"You don't seem to understand, Earth isn't the Devil's to conquer. Now. Tell me…" The Priest looks at Issei as a pentagram opens up behind Issei. Yuuto walks out with Koneko and Akeno. "I'm looking for a girl named Raynare. Black hair with hazel eyes. I want answers from her." Issei demands. "Oh my what a mess." Akeno says as she hides her mouth with her hand. Koneko rolls her eyes "Great, an exorcist" she exclaims. "Hey Issei need a hand?" Yuuto asks. The Priest looks at Issei with fear and grabs his sword. He goes to slice at Issei's neck but Yuuto blocks his strike with a sword of his own. Issei just looks at them with a stern face as he cracks his knuckles. He leaves the priest speechless as he stomps towards him. "For a man of God you're quite the sailor" Yuuto comments.
"Oh what are you, the righteous police?! Shut up you douche-bag! All that matters is that you're the enemy!" Yuuto takes a step back. "Interesting. This guy here thinks it's more complicated than that" He notes as he looks over at Issei, remembering his words about the "real devils". "It doesn't matter. He won't need to know where he's going." Issei says as he cracks some of his knuckles. "He sure is a piece of work" Akeno says with a faint smile on her face that grows evermore. "And you are sure a fine piece of ass! Those eyes are driving me insane. Oh there's nothing I lust more for than someone like you my dear!" The priest yells.
"Where the Hell did you go for schooling…?"
CRACK!
Rias suddenly forms behind him and sends a lighting bolt. The black and red electricity surprises the Priest by changing its physics, rather than acting like electricity it stabs him in the arm, breaking his bone before entering his body as a shock. Issei then walks over to the man as he screams on the ground and kicks him in the jaw. "Don't talk to my girl like that, or any of my girls." He then flips the man with his foot and stomps on his chest, breaking a rib. "Now tell me
"Where is Raynar-"
Suddenly everyone in the room except for the priest is thrown across the room. The priest then gets up and swings his sword around like a lightsaber before posing for another attack. "Crap, he's stronger now!" Isei yells. "It's alright we got this" Yuuto roared as he took out a sword of his own. "Issei, I'm sorry about all of this!" Rias says as she walks over and puts one hand on his cheek. "You're hurt badly!" Issei then looks over to see the priest kicking Asia. "WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BARRIER?! YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO SET IT UP DAMMIT! WHAT THE-"
Issei lunges over and punches the man, however the priest in return uses a lighting attack and strikes Issei. Issei at first takes some of the punch but absorbs it as Akeno charges one of her own. The priest then whips out another sword and sends everyone flying back as he duels with Yuuto. The two go into an advanced duel with both their blades. A two bladed duel of fates, all while Rias watches from the side. "Issei, what's happening to you? You're not the same person that I was looking over all these years."
You're changing.
She then clenches her fists as she watches her Issei charge up a laser. He uses it to propel towards the priest and knock him to the ground while Koneko pins him. "There's something inside of him. I know there is. I'll save you Issei." Rias thought to herself.
I'll get whatever that is and save you!
"Maybe you're right, Issei. Maybe we're not devils."
She walks over to the priest as her power overflows.
"Because I don't tolerate those who hurt my servants, nor those who pick on the weak, and especially not those who are wicked like you. We're not evil demons and I'm sick of being treated as such."
"Crap. Big red is a problem. Hopefully they'll come in-" Suddenly as Rias is about to attack a portal in the roof opens up. The priest laughs hysterically as everyone backs up from the purple void. "Oh they're here. I hope you enjoy light spears!" Issei looks at the "holy man" with anger as Rias starts to tug at his clothes. "Issei, at this point we need to just go, this will cause a lot of problems!" Issei shakes his head. "No, not until I get what I came for!" Rias's eyes grow narrow. "Issei no this is more than about you!" Koneko throws a desk at the priest, sending him into the ground knocked out. She then goes to grab Issei as they all head to the jump portal. "Koneko put me down! HEY WHAT THE?!" Issei roars. "Sorry, no can do" Koneko says. "HEY NO DO WHAT I SAY!" Rias yelled back. "I'm sorry Issei but she can't come with us. My portal won't work like that." Issei starts to get bitter and foam at the mouth internally. "KONEKO PUT ME DOWN DAMMIT!" He roars. "I'm the master so I give the orders!" Rias barks back. "THEN GO WITHOUT ME! I HAVE TO SAVE HER!"
