung down!

PPSSHH!

Thwop!

…

The Gremory remained prostrate, wondering when her head would fall from her neck, now that it had been cut. Instants became moments and moments turned into seconds. After a few of those pregnant seconds passed, did she realize something was off.

Something isn't right. That was the sole thought that passed through her mind as she slowly looked up to the man who was about to take her life, until something on the ground caught her attention.

It was an arm. A very bloody arm with a green jammed gauntlet.

Realization flashed across her face, looking up at the Red Dragon Emperor only to confirm her fears.

There he stood, Ascalon held in what was now his sole arm, a stump with the liquid of life running profusely down his side as he slumped forward in what was possibly pain.

"Issei!!??" Koneko shouted in shock and horror, ignoring the fear telling her to remain still as she entered a dead sprint towards the injured dragon. The others were rendered incapable of speaking as they watched the scene before them. Issei…had just cut off his own arm! The same arm he gave the dragon back during Raiser's wedding!

But wouldn't that…

A faint glow began to surround the severed limb, the emerald light growing brighter and brighter until it became blinding!

And the light continued to grow!

Just before the inevitable, Rias could hear a voice on the other side of the over radiant appendage.

"You don't… get to die… Rias. You are going…to live…with the guilt…of being… the sole reason…the Red Dragon Emperor…ceases to exist.

BOOM!!! An explosion even bigger than the one Issei released shook the entire school building, the former Red Dragon Emperor rocketing through the sky since he was the closest to the blast. No one noticed when the Nekomata jumped on him before the blast occurred, the few members of the Occult Club present shielding themselves from yet another blast of explosive power.

They struggled to remain in place, the blast causing a vicious hail of wind that threatened to slam them through the few remaining walls still standing. As they attempted to resist the sudden gale, a voice could be heard from where Issei's appendage fell.

{Welsh Dragon! Seal is Broken!}

***

"Ugg…" A certain brown-haired individual groaned in pain. His memory was fuzzy, his body was in tremendous pain, he couldn't feel anything from his left arm…oh.

"Issei-senapi? Issei-senpai?" A voice said his name.

"Oh…Koneko…" It hurt to speak. It hurt to feel. Even opening his eye took more effort than it should. Sandpaper lined his throat as he spoke, one of his eyes numb and unseeing, and he could literally feel his heartbeat reverberate from the tips of his fingers to the ends of his toes.

Despite the mass numbness, he could still feel a faint pressure on his waist, Koneko's face, hair, and hands slathered in mud and…blood? Oh…explosion. Why was she in her underwear?

"Issei-senpai…please don't say anything…I'm trying to heal you…"

'Heal? I don't… need healing…I've been in worse pain than this.'

Curious as to the shape he was in, he let his face fall to the left to take in the state of his arm…or lack thereof. Where his appendage would normally be, there was a bunch of white wrapping that was drenched in some kind of red liquid. There was a sense of familiarity when he looked at the strips covering his stump, they looked almost exactly like his school uniform.

"Tch…this isn't working…" The Nekomata's voice reached the former dragon's ears…at least those were working fine…ish.

"What are…you… *cough cough*" With each spasm he went through, the pain only increased several times over.

"Please don't speak!" She snapped at her patient, maddened that he seemed insistent on doing something. Issei couldn't help but notice the impatience in her voice…the desperation. He decided to heed her wishes and remain quiet…it felt a lot better not to speak anyway.

He watched as the girl's cat ears twitched occasionally and tail shake restlessly as he simply lay against the uncomfortable ground. Slowly, ever so slowly, he could feel some feeling return to his body, his crotch more so then the other areas.

"No…even Bedroom Arts… aren't enough??" Koneko grew increasingly worried and frustrated, forcing her hips to move faster.

'Bedroom Arts…isn't that some kind of healing technique used during sex...? Ah…so that is what she is doing…too bad it hurts so much I can't even enjoy it…'

PSSHF PSSHF. A bush began to ruffle.

Issei and Koneko quickly glanced over to said bush, the former getting a large headache from just doing so.

"See Vali? I told you I felt Shirone's energy around he-Red Dragon Emperor??"

Issei felt another presence position itself next to him.

"Kuroka Onee-sama!?" Koneko was focusing so much on healing her senpai that she didn't notice her sister's presence until she was right next to her.

"Hyoudou?"

Issei recognized that last voice, the clothing and hairstyle only confirmed it once the owner of the voice stepped into his view.

