"Nngh—Arghh!"
The pain slammed into him all at once, radiating through every joint like fire laced through his bones.
His eyes flew open in panic. He twisted his head left, then right, still in pain, so.
Where… was this?
A high-class bedroom. Spacious. Quiet. A bed so soft it felt like it might swallow him whole.
Under different circumstances, he might've enjoyed it.
But not with pain crackling down every limb like lightning.
"Ahhh—"
He tried to speak, but his throat burned raw. It was dry, every breath like scraping sandpaper across glass.
Still, even with the haze of agony clouding his brain, fragments of memory returned.
He remembered himself, or rather, the other him, crushing Riser with ease, like he was nothing, and oddly, he felt happy about the fact that Rias was saved.
Still, how did his body enter this state?
They shared the same body; shouldn't that guy feel it too when he was fighting?
Did that mean he was fighting despite the injuries?
He couldn't say it doesn't matter, since now he seemed to be the one taking the brunt of it.
"Sh… argh…!"
A hiss escaped through clenched teeth.
Even the smallest shift on the bed lit nerves on fire. And then…
CREAK~
The door creaked open slowly, letting a soft glow spill in from the hallway beyond. Silhouettes stepped into the room.
"Oh my~ looks like he's awake."
That playful, teasing voice, it could only belong to one person. Akeno.
She wasn't alone though, she was followed by two others, Koneko, and one other, one he'd seen before, the one who introduced Riser to the ORC, Grayfia.
"A—Ak—!"
He tried to form her name, but the sound broke in his throat like a snapped wire.
"Shhh. Don't strain yourself."
Akeno stepped closer, her voice syrupy-soft, a finger raised to her lips.
"Your nerves were nearly destroyed. Even Phoenix Tears were barely enough."
Though she spoke in her usual sultry tone, the concern in her eyes betrayed her. She wasn't here just to tease.
She had questions. So did Grayfia.
And though nothing was said aloud, it was obvious that was why Grayfia had come.
But…
"It seems he's not yet in a condition to speak," Grayfia said, turning her eyes toward Akeno.
Akeno nodded subtly.
"I know you're curious about what happened after… but right now, what you need is rest."
Akeno's voice was gentle as she dipped a cloth into a warm basin, wrung it out carefully, and placed it over his forehead.
She leaned in as she did so, her knees pressing into the edge of the mattress, causing her chest to sway forward, squarely in his line of sight.
Despite the lingering pain, his expression shifted from agonized to unmistakably lecherous.
Naturally, he paid no mind to the other two in the room.
"Pervert."
Koneko muttered flatly, eyes half-lidded.
Grayfia, without even turning her head, gave a small nod in agreement.
Still, even their judgment didn't seem to register, not until—
"ARGHHHH—!"
A fresh spike of pain burst through him, not from his body, but from somewhere deeper. His soul felt like it was being torn open.
"Oh my, Issei…"
"Ngh…!"
Both Akeno and Grayfia immediately placed their hands above his body to heal him.
Of course, they weren't aware it was a physical pain, but a spiritual one.
However, from his prone position, he couldn't help noticing the view their hovering forms presented.
He swallowed hard, and unfortunately, the more impure his thoughts became, the stronger the pain surged through his soul.
"ARGHH—Nghh—Damn it!"
What was this? Some kind of divine punishment?
With a herculean effort, he forced himself to rein it in, calming his thoughts, banishing the lewd images flooding his mind.
Slowly, the pain subsided.
"…Seems like there's still damage lingering inside."
Akeno said that in concern, looking over Grayfia for some answers.
Naturally, it was just a guess for the maid, but how to put it… right… if she were to put it in words.
"It would be that technique. That black beam of light that swallowed everything."
"Perhaps its power was greater than what 'his' body could take; that is why this one is left in this state."
Akeno, still healing him, looked at Grayfia, who shook her head slowly.
On the other hand, Issei's lips couldn't help but twitch; for some reason, he felt Grayfia had disregarded him entirely.
And truly, she did.
What was more interesting than the Red Dragon Emperor who became a devil, serving under her family?
That would be the other Issei, and that overwhelming power he released with the use of a low-class devil's body.
That wasn't like anything she'd seen.
For someone like her, who had fought her fair share of wars, that admission wasn't casual.
No, everyone who had seen that battle, especially Rias, Asia, and even Yubelluna, felt the same.
The black streak of light that extended to the horizon of the mini dimension and even destroyed it…
Certainly, they'd also heard reports from witnesses there, mainly Yubelluna, Rias, and Asia, that Issei wasn't acting like himself.
They'd speculated it must have been the Red Dragon Emperor, but Rias denied it.
But what was more pressing than what was going on with Issei was….
Riser Phenex,
He was now in critical condition.
The male from the family believed to be functionally immortal had been brought to the brink of death.
From what the Sitri's could analyze, his regeneration powers were now significantly weaker.
Not to mention, his cells were also weaker than they should normally be.
