AN: Before the chapter starts I just wanna inform you guys of somethin'

When I said 'This isn't a betrayal story', I meant it. It just isn't the traditional one. Like the ones where you hear the girls saying:

'HAHAHA! I JUST USED USED YOU, ISSEI! STUPID BOY''

You know, those ones?

But still, it isn't a betrayal story.

Just Issei being distanced from the ORC and being more self-focused. So no evil ORC here. But they'll still, for now, remain allies…. kinda?...maybe

Ahhh~ Fuck! It's more of a ramble I just typed, isn't it?

Oh yea, fuck the Devil Faction. They're, in my opinion, the most well off and least interesting faction to follow. But that doesn't mean I'm going to bash them. I don't hate them!

I ain't gonna go into detail into it, but, I just find the Devil's the most overrated faction.

One last thing, you know how many mythologies have many different versions of the story? So, I'm gonna go with the ones that I find the most interesting and fun. And my interpretation of the mythology stories and the like.

PS: I won't spoil the pairing or the future direction for the story, but, just know, I had a struggle writing one part of this chapter.

Hopefully you'll enjoy this chapter!

AS OF 2020/04/09 THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN EDITED AND UPDATED

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Issei sat on the chair. Scowling a bit at the looks they were giving him.

His harem, some of it, all surrounding him.

Why?

The reason was obvious.

"..." - The brunette's head laid against the headrest of the chair.

"Issei? Issei!?"

He could've been training, even.

"Yeah?" - He asked. He'd cleaned himself up before he saw them. Wearing some casual clothes he had.

Rias sighed, - "Where were you? You were gone for days. I almost called my brother to help find you!"

Issei scowled for a moment, being reminded of those people. Those two bastards. He didn't want to think about those two right now.

With a scowl and an angry face, he responded with an aggressive tone. - "I don't want to talk about it."

The were surprised at Issei's dark tone, dismissive of their questions.

The girls that were there were the following; Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Asia, Irina and Xenovia. The rest were out and about at this current time.

((((((Something's different about him…)))))))

Rias looked surprised at what Issei said, - "What do you mean you don't want to talk about it?"

"Precisely what I just said!" - Issei suddenly snarled! He wasn't in the mood for this shit! He'd just gone through a couple days of hell!

They recoiled, all of them

"I.. anyway, what did you all do?"

To avoid further conflict, they dismissed it. Yes, every single one of them.

They'd get their answers later, they thought. After all, he was their Ise, They loved him and he loved them more then the world, they thought in their heads.

"Ahh~" - Rias went first with a sigh, for now she dismissed it and talked about where she was. - "Mother and Father wanted to talk to me, it was about our relationship. It took some time to explain. But, I assured them it's all going well."

Issei raised an eyebrow.

(Heh?) - He thought, - (That's it? I thought it was something super important!)

However, - (...I remember them…) - He now viewed things in a different perspective. Hearing Rias mention her parents made him think about when they met. All his interactions with Rias' parents. - (Heh, looking back, I really didn't make such a good impression on them.)

[Most likely.] - Ddraig mused, - [Seeing how they acted towards you. I don't like them…]

Issei was surprised at that, well, it wasn't like he was all that close to them. - (Huh? Why?)

Ddraig wasn't surprised at this, and thus an explanation came. - [Remember what they said when you met with them that time? The hints they dropped about your future? How they were so certain of it. It bothers me that they think they can control us like that.]

Hmm?

(I….) - His face scowled again, - (Like those two.) - He thought hatefully, - (Like that bastard and his cunt of a daughter!) - Pure hatred.

"Issei?"

"Hm, yes, Akeno?"

"Were you listening?"

"...Aaaahhh….Yea-" - He saw the looks, Issei chuckled sheepishly. - "I'm sorry. I was just lost in thought. I didn't mean to offend. I was just… thinking, you know. Please, go on. I'm listening now."

Akeno then started to talk, - "I was just spending the day with my father, Ise~" - Her voice was the same as always. - "He wanted to know how I was doing~ Nothing special to say here~"

Koneko went too, - "I was talking to Gasper and, alter, Kuroka. It took quite some time."

Asia then went, too, - "Uhm...I was just spending time with Xenovia and Irina…. Nothing special too,"

The blunette spoke up, Irina as well. Conveniently at the same time. - "What Asia said."

Issei stood up, wincing a bit. They noticed it. - "Well, nothing eventful, huh? Anyway…" - His voice, for a nanosecond, became weaker. - "I don't feel so well right now. I'm gonna go do something for myself, real quick. Okay?"

"Aww~ Ise," - The ravenette spoke flirtily, She went over to him, bust pressing against his shoulder. She even went as far as too lick his ear. - "But I want to spend some time together~"

Calm down. Calm down. Was the mantra, he couldn't snap again.

(G-get off o-of m-me...)

"A-Akeno!" - Rias said with an angry, yet cute face.- "Y-you can't just do that!"

"Ara?" - She licked his ear again.

Issei's face was stoic. Reminded of that kiss.

"Why not~ I'm just talking to my Ise~" - She teased Rias.

"You….You!…"

Akeno went off of him, going against Rias.

Issei, Asia, Koneko, Xenovia and Irina all knew what was about to happen. Thus, went to intervene.

Everyone besides Issei.

Issei chuckled at this, but found it immensely annoying, too. - (Heh? This again? Same old, I guess. Still, good to see some things are still the same)

Thus, with everyone distracted Issei made his way.

(TRAINING TIME IT IS~!)

He had faith the rest would sort this out. They always managed to do so.

.

.

Issei rested for a moment, he felt a hell of a lot weaker. Weird, considering he felt just fine earlier.

"Fuck! My body kinda hurts! Like something's squeezing me!" - Issei grunted a bit, but he'd been through worse. This was practically nothing to him. - "Ddraig… what's going on?" - A small trail of blood left from his lips.

[It was that ritual that those two did had an odd effect on your body.]

"What?!" - Was his shocked reply. - "How? That sounds stupid! The chances of that happening…! It's just… stupid! Isn't my body supposed to be made out of Great Red and Ophis' flesh? Along with me being a Reincarnated Devil, shouldn't there be an increased resistance towards this?"

Issei then rubbed the temples of his head, he felt angry.

Ddraig spoke his next words stoically, - [Issei, you have it all wrong.]

"Huh?"

[Your new body was modeled after your old one. With some draconic aspects, yes. Like that arm you used to have. Since it was modeled after your old body, using Great Red's flesh, it's quite the same in those aspects. But, you are no full dragon. Even before you got reincarnated again. The only thing that went up is your potential, not your resistance!]

Now that Issei thought about it, what he said was pretty stupid. Besides that, he did not disagree with Ddraig. The dragon had centuries more experience and power than him.

Besides, it was his goddamn soul that had been fucked with.

[No problem, Issei. But, I may have underestimated it. So, I advise you to keep your limits while I think of something to do about this.]

Issei nodded.

"Now, to find the library in this huge ass mansion!" - He'd been searching for twenty minutes! For crying out loud!

He opened another door.

"Oh, luck shines upon me, finally!" - Was his annoyed response. Before he saw the damned thing in its entirety.

How did this thing fit in the mansion?!

Issei dropped his head, - "You oughta be kidding me!"

The library was ginormous. Dozens of rows that signified the books that were in it.

His footsteps echoed in the room. The library was fitting for some of the highest lords imaginable. Wood of the highest quality, looking beautiful as well. Red curtains with golden marks and emblems decorated the few windows that were in here. The bookcase with its inky filled cases were like treasures. They adorned the quiet room, quiet in that sense of facile solitude and in the sense of soft hues, red's, green's and brown. The colors were beautiful. The wood of the bookcase probed for all the world as if it had washed up on a island, as if was once a component of a ship belonging to the most opulent of nobles. Yet now it sits in its isolated location inside Rias' home, few peregrinated here, Issei thought. Considering the state of the cognations he could only imagine Yuuto or someone like that visiting this place customarily.

(The Gremory family really changed things, didn't they?) - Issei thought. - (Wow, and I never figured it out! I just thought they made it bigger and more luxurious, along with adding some other things!)

Issei looked around, getting over annoyance for a moment to appreciate the contents.

It took him 10 minutes to see the contents.

(Damn, Ddraig,) - Issei thought, - (Look at all of this! It would take me months- no, years to read the entire thing! There are more than a hundred-thousand books in here! Big as hell, too.)

The library's contents were sorted into the following sections, without counting the subsections:

Mythology

Species/Races

Magic

History

Biology

Laws (For every species and and factions.)

Combat (From Tactics to Fighting styles.)

"Ddraig, I can't possibly read each and every single thing in here."

[Partner, it isn't that big of a deal. You have all the time in the world to learn. Just choose what you want to learn and specialise in. You can't be good at everything. That's just impossible.]

Issei nodded, then thought with incredible intensity - "What do I need desperately…?"

He went over the contents of the library again.

Eventually, he decided to choose the following: Basic Tactics VOL 1.Combat Styles and how to learn them and the application of them VOL 1, 2 and 3. Guide to the Species of the Supernatural: VOL 1, 2. Basic Guide to the Biology of each Supernatural Species. Supernatural: The Mythology VOL,1,2.All there is to know about Dragons, from Biology to their Nature and more!.

Keeping in mind that these books were more than big. Each Volume/VOL containing more than 180,000 words, each.

He carried them, all of those books. And laid them on a nearby was wooden and neatly made.

He plopped himself down on the chair. With a stretch he decided to go for the more mental route.

He cleared his throat, as if he was about to give a speech.

Opening the book, deciding to go from easy to hard he read. 'All there is to know about Dragons, from Biology to their Nature and more!'. He started reading it, already feeling a headache coming in.

[Good choice.] - Ddraig butted in. - [Dragons are the pinnacle of power! Of course, I am one of the strongest of us!] - Ddraig said with extreme pride.

Issei rolled his eyes with a smirk. - "Anyway, I'll just be reading then, buddy."

Now, to read the prologue. - 'Dragons, creatures of immense power. Created due to the immense energy, thus, having them have a physical form. They are creatures who act freely and selfishly. Despite this, Dragons have an extremely high level of intelligence. But, they are creatures that act on emotion first and foremost. Many have the intense desire to remain free. Have an obsession towards what they conceive to be their property. But, that isn't even the bare basics of it! Read more to find out!'