"Vali…hehe… *cough*"

Vali Lucifer was wearing a dark green shirt under a black jacket with burgundy pants, his normal attire. He was looking down at the two Nekomata and the boy, wondering what his rival could have done to put himself into such a state.

From Vali's point of view, Issei's body was in such a shape that even he was surprised Hyoudou was still alive. The left side of his body looked like the equivalent of what human's call spaghetti. His left arm was nonexistent, the white and yellow of his rib bones peeking out of what was left of his flesh and the left leg was just barely attached. His right side looked just about the same as before save for a few evident broken bones.

"Shirone, I need you to focus on the Bedroom Arts, I'll take care of the healing. Vali, I'm going to need your help." Appalled at the shape of the man below her sister, Kuroka began to cast all of the repair and healing spells she knew. It was no wonder her sister was performing the Bedroom Arts; the Red Dragon Emperor would have died already if it wasn't for Shirone.

Vali, surprised to see that the elder Nekomata was ordering him around, did as he was told and performed his share of healing and repair spells. It wasn't like he didn't want to do so, he had questions for his rival that needed answers. Then again, he could just ask the girl who was slamming herself on his rival's nether region…

'At least this isn't boring.' Vali thought, a small smile forming on his face as he redirected his focus towards the former wielder of the Boosted Gear.

"What happened Hyoudou?" The Lucifer asked, ensuring his rival's flesh was knitting together properly.

"Wel- *cough cough*" His body was in such bad shape that even his throat was telling him to shut the fuck up.

Kuroka's eyes wandered away from Issei's naked ribcage as the harsh tones of a man trying to cough up his own lungs forced its way into her ears. Taking a glance to ensure that his lungs were indeed still in place, a silky-smooth arm draped in black cloth traveled up his body as light sprinkled from her fingertips.

"…Thanks, Kuroka…As I was trying to say… the others were being selfish and… pissed me off. When I tried… talking at Ddraig… Loki answered."

"Loki?" The host of Albion couldn't stop himself from voicing his doubt. "Didn't Odin seal him away?"

"I…thought so. Anyway, he… wanted me…to become…a new Ragnarök... or whatever…with the power…of the Red Dragon. I was confused…angry…and scared. I… focused my will… cut my arm off… with Ascalon… … and separated the gear… from my body. Red Dragon this…Red Dragon that…never Issei. I guess I just…lost it…"

"…I see…" A soft exhale filled the air, Vali turning his head towards the heavens above. Issei followed his view the best he could but it was difficult to see the stars when there was a big busty beauty on one side of him and the second cutest girl, covered in a hazy blue aura, slamming herself down on his unfeeling meat.

Countless twinkles decorated the sky, shining light down on the emerald foliage around them alongside the full moon. The combination of stars and moon made it so that there was no absence of light. This, the gentle breeze that played with Vali's clothes and hair, and the way he stood with his head craned up and back facing Issei left with a truly majestic appearance. "It seems fate truly works in mysterious ways."

Koneko and Issei noticed the almost wistful tone in his voice, Kuroka easily picking up on the change of atmosphere despite the severity of her patient's condition. "Vali is no longer the White Dragon Emperor. Issei here must have destroyed the seal God placed on the dragons by forcibly removing the Boosted Gear. The seal had to have been linking the two of them since Albion left Vali only hours ago. So, when one seal broke, the other broke as well."

This was certainly news to them. The key to breaking the seal on the two heavenly dragons was to remove one of the gears from their bodies? No, it couldn't be that simple, there had to be more. God wouldn't let such a strong seal have such a weakness... would he?

"So why are you… not injured?" Issei asked.

"For one, Albion left without resisting because that would only hurt the both of us in the long run. The real reason is because I was stronger than you without the dragon and I was able to prevent most of the damage. But really, it is better now that Albion is gone; he was getting a little overinsistent that we continue the battle between White and Red. He always seemed satisfied with constantly fighting on the front lines of the Khaos Brigade, fighting those Northern Earth Gods was absolutely thrilling, but the way he acted gave me the impression that he was…wanting?"

"Is the…battle…between Ddraig…and Albion…that important to them?" Koneko's voice was starting to trail off, the pleasure must be making her close.

"Shirone, you can't stop moving. Here, I'll take some of the pleasure for myself but you have to keep moving. You are the one keeping the boy alive; if you stop, he dies." Kuroka placed a hand on Koneko's shoulder and a green aura like substance appeared on the younger Nekomata that was focused on the area between her legs. That substance started moving up her body and towards the older Nekomata's hand, the older cat creature's eyes rolling back a little before adjusting to the foreign sensation.

