Highschool DXD : SIGMA ISSIE

A ten-year-old boy with golden brown eyes and spiky brown hair stood in his bathroom crying out in pain. His entire body felt like it was on fire as an unbearable itching pain spread over him. He grimaced in agony as he hunched over the sink coughing up what felt like dirt.

From his throat several embers and clumps of ash erupted over the mirror and the counter as smoke began to come from his mouth. He coughed furiously as he looked back up in the mirror. His eyes then glowed green as he coughed up more embers.

The boy looked at himself painfully, "What's happening to me?!"

From his arm a crimson red gauntlet then manifested out of glowing red energy. From the back of his hand he could now see a green orb glowing within. It flashed as a voice filled his head, "You have awakened me at last my new host."

"W-what?! Who said that?! Where are you?!" Issei panicked as he looked around the room. The voice he heard sounded deep and echoic as if it were coming from inside his mind. Whatever created it was definitely not human.

"I am sealed within you boy. I am within the Longinus Boosted Gear that is bound to your soul. My name is Ddraig and I am the Red Dragon Emperor," the voice answered powerfully.

"Longina what?! Boosted Gear?! Why does my body feel like it's on fire?!" Issei demanded as he felt his left arm's new red gauntlet.

"You are the reincarnation of my power, child. The sensations you are feeling are the result of being the host of a heavenly dragon," Ddraig explained.

"Heavenly dragon?! You're a dragon?! Dragons aren't real! What the heck is this thing on my arm?!" Issei shot back as a crimson glow coated his arm.

"I will explain shortly, but first you must gain control of your power! Calm your emotions and still your breathing! Focus on returning to your normal self in your mind and your magic shall recede back within you." The dragon commanded.

Desperate to get rid of the horrible pain, Issei did his best to focus on returning to normal and attempted to calm down. Much to his surprise, imagining it in his mind actually worked. Before long, the red gauntlet over his arm finally dissipated and his eyes were now back to their natural color. Shortly afterward, the burning sensation finally stopped.

Now in a more stable condition, Issei glanced back into the mirror relieved. Despite his gauntlet being gone, a green circle still appeared on the back of his left hand.

The voice of Ddraig spoke to him in a calm tone, "Good, you managed that better than I expected. Most hosts end up destroying a lot more before they figure out how our power works. It is based on your will."

Issei looked down at the glowing green circle on his hand incredulously, "I'm…your host? What does that mean? You're inside of me? Why did you pick me?! I'm just a kid! What's a dragon doing inside of me?"

"Calm yourself, boy. We dragons do not choose our vessels. I am bound to the sacred gear, and it manifests in a human host after the previous one dies. I have no control over where or who I end up with," Ddraig elaborated.

"Okay…so you're a dragon then? Why's a dragon in a sacred gear? What the hell is a sacred gear supposed to be anyway?" Issei asked.

"Sacred Gears are the gifts of God. They are bestowed upon humans by God and enact miracles upon the world. There are thousands of them and they are highly sought after by angels and devils. Your sacred gear is a Longinus, which is a unique and godly type of sacred gear. Supposedly there are only 13 of them. Yours is the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet…the Boosted Gear," the dragon continued explaining.

Issei was dumbstruck with the explanation, "God? As in the guy floating around in the clouds? He's real?!"

"Yes…he is. Unfortunately, my battle with him is the reason why I am currently sealed within your sacred gear. As I explained, I am the Welsh Dragon Ddraig. To the rest of the world I am better known as one of the two heavenly dragons…the Red Dragon Emperor," Ddraig patiently answered.

"You fought god?! Just how strong are you?" Issei gawked.

"No angel, demon, or god is a match for the heavenly dragons. Albion and I are greater than even the Five Great Dragon Kings. As my host, this power is yours to command as well," Ddraig said proudly.

"Who is Albion?" Issei asked.

"He is the other heavenly dragon and my eternal rival…the White Dragon Emperor. He and his host will one day seek you out to battle. Such is the way of our eternal feud. You must master the Boosted Gear and be ready for that day," Ddraig commanded.

"I still don't know what's going on…" Issei said as he shook his head.

"I will explain everything in due time. For now, we should prioritize training you and focus on concealing your power for-" Ddraig stopped mid-sentence as a pounding was heard at the bathroom door.

"Issei what in the world are you doing in there?! What's that smell?! Who are you talking to? I'm coming in!" the boy's mother shouted furiously from the hallway.