"No you don't! You're just a pawn for her and God!"
Issei begins to grow enraged on the inside. "SHUT UP! I'M NOT A PAWN OR SOME WHITE KNIGHT! I CAN DO THIS!" Everyone looks at Issei confused at who he was yelling at. Asia gives Issei an okay look as fallen angels begin to walk through the portal. Issei reaches his hand out as he watches Asia fade. The portal takes him and the others back to the safety of their clubhouse. As they all appear in the living room Issei falls out of Koneko's arms, he runs out and goes to punch the wall, thinking it was that priest. "DAMMIT NO!!!!!!" He looks around with his crazed eyes as his knuckles pop. He then turns to his friends as his wounds leak blood all over the floor.
"What the?" Issei asks. "Issei. Just listen." Rias says calmly. "WHEN I TELL YOU TO DO SOMETHING JUST DO IT!" Akeno, Koneko, and Yuuto look at Issei now with a serious look. "I'm the master here Issei. You have it backwards. Technically you're the last person to give orders."
You're a pawn.
Those three words echo throughout Issei's head. "I'M NOT YOUR PAWN! I'M NO ONE'S PAWN OR SHEEP! You all let them take her! COWARDS!" Rias folds her arms. "Issei. I mean it as a rank. No one here is trying to manipulate you. If anything, you're the one who's been getting things out of us. Especially some of the female members of the club." She looks at them bitterly, they don't return the glance as they remember cuddling in Issei's arms and lap. The shame burns them as they stand where they stood.
"What? Yeah but that's their choice." Rias sighs. "Why are you so resistant to us?" Issei bites his lip. "We coulda saved her!" Issei says as tears begin to emerge from his eyes. "When we have a plan we'll go back. But you just wanted answers from Raynare, even though you've been given them. You need to think about the rest of us and not just yourself." Issei gets up from the floor. "What if it's too late and she's already dead you saw what was happening to her! This was about Asia too!" Rias marches towards Issei.
"Even if that was the case, what good would it do if we were dead? We weren't prepared to go into that battle." Issei swings his hand and slaps Rias across her face. "Screw you! We're strong enough! You sent me there to take them on first like a scout! Don't play dumb I know you did! "It's hopeless. I don't know how else to get it through to you that we're not using you" Rias says rather defeated.
"How the Hell can I trust you when I never could trust anyone else. Literally, every person I've talked to has. Those girls that wanted me to help them with their missing friend, that's only because they know I'm not exactly like Matsuda and Motohama, they wanted my clout! And that was when my name was finally not associated with those two! What about those two I'd be nice to them and hang out, but in return they'd always find some way to pin their stupid schemes onto me! Dragging me down with them so they have one more in the losers club!" Rias's jaw almost drops. "How could he talk about them like that?" She asked herself.
"Don't even get me started with what they did before. Always the nice guy until they feel like picking on me. I'd always fall for it, "Hey I don't think you're weird can you do my homework"! Then the next day it's "Ha look I did it!" Over and over! AND THEN THE ONE PERSON I CARED ABOUT! THE ONE GIRL I THOUGHT I HAD! THE ONLY ONE I NEEDED ENDS UP BEING SOME DEVIL!" Issei then feels his eyes water up as his face gets red. His hands tense as he clutches them. "That hurts the most, because she meant the most to me than anyone else in this world." He then looks at the four and finds his power being activated. "Not a single person I've met has ever been real with me. Everyone is all nice until you open up. And then they drag you down. Everyone in my life is just taking advantage of my kindness." He then finds himself starting to cool down. "I give up. I'm not meant for this place. I don't even know why I bother, because in the end Asia might just be the same as everyone else. She'll see who I really am and just cherry pick my attributes. Issei starts to walk away, however as he goes to open the door it locks itself.
"Issei" Rias says as she walks over to him and wraps her arms around him. "I don't know how to get you to trust me. But all I can do is my best. We still just met so, please give us a chance."