"Thanks…Onee-sama." Her breathing became more regular and her pacing normalized. Kuroka, feeling a portion of what Koneko was, couldn't help but moan and lick her lips despite the situation. "Onee-sama, please focus on healing Issei-senpai!" Kuroka regained herself at her sister's words and focused her more of her magic onto Issei's left side.

Vali answered the previously unanswered question. "Those two have been battling since before the Great War amongst the three powers. I don't know what provided the incentive, but they are serious when it comes to their rivalry. I wouldn't be surprised if they continue to do battle until the end of time."

Having never stopped his magic while looking towards the stars, working on Issei with his back turned, Vali focused on the task at hand once more.

Several long minutes later, Vali and Kuroka slowly grew frustrated and worried as the situation continued to worsen rather than improve. Neither of their magics were working nearly as effective as they should. One of them alone could heal a number of humans on the brink of death to near perfect health effortlessly; yet, the both of them combined could not seem to heal a weak and dying devil. His external and internal wounds were healing nicely, but he didn't seem to be getting better. Could this be some kind of side effect on his body from the removal of the Welsh Dragon?

"What, is going on?" A high-pitched sound bounced off of the trees, feminine and childlike in nature.

All heads turned, taking in the sight of a small girl slowly strolling towards them. Long black hair tossed and turned in the breeze as twin amethyst orbs innocently pierced through the surrounding vegetation. Clothed in a classic purple and black gothic Lolita outfit with an open chest, matching x shape bandages covering the nipples of her visible breasts, it was an appearance that could be considered erotic to those with certain fetishes.

"Ophis." Vali acknowledged. The name bounced around in the heads of the two devils before finally realizing that this child was the Dragon God of Infinity!

"Hehe…can't say…I expected to see…the Infinite Dragon God again…" Issei's voice was barely even a whisper that almost failed at leaving his lips. The other's noticed how faint his voice was and redoubled their efforts of attempting to heal whatever was ailing the weakened devil. His bones were no longer broken and skin grew over the stump that had previously been an arm; the bleeding had stopped and he looked perfectly fine… but his life force was still diminishing rapidly despite the Bedroom Arts Koneko was performing.

"I, ask again." Ophis said, rather annoyed that no one was paying attention to her. "What, is happening?"

Koneko spoke first, gazing intently into god's eyes with such emotion that anyone else would have looked away in embarrassment. "Please…help Issei-senpai. Please…"

The despairing devil could not say much more. Tears fell freely from her amber eyes, almost believing that this is where the man she loved was going to die.

"Help?" The little deity expressed her confusion, tilting her head in a cute manner. "Help, with what?"

Vali elaborated. "Issei Hyoudou ripped the Boosted Gear from his body. I'm guessing that when he tore Ddraig out, a portion of his soul went with it. It must be in a critical state if he is in this bad of a shape after all of the magic we cast on him. I'm afraid…there is nothing more we can do." The Lucifer delivered his analysis of the situation with a hint of sadness. The world was about to lose one of the few he deemed worthy of his rivalry.

"N-No…i-it can't be…" Koneko could not help it anymore. The small drips of water turned into a steady stream, outright sobbing, all the while attempting desperately to put more magic into the Bedroom Arts.

"I'm sorry Shirone…but I have to agree with Vali." Kuroka told her sister, trying to give her the news as gently as she could. This only made her sob even more.

"No! I'm not giving up! I can't just let him die! Not again! Not from another betrayal! Kuroka was the one who made him the way he was, now Rias is the reason for the way he is! That is just cruel! Dying like this twice!? I can't accept that!!"

Ophis finished approaching the party and looked down on the dying devil. "Ddraig, you are going to die?"

"It…looks like it…" Issei replied as best he could, his body growing colder and colder by the minute. "But…my name isn't…Ddraig. My name…is Issei."

"I-sse-i." Ophis tested how the pronunciation felt, experimenting with each syllable. "Do you want to die?"

"Hehehe…not really."

"Why? Don't, you wish to end the pain?" The girl bent her neck to the side again, similar to that of a confused dog.

"I…guess? But…more than that…I want…to live…"

"Why?" Kuroka, Koneko, and Vali observed the interaction. One of them watched on with sad disappointment, another one with worry and awkwardness, the last one still crying her heart out for the man who had earned her trust and love. Unable to take it much longer, Kuroka placed a single hand on her sister's shoulder.