"Time for some tiresome moments," - Issei said, suddenly he grabbed his chest. - "Grg… Still kinda hurts." - He referred to the earlier pain he mentioned.

Then he continued to read, leaving Ddraig to do his thing.

.

.

There, he had finished another book.

His head hurt as he finished the last book. Memorizing it hurt.

But that didn't stop the widening of his eyes.

Issei tiredly closed the book. His mouth slightly agape. He'd never known jackshit about the Mythology. But, his eyes quickly narrowed, he couldn't believe it! That those people were so… Rage overtook him.- "What the fuck...? What the hell?!" - He growled angrily, the things that all those people did. - "Poseidon raped Medusa in one of Athena's temples! And that fucking cunt was so pissed off that Medusa had somehow not managed to fend off the advances of the god of the sea she turned her into a fucking monster with goddamn snakes for hair! And then she later helped Perseus kill Medusa!" - Issei ranted angrily!

His brown eyes flashed back to those moments, feeling rage overcome him. He remembered Freed, who threatened to rape Asia. His body tensed, his eyes narrowed.

His anger grew.

"That two faced fuck! All of them!" - Was his snarl, - "I thought they were good people!" - He met them for crying out loud!

He remembered speaking to them. Seeing them walking around and all. They seemed like much better people then. Like ones he could actually get along

with.

His heart beat increased.

Sure, he wasn't close to them.

But Issei valued showing who you truly are.

Not hiding it behind some stupid facade!

Acting like a good guy. Like a hero…

"Those Greek Gods are fucking evil! Like the rest of the… 'people' in here!" - Issei snarled angrily. - "I can't even think about any of the other pantheons or any of the species!"

"Grggh!"

He slammed the book on the table. - "I-I heard about things like this during school trips. But never the… detail of it all… Things that…"

Rage pulsed through his veins.

But, that was enough for now.

Attempting to calm himself Issei breathed in and out.

In and out.

In and out.

….

Anyway,

It was already a miracle that he managed to memorize all of that. But, with a will like his? Anything was possible.

Still, there was only so much he could do in a day. He'd read the combat focused ones later, or tomorrow

He stood up, stretching his tired limbs. He had sat on his ass and read all of that, while memorizing it.

"Ahhh~" - He sighed contently, yet tiredly. Suppressing his anger. - "I'll leave the books here, I'll finish 'em tomorrow. Now, time for bed! I need a rest!"

Issei smiled tiredly, yet droopily. - "Ahh~! Bed time!"

Walking towards the door, he opened it. It creaked as Issei now entered the hallway of 'his' home.

He looked forward with excitement, as he walked through the maze that was the Hyoudou Mansion, going through hallways and all.

Looking around he saw how much the place had changed, a small frown overcame him. Along with a tint of anger, his frown turned into a scowl. - (This place has really changed. The fact that I don't recognize it anymore is… upsetting! I don't recognize a thing from my own home! Hell, it, practically, doesn't even exist anymore!) - He hadn't noticed the extreme. Merely seeing the improvements, but, he still liked his old home better.

He struggled a bit, due to the tiredness and size of this damn maze. To find his way.

'Till a certain Dhampir was in front of him

Gasper looked pretty surprised to see him, - "S-Senpai? Rias a-and the r-rest were worried to where y-you'd gone!"

Issei raised a tired eyebrow, seriously? Now? Sure, he left. But, it was for a reason!

He wasn't about to go see a 'fight' between those two! It was a waste of time! Things like that always happened, and he was goddamn tired of trying to do something about it. When, instead, he could focus his time doing something more productive!

Wow…

He'd rather do something productive than watch two beautiful women have a catfight.

Meh, people change.

Issei saw Gasper's Vampire fangs.

His face turned angry as he scowled at the reminder,

'I just made up all of that on the spot! And you believed me! You really are a naive idiot. I've read all about it. Seen it, even. Hell, you even are a crybaby! You don't even know my name and you did all of… this. HAHAHA!'

Reminded of his own stupidity by seeing Gasper, he voiced a cold answer, - "Sure, Gasper. I'm going to bed. So leave me alone for now, okay?"

Gasper looked at Issei figure, quickly leaving.

Issei rubbed his forehead as he went to his bedroom. H

But, he suddenly stopped.

He could already imagine what would happen once he saw Rias again.

'Mou, Issei! Where were you?! We were looking all over for you!'

She would huff and be upset. Then there'd be this hole thing about telling her about where he was.

'Issei! Why aren't you telling me anything?! Don't you trust me?!'

Then she'd, without knowing, guilt trip him and, oh god

the rest of the girls would-

(Wait, what the hell am I thinking!) - He shook his head tiredly, - (She's my girlfriend! Agh! The stress is getting to me…)

(But… I don't want to go there. I'm already tired enough.) - He thought, - (I.. I've been through enough for the last couple of days.) - He shrugged, - (Fuck it, I'll just sleep in one of the guest bedrooms. I'll deal with it later.)

It took him very little time for him to find one of the guest bedrooms.

"Wow, even this room has undergone a change!" - Issei remarked, everything was more fitting to be in a Lord's house!

Anyhow?

Time for bed.

But luckily enough a small bathroom was connected to the bedroom. Along with hygienic products like: Toothpaste and a toothbrush.

Time to start!

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.

It was a bad night's sleep.

Counting Oppai didn't work.

No matter how many times he counted them, it didn't work.

So he counted more oppai..

….

It took him a couple of hours to fall asleep.

Anyway, he probably overslept.

His eyelids were heavy. The morning light shined through the curtains.

"Anyway… I'm gonna train for now, I should head back to the library." - Issei said to himself. He stood up, stretching his limbs.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

"Agh~!" - He sighed, - "Finally, that feels good!"

The sound was relaxing, his muscles felt more loose. Less tense.

It reminded him of being still in that damned chair for so long, contacting Ddraig was a pain in the ass to do. Guess some shit happened, hell if he knew.

He was stuck there, in that damned chair for days. They tried to remove it. But they failed!

"Heh!" - Issei smirked darkly at what happened to them. Killing her father. Throwing the daughter into the underworld's sun.

He enjoyed the hell out of it.

As Issei was getting himself ready, he remembered that his actual clothes were still in the room he and the rest of the girls usually slept.

"Shit," - He muttered, - (I can sneak in there and grab some clothes. Provided that they're still sleeping, of course.)

[Why sneak?]

(Because, you know how they are! I'm not in the mood to deal with any of their… argh! Just leave it! I don't have time to deal with it, okay? I just want to train and do my own thing for a while, Ddraig!) - Issei told him darkly.

Issei did so, leaving in only his boxers. His clothes hung up on the chair near the bed. The chair that faced the desk.

Click!

He left the guest room. Looking around 'sneakily'. Issei breathed a sigh of relief, - "...Phew…" - He sighed, - (No one around! No one I can hear! Thank you for the confirmation, enhanced senses!)

Though careful, he sneakily tip-toed!

Like a cartoon character!

Tip-toe Tip-Toe Tip-Toe

Sneakily, really, really sneakily!

The same hallways had greeted him as he walked further!

Tip-toe Tip-Toe Tip-Toe

Eventually he ended up, back in front of the room. Most likely containing them!

(Time to be sneaky!) - Issei thought with upmost seriousness, - (Peeking experience, assist me!)

He called upon those times again,

(Please don't make such a cliche loud noise for a door! Not now!) - Issei thought he could control it!

….

It opened!

No sound!

(Hahaha! Suck it, clichés!)

Issei cheered inside his head. The door slowly opened up to reveal…

No one…

"Huh...Guess that's that…" - Issei thought aloud. - "Besides, how late is it?" - He pondered, a quick look at his bedroom's clock showed the time.

12:08 PM

"So I did oversleep." - Issei murmured aloud, - "Eh, who cares?" - Was his casual dismissal.

He reached into his closet, - "Clothes, clothes, clothes. Where are you~?" - He sing-sang the last part.

Ruffle Ruffle.

"There, I got you three." - Issei smirked victoriously. - "Crimson shirt, black pants and some black sneakers. Now...Hmmm… Maybe a black suit jacket? That could fit well!"

It took him a couple of minutes to get fully dressed, eventually, he was dressed in the clothing he just spoke aloud.

"Hmh!" - Issei smirked as he looked at his bedroom's mirror, - "I look pretty good. Though, the haircut should have a change. It had its run, I guess. Or maybe I should keep it?"

"But, it's time for something different! All new, too!"

Deciding this was the way to go, he decided to go finish those accursed books!

.

.

"Damn them… Damn you, books…" - He sneered at the inanimate objects, - "Whoever invented you, must. be. destroyed!..."

[Issei?]

"Hm, yes?"

[...Why are you acting like this, now?] - Ddraig lamented. Why was Issei acting so oddly now.

"Why not? It's fun, and pretty neat. Even if it's weird." - Issei stated casually.

"BUT! I've finished i-

"Issei?" - An older, female voice rang out. Issei looked back to find a certain, special someone.

"Rossweisse?" - Issei remarked as he turned back, - "Hey!" - He spoke with a genuine smile. - "It's great to see you again!"

Rossweisse blushed prettily, - "U-uhm, Issei. How are you doing?"

Issei's face went oddly slack for a moment, before a more neutral expression overcame him. Though, there was still a small smile. - "Good, a lot better, really."

Rossweisse noticed the odd nature behind it, almost as if he was remembering something fondly. Though, the smile seemed dark.

"What about you?"

"I..I'm doing fine. And you, Issei? I.. didn't expect you to be in the library."

"...Doing fine," - Issei smiled at her, glad to see Rossweisse again. It took her a little while, but he had faith in her. - "Hehehe, I know. Weird, right? Anyhow, figured that reading these…" - Issei sent a glare to all the books he had just finished, - "Accursed things might help me in the future.. Anyway, what's up?

"Nothing much…. I just finished the seals, they were quite tough…" - Rossweisse seemed to struggle with a topic of conversation. Randomly choosing something.

Issei looked awkward at this conversation, - "Heh, that's great, Rossweisse."

Rossweisse blushed prettily at that, tucking at the rim of her garment.