Give me a chance.
She looks at him as tears start to collect in her eyes. Issei then puts his hand on her shoulders and pushes her away, holding her so she won't fall down and hit herself. "I'm not someone who you should invest your heart in. I'm broken right now, and I need answers before I die. This life of mine won't be so long" He then lets go as he looks at everyone. The door unlocks and Issei goes to open it to leave. As he walks out Keneko jumps up and hugs him like a cat from behind. Trying to stop him from leaving. "What the?!" Issei asks. "Don't go" Koneko says in a cute child-like manner.
"Issei please. We know this is all hard but you have so much potential. Please Issei I want you too! I know this is selfish but I-" she stops as she twiddles with her thumbs, blushing like a school girl under a yamazakura confessing to her crush. "I'm sorry Rias. But I like him too!" Everyone looks at her shocked, even Issei himself found this revelation to be a twist. "Even after all we've done. Did you think that us making out was really love?" The exchange of words hurt Rias as they entered her ears. "Issei I-" Akeno says, stuttering. He then opens the door all the way. But before he leaves he turns around with his eyes faintly glowing. He then smiles like a devil as he turns his head. "Hey, brighten up. When I rule this world, you all can stay in my castle. Even you Yuuto, not as a member of my Harem though that's kinda gay" Issei said rather patronizingly. "What?" Yuuto asks. "I know why I'm so miserable now"
I never got to do what I wanted.
Issei says as he loathes over himself. "You think I want a wife now? That's hilarious. What happened to that request when I was in love with Raynare? That's insane and stupid!" His words cut Rias like a knife. "People have always treated me like some weirdo pervo. So that's what they'll get! I want what those terrorists want, or what Popes in the middle ages have, a nasty empire and a room full of virgins." Rias feels her heart crack as she watches him degrade into a devil.
Issei: Yeah that's it. That'll fix everything. No more waiting to be blessed by someone who never wanted that for me anyways. The time for action is now."
"Issei, is that what you really want or what you think you want?" Rias asks as she leaves the question with a rather open ended tone. "He he, what do you mean?" Issei asks in a rather friendly tone. "I think I know what you mean. Whatever is manipulating us is also inside of you." Issei feels his body shake with anger. "Are you calling me a pawn?" Issei asks, demanding for clarification as his mind struggles to understand. "You're being treated like one!" Rias shouts back.
"Hit her!" A voice inside Issei's head yells.
"No! And you listen here Rias. Everyone who says that is also a suspect for being the manipulator! I'm not stupid! I don't know who to trust anymore!" Rias along with the rest of her household looks at Issei confused as the boy starts to rub his head with confusion. "Issei. What's talking to you?" Rias asks as Issei's eyes suddenly glow red. He widens them, scared of what he hears. "What? How does she know that?" He thought to himself.
"I'll fulfill every last hateful, sinful, lustful desire of yours. You can rule this universe like a god. No, like God. Just hit her! Do it again! They're nothing! You'll be nothing without me!" Issei suddenly begins to have a revelation. "Okay now you're sounding like them! You're one of them!" Issei thought to himself. Issei grabs his head like it's hurting from a migraine. "GET OUT! EVERYONE JUST LEAVE!" Rias sighs as she crosses her arms and begins to activate her powers. "Everyone take note. I think we have ourselves something that'll break the world we live in as we know it" Rias says to the others, her eyes closed as the sudden series of events don't phase her. "Right, what shall we do?" Akeno asks. "For now I'll handle him. Then we'll talk about it afterwards. For now just clear your heads and take a couple hours to relax." Akeno nods her head, "understood" she says. Koneko and Yuuto join Akeno as they walk into the other room.
"Something tells me everything he's been saying was right. The only question left is can we handle the full truth?" Rias walks over to Issei and holds his hand as they walk into the bathroom. As the two undress she wraps herself around him, healing him as his heart and gut wound start to tingle, like ASMR. Then his leg wound starts to mend as if nothing was there. "It's okay Issei. I'm here. You're not alone anymore." She strokes his hair as Issei starts to loosen up. She then continues to take it slow as she goes to peck his neck. "Whatever's been hurting you, I won't let it control you." Issei feels his eyes begin to water up. "Rias?" Issei asked. "Yeah?" Rias said, responding. "Do you believe me now?" Rias nods. "I think your words have more merit now" Rias says as her soothing voice gives Issei tingles. "So this is how you healed me when you first found me?" Issei asks. "Like it?" Rias asked with a smile on her face. Her eyes suddenly lightened up. "I'm not some heartless pervo you know." Rias sighs as she holds Issei close to her chest. "Yeah I know."