"I want…to enjoy…what this world…has to offer." Issei whispered, his voice barely able to do more than that. "There are…lots of things…I want…to do still…"

"Like, what?" The Ouroboros Dragon could not comprehend what would motivate the former wielder of Ddraig to continue living. What could possibly be worth the pain it takes to maintain his existence when he could pass on to something more painless?

Issei could feel his sensation fading…but…something… was inspiring him to continue talking to the deity, as if talking to her would keep him alive even a little bit longer.

"I…want to get stronger…fight strong people" Vali and Issei locked eyes.

"…enjoy peace and quiet…" Kuroka turned herself away from her sister to gaze at the dying boy. Ophis continued to watch the boy who was making her feel…things?

"but…most of all…I just want…to be acknowledged…loved." Koneko did everything she could to not go back over to Issei and wrap her arms around him in an attempt to comfort him.

"Issei-senpai." Koneko's tears were beginning to dry up, not believing what she was hearing. She had always thought of him as some super perv. But as time went on, she saw that he actually did care for the club…cared about her. These…were his real feelings…this was his motivation for being so perverted. But this didn't answer why he chose to be a pervert to accomplish his goals.

"What about… you Ophis?" What…do you want?" Issei asked the infinite mass of energy. "What…do you desire?"

��I, want to return to silence." She replied, finding herself drawn into his gaze and unable to look away. Something was off about him, but she couldn't seem to figure out what. A sensation was rising to the surface from the depths of her body. Was this 'emotion'? This desire, this drive, this motivation to keep him talking? "I, wish to go back to the Dimensional Gap. But Great Red is there…noisy. Can't enjoy silence. I, want him out."

'So, Ophis' goal is to take back her home.' Issei thought. 'Has she ever thought of making a new home? A new place to enjoy silence?' Just as he was about to close his eyes forever…

'"I'm guessing that when he tore Ddraig from his body, a portion of his soul went with it."'

'"I, want to return to silence."'

'A new place to enjoy silence?'

"Ophis…" The mass of energy blinked at the sound of her name leaving the boy's lips, his arm stretching out towards her. "…will you…enjoy silence…inside of me?"

?

No one understood what the devil meant by that. Enjoy silence inside of him? What did that mean? It didn't seem like a perverted request, as if he was in a position to consider such a thing but this was Issei Hyoudou after all, but an honest question.

"I, do not understand." The dragon replied with yet another tilted head, however; that feeling in the pit of her stomach was growing stronger, she could even feel her heart beating inside her chest.

"Make…my soul…your new home…" Issei asked, a newfound hope giving birth inside his mind. "You…should be able…to enjoy silence…inside my soul…"

No one knew what that meant. Issei wasn't making any sense. Was he becoming delusional in the face of death?

However, there was one person who seemed to understand. "You, wish to host me?"

The brown-haired boy smiled, not knowing how to put his meaning into words. Thankfully, the mass of infinite energy was smarter than she looked. "If you…can make my soul…whole again…there…should be… silence…"

The light in the boy's eyes faded, his body went limp, and his head fell once again to the side.

The devil known as Issei Hyoudou, former pawn of the Gremory and former Red Dragon Emperor, was dead.

…

"No…no…NO!!!" The younger Nekomata's crying was renewed with great vigor, sprinting past her sister's outstretched arm; her hands grabbing the collar of the dead man's shirt and pulling his upper body to her; wrapping her arms around the torso of the devil's corpse, crying relentlessly into the cloth.

Kuroka had to turn away, unable to keep her own emotions down as tears began to travel down her own cheeks. She wasn't as hurt by the fact that Issei died, it was how much it tore her apart listening to the cries of her sister as she begged the corpse to come back to her. Never had she thought such sounds could ever leave her sister's throat and it pulled at her soul.

Vali turned away as well, if only to not look at the unrefined scene behind him. He had no wish to see the mass of sorrow and sadness fight against reality, let alone to see the body of his rival pass on without honor. Had he died in battle; Vali could appreciate such a death. To die rejected by the people he loved…

…even someone such has him would not wish such a thing on a person.

"Hmmhmhm," a voice chuckled, unable to take the growing feelings anymore. "Hmmhmm… hahahahahaah!"

The other three present turned to face the being who dared to laugh at the death of someone who did not deserve it…only to find the girl in gothic clothes to be covering her stomach as she laughed.

'Ophis is…laughing?' Vali thought with his mouth agape like a fish. He didn't even know it was possible for the Infinite Dragon God to laugh. The two Nekomatas just glared/stared at the little girl as her laughing died down.