Rossweisse almost opened her mouth again to talk once more, but Issei noticed something.

"I'm sorry, Rossweisse. But, I kind of want to train right now."

They silver-haired beauty was surprised at that, - "Alone?" - Was her question. Though, when she voiced it, it seemed like she wanted to add something.

Issei nodded at that, - "Preferably." - He conceited. But, quickly attempted to make his exit. Sure, he liked Rossweisse. A it was great to see her again!

"So…. Yeah," - Issei stated, - "See you later.'

Issei left awkwardly, quickly moving out of the way.

Click!

Issei left with haste.

Leaving her alone.

And not being able to say what she came to say

.

.

As Issei entered the training room, he noticed it was changed.

Again.

"What the-...forget it. I should've expected something like this." - The brunette grumbled, propping it all away. He was still upset, no doubt.

As he once more took in the changed room, his eyes narrowed. Emotion unclear.

The training 'room' was now as big as a fucking football stadium! Like one of those he saw on TV, on the occasion that they would show something like that.

Actually, no, it was as big as two football stadiums!

The walls were colored stone grey, no decorations on it. Besides what was necessary. The Training Room('s) were divided. Each having a great deal of room. There seemed to be some kind of device stuck to a table that was at just the edge. It had a blue screen that had my things on it.

As Issei walked over to it, or one of them, he read the screen.

"So, every one of these training fields specialises in one form or the other. From training Martial Arts to Training your magic." - The Red Dragon Emperor read further, - "Actually, Swordsmanship, Stealth, all of that."

Then he narrowed his eyes, - "You know, it would have been nice to know about this sooner!" - He scowled, - "And...fuck it. I should've expected something like this."

Not being told about shit and expected to just accept it.

For a moment, he grew angry and upset. - "I'll have to tell them, including Azazel, to stop shit like this!"

"The hell do they expect?! That they can just put shit in my home without permission?!"

"...Fuck it. I came here to train, not get upset."

He headed over to the area that specialized in Martial Arts, - "Okay, the plan: Martial Arts and Swordsmanship. Then some sparring."

Click!

"Hmh, so, how does this work?" - He murmured. - "Like some kind of sparring thing? Or jus-

Krkk!

As Issei, who was in the middle of the training spot, was suddenly surprised by the sound of something being manifested in front of him.

One mannequin-like being suddenly appeared in front of him. Standing completely still. It was probably the most intricate, yet somehow quite simplistic, thing he saw.

"Hm? So, what does it do? Is it a sparring partner?"

"𝕀𝕥 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕓𝕖, 𝕚𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕤𝕠 𝕨𝕚𝕤𝕙 𝕚𝕥."

SWOOOOSH!

Issei turned around fist raised as he dashed forward!

He raised his fist. He had heard no footsteps, no breathing, only a sudden voice from behind him.

And he was smart enough to know that wasn't good.

He dashed forward, only seeing a faint blue humanoid figure.

And he went straight through her.

"What?!" - Issei snarled, flabbergasted as he almost tripped. - "Who the hell are y-..."

"𝕀 𝕒𝕞 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕝 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕄𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕕𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕘𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕘𝕠 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕟𝕖𝕨 𝕤𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕞." - Said the blue humanoid... hologram?

"This system, care to clarify?" - Issei asked with narrowed eyes. - (Oh great, something else I don't know about my own home? Maybe there are magical genies flying around too?.)

The hologram looked like a gorgeous, big breasted blue female. With long wavy hair and an idealized figure.

Yea, that fits Azazel. All right.

"𝕍𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝. 𝕄𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣, 𝕒𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕤𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕒𝕝 𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣, 𝕤𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕒𝕤 𝕄𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤 ℝ𝕚𝕒𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕃𝕠𝕣𝕕 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕃𝕒𝕕𝕪 𝔾𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕪, 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕤𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕞 𝕥𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕡 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕚𝕟 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕒𝕔𝕙𝕚𝕖𝕧𝕖 𝕙𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕝𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕡𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣. 𝕎𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕚𝕥 𝕗𝕦𝕟𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤?" - It said.

Issei shot it an angry glare. - "Yes, I'd gladly like to know more!"

The artificial intelligence spoke again, - "𝕄𝕪 𝕞𝕒𝕚𝕟 𝕗𝕦𝕟𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕤𝕥 ℝ𝕚𝕒𝕤 𝔾𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕒𝕟𝕪𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕖𝕕 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔻𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕝 𝔽𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕓𝕪 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕞 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘. 𝕀 𝕕𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕒 𝕞𝕦𝕝𝕥𝕚𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤; 𝔹𝕪 𝕤𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕞𝕪 𝕝𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕤 𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕝𝕠𝕨-𝕔𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕒𝕥𝕒𝕟-𝕔𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕤 𝕤𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘. 𝕀𝕟𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕗𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕤𝕥𝕪𝕝𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕪 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖. 𝕀 𝕒𝕞 𝕒𝕝𝕤𝕠 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕒 𝕞𝕦𝕝𝕥𝕚𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕚𝕞𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕞𝕪 𝕔𝕠𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘."

"Wait!" - Issei suddenly said, before his eyes narrowed. - "Wait, wait, wait! So, you're connected to a server! Servers even! That means...what happens to all the data that you collect? It's uploaded to a server, right? But where does it go to?!"

"𝕀 𝕒𝕡𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕘𝕚𝕫𝕖, 𝕀𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕚-𝕤𝕒𝕞𝕒. 𝔹𝕦𝕥, 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕫𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕟𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟."

"The hell?!" - Issei growled, genuine anger flowing through him. - "You're in my house. Probably having all my skills and the like 'recorded'? And, considering your response, it's all going somewhere! But I can't know?! You're in my house!"

"ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕥."

"Wait, so I am right! You are 'recording' everything here and uploading it!"

"𝕀 𝕒𝕡𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕘𝕚𝕫𝕖, 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕀 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕟𝕖𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕞 𝕟𝕠𝕣 𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕪 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥. 𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕤𝕚𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕪 𝕕𝕠 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕫𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨."

"You...you…."

Issei clenched his fist so hard, with enough power to bend metal, that he seemed incredibly angry.

Suddenly, Issei's looked down, hiding away the anger in his expression - "Forget it then. I don't feel like training."

And thus Issei left.

.

.

"Azazel, you fucking prick. Everyone one of you." - He growled underneath his breath. - "Would've been nice to know about this!"

A frustrated and annoyed Issei stomped across the hallways of the 'Hyoudou Mansion'

"Ddraig, change of plans; we're training outside!" - Issei declared.

[...Hm? I see, very well then.]

Issei quickly went down the stairs.

With haste he left through the front door.

CLICK!

For a second he had thought he'd heard someone calling him.

"Eh, probably nothing."

Now, he knew Kuoh quite well. Having been raised there and all.

As he left through the front door, he looked around the street that greeted him. Stroking his chin like a wise old man he attempted to remember a place.

"Now, Issei, remember! Any isolated spots. Preferably without anyone spying on you." - He told himself.

As Issei thought hard to remember, - "Think, think! Any places I went to that could be totally isolated!"

School?

"No, I'm not all that smart, but I'm not that much of an idiot. Who knows what kind of things they might have going on there." - Issei murmured as he walked in a random direction. - (Considering what kind of people go there, and what has happened there before, no doubt that the entire school's under surveillance… or being watched. I doubt Sirzechs or any of the others want something to happen to their siblings, if it could happen.. Normally, I wouldn't really care. But, I don't like peeping toms!)

[Kinda hypocritical there, partner]

(You know what I mean, Ddraig. After everything that I've done, no one trusts me enough to be on my own! And, considering where that information is most likely going, to some stupid higher ups. Hell, being watched twenty-four seven is already creepy enough! And the fact that no one told me is… is...is bullshit!)

At that last bit Issei seemed furious, snarling to himself. A sudden burst of anger came from him.

(Underworld?) - He then murmured with a stutter. - "No. I d-don't w-want to go t-there a-again…" - He wasn't going back there. He then thought long and hard.

(Got it! There was a place, an isolated place though still a considerable distance away from Kuohs residential buildings, a place me, Matsuda and Motohama used to go for…. scouting?)

He wasn't going to admit it. Not now or any time in his life.

He's over that now.

"I'm done being like that." - He swore vehemently.

(I won't be the fool anymore.)

Issei remembered the place, loosely.

As Issei started walking into the direction. He looked around Kuoh.

(I remember wandering through this street so many times. Hell, I've lived here my entire life! Would be fun to change some things up. Maybe go to China or something? Well, maybe drop by Kyoto first, if I feel like it.)

Issei walked and walked.

It took him around half an hour to reach the spot.

It was a big plain of grass, though mostly made out of dirt. Trees, thick and old, hid him from the rest of the world.

As an added benefit, it was as far away from Kuoh, though the trees were incredibly large.

(Ddraig, sense any magic?)

[None at all.]

"Heh, seems this bit is still safe from prying eyes." - Kind of the reverse for those girls in the residential buildings.

Still, a damn shame he dropped those binoculars.

There were damn good and pretty pricey.

If only he hadn't lost it.

"So, my hand to hand and swordsmanship. Training these would be great. Along with more of my base. Then, developing some more abilities for the boosted gear. Something proper, hehe.." - Issei thought aloud, analyzing what would be best. - "Adopting a proper fighting style would be neat too. Something efficient and deadly."

For a second a dark and deranged look entered Issei's features.

"Hehehe…"

He dashed over towards them, almost faster than a speeding bullet.

"No-GRGL!"

The insides of the father were now sprayed across the ground. A pretty shade of crimson that did not frighten Issei anymore.

SPRLGGG!

"Heh? Would you like at that? He's dead," - Issei chuckled darkly, - "Well, I guess the blood and guts was a dead giveaway, Ha!"

"Hehahahaheha…"

Relishing in those memories, he grinned darkly. Absolutely enjoying all of what he caused them in return. Zero compassion, zero warning, zero second chances, absolutely,

Issei shook his head, though, the dark grin slowly faded.

But the look in his eyes, darker than they'd ever been before.

Having memorized the books, he still clearly remembered how the training went.

He went over to a tree, adopted a stance in the book and entered complete focus.

He punched.

Just like the book told him too.

It didn't come out all that well.

"Annoying."

So he did it again and again.

Wasn't all that great either.