She ruffles his hair a little. "That's what makes you so attractive to me." Rias then sheds a tear. "In this moment though, I wish you were just for a second." She then pecks him on the cheek. Issei is too burned out to resist anymore and gives into his cardinal desires a little. "I just wished that Raynare really did care about me." Issei says. "Tell me, you said she went out with others before you?" Rias asked. Issei nods his head in response. "How many others?" Rias asks. This gets Issei to chuckle a little. "Oh I couldn't count on both hands."
"Interesting. You think that's not already a red flag?" Rias asks. "Should a girl not treat her own body with much more respect than that?" Issei sighs. "Whatever. If you're right I wanna hear it from her." Rias looks into Issei's earthy brown eyes. "You know I'm right. But if this helps you move on…" She leans into him, giving him a warm hug. "Then I'll fully support you. But on my terms." Issei nods. "Fine." With that Rias lets go of Issei. Their bodies release the heat their skin trapped, cooling them off. "Alright all done." Rias says. Issei gets out of the shower and dries off as Rias watches him. He turns around back at Rias and smiles. "Thanks, really" Rias just nods, she doesn't smile, knowing things are still off as Issei walks out. "Huh, so she's working with that man. Or more like enslaved by him. Well it won't matter once we're done." Issei's eyes glint as he holds his gauntlet up.
"I'll start there" Issei thought. "My first claim to some territory" Issei takes his bag and walks out with a gym bag on. Yuuto, Akeno, and Koneko all watch as he goes for his bike. "Issei where are you going?" Akeno asks. She stands behind him rather oddly still. Issei looks back at her as he wraps a headband around his head. "Just going to the gym" he says before he starts to ride off. Rias shows up and everyone looks at her. "He has a lot of work to do. We can help him a little bit, but ultimately all we can do is drive that thing out of him. Whatever he chooses on his own free will after that, is all him." Rias then gives Akeno a rather dirty look. "Rias-" Rias cuts her off. "No. It's fine. I'm going to my room." Akeno sighs. "Are you sure?" she asks. "Don't worry about anything. It's your choice to make at the end of the day. I can't change that."
Later at the gym
Issei lifted waits as his muscles tensed up. He got a couple stares from the locals as they noticed his sweaty abs, some even from classmates as he left the gym who just happened to be out on a walk. He wipes his face of sweat as he starts to go on his job.
Oh, it's Issei.
He looks to see some girls waving. He puts on a fake smile and waves back before trotting off. Fake, that's the girl I was talking about. "Oh look I got this loser to do my homework for a date"! Psh I never said I wanted to take you out! I thought you needed help!" Issei thought as he let his rage carry him while he ran across the street. A car honks at him as he bolts down the hill of his road and runs to the playground. He envisions Raynare with a couple other fallen ones with that priest hurting Asia.
"Oh no you don't!" Issei thought as he kept rushing towards them in his mind, barreling towards the playground when suddenly he stopped. He skids on the ground and sees Asia standing there. It wasn't just his head. "Asia?" Issei asks. "Hey Issei" Asia says with a smile. She wore her nun outfit as she stood in front of him. "You're alright" He smiles as he looks at her with kind and gentle eyes.
Chomp!
Issei takes a bite out of his burger as he watches Asia take small bites, or rather nibbles out of hers. He watched her give grace and break it like she was at the last supper, before eating it. "It's yummy!" she exclaims. "So, what made you come out to the park?" Asia takes a moment to answer the question. "Oh, well uh…." She hesitates at first, before giving her answer. "I just wanted to enjoy the nice weather. But then afterwards I saw you so I stuck around even longer." Issei feels his nerves calm down. He looks around for anyone resembling Raynare or any other fallen angel goons. Once he feels safe he speaks up. "Oh I see. Well you know what, we should just hang out today." Asia's eyes widen. "What?" She asks. "Just you and me. We'll have a good time, don't worry." Asia looks around the same way Issei does for a minute, before finally relaxing. "Sure" she says with a gentle smile.