"Issei! You, are interesting! So, interesting! You, offer me your soul so that I may obtain silence? Very well! I approve!"

This was very unlike the Ouroboros Dragon. Koneko's whole body shook as her delicate hands clenched with a force that could rip a car into scrap metal, killing intent bathing her as she stood. No one dares laugh in the face of the death of her loved one, Dragon God or not!

But Kuroka and Vali knew…this wasn't like Ophis.

Just as Koneko was about to pull her fist back, a black and purple mist like substance appeared from the black-haired girl's body; purplish lightening flashing within the black and purple fog as it swallowed the surrounding area. Before Ophis was swallowed by the miasma, everyone caught a glimpse of her face.

She was smiling. The Infinite Dragon God was smiling! Not some cocky smirk or anything like that, but a smile born out of eagerness and…happiness?

The black fog grew larger and wider, becoming even larger than the god slaying dog Fenrir…even larger than Tannin!

The sky above was beginning to change as well. What was once a clear sky filled with stars was now blanketed by clouds, a fierce wind blowing through their hair.

"Ddraig…no, you said your name was Issei?" The voice of the Dragon God emerged from the unknown substance; the voice was a lot deeper than the voice of the little girl they knew as Ophis however. It sounded nothing like the human figure she had donned before; old and ancient but still feminine and powerful. The force of the speech alone made the knees of Vali, Koneko and Kuroka buckle, making the three of them bend down once more, bowing before the supreme force of one of the strongest beings in creation. "I deem you the only being in creation worthy of this gift. I deem you worthy of the name Ouroboros. Now, let yourself obtain strength! Let me obtain silence! Let us become one!"

The mass of black clouds that hovered above all of them suddenly fell, a tendril of darkness rocketing down from the sky towards the body of the deceased devil.

"Look out!" Kuroka noticed the direction the tendril was taking and jumped towards her sister and jumped backwards as hard as she possible could. Koneko, who had been running towards her beloved to shield him from the unknown force above them, was pulled by her sister just in time to avoid being hit by the blast. When the cloud-like substance and Issei's body made contact, a large boom sounded off, the force of the shockwave pushing the three devils several meters away.

"Issei!" Koneko yelled over the rushing wind, confusion and worry were the least of what she was feeling watching this scene. Kuroka didn't know what was happening either, only that something in that massive cloud was giving power to the former Red Dragon Emperor.

"Is Ophis giving the boy power?" Kuroka yelled at Vali, trying to be heard. "Why is she giving power to a corpse?"

"She isn't just giving him power!" Vali hollered back, unable to take his eyes off of the scene. "And Issei didn't die after all! It makes sense now! His soul was broken to the point where his body basically shut down! If his soul gets repaired, then his body will naturally start working again! What Ophis is doing is deconstructing his soul and rebuilding it using her own! She is literally melding their souls together!"

"So that means-!" Koneko started, hoping against all odds that what she was thinking was true.

"Ophis and Issei are becoming one. One in mind, one in body, one in soul." Kuroka finished, awe struck at the scene before.

Suddenly, all of the black and purple miasma vanished, all of it entering the devil's body. Vali, Kuroka, and Koneko all stood where there, unsure of what to do.

A twitch.

A hand pushed itself against the ground, lifting the upper body off of the ground. Knees bent and Issei was standing again. The boy looked down at his body, his arm, his other arm, his legs.

His other arm? The boy looked down at the rest of his body. He felt no pain, no coldness; his body looked essentially the same as before! There was an unnatural warmth inside of his chest and new left arm though.

��The fusion is done." Ophis voice could be heard by all of the devils. It was the voice that Kuroka and Vali grew accustomed to but Ophis herself was nowhere to be scene. "But you must hurry. Your body cannot handle my power. I have already made preparations to seal most of my power but you need to offer me a chant that will be used to release the seal until your body can adjust to my presence. You only have one chance before my power burns you alive."

'So that is what this warmth is?' Issei thought as he gripped his chest where the heat originated, growing hotter and hotter with each passing second. The boy remained silent, taking in the view of his left arm, thinking. Then he smiled.

"A chant? Okay, I think I have something in mind."

Issei turned towards the Lucifer and the two Nekomata. With a victorious grin, he thrust up is newly regenerated arm and spoke.

"I, who shall awaken,

I am the Ouroboros Dragon who soars above the Principles of Domination

I am the infinite that seeks out the Dream

I shall become the Black Dragon of Infinity

And drown you in the depths of Infinite Silence!"

"Ouroboros Dragon! Power is Sealed!"