Again and again.

Nope.

Again and again?

Nada!

Growing pretty frustrated Issei asked himself. - "What am I doing wrong? I know how to throw punches and all that. But why is something like this so annoying."

[Partner, remember all the fights we had, the training you went through?]

"Uh, yeah. What's up with that?"

[You only know the basics behind combat due to experience than actual skill. It's mostly gained through experience. And that's fine, great even. But eventually all that power and experience has no guidance besides basic instinct. While proper instincts is good, having the skill to work with it all would boost your power immensely.]

"That's great and all, Ddraig. But, what's the point of this."

[My point is: keep trying to learn that which you cannot do yet. In order so that you may learn how to do it.]

"Thanks, Ddraig. Still though, that last line was laaammmee."

[How about this, I'll give you advice when you need it.]

"Really? Thanks!"

[Though, try and learn more by yourself. don't give up. no matter what.]

"You know, Ddraig. You're… pretty damn sweet. We should just call you the The Softy Emperor."

An uncharacteristic smirk then came upon his face!

.

.

It's been one and a half week.

Issei finished going through the movements once more, practicing against the thick tree in front of him.

"Hm? It's this late already!" - Issei grunted, - "Fuuuckkk! My shoulders hurt! Legs too! Arms even more!"

"Heh, can't believe it's been such a short time since I started doing this." - Issei thought aloud, a habit that manifested without any warning. - "Still, though my body hurts, I feel it. Like I'm getting stronger."

Anyway, that's been enough for today. Time to get home.

"Sheesh, it's pretty dark right now. I guess around 7 p.m or something." - Issei murmured.

He grabbed the book he had with him and put it in his black backpack. The backpack laid against one of the trees.

"Still, a pretty good book. Has some nice instructions." - He grabbed his backpack and put it on.

As he looked upon the starry night sky, he saw something odd.

"Heh, a shooting star." - Issei looked up, - "Should I make a wish?"

Issei smiled happily, seeing something like this was quite nice.

"I wish… I wish…. I want…"

(I want to be the strongest, so I achieve my goals…

no matter what.)

Suddenly Issei stood still, reading himself.

"You want what now, Issei-chan~?" - A teasing and sensual voice asked him. - "What's your wish~?"

"Kuroka." - Issei responded with stoicism. - "Could you get off of that branch?" - He wasn't even looking at her.

Hop!

"So, what brings you here? Don't you still have business to take care off?" - Issei questioned as he slowly turned arou-

Glomp!

A generous bosom pressed against his back. Slender arms wrapped around him and a face was on his left shoulder.

"Now, Issei, that wish. I can make a different one come throug-

"G-get off of m-m-ME!"

He stuttered and snarled those words.

Throw!

In an instant Issei threw her off of him!

In that moment Issei remembered what happened those days ago,

Kuroka recoiled. She nearly fail on her behind as she took a conscious step backwards.

She didn't expect him to flip out like that.

Issei glared at the dirt and grass. White knuckles from clenching his fist too hard, and gritted teeth from effort to remain silent. The hunched form exuded an animosity that was like acid - burning, slicing, potent. His face was red with suppressed rage, and whence Kuroka touched him. Like that woman did. He threw her off and mentally lost control.

"D-don't touch m-me like that a-a-again, okay?!" - As he turned around, eyes an angry, hate filled green. - ""G-GOT IT!?"

"GOT IT?!"

His last words were an angry yell, mixed with nervousness that now seemed odd for him. Though his words were most certainly hate filled.

Though, not directed to her.

But to a certain dead woman.

Kuroka, due to shock and surprise, could only nod meekly. - (The hell was that for?)

His customary warmth gone faster than summer rain on the tarmac. Indeed even his focus was somewhere on the tree behind her, as if she had become invisible to him or he did not bare to see her at all. She'd crossed some invisible line, offended his sensibilities

It took him only a second to regain his breath, realizing what he had done he looked over to Kuroka with a certain expression: a mixture between a dark glare and look combined with a hint of apologeticism.

"...Kuroka," - His voice gained an uncharacteristic tone. Not one that she would have ever expected from him. - "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that… It's just… some things happened and they've put me on edge."

His eyes conveyed the truth. But, the moment he said 'Sorry' she knew he wasn't entirely truthful. Still, she chose to forget it. Like forgetting something unbelievable.

Issei's thoughts were odd and focused. He didn't really mean it when he said 'Sorry'. at least not completely. - (Well, she shouldn't have touched me like that. It's not my fault, really.) - Though he did admit he was kinda wrong.

Being a decent distance away from one another, Issei breathed out. - "So, why are you here?"

Regaining herself in record time, she spoke with her usual flair and manner. - "Nya~? Can't I just visit my favorite dragon in the whole wide world~?"

Her Kimono showed greater cleavage to him than before.

Normally, that would've had Issei staring at it dumbly. But gears were turning in his mind. Distracting him from them and focusing on her instead.

His gaze had a lack of distrust on her, more than once before - "No, not really. Still though, I asked you a question. I expect an answer."

His voice carried a somewhat steely edge. Yet, it still sounded venomous.

Her eyes narrowed at this, but she still kept up the appearance. - "Fine, fine. Truth be told, I really did come here for you."

"Heh, ain't that a treat." - Issei responded with a frown, not liking where this is going. A feeling in his. - "So, what's up? What's the big whoop that you decided to come here?"

"They're worried, you know?"

"...Heh…?"

Considering the expression on the brunette's face. He really didn't get it.

So Kuroka clarified, - "Your group. They say you're acting weird around them. Something like that. Point is, they say you're acting weird."

Issei raised an eyebrow. - "Really now?"

The deadpan tone made it sound like he didn't believe it for a bit. Like, seriously? He'd done a ton of things on his own and they don't even trust him?

"Yes, Shirone is quite worried, you know? She even asked me to see what's wrong."

"...The hell?" - Contrary to what most might believe, Issei did find that fucking weird. Really weird. Koneko, asking her sister to see what's wrong with him? Nothing's wrong with him.

"Nothing is wrong with me, so, what now? What are you here for now. Now that you know I'm alright." - Issei spoke casually. Though, a dark edge was too it.

"….?" - A certain look of suspicion was on her face. What did he think she was: stupid?

"So...Um...yeah… see ya!" - Issei turned around, intending to leave.

"Now, wait a minute, Ise~ Are you going to leave me all alone here, nya~?" - She asked coyly, taking a couple steps forward.

Issei stopped in his tracks, - "Hm? Is there something else then?"

Looking over his shoulder, his gaze met the neko's. Along with her arm under her ample cleavage.

Heh, like he gave a damn about that.

"Actually? Yes, there is. Nya~" - Kuroka smiled, a cat like one. But then, her voice became quite serious.

"Are you sure there's nothing wrong?"

Then he smiled. As he did so the temperature of the room fell a little. Even in the dim light of the dark day they saw his bared teeth. It was a cheshire grin of sorts, though not quite a yet, the kind that was so wide it was more as if he wanted to eat everyone than speak any further.

"Sure,"

No, he wasn't. Something was off. He changed. That was pretty clear.

"I'm doing fine."

He left, his footsteps echoing around. All the while Kuroka simply watched with narrowed eyes.

"Something happened…" - She stated to herself, the walking figure soon disappearing.

"You got that right,"

.

.

He walked away from Kuroka. His sneakers left a small trail on the dirt.

"Heh, I wanna go home." - He said tiredly, - "Who knew the Romans/Spartans had such a tiring training schedule." - Rubbing his eyes he continued to talk to himself. - "'Sides, I hope that got the application. I worked really hard on that Thesis."

As he headed home, his footsteps echoing around. He released a sigh.

"Damnit, I only noticed her when at the end of my training. Who knows how long she was there? I remember the times someone studied my moves." - He shook his head with an expression of discomfort. - "Need to watch out for that sort of thing more."

"Hm?" - Issei smirked as he suddenly got an idea, - "I don't really feel like going the normal way." - His word came into his thoughts. - (How 'bout I take the rooftops!)

The smirk on the brunette's face was as clear as day.

(Still though, can't let anyone see me.) - He thought, moving to get into one of the alleyways. It was quite dirty, trash lying around. Trash bins too. - "Guess what they say 'bout alleyways is true: It really is a trashy show. Hah!" - Chuckling at his own bad joke.

He looked around for a good way to get up on the rooftops, without using his supernatural powers.

Then he saw it, - "Got ya!"

He dashed forward,

Click! Clang!

Using the environment around him he easily made his way upon a rooftop. Seeing his house in the far away distance.

Mentally, he lined up how he was going to go there.

"Hm, yeah, I can jump that. That? Hmm...Flip over it?" - He murmured.

Now, having the entire thing in his head, he prepared himself.

And he ran, like the winter breeze colliding into inanimate objects and crashing waves hitting the shore line. Like eagles soaring across indigo skies and a herd of cheetahs racing through verdant meadows. His brown locks whipped back and forth behind him like a fiery tale as he flung himself over small and large obstacles.

With his superhuman body he easily made his way, freerunning around. Flipping, vaulting and more over obstacles!

"Haha! Look out, people!" - He murmured, then spoke with a smirk as the excitement was coming in. - "It's the Red Dragon Emperor!"

"The spectacular Issei Hyoudou!"

"Woohoo!"

He continued to run, flip, jump and more! Adrenaline rushing through his veins as he made his way home across the rooftops with stunning speed!

Flip! Vault!

"The sensational talking to himself guy!"

Somersault! Landing!

Seeing his house come close Issei looked at it with a blank expression, before it returned to his usual one.

Stopping at the edge of a high up rooftop, he gazed upon the streets and buildings of Kuoh.

What greeted him?

A large university town, empty streets, buses crammed into narrow streets, buildings three and four stories high, bicycles chained up in rows, buskers with open guitar cases for spare change, large open air market place with stall holders hollering out prices, narrow cobbled side streets, coffee shops, antique shops, florists with bouquets out on the street in buckets though being put away inside.

The lights came on, the sun was finally gone.

"..."

To think… he was in this town for most of his life.

"I've… seen it plenty of times. But… it never feels different. Like the same place over and over again. Just the center of a whole lot of bull'." - He commented, face stoic. Not showing any emotion. Though, it still felt like home to him.