That whole day Asia and Issei did nothing but spent the day in arcades and restaurants. It was like a date, but without the pressure of impressing her. After a day's worth of fun the two went out and bought some soda from a vending machine. "Wow, I can't remember the last time I've had this much fun!" Asia yells. Issei takes a moment and pauses before asking her a question, addressing the elephant in the room. "Yeah. Hey wait a second, how did you get away?" Issei asks. "Oh. Well the angels who my master serves, he was uh."
Asia reflects back to the series of events that spiraled out of control as she recounts them to Issei. She watches from the ground as Raynare grabs the priest by the neck and slams him against the wall. "Enough of that you understand!" Raynare yelled. "Yes! Of course!" the priest yelled. Raynare then drops him as Dohnaseek and Karlawaner grab her and take her with them through the portal. However, Asia at that moment bites Raynare's hand. Raynare throws her to the ground as Asia runs away, not looking back as the four fallen angels glare at her.
"Oh I get it now" Issei says as Asia finishes telling her tale. Issei clenches his hands as he looks away from Asia. "Issei?" Asia asked. "I just. I need to get to Raynare. I need to end this" Issei says.
"Can you help me?"
Issei asks as he glares into Asia's green eyes. "Well. Yeah but…." She backs away timid, holding the stuffed animal Issei got her. "Hey, can I ask you a question?" Asia asks. Issei nods his head as the two sit down in a park as children play and birds sing their spring songs. "Has the will of others ever, well, ever been hard for you?" Issei nods his head a little. "Will of others? Like God?" Issei asks. Asia nods. "Well to be honest it's whether it's hard or not. It's just a question of how quickly can you accept it so that whatever lies ahead can come quicker. Life is like a friend, you take the good with the bad. So in a way you're gonna have to accept whatever is coming your way if you want the good stuff too." Asia gives Issei a faint smile. "Yeah. I get it now. Thanks Issei."
Issei notices the tone of her voice sadden. But as he tries to comfort her his arm aches once more. "Issei! You alright?" Asia asks. "Yeah, my wounds still ache." Issei says. "Here" Asia says as she holds her hands out and heals him. "Woah, this feels so good. Thanks Asia." Issei says. She gets up and winds his arms around. "It's as good as new! Thanks Asia!" Asia bows a little. "Well of course. You're my friend Issei." He looks into her green eyes as the wind blows her blond hair. The two just stare at each other as they feel life pass by them. People just live their lives as they deal with theirs. The world was slowing down with each second they just looked at each other. "Yeah, you're also my friend Asia. A really good one." Issei then pats her head. "It's nice to see you with everything that's been going on. There's something huge going on, and I think we're the pioneers about to explore it." Asia nods.
"I see" she says as the two sit back down in silence. "So, I never asked where you were from? Like parent wise or are you with them?" Issei asks. "Oh right. I was left by my real parents and raised by a church. The nuns were all led by a kind old priest."
Everyone got along well. One day I found a puppy in the church who was hurt. So I prayed to God to spare it and he gave me this. I was blessed to have such divine healing. From then on I devoted my life to him. However he forbids me to become a fully fledged nun." Issei looks at Asia confused. "Oh? Why is that?" Issei asked. "He said that one day I'll want to settle down. Settle with someone who will take care of me. Someone I can go on adventures with and enjoy the rest of my life, an imperfectly perfect family centered around him. I doubt it at the moment but he's God and well I'm just little old me. I just don't see how my mind could make such a change" Issei nods. "Oh, that's interesting," he comments. "But until then I choose to use this singleness and freedom to serve him to the best of my ability." Issei chuckles. "You're the exact opposite of me." Issei comments. "Oh?" Asia asks.