They had tried using multiple Phoenix tears, injecting them directly or pouring them on him.
Still, nothing worked.
Currently housed in the Sitri's VIP Medical Ward, he lay within a glass-walled, sterilized chamber.
Several life support machines, two of which boasted the best medical technology of the underworld.
Tubes ran into both arms, injecting an orange-like liquid into Riser, who looked to be in agony while sleeping on the bed.
Outside, near the glass were three figures: Sirzechs, Rias, and Serafall.
"Yikes… Riser-chan looks really bad," Serafall muttered, leaning closer to the glass.
"At this rate, he might not make it…"
Sirzechs let out a long breath, one of unmistakable worry. Certainly, he too wouldn't have expected this outcome.
Not in the slightest.
"If that happens, won't things go sour between the Gremory and the Phenex families?"
Serafall asked, tilting her head slightly, her usual playful tone gone, replaced by worry also.
Sirzechs closed his eyes briefly, rubbing his temples.
"Haah… please don't remind me."
This had all started as a way to give his sister a chance to choose her own path.
Now it might end with the political fallout of near-assassination.
Even now, Rias stood beside him, lost in her thoughts.
"Lord and Lady Phenex were already furious when Riser was rushed here."
Serafall continued. "Now that his regeneration's failing, they're beyond pissed."
More problems. More fires to put out.
Sirzechs sighed internally.
Even if Riser had always been something of a disappointment within the Phenex lineage—a tool of convenience for political unions between noble houses—his status still mattered.
And now, whatever had happened during that battle had left the Gremory family in a dangerously precarious position.
If Riser died, it wouldn't just be tragic; things could potentially spiral toward catastrophe..
No, perhaps the Phenex family wouldn't demand full-scale reparations, but diplomatic ties would strain, possibly break.
Rumors would spread.
Naturally, other noble lineages would also point fingers at the Gremory house, on their Heir who was incompetent to solve her own problems.
And Sirzechs, the mighty Lucifer, now found himself hoping, of all things, that Riser didn't die.
"Still, what's with that boy?"
Immediately Serafall looped back to the matter, chills immediately ran down Rias's spine.
"He's being treated at the Gremory estate. Ajuka is currently investigating whatever happened back there."
Sirzechs replied.
"Then why not have Ajuka study Riser-chan too? Whatever hit him… he might learn something from both."
Sirzechs raised an eyebrow thoughtfully, hearing Serafall's words.
"You'll allow that? "
"Sure, this is a dire situation, no? It'll be better to know what's happening instead."
"I owe you one. Thanks."
Hearing his thanks, she gave a brief nod and turned, high heels clicking softly as she walked away down the quiet hall.
That left just the siblings, Sirzechs and Rias, standing in silence beside the glass.
Safe to say…
It wasn't only the Phenex family that this concerned; the Gremory family was concerned, like really concerned, about the aftermath.
If worse comes to pass, she might have to step down from being next in line in case of a fallout.
Rias… knew that.
"Rias. Don't worry, everything will be okay. Brother will do his best for you."
Sirzechs took a step closer to his sister, resting her hand on his head.
Meanwhile, the already falling Heiress was conflicted. At first, she thought everything would be smooth sailing should things work out.
Now, it wasn't so…
And Issei, or rather, the other Issei … she was beginning to get curious.
"Brother…"
"Yes, I know, don't worry."
Sometime later, location: back at the Gremory estate.
Dead in the night, however, at this point, inside a particular chamber where Issei was.
It's only been a while since everything that happened , and slowly, Issei was recovering.
However, this came at a couple of costs.
For some reason, one he could neither explain nor reverse, he could no longer summon the same primal lust he once had toward women.
And whenever he tried to indulge in it… agony.
Unprovoked, sudden, blinding pain would lash out at him from nowhere, like some punishment etched deep into his soul.
And it was at that moment—
『Alright.』
His eyes snapped open, glowing dimly in the dark, twin orbs of ominous red.
He pushed himself upright, scanning the room in silence.
A slow breath, then a small nod.
Sliding to the edge of the bed, he lowered his legs, slipping his feet into the slippers resting neatly beside the frame.
He stood.
『Say… where are the dragon lands in the Underworld?』
He asked no one in particular, but he looked at his left arm, where Ddraig should be residing.
Certainly, the dragon wasn't active either.
『Matters not, either way, it works well for me.』
He floated, his body lifting gently off the ground as pitch-black ink bled out of nothing.
It surrounded him with the faint twinkle of white light.
Without another word, he drifted out the window and into the night sky, then shot forward.
A black streak across the sky above Gremory territory.
He had no destination in particular.
No, he did.
As part of the binding vow he'd made with Issei, he'd included a number of things.
It wasn't until after he swapped with Issei back then that he placed his restrictions fully on him.
Of course, it was fun.
Watching Issei try to indulge in his usual fantasies, only to get stabbed by backlash from deep within his soul, pure, vicious reverse pain.