"Yeah… still my home…"

….

….

….

For some reason, overlooking Kuoh from the high rooftop suddenly froze him. Entranced him. Not by its 'beauty'. Nor its ugliness. Simply due to the fact…

"That it's my home…." - He softly murmured.

…

…

[How long are you going to stand here?]

Issei responded with a smile, it could've been described as almost angelic.

"As long as I need…."

He stood there for minutes. Just taking in the sight of his hometown.

"Ahhh, time to get home." - Issei muttered.

He left to his home.

Night had fallen fast upon the land. No more than an hour ago the sky was painted with hues of red, orange and pink, but all colour had faded leaving only a darkness that he wasn't all too familiar with.

[Partner, I've avoided asking this, since I know how you feel about the thing. But, what happened when you were in the room? In that basement?] - Ddraig asked with a serious voice. - [With that woman and her father?]

Issei raised an eyebrow, and communicated the following.

(...We're not talking about them. They're dead, why do they matter?)

[You know why.]

(Oh.. I see. Ddraig, lemme answer your question with another question. What do you think happened?) - Issei asked, eerily calm. Like an ocean under the moonlight, hiding many things.

[I know what you're trying to do, Issei. Remember, I've been alive longer that you know.]

What a keen Dragon.

[Now, what happened?] - His tone was a slight bit more aggressive.

"Hehehe…" - Issei chuckled a bit, it sounded slightly... maniacal. - (You know, the usual. Sitting there in empty darkness. Getting the shit kicked out of my once in a while.) - His smile grew wider, - (When that didn't work….you know what? Forget it. I'm done talking about this.)

"But… I showed them…"- A dark smirk came upon his face, he remembered those days. Sometimes vaguely, sometimes with an intense amount of clarity.

It never changed.

"Who knows, maybe I should've just ripped her head open instead, burned her alive? Tortured her too?" - Then his voice changed. His mood too. Everything about him returned to some kind of optimist's jovial nature.

Ddraig listened intently to Issei's words. It seemed like he'd genuinely enjoy hurting them more. [Well, for what it counts, it isn't as bad as what I thought. That they….]

- ?

"Hm?"

[Might have violated you…]

Everything suddenly froze. As if the world came into a standstill, Issei stopped moving. No sounds were heard. Nothing but Issei standing still mid walk. It was now dark out.

Complete and utter darkness. No one around.

"Heheheh…."

[...?]

Suddenly Issei broke out into laughter, maniacal laughter. Like he found something funny and unbelievable at the same time. - "Hahahahahahahaha! Hehehehe! HihahHahahaHAHA!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Maniacal, that was what it became. Absolutely maniacal. It was terrifying to hear for anyone.

In the darkness, no one around. He just continued laughing like that. So much that he started wheezing and coughing.

"Hehahaha…"

Until he suddenly stopped.

[...]

"Now, Ddraig, you kinda ruined the mood…" - He told the dragon as he was soon approaching his home. Calmly jumping from rooftop to rooftop.

"Seriously, I was having such a good time. And you came out of the blue with that…." - Issei chuckled at that.

Flip!

Landing!

Easily landing on his feet, he walked over to his house.

The door opened, he walked in.

[Are you sure, Partner? I know that's not the entire story of what happened down there.]

He scowled, - (I don't desire to speak of it again.) - What's done is done.

[Bu-

"I SAID DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!"

His voice changed, drastically. His body language changed to something more menacing and animalistic.

A scowl came upon his visage, still though, he worked hard. He deserved to take a nap, maybe watch a movie?

(I..I'm sorry for that, Ddraig.)

...

.

.

Thump!

His shirt was off, he was sweating immensely. Like, a lot. Grabbing the nearby water bottle that belonged to him he greedily swallowed all the contents down.

"Ahh…" - He breathed a content sigh, - "Fucking hell, upping the training works!"

The brunette's red face was visible to all to see.

"Ddraig…"

[Hm, yes?]

"I've been training with these weights for damn long, so, pal, my Martial Arts skill is going up. Right?" - Issei asked seriously.

[In terms of skill? Yes, though, I'm quite curious about why you chose those fighting styles. They're brutal and and rely more on your physical body than anything else. And wrestling, seriously? Though it's good that you're including speed in it too.]

Issei scoffed, - "Ddraig, it's called Greco-Roman wrestling. Remember?" - He continued to talk to the Great Dragon, - "Nothing like that fake shit on TV. And the rest of the styles?"

Vale Tudo, Greco-Roman wrestling, LINE/Linear Infighting Neural Override Engagement, Krav Maga, Lethewa, Boxing and Pankration. The final one being used by the Spartans.

[Your Martial Arts is one of your strongest suits. I'd say in the top 5 of the list. Tactics have gone up, a lot. Which is a wonder for someone like you. Everything showing even greater progress than ever before!]

A smug, barely arrogant smirk came upon his visage. - "Of course, it's me after all."

He'd gotten a bit cockier in the time he trained. And arrogant, sure of himself in his capabilities.

Thanks to his dartboards

After all, Those Strays could account to being his dartboards.

Still though, they went down too easy. he needed something hard to fight. Someone strong enough to beat.

"And an adventure. I need one." - Issei had an adventurous glint in his eyes.

[Except magic. You have made no progress in the slightest.]

"Grgh. Damn it!" - Issei snarled underneath his breath. - "Almost a month and nothing!"

His hands formed fists.

"Nothing, Ddraig. Absolutely nothing?"

[No, not in the slightest. Your Magic skills are still absolutely horrible without the Boosted Gear.]

"..."

Deciding to not get angrier. He breathed in. - "Hm, at least the sun's kind to me today."

"..."

*Bzzzt!*

"Heh, my phone's buzzing. Who's calling?" - Was his murmur.

Oh shit! it was from that place!

- !

He answered the mobile device, - "Hello."

*Hello, is this Issei Hyoudou I'm speaking too?*

"Yes, that's me." - Issei answered politely.

*Yes, indeed, we're calling about your thesis. The "Multi-Robot Task Allocation and Scheduling with Spatio-Temporal and Energy Constraints". The one you applied at our industry?"

Issei smiled, his face riddled with excitement.

(Wait, wait! They could be calling to say it sucked! And that they don't accept the application.)

"Yes, that was me. I applied that." - He tried to hide his nervousness. After all, this was a big deal. He had send his application two weeks ago, worked his ass off for it.

So, please, Dragon Gods, help a Dragon out!

The man on the phone continued to talk in a professional tone of voice, it made Issei quite nervous. - *Actually, at LightStar Industries, many were quite impressed at your Thesis. Proclaiming it to be the work of an expert's. It appears you're quite gifted in this department, young man."

- ?!

"Ahm," - Stupid, don't stutter! - "Thank you."

*Granted, you applied for a internship at our facilities in Japan, no?*

Issei nodded.

"..."

*...*

(What am I, an idiot! I'm on the phone!)

"Yes," - He said politely.

*Hm, , would you care to have an interview at one of our buildings? We might have a spot open for you."

"Ah, of course!" - Issei responded a little hastily.

*Very well then, meet us at our building. If you're having trouble to finding it, it's the one closest to your city. The one you submitted your occupation too. We'll send you the rest of the details through your e-mail.*

"Of course. At what time?"

*3 P.M. Tomorrow. Have a pleasant day.*

"Thank you. You too."

Peep!

"...HELL YEAH!" - Issei stood up with a joyous yell.

Nervousness and a bit of worry creeped into his thoughts. What if… what if it wouldn't go his way?

Maybe if….

No! He had to be sure of himself for this!

More sure of the time he proclaimed his Harem dream in front of his hot teacher when he was 8!

'I'm gonna be harem king, teach! You should join the harem! Your oppai qualify!'

'Detention, Hyoudo! Right now!'

Detention…

He still didn't see what he did wrong.

[Lightstar Industries, hm?]

"Ah, yeah, guess you probably don't know much, huh." - Issei scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

[Yes, I've heard you mention it a couple of times. But what is it?]

"It's...it's.. ah… uhm...A popular and dominant industry in the Science community. It has several businesses and.. ah yeah.. God, I can't explain this." - He failed terribly at explaining it, - "Know what, here it is. It's just some really big company that has some really high end schools for kids. Thing is, they're pretty hard to get into. Anyway, that's not the thing I want. I want to see if I could intern at one of their facilities! You know, learn more! Be successful! Maybe it'll be useful while I'm in working the the supernatural world!"

"Besides, I promised my parents that I'd end up a well off person! And this? This is going to be all me! No outside influences to assist me!" - Issei proclaimed proudly, wide smile on his face.

He'd do this one by himself! Thanks to himself! No one else!

[Interesting, it seems that they think favorably of you. Well done.]

"Haha, thanks, partner." - Issei said gratefully. - "Nice to know someone asked." - He said happily.

"Anyway, I already told my mom and dad. They're pretty anxious for the results too. Like me." - He whispered as he got up, - "I hope.. I hope it works out…"

He squeezed his fists… - "I want them to say that they're proud of me...when.. or if I've earned it."

"I don't want to be a disappointment to them anymore…"

Issei admitted, his head lowered.

…

...

…

…

[Partner.]

"Huh?"

[You aren't a disappointment. You should realise- no. Know that! Remember everything you have done! All that you have achieved!]

[Remember, you have achieved plenty by yourself, your body and talents! You should take credit for your achievements! Remember all those victories? All that and else? Yours. Take pride in that! Don't forget that you have done great things! That we're better than who we were before! Superior!]

Slowly, but surely, a smirk started growing on his face, - "You're right, Ddraig." - He continued.

"You're absolutely right." - There was another thing in his voice that was different. He still sounded the same. But.. it didn't sound darker. Just….

You couldn't place it.

(I absolutely deserve to be prideful.)

An uncharacteristic, darker tone came into his voice. Suddenly, without warning.

"Well, time to go train." - He said quietly, - "Afterwards it's hitting the books."

He'd trained himself heavily, using modern and old techniques. The ones Ddraig and himself had chosen.

Along with a healthier diet. With a lot of meat.

Well, he was a lot more hungry than ever before.

Weighted, heavy training did that to you..

.

.

Standing in his bedroom, in front of the gigantic mirror in his closet. He stared at his clothes.

