The day went as it did, they made sure the people got away from the city and Issei stood ready with both ophis and Lilith on his back the others could see him in the distance and how he was ready for an attack even vali showed complete seriousness waiting for issei to make his move
With the others
ravel: something feels off I don't like it
Irina: it just feels evil mostly it's not a calm feeling, this feeling just feels like pure rage is coming from everywhere
Rias: well we need to be ready for anything things could end us faster than we would expect
She and akeno cast a vail around the whole area to keep it locked in one spot and once that was done they felt it get more irritable, they watched as their vail was overtaken by a black mass that then reinforced theirs and everything else around them looked to be protected better
Sirzechs: we need to learn that it is safer than what we have been doing for a long time
Grayfia: it would help don't you think
They started to feel the rumble of the ground and could feel and hear what sounded like a heartbeat
The ground started to spilt and they saw Issei get ready and so did they, a large hand came rushing out of the ground and then tried to attack Issei, he dogged It and then set off his attack and blew its arm off but it regrew back and pulled its self out of the ground
He slapped his hands together made his scales form his huge blaster and shot at it but it did nothing
It then looked at Issei and it had a grin
Issei: you two this thing is sentient it knows what it's doing
Orphis: I'm with you Ise
Lilith: Lilith will make sure Onii-chan is safe
He watched as Vail tried to attack it but it did nothing then saw a flash catch his eye he looked and saw the others holding a thumbs up saying to go all out
He turned into a dragon and used his tail to stab the creature through its head but it grabbed his tail and drilled him into the ground
He used his fire to blast it back and to his surprise, some of jewels lightning was infused into the fire with the blast and sent the creature flying he got out of the ground and then rushed the creature and to their surprise isseis power was skyrocketing more than they thought it would, the ground was shaking with every hit he landed on the creature and he stuck his fist into its chest and was about to kill it when It then set off a roar and then the world around issei went black he could feel like something was taken from him then it slowly turned into a white garden with a creature in the centre of it looking down at him
???: so you're still alive
Issei: what the hell
He looked at the large creature behind him, it gave off the presence of importance but Issei knew this wasn't a god, it was a fake god, its power could be felt all over the area and it was pure evil he could feel the intent it had behind its words
It was ready to kill Issei and he knew this but it wasn't, yet
???: you are the one trying to stop my children let's make sure they never get hurt again
Issei: don't talk shit they are nothing compared to me.
He tried to charge at the creature but it hit him back into the garden around him and he felt the restraints of power keeping him to the ground and he couldn't move
The creature came closer to his face and made him look into its empty black holes for eyes, it grabbed him by the neck and tried to drain his power but Rika forced it back leaving him delirious and not in control of his body
???: watch me take away the things that are important to you
It was like everything filled with blood and then he saw visions of everyone getting ripped apart by the demon, he tried to fight it and try to help them but he was always too late he never made it in time to help them and they all had the same look in their eyes
Issei: NO NO NO
He channeled his power to try and break away from the binds holding him down but then the world around him shattered like glass and he could feel like he was falling through the void, he opened his eyes and saw the creature nock Sirzechs Azazel vail and serafall away into the distance and then moved towards the girls who were helping the downed soldiers that got hurt in the destruction
When he focused he noticed that Ember and Jewels with ophis and Lilith were trying to get him to wake up It was when he heard all their voices along with Ddraig's voice screaming for him to get up
Issei: (in pain) im up, im up what happened
He held his head and saw what was really holding him down and it confused him as to what happened
Jewels you don't remember being hit away by the demon?
Issei: that much is seen but I need to get going
He pulled himself out of the whole and stood shaking the dirt off his body
Ember: ise it's attacking them
He grabbed ophis and Lilith and they gripped onto his back and then jewels and ember went back into his body and he charged all the power he could and sped as fast as he could to get to them
The demon nocked the girls into a wall hurting them a bit and stood over them to hold them down it had pinned them down and it hurt trying to hold the creature back as it stood over them and opened its mouth and they saw energy building inside of its mouth as the energy shot down issei moved between them and the blast and tired to grabbed all of them but couldn't and they went through a portal and the beam shot down hitting those he couldn't save
Sirzechs and the others screamed and ran to the spot and the demon just chuckled and turned into ash disappearing from the area
Issei and the ones he saved landed on a beach somewhere else it wasn't the underworld or overworld it was someplace different the sky was colourful and the area was warm he rolled with them and took the hits breaking his arm which made him drop them they all scattered around the beach they were on
He stood up but fell to his knees and tried to get up but he was extremely hurt he saw where the girls were and tried to crawl to them but his body just couldn't he fell to his side and saw who he saved he saw akeno, Irina, Rossweisse, ravel, and kuroka on the beach he looked a bit to the side and saw ophis and Lilith laying on the beach as well they look like they got the tail end of the blast
He tried again to get him but he saw his damage and a lot of his body was bleeding he got angry that he couldn't move and tried his best to hold back the tears but they just ran wild
Issei: (crying) god damnit I'm useless I couldn't even protect my loved ones, (screams in frustration)
He hit the ground a few times impacting the ground as he hit it the impacts were causing a bigger and bigger hole each time he landed hit on the ground, the spiritual cracks around his body destroyed his body his body was going into shock his breath shorted and pain and blood started to spread all around his body
The impacts woke the girls up and saw him bleeding but also crying they got up and quickly made their way to him they grabbed him to try and get him to calm down but it wasn't Woking his power was going haywire and they could feel it all the sadness, anger, frustration and even the guilt coming off him as he cried
Irina grabbed him and spoke into his ear trying to get him to relax but it was making her cry as well
Irina: (tearing up) Breath, issei breath it's okay breath please breath
Issei: (crying) I couldn't save all of you for all we know they are dead I'm useless I should have never called you to the fight I should have left you at home where you were all safe
The others grabbed him but they noticed the amount of blood he was losing and how his body was becoming colder
Koruka: he needs to relax his body is giving way the cracks completely shattered if he passes out there's no bringing him back
Akeno: ISSEI!!