Every time he so much as tried to picture a woman's curves, or coax a reaction from his lower half, it remained obstinately still.
Stubbornly normal.
Like a switch had been flipped, and pleasure had been exchanged for torment.
Poetic petty justice, in his opinion.
But for him, the one now piloting Issei's body, this was never about petty retribution.
He had one goal.
To get out of this body.
Though as far as he knew, a homunculus was probably one of the best methods, but efficiency-wise, he wasn't sure.
Not to mention, what he wanted the unification of consciousness and matter—a demi-spiritual existence.
The perfect vessel. Neither soul nor solely body, but a synthesis of both.
Yes, he was only a consciousness currently… hence he needed a body.
He needed multiple ingredients to create a perfect body:
Human body, dragon heart, dragon blood.
But then, it's not every day you see a fresh human body and dragon to use for experiments.
『Well, it's also not as easy as mixing them into a blender. At the same time, currently, I have no way to store them…』
This was one of the downsides to being unable to learn any other magical abilities.
However, at the same time,
『It's as easy as this…』
Demonic Power…
The ability to create spells based on imagination, and thanks to Star Magic which he developed.
With a swipe through the air, a small starry curtain was opened through space.
Inventory.
A spell which was just invented now with the help of Demonic Power and Star Magic which he got from Ddraig.
『In the first place, I thank the sacred gear system.』
So when Issei longed for more power, it wasn't just Issei who gained it.
Part of Ddraig's draconic power had been siphoned off to him who longed the same for longer than Issei.
With pitch-black, he wished to light which now became this…
Now, combining it with Demonic Power using Issei's body.
『Ware Saikyou!』
He felt the urge to shout that, but then he glanced down.
Right… still floating above the Gremory estate, in borrowed pajamas, no less.
With a pause, followed by a cough, the other Issei(?) soon continued his flight to the beyond.
Fortunately for him…
A place called Dragon Mountain existed not far away from here, and Not-Issei could easily sense it.
With his speed, he reached there in no less than five minutes.
Like its name, it looked like several rock formations towering high.
In those rock formations were huge open gaps that each led to a cave.
Landing on one of the windy mountains, Not-Issei's feet tapped the ground as the cold breeze blew against his body.
His nightwear flapped against the wind as he took a step forward, his unfocused gaze scanning around.
『Well… dragon slaying is not the problem… but the very strong Dragon there…』
Tannin.
Ultimate Class.
While he could try fighting the dragon, the aftermath, however, will be catastrophic; moreso, he'll be hunted down.
As much as he'd love to make Issei despair by branding him a dragon-killer, this currently wasn't the way.
『Haah…』
『Not to mention, if I kill a dragon with this body, would it be me that would be branded as a dragon killer, or would it be this one….』
And then, he also had to procure a fresh body…. Wait—homunculi do exist in this world, don't they?
『Fre… Fre… Freddy? No. That's not it…』
He clicked his tongue.
『Tch. No matter. The point stands.』
On second thought, maybe that too might not work, as he has no means of getting a homunculi.
Surely, it wasn't as easy as ordering one online.
『That would be a ridiculous situation in itself.』
Regardless, he had achieved one goal for tonight. Crouching down, he planted his palm on the ground.
A glyph appeared on the ground, forming a radiant, geometric starlit sigil, with faint cosmic light.
It etched itself into the ground there before fading completely.
Finishing that, he looked off into the distance at the highest peak of the mountain.
『Dragon Slaying can wait. This body… is still too weak. The recoil of Star Power alone would tear it apart.』
Then, narrowing his eyes, he extended one hand outward, forming a lazy finger gun, pointing toward the peak.
『Still… who knows. I might just come for you by then, Ultimate-Class.』
By the time he'd return, it would be when he'd gathered a suitable body for himself.
What he had to do next was to transplant the heart and bathe the body with the blood of the slain dragon.
Dragon-slaying properties to star power.
An interesting situation, no? Hence, he looked forward to it. By then, he didn't care what might happen to Issei.
『I've robbed the red dragon of its [Pentration] ability, as for the [Domination], I suppose I can leave him with only that.』
Clenching and unclenching his fist, he turned his back to the dragon mountain and flew off.
Binding vow…
A technique which more or less destroyed Issei's soul from within, so he could take control himself.
Naturally, he didn't want Issei's full body for himself. That was like the highest level of dickriding.
At the same time… that wasn't fully it.
Maybe payback?
Probably. But regardless. Unless Issei really was asleep, he couldn't take over.
The first light he passed into Issei contained a piece of his energy.
Penetration was robbed to also make that piece of energy weaken his soul;
hence, by the time he falls asleep exhausted, it wouldn't be until his soul had recovered that he'd wake up.
Naturally, he wasn't a demon.
So, the pain he induced on him wasn't a lot, but significant enough to make him weak to take control when he did.
When he becomes weak, he takes over. Of course, the energy will still be there, in case.
But when his goal is complete, he wouldn't bother the male unless he's bothered.