"Something neat, something that'd make me look good."

Standing in front of the mirror, he currently wore… his boxers.

It showed the latest improvements upon his form, having gotten buffer, yet still keeping his lean form.

Eventually, he made his conclusion.

What he had put on was the following. A neat black blouse with thin, white vertical stripes. The sleeves were rolled up and he wore a black watch on his left wrist. Black jeans. And neat, black sneakers with white marks on it.

He exited his room, went down the stairs. He'd gotten a good hour before he had to arrive there.

Step Step Step.

"Mom, Dad, how's the food? Bad? Or horrible?" - He greeted them once more. Smile on his face, it had become a custom for Issei to cook for them.

His joke made a smile appear on his parents faces.

"It's… well… good?"

"Hahah," - His father chuckled at his mother's sneaky remark. - "It's pretty good? But, it's a big day. Don't you?"

Issei nodded, he seemed a lot more closed off now. A lot after all. Even to his parents. But, they liked the fact that Issei had spend a lot more time with them. Despite the fact that he was quite busy.

His mother thought back, he wasn't around as often. But, he still had spent time with them.

Though, when they asked about his personal life. Or anything else he might like. He only told them about the "Interview."

They knew Issei wasn't that stupid. He got into a private academy after all.

"Anyway, please. Don't tell the rest!" - Issei asked once more, - "I want to surprise them if I get the position!"

Issei wanted it to be a surprise for them, something that, if he got the position, would be great for them to see. He wanted it to be an accomplishment that he himself had done!

No Boosted Gear.

No outside forces.

(Just me…. Just Issei Hyoudou.)

"...Are you sure, son?" - His mom asked him, - "It seems like something that they'd like to know."

"..I know that. But, imagine, the surprise on their faces! The shock and pride!"

"But, wouldn't you be around even less…?" - Was a question that was on their minds.

"So what?" - He said casually, dismissing it immediately. - "I'd still be around, right? It's not like I'm going to be gone 24/7."

"Besides...I might have a surprise for the two of you." - Issei said with a grin. - "A little I'm "sorry" gift."

His grin was filled with eagerness. Reassuring his parents, even by a small amount, that he was still the same. It was an "Issei" grin. One that reminded them that he was still the same old same old.

Doesn't matter right now, they were just quite worried. While they kept it to themselves…

((I don't think Isei can do it… he just isn't all that… intellectual. Of course he isn't an idiot though.))

Issei saw that goddamned look on their faces, making him scowl for a moment. - (...Don't get angry..)

That look was the same one they gave him all those times he proclaimed his "Harem King Dream".

It made him feel angry, pretty damn angry. Though, he did not show it. Nor did he act out.

It is what it is.

"Still," - He said his goodbyes, - "I'll see you all later"

""Good luck!""

.

.

Being on the subway was something he was used to, he didn't really like to go with the buss. It sucked. In his opinion. 'Sides, he always enjoyed subways.

Tnkccchh!

The doors opened, he look up from his seat. Coming face to face with the underground of one of the cities in Japan. He stepped out through the crowd of people

It was big, quite so. He did the usual. Leaving by going through.

Going up the stairs, he entered the city "Officially.".

Looking on his phone he saw that he had about 20 minutes left. How fast! Nonetheless: he needed to get to their building.

Chatter! Chatter!

"Damn, it's loud." - He murmured. - (Anyway, my GPS tells me that it's...)

Standing in the open city, he looked around and widened his eyes. - (Damn….)

He gazed in astonishment of the building. Standing straight he saw, in the distance, a building.

It had a big sigh on it that proclaimed:

StarLight Industries

The building was incredibly big, made out of the most durable and good looking materials. The architects did a really great job.

Walking over to it, crossing the street. He made his way through it.

And eventually coming inside the building.

The receptionist, a young blond woman, greeted him there. She sat behind a desk with a computer there

"Hello."

"Hello to you too." - Issei responded with a friendly smile - "I'm here for a meeting with Daniel Yang."

"Ah, yes, name please." - She said professionally. Considering where they were, it was the normal behavior for that.

(Wow, those are pretty good!) - He kept his thoughts hidden.

"Issei Hyoudou." - He told her.

Tik Tik Tik

She typed something into her computer, in two seconds she had something in front of her. She raised an eyebrow and asked him for,

"ID?"

The brunette nodded with a smile and opened up his wallet. Getting his ID out of it.

He showed it to her, she calmly took it and put it against a scanner.

"Hm, I see," - She handed him his ID back. He put it in his wallet. Then, he put it in his front pocket.

" , please wait in the waiting area over there. Someone will be here to pick you up shortly.

In the corner of the enormous reception area were several comfortable looking couches. They only had one or two people sitting in that area, they varied in ages. One was quite young, a male in his early twenties and neatly dressed. The other one was a female, reading through folders and the like.

Issei sat there, just sat there. Looking straight ahead with a stoic face. He checked his phone, noticing that he'd gotten a few messages.

There were a couple of 'em. From the rest of the group. Strangely enough one from Sanji, for whatever reason he didn't care to find out.

Well, now really wasn't the time. Though, the messages from the girls gave the indication that they were quite upset.

He scowled a bit at that, the messages seemed quite passive-aggressive. He had no clue why?

Is it because he like to sleep alone a lot more now?

Is it…?

If so, that would be pretty damn childish of her.

(And a waste of my time.)

"Hm, say, kid, what are you doing here?" - The guy next to him asked. The man had had black hair, a suit and appeared to be in his early twenties. He seemed polite and good natured, but Issei didn't trust him. He knew how businessmen were, and he the guy looked like one.

But, - "Me?" - The brunette received a nod, - "Just here for an internship interview. It would look good in the future for me." - Issei added confidently.

The man raised an eyebrow, - "Really? You seem kinda young, you must have impressed the guys "up there"."

"Hmh, thanks." - He nodded casually.

"But still, to even get a talk, and from someone your age. It seems that you must be quite gifted."

"Haha, no, not really." - Issei and the man made small talk, - "I'm not considered all that smart, I just like engineering a lot. That's it. And you, what are you here for?"

The reception area seemed to get a bit more crowded. more people came in and sat. Though, the man still talked casually, - "Me, just here to communicate about a possible deal. Really tight lipped, can't say much."

Issei nodded, - "Hmh, I can understand that."

"You… don't sound nervous. I imagined you'd be pretty scared. This is one of the greatest businesses in the industry."

Issei raised an eyebrow, with a scowl and scoff. - "Why the hell would I be scared?"

Step Step Step.

A man walked over to the reception's waiting room, he seemed to take a casual stroll over to them, he looked over and asked,

"Which one of you is Issei Hyoudo?"

He was clearly someone important in the building, wearing a high quality suit with a professional look and feel to him.

The brunette nodded. - "Yes, that's me."

He smiled, - "Follow me," - He gestured politely.

Issei stood up, pocketed his phone, and did as asked. He saw the scowling look of the man that he had previously talked to, almost like he was upset at something.

Ah, who cared about him anyway?

Issei didn't even know the guy.

The both went into a open hallway, passing the the paintings and walls that were there. Some walls even had texts. It was a high end building that had many offices and small laboratories on the down floor, along with a human resource management department.

Eventually, after all the walking, the man didn't talk. Probably to make the situation even more tense for him.

Issei narrowed his eyes, still following the man.

Step Step

After what felt like an eternity of elevator waiting and walking through the hallways of the tech company's hallways. They had eventually went up to an office.

The suited man gestured to the office. It was high up in the large building.

In the office, was a desk, a. chair behind it and two in front of it. It all seemed quite high end. There was a computer on the desk, some papers. Decorations were in the office too. From paintings that was Chinese in nature. There were several doctorates that hung up on the wall.

As Issei entered the room, he took notice of a middle aged, yet youthful looking man that seemed to be around 40.

The door was closed behind him, the man, who Issei assumed to be chinese due to all the decorations that involved Chinese culture.

"Hello!" - The man stood up, greeting him. He wore a black business suit that was worn in a semi-casual manner. - "Pleasure to meet you!"

Issei assumed him to be Daniel Yang, even though, the man was quite friendly. - "It's a pleasure to meet you too."

Issei extended the same courtesy. Giving the man a handshake that was gladly returned.

Shake

"Please, take a seat," - Was offered to the brunette with a smile.

Issei nodded and said, - "Thanks."

"So, Issei Hyoudo, what brings you here?" - Was politely asked of him.

Issei smiled politely, - "Well, I'm just going to get straight to the point: I want to intern here."

Blunt, honest, and straight to the point.

"Good, straight to the point, don't like to mince words?"

"Ah, no. I don't. I just don't like to mince words. Not that I can't, but it's fine." - The brunette chuckled.

"Good, good. So, let's start: I've read your Thesis, your application. And I have to say… your Thesis… it was… very well done." - Daniel Yang grabbed some papers, a file too.

It was his Thesis and application.

"Now, let me ask you this. Why do you want to intern here?" - asked seriously, any traces of mirth and lightheartedness gone.

Issei replied equally, - "I heard great things about Starlight, heard about its purpose and what it does. Considering all the company is, why wouldn't I want to work here?"

Issei's tone was friendly and casual, yet, still respectful. As if he was talking to a friend, who, was also a higher-up.

"Well, in that case, let's talk about you in particular. Okay?"

Issei nodded with a friendly smile.

"So, considering what you made, why the interest in engineering? In science?"

The Red Dragon Emperor ran a hand through his hair, holding his chin with three fingers that came from his left hand.

"It's just something that I love to do, it started at middle-school. When my class went on a little trip to a business, they wanted to educate us on subjects involving several things. When engineering came along, I found myself greatly interested, and capable, of handling such things," - His tone was that of professionalism. - "Though, only one person had managed to make me truly appreciate the subject."

"Hehehe, that was back at the camp. Good times, surprisingly."

That was years ago.

"Hmmm…."

Why the hell was he humming?

"I see, well, from what stands on your application, you don't really perform all that well in most grades." - Daniel mused, - "Are you one of those students that don't apply themselves."

It wasn't a question. It was a statement.

"No, I'm not one of those. I just haven't found my… direction yet." - Issei seemed strangely confident. Not to himself was it strange, though it wasn't unwelcome.