"I was raised protestant, meaning no nuns or priest, just an old baptist church. Honestly my only relationship with God was just me moaning and groaning about stuff. I hope they're alright though, well they are but this new life is very weird. I feel like I go weeks without them and sometimes I think I've left them. I feel far from everyone." Issei says with a sigh. "You're not actually devils, are you? There's no way." Asia says. She holds Issei's hand and looks into her eyes. She looks back with puppy eyes as she feels sadness build up in her heart. "Did you leave God?" She asks. "Well no. It's complicated." Issei says as he looks away from Asia. "Can I tell her. She's a nun. I know you said not to but she-" Issei's thoughts are interpreted by a voice. "She'll know in time." Issei lets that echo inside his mind.
"Even when I'm the perverted villain, who wants nothing more than an empire and a room full of babes, you're still here." Issei thought. He feels the son of man's smile, like a butterfly's wing tickling his cheek. "I'm sorry. I'm still selfish, and I don't feel sorry for what I did. I'm just apologizing for not apologizing I guess." Issei thought as he then looked at Asia and got up. "It's complicated. Just have faith." Issei chuckles as Asia accepts his answer. She gets up with him and the two walk down the park. "So Issei, tell me what's going on? How can you be a devil and talk like that?" Asia asks. "Like what?" Issei asks back. "Like God? About God? Are you some kinda undercover angel?" Asia insisted.
"Even if I was, that would be such a waste of time and effort. You're telling me that with all that power we're just gonna play hide and seek instead of doing actual warfare? We're stronger than them. This isn't about crushing the enemy, but rescuing the hostages they have. The human race." Asia giggles at Issei's comment. "I'm only kidding. I'm just asking what you are really? I understand the situation." Issei sighs. "To be honest I don't know."
"Who would at this age?" Asia asked. "You asked. But if I may say I feel used." Issei says. "Oh?" Asia asks for clarification. "Can I vent?" "Sure." Issei looks down at the ground. "I feel like everyone I've ever met uses me at some point. Like food I'm the wrapper. My kindness is whatever people want and then I'm thrown away." Asia smiles. "Good, then I'm not the only one." Issei is taken back by Asia's response. "I actually kinda feel the same." Issei looks at her. "What do you mean?"
"My healing has always been treated as just some tool for others to use when in reality it's a blessing for God used to glorify him. Yet I've always just been some healer to most. In fact it's gotten to the point when I healed a fallen one I was casted out of the church." Issei looked at Asia with a feeling of disgust for the fallen ones. "A fallen one?" He asked. "Yes. Jesus said to love your enemies. And so I healed him. Even though he betrayed God he wasn't the devil. But that cost me my place in the church. They called me a witch and a heretic, and I had to run."
"So you joined the Fallen One's?" Issei asks. "Yes, since they protect me from those hunters, but I say my prayers every night and often fast for The Lord. It's still horrible though. This must be a test of faith. I know something good will come out of this in the end. Like Job." Issei looks at Asia confused. "Job?" Asia chuckles. "Right, not everyone reads the whole Bible. It is a big book." Issei chuckles. "Well you're a nun. You should know it a little better than us. It's good you do." Asia moves some hair from her face. "Haha, well anyways. I think this is horrible. Those Fallen Angels do evil things in the name of God, and then wonder why they can't go back to Heaven. In fact they have a whole clan of Priests, false prophets, nuns, anyone who was in the church and is corrupt, acting like mercenaries. They fight Satanists, devils and anyone or thing affiliated with Satan. Their methods are evil. People are people and everyone deserves to live a life before being judged by God. No one has authority other anything except for him." Issei is once again taken back. "A whole clan?" he asks perplexed.
"Yes. They're responsible for the church's downfall as well. Human corruption. It's always been around but now the demons don't even have to do it themselves there's a whole nother faction of devils acting on their part."
"Manipulated like pawns!" Issei yelled.
"Exactly. It's a war Issei. And it's across everything God has made, even outside this universe and into other ones." Issei looks at Asia as his heart starts to increase pace. "Other ones?"
"I was told by God himself that I would meet someone who knew a secret, and I would know one they didn't and we'd one day exchange them. I was to go first and then wait for you to tell me yours at the right time."
"Secret? What is it?"
"Well…."
She looks at Issei as her eyes focus on him.
"The Multiverse is wrapping up. We're in the end days."
To be Continued.......