It shocked all of them for her to shout but it made him stop and look at her
Akeno: we wanted to help none of us knew what would happen stop beating yourself up about it you saved us it's better than letting all of us die and you don't know they died they could have survived we don't know what truly happened back there but I'm not letting the man I love be guilty for something he didn't even see coming you need to relax your more important to all of us so please *crying* please just relax we can't lose you again
Rossweissse: she's right my love not everything is in our control and with what happened none of us could have prevented it from happening so please relax calm your emmotions
He didn't notice it but ravel koruka and akeno were busy healing him and using sage arts to relax him and it was working
Ravel(tearing up) please don't beat yourself up about it you were amazing like always, we weren't ready for any of it we knew what we were doing it isn't fair that you're the one to take the blame for what happened please, I love you and I don't want you to be the one to shoulder the blame for it all
Rossweisse: (tearing up) They're right it's not fair to you when we can't protect ourselves, please just listen to our heartbeat and feel the love we have for you
Koruka: please try and relax everything will be alright you protected my sister through thick and thin you gave her a family you gave her love that is worthy of my love even as friend or foe you proved to me that love is the best thing to work for
Irina: (tearing up) Even when you left you left an impact on me, it was a sense of hopelessness and dread I nearly fell but the memories of the love we have kept me from falling I knew from wherever you were you would be proud of the person I would be
Issei: I haven't stopped loving either of you even if we were enemies before I made a promise to protect those that I love even if its family members and will continue to do so *sniff* I know I was an ass when I came back but I didn't want anyone being caught up in this mess because I didn't want anyone hurt... but I guess life always has a way to prove us wrong but we need to push forward
The girls tightened their grip around him and they got comfy watching the sunset getting Issei to calm down, the sound of the waves crashing on shore and even the cool breeze that would open ones senses issei was focusing on his breathing and they heard his heartbeat begin to relax and Lilith and ophis came to them and sat with them, both of them had healed themselves and they were still tired, the girls noticed that his body was healing better than before
What they didn't see but Ddriag Rika and the two elementals saw was his soul building a new form one stronger than before one clean of faults and regrets but one that has hope for the future
Akeno: hey darling where are we?
Issei: I don't know it looks like a place I had a dream in but that was it I didn't think it would exist *sniff*
Ravel: it's beautiful
ravel: hmmm its so calming do you remember why this place popped up in your head?
Issei: you wouldn't know this but akeno and Rossweisse would we were attacked by a clone of myself and it seduced Rias into loving it and took her away we went to the void and I had to send the other back because it would kill them being there too long and I fought rias who had her own version of the boosted gear I beat her and then it went black and we came here... I remember telling her that I love her and ill lay down my life for her and then I woke up back at the house but looking at it now it could have all been real
Irina: so what are you going to do now?
Issei: I don't know... these two are completely exhausted they were feeding their power into me and I guess it drained them I don't think I can get us back yet
Ravel: that's okay we can always think of a plan later on but let's take in this moment I don't think it will happen again
Kokura: it almost sets a mood don't you think
Akeno: hmmm I agree
Issei just kept thinking about what he could remember everything happened so fast that he could have knocked some of them back but no matter how much he thought back to it he only grabbed who he could and fell through the portal
He took a deep breath and embraced the girls around him and wrapped his wings around them and they got comfy around him some of them did shed a few tears because they may have lost family or a good friend and they just stayed like that for the night
They all soon fell asleep cuddling up to Issei the next morning issei sat up and looked for food but there were no animals there at all he took a deep breath and started meditating
He went to his mind space and saw ember and jewels sleeping he continued walking and saw Ddraig's spirit sleeping as well he continued walking and saw something hes never seen before it was new
He walked towards it and picked it up it reminded him of his true potential but that was red this was black as he looked closer at it, he realized it was his cursed potential something that links him differently from the others
Issei: so this is my cursed energy core then...
Rika that's right
He saw her come towards him and became smaller and snuggled around his neck
Issei: how are you feeling?
Rika: tired but I'll be fine we all need a bit of rest
Issei: then rest up it's okay
She nodded and He continued to walk its when he saw something that confused him he walked towards the new symbol which looked like a dragon claw he touched it and it opened a new area for him to walk in as he walked into it he found a book
Issei: so there's a random book in my mind?
He opened it and he could see the contents of the book
Issei: the power of the fire dragon of hell?
He started reading and it was a manual to his title that he could use, he read the first part and it spoke about power absorption
Issei: the ability to take in your allies and use their power to your advantage?
He continued reading about it and it was simple enough.
Issei: I'll see what I can do about this it would be so helpful
He turned the page and it gave him goosebumps
Issei: the power to slay a god...
Chapter end