"Is that so," - Mr. Yang murmured, - "I see then, well, I wanted to check something."

"Mr Hyoudou, I'm going to be asking you a series of questions: it's your job to answer them correctly."

"Okay then, go ahead." - Issei knew his engineering, maybe even better than boobies? He remember the good times. How he learned it.

Ah, those times.

Good times, great times.

(I loved those times…) - A faint melancholic smile entered his features.

"How many trailing zeros are in the number 5. 5 factorial?"

Huh, such an easy one?

Issei replied quickly and confidently, - "1 trailing zero."

"Why so?"

"The factorial of 5 is 120. 1." - The easily. Sheesh, was it only this for the next couple of times?

Why not something interesting, hopefully not only engineering questions.

Next moments? Blah Blah Blah.

All too easy.

"Allright the, I'll admit. You're very talented and knowledgeable about the subject. Now, I only have two remaining things until it's time….

The Navier-Stokes equations, what are they?"

"In fluid mechanics, a partial differential equation that describes the flow of incompressible fluids." - He continued, - "A.K.A: The movement of fluid in the physical domain that is driven by various properties. Math is used… obviously."

Daniel looked at Issei, who seemed sure of his answers.

(He's good, really good.) - He'd admit that, - (But… now, for the final thing.)

"Hyoudou, I like you, I see some real potential. So, I'd like to give you what you want. An internship."

"Woohoo, YEAH!" - He yelled out joyously, doing a backflip in sheer excitement and relief!

Backflip!

"HELL YEAH!"

He accidentally knocked over the chair he was sitting on. Oh, he was still in the room.

Stare.

"Ahm…" - He looked at Daniel, he put the chair back up and sat back down.

"T-thanks?" - He scratched his head and regained his bearings.

"Hahahaha…" - Daniel chuckled, then broke out into laughter, - "Hahahahahaha!"

"Anyway, now, for some other news I have for you. You can't intern in Japan. We don't have the room for that."

"...What…?"

Issei was confused, his eyes narrowed and his brows furrowed.

"I'm sorry… what do you mean?"

Daniel looked truly apologetic, - "What I just said, we don't have any room in any of our locations in Japan. None at all, entirely filled to the brim."

"..."

"But,"

- ?

"We do have spots open at other locations..

in different countries.."

"Would you care to clarify." - Issei stated, not asked. He was deadly serious now, no more of that childish enthusiasm was present.

Good, he wasn't one of those.

"I meant what I said, we don't have any room here for you. Nowhere in Japan. But, we do in other countries. Most certainly higher up than our usual standard, which is already big enough." - A casual boast,

Which Issei knew was true.

"What about my high-school education."

Daniel smirked at that, - "Something you don't have to worry about, StarLight has many different "Schools" in many different countries. Along with many of our laboratories and the like set in said countries. Think about it, a chance to intern and learn at one of the most sophisticated facilities in the world, along with having the chance to study what you want to study at our schools."

"So, how would it work. Would I have to pay a fee."

"No. It all depends on your performance and contribution to StarLight. The grades you get and how you would help StarLight in the future. Well, since you're probably going to intern it'll help. Of course, there's also going to be very strict expectations."

"Hm, how so?"

"Of course, as long as those who stay at StarLight must have incredibly high grades and prove themselves to be great. To achieve greatness."

"And others?"

"Something akin to university. But, since you've proven yourself so capable, we're willing to make it different for students that excel, extremely well, at certain subjects."

"So… you're propositioning that I change schools. How would that work, laws and all. Something akin to a Exchange Student. But how would a degree work with that?"

"The degree would still be valid in most of the world, and, since it comes from our schools it would be of incredible use. And our schools are considered to be top of the chain. All it takes is a couple of years, shorter if you prove you've got the skill."

"I…."

Issei trailed off into nothing,

He didn't know how to respond to this.

Other country?

What about the girls?

(I can't just leave them like that….

….I promised….)

(But, why should I care...?

...Better for me, no?

And it isn't like I'm doing something horrible.)

He, not literally, shook those thoughts away. He couldn't deny that the temptation was there.

But he wasn't like that.

"I'm.. sorry… but I can't...I won't just leave the people here, my loved ones."

Daniel raised an eyebrow, - "Abandon? That's not what's happening, of course you can visit them on the days you're on vacation, things like that. Why would you ever think that you're abandoning your loved ones."

Issei stood up, smile on his face, though a bit downtrodden, - "I get that, I know that. But, I'll still be seeing them rarely. And even though things happened, I won't leave them."

Daniel had a gut feeling, that much was clear. He relaxed in his chair and sad, - "Very well then, Issei, still though. Have this."

Out of his pocket he grabbed a card.

His business card.

"If you ever change your mind, take this. Just know, we're willing to, always, take that chance on you."

The business card was within reach, it was offered.

And for whatever reason,

Issei took it.

.

.

"Well, this has been a rollercoaster of a month…."

Standing on the sidewalk he cracked his neck.

"Still though… all that work for nothing…." - He growled under his breath.

(Still though, it would've been better if I had just taken it. That fool was right. This is completely unnecessary.) - Came up in Issei's thoughts.

He wouldn't deny that he thought up.

A lot.

Walking up to the door of his residence, he suddenly looked up!

"...I have a gut feeling…"

Click!

Issei opened the door, walked in.

SLAM!

Only for it to be slammed closed.

"Xenovia," - Issei stated stoically, - "The look on your face tells me you aren't all that happy."

Xenovia had slammed the door, and look at Issei with a genuinely stoic yet angry look as well.

Angrier and more upset than he'd actually ever seen her.

She walked in the direction of the living room.

"So, do you want me to follow you?"

….

"That means yes, I guess. Just asking if you're sure…" - Issei stated, a bit irritated.

Following Xenovia, he landed in the living room.

"...Are you serious?" - Issei questioned flabbergasted.

In the living room, they, ORC, was present.

They looked upset as each had taken a particular position, though aimed at him. Making sure they were facing his direction.

The manner in which they were all seated/positioned made it look like an intervention.

Something Issei thought too on first glance.

(No...this isn't a damn intervention…)

Frustration bubbled up.

(It's that all over again.)

Standing there, everyone 'close to him' there. All looking genuinely angry and upset.

"So, how lo-

"Tell us what happened."

"Now."

Issei's eyes narrowed at that, that demand.

"Why not just ask? Hm, Rias." - Issei replied coldly, - "Are we really going to do this again."

"You know why I'm mad! Why we're mad!"

"No. Actually, I don't." - Issei stated, - "Nonetheless why you all took the time out of your day to set this all up."

"Where were you?!"

"At an interview, for an Internship."

Flabbergasted, that's what they were!

How come Issei hadn't told them?!

"What?!"

"Why didn't you tell us?!"

"Because it was something I wanted to do for me!"

They all spoke at once, frustration that was bubbled up, an immense amount,

To issei? This all came out of the blue, sure, the previous message was small warning.

(But, I didn't expect anything this drastic!)

Another one of the girls spoke up, rising out of her seat.

Rias.

"You, what about me?! US!"

The rest all agreed vehemently.

"Why didn't tell us what you're doing?!"

One of the girls said.

You can guess who it was.

"..."

He said nothing…

"Say something! This has to stop!" - She seemed to grow angrier by the second.

"You don't talk to us anymore! You don't sleep in the same bed with us! WHY?!"

"...Because I didn't want t-

They followed up one another.

"And let's not forget that you disappear most of the time! Going somewhere most of the day and night! We never see you anymore!"

"Never see me anymore..?"

He didn't get it.

They saw each other... sometimes.

Just not constantly.

Constant contact would be overbearing, besides, you shouldn't be around people constantly. Besides that, he saw them train.

No progress.

And Issei knew he had to get stronger.

(I had to get stronger. Stronger so nothing like what happened down there would ever occur to me again.)

"Yes, never see you anymore! You don't talk to us! So, tell us all,

""""""WHO ARE YOU SEEING?!""""""

Their demand rang true, they all seemed so angry at him

Again.

Like he'd done something abominable. Worse than worse.

He looked around the room. Their stares of anger were like hot pokers. Much like that day. About the simple thing about a simple word.

And now this?

They're implying he's cheating?

Insecurity perhaps?

No…

An excuse for them.

Anger that they wanted to take out

(On me.)

He felt his anger bottle up, something darkerwithin himself start to drip out. Like a leaking dam holding back so much.

His words, instead of the softer tone, become more clear and harder.

"I wasn't seeing anyone." - He stated, loud enough for them all to hear, his words came out a hiss. - "All I did was study, train and work! Hell, I was even at an interview earlier! They just offered me a position outside of the country!"

"Out of the country?!"

"Yes, out of the country, Irina. For a couple of years!" - Issei looked at the rising angel, - "Just that! A solo trip!"

"You planned on just leaving us!?"

Rias seemed genuinely angry, - "Why didn't you tell me! I deserve to know!"

"Why?" - Himejima spoke, - "Why would you just leave us?!"

"Issei… You promised to stay with me forever! Every day!"

Asia….

She seemed so hurt and angry…

At Him.

Her eyes, while hurt, carried a sense of growing anger underneath it. Like a veil of a bride on the special day. Where it's all sealed. A life to be spent, every day with your beloved.

Only now had he realised, that was something too soon for him.

"I didn-

"And you say that you're not seeing anyone?! You aren't like that, I know! Only if it was some woman!"

(You know nothing.)

"Tell us what's going on with you," - Her cold voice, stoic and all, cut in. - "My sister said you were acting weird and cold."

"Tch, you're the worst, Senpai."

They were colder than ice, so cold it burned.

Issei looked at the Nekoshou, - "..."

Growing…

It was growing.

Issei gritted his teeth, the silence ensued.

(I have to stop this, before I lose it.)

(But cutting loose would be good.)

Issei took his sight from the floor and looked at them with a stoic gaze.

"You know, why didn't you just ask me like a normal person," - Issei asked stoically, though a hiss came from him.

"Because you don't tell us anythin-

"SHUT IT! YOU DAMNED HYPOCRITE!" - Issei growled out, - "I won't hear it from you. Little Miss let Issei do all the damned work! You never ask anything important about me, or anything pertaining to how I might feel or what I'm really troubled by! No, it's all just you all! Especially all about yourself, Rias!"

They all recoiled, but quickly regained their footing.

This wouldn't be like that again!

"What are you talking about?!" - Akeno seemed shocked at that.

"What, don't like the truth?!"

"No! It's a lie, you always keep things bottled up. We're trying to help you?!"

With this verbal assault and all these demands.

"Akeno, You, help me." - Issei seemed to grow angrier by the second. - "When have you helped me, mentally. And not with your damned tits! And the whole what I called Rias occurrence? That was due to an accident!"

"So when, Hm, that's right. Never-

Issei grew angrier as he lashed out.

"Issei, that's enough."

Yuuto?

"Yuuto? The hell are you doing." - Issei looked behind him, only to notice.

The bastard had his hand on him.

Yuuto had his eyes narrowed, - "Issei, they're not in the wrong here. You are. Can't you realise that? What you're doing?"

Yuuto's validation on their side seemed to reignite the fire.

Perhaps even brighter than before-

"Get your hand off of me!"

Issei harshly shoved his hand off and pushed Yuuto with a single hand. The strength was enough to make Yuuto tumble and eventually fall on his ass.

"Issei, don't do that! He's your frie-

"FRIEND? HA!" - Issei scoffed and dismissed it. Turning the attention to Yuuto, Issei gave him an upset glare.

"Yuuto, you're not my damn friend! You got that? You're not. We were comrades! You made it clear we weren't friends a lot of times! Just comrades! That's it. Besides, you're a man, aren't you? Don't pretend like you know what they're talking about. What they're feeling! You said to me we were comrades! Don't hide behind a facade of righteousness when you're going to doubleback the moment it suits you!"

"Issei, stop tha-

"No! I won't just stop! I found something I wanted to do and I get all of this in return. No!"

"STOP IT, ISSEI!"

Looking back at Rias, Issei seemed genuinely upset.

"Don't point this on me. On The rest of us!"

The girls seemed in genuine agreement with her. Oh, is that so?

"The problem is you!"

"Me? Hahaha! Funny."

Tension was rising in the room. Yuuto was still looking intently after he was shoved onto his derriere. The girls made the tension rise, specifically Rias.

"This isn't a joke. You! It's your fault that this is happening! You don't tell us anything! You disappear all the time! You never listen to us! Doing Satan knows what?! It's like you're changing into a completely different person! And that internship?! I won't let you just leave us! Leave me! I am your master! I forbid you!"

A genuine dark gleem suddenly entered Issei's eyes, not like anyone noticed.

"What?"

….

"You… "Forbid"... ME…"

They weren't deterred this time, - "Yes, we do!"

His head was downcast. - "You don't decide that, none of you do. I'm not your property."

It appears the murmur wasn't heard.

"I don't belong to any of you!"

"Grggg! Issei, stop this foolishness!" - Rias' anger and frustration was reaching a new height. Greater than ever before. She had this with her parents.

But Issei? She never imagined it would happen with him.

And to her, he was acting out and behaving like a different person?

"And don't lie to me about some interview. For what, even?"

Issei scoffed at that, - "An engineering one!"

"Yeah right! Like that would ever happen with you at the helm."

"...Are you calling me stupid….?"

"I'm saying you're not intellectually capable of such things. So, tell us the truth!"

….

….

….

….

"...Issei…?"

….

….

….

….

Nothing was said. Something pierced through it though, not with words. But, with sheer presence and silence.

Issei.

….

….

….

"You all agree with her?"

….

….

….

"What am I kidding. I know you all do."

"You all think I'm stupid, right?"

They all knew the answer to that.

They never considered Issei smart.

"That I can't do anything without any of you? That I need to have you all guiding me constantly?"

They saw it now…

A single tear came down from his eye

How could they have…

They said nothing.

And reality made its call.

…

"News flash! Do you all think it was you who was the center of it?! You who fixed the problems?! Me! It was me! Always me!"

And suddenly it all changed.

He was livid, they realised. Angrier by the second. His tears were gone, like they were evaporated by heat.

Hate and anger spilled out of him.

"I am the center of it all! The most important one! None of you were anything without me coming in! All you had was a fucking name! I made you all! Without me, none of you would be where you all are! And I'm supposed to stay chained down because of you all?! You're all nothing! I help you all with all of your problems, dying for you all! Doing anything I can to make you happy! This is what I get back?! hate?! Hell no! No more! I'm done!"

Hisses and growl came out, everyone in the room was scared beyond belief.

They had never seen Issei flip out like that. Like he just kept it all bottled in or something. And it had exploded without warning.

Regaining himself, he breathed in and out, teeth still gritted. Calming himself, his burning anger turned cold.

So cold it burned.

"...My life doesn't revolve around any of you. You aren't the important one in the room. I am. You all forget, I am me. The Red Dragon Emperor. It's time you all realised that. It's time I get out of this stupid cage, permanently."

Issei turned around, leaving the entire room shocked and on the verge of tears.

(Like they deserve to act like this.) - He thought with venom, anger and disgust. Not a tint of remorse was there. Ever there.

Pathetic, that's what they were.

"I'm done with this, all of this. Rias, we're on break."

"W-what…?"

"I don't want to be in a relationship right now. Or to see any of you for a long time. I'll be leaving… don't follow me. Or try to. " - Issei coldly threatened them. He then resumed talking, removing the livid voice he had earlie.r - "Oh, remember this: next time, you'll be seeing something from me that's different.. better.. more proper…

….far SUPERIOR…"

.

.

It was a growing, I didn't ken when or where. But everything I bottled up was commencing to emerge.

If I didn't do that, than who kens what. Otherwise I wouldn't be Issei Hyoudo, would it?
What transpired over the course of a month, it commenced to peel my eyes open.

And I was prepared to go down my path.

There's a lot about me people cerebrate they ken. A lot. They cerebrate that I'm only composed out of four qualities: my perversity, my desire for companions and my tenacity to bulwark them, and my incoherent imbecility.

They're erroneous.

I'm so much more than that, and what transpired in that living room, it availed me on the right direction.
I'll be me, I'll grow up, be what I optate to be.

To be more vigorous.
More mature.
Who I optate to be.
Who I require to be.

Someone far greate- No! Superior to my former self!

Superior to ALL who desire to use or harm me!

And of this moment, I follow my own path.

.

.

Location: Guatemala. LightStar owned buildings and properties.

LightStar grounds

"Professor Thomas, was it? It's a pleasure to meet you in person."

The professor greeted Issei with a pleasant smile, - "Ah, don't worry about calling me that! Just call me Dylan, Issei."

"I don't know about that, Professor."

"Still though, let me guide you through our Educational Facilities. A tour!"

The brunette smiled at that, - "That would be great."

They walked through it, the gates. Issei looked around the campus.

People were there, fountains, pool tables and a… swimming pool in the distance?

(Yeah, definitely a swimming pool.)

"The grounds are open 24/7, we encourage the student to grow their talents. And, above all else, enjoy themselves and be happy!"

The enthusiasm that was showed made Issei smile, - "Then I can already tell I'm going to like it here."

Walking into a big building, Issei noticed that multiple people were in there. This seemed to be some sort of lounge meant for enjoying oneself in their free time. There was a pool table and a lot more things there.

"I don't see how my bike is supposed to go faster?"

"It isn't meant to do that! It's meant to make you hover everywhere!"

"People already made that, you know!"

"Yes, but I'm going far beyond that!"

Issei smiled at the interaction, - "The people here seem to be very passionate about what they do."

"Ah, yes, they seem so, no?"

"Yes, Professor, it seems so."

"Ah!"

The brown eyed youth saw a girl, a year or two younger than him, falling down after bumping into him. She was a blond-brunette that carried a box. The contents in her purse fell down.

"Sorry!"

"No, don't worry about it! Here, let me help."

The professor waited patiently. Watching the interaction.

"Hm? Robotics? Interesting…"

Issei helped gather all the contents on the floor, easily grabbing them all and giving them to her.

"Uhm..Yeah…"

The professor started to talk, - "Anyway, don't feel confined by your specialties. Stacy here is training to be a geneticist, but has been dabbling in robotics."

"Really now, anyway, it's good to see you, Stacy."

"Ahm… you to…?"

"Issei." - The Reincarnated Devil responded kindly, his smile a warm one.

Stacy walked off with a smile on her face

"Anyway, all that's left is your dorm. The rest is yours to explore."

The brunette nodded at that,. They walked through the hallways. Eventually, coming to some kind of high end dorm room. One was opened, revealing a fully functional living space. Containing all living necessities and more.

(And even a lab. That's good.)

"And here we are, your new lab/living space. Enjoy it, after all, your latest work on robotics have caused some great breakthroughs! We're expecting great things from you!"

Issei looked at the professor with a smile, his eyes conveying an intent. - "Don't worry, Professor. I'll exceed your expectations. Let others be great, I'll always strive to be superior."

.

.

AN: Ahm… Hi…?

Damn, this is long overdue. Almost two months since I last updated the story. I'm sorry, I truly am.

I'll be frank, I wasn't doing so well mentally the last time we saw each other, it got so bad that I had to go see a therapist.

Anyway, I guess you all aren't here to hear about me. But the story.

Now, let me make this clear, Issei does not hate ORC. He isn't going to kill them and they aren't the bad guys of the story. Just hormonal, jealous teenagers that assume what they think might be real. So, they are flawed, just like Issei.

Yeah, Issei is flawed in my story. He has some less than desirable traits present, along with few good ones.

Now, why Guatemala?

Have you heard about the Mayan Gods there? From the Mayans, you know?

Yeah, the next couple of chapters we'll explore that! Still Though, some dark stuff is going to happen the next couple of chapters. I mean, really dark stuff.

Besides that, I chose this route 'cause of several reasons. Why? You might ask. PM me, 'cause I don't have that much time now.

Oh yea, please, remember that this is a chapter by chapter story, so some things aren't going to make sense until a couple of chapters later.

But for now, some Chekhov's Guns are set there. And more are going to be set up and eventually fired.

And don't worry, I know the consequences and the concern that come with the fact that Issei's leaving, and those consequences will come up later.

See you all soon, hopefully!