Akuro was walking toward school after finishing his fight against his clones, admiring the scenery as it was a beautiful morning.
**Akuro**: Man, this is why I sometimes choose to walk instead of teleporting straight to school. *He said, still taking in the view.*
Suddenly, he felt a slap on his back. Turning around, he saw Issei, who was also heading to school and decided to greet him.
**Issei**: Yo, good morning! *He said, laughing.*
**Akuro**: Hey, good morning. You seem pretty cheerful. *He said with a smile, noticing Issei's energy.*
**Issei**: You think so? *He said, still grinning, giving Akuro a few more pats on the back.*
**Akuro**: Yeah, probably because you went to the bathroom this morning and accidentally saw Asia changing. *He said, starting to walk again.*
After hearing Akuro's words, Issei froze momentarily before catching up.
**Issei**: N-No idea what you're talking about. *He said, looking away and sweating comically.*
**Akuro (Thinking)**: *You're so obvious.* *He thought, noting Issei's terrible lying skills.*
**Issei**: A-Anyway, mind if we walk to school together? *He asked, recomposing himself and changing the subject.*
**Akuro**: No problem. *He said with his usual smile.*
**Issei**: Awesome, let's go! *He said, cheerful again.*
**Akuro**: By the way, why didn't you come with Asia? *He asked, finding it odd she wasn't with him.*
**Issei**: Oh, she left earlier because some friends invited her to do something. I didn't want to be rude and ask what.
**Akuro**: Got it. It's good to see Asia living the life a girl her age should, considering everything she's been through.*
**Issei**: Yeah.*
The two headed to school, chatting along the way. At the school gate, they met Rias and Akeno, who had just arrived. Akuro and Issei greeted them, and the four entered the school together. Other students, seeing them, were awestruck and blushing—male and female alike—staring at Akuro, Rias, and Akeno. As for Issei…
**Girl 1**: Huh? What's that gross pervert doing with them? *She said, glaring at Issei with disgust.*
**Girl 2**: Just because he's in the Occult Research Club, he thinks he's worthy of walking with Rias, Akeno-oneesama, and Akuro-sama?*
As the four walked toward the school building, Issei overheard the comments, and a vein popped on his forehead.
**Girl 3**: They're probably letting him tag along out of pity. *She said without remorse.*
Two more veins popped on Issei's forehead, reaching his limit.
**Issei**: Hey, you…
Akuro, seeing this, intervened before Issei could further tarnish his reputation. He touched Issei's shoulder.
**Akuro**: Ignore them, let's go. *He said, pulling Issei along.*
**Girl 1**: Look how kind Akuro-sama is, taking pity on scum like that.*
Issei's eyes blazed with rage, struggling to break free from Akuro to confront the girls, but Akuro held him back.
**Akuro**: Stop messing around, or we'll be late for class. *He said, still pulling Issei, who was fighting to get loose.*
**Issei**: I don't care! I'm gonna teach those stuck-up girls a lesson! *He said, still trying to break free.*
Akuro sighed. Rias and Akeno found the situation amusing.
After Akuro knocked Issei out briefly—causing Rias and Akeno to sweat comically at the sight, as Issei refused to go to class until he confronted the girls—they were in class, nearing break time.
**Akuro (Thinking)**: *Huh? That presence… I didn't expect them so soon.* *He thought, sensing something was about to happen.*
The bell rang, signaling break time, and Issei approached Akuro.
**Issei**: Seriously, dude, my head still hurts. *He said, rubbing where Akuro had hit him.*
**Akuro**: It was that or you not coming to class. *He said, justifying the knockout.*
**Issei**: Yeah, but…
**Akeno**: Akuro! *She interrupted Issei.*
**Akuro**: What's up, Akeno?
**Akeno**: The president wants you in her office.
**Akuro**: Something happen?
**Akeno**: I'm only authorized to tell you that.
**Akuro**: Got it. Catch you later, Issei. *He said, heading to the clubroom.*
**Issei**: Later. *He said, going to join Motohama and Matsuda.*
As Akuro passed the classroom door, he noticed Akeno's worried expression.
**Akuro (Thinking)**: *That look and the presence earlier… I've got a good idea what this is about.* *He thought, walking with hands in pockets, carefree, toward the clubroom.*
At the clubroom door, he knocked and waited for permission to enter.
**???**: Come in.
As requested, Akuro entered and wasn't surprised by what he saw, having expected it. Before him was a man seated in Rias's usual chair, with long crimson hair and vibrant blue eyes, dressed in flashy clothing. Beside him was a silver-haired woman with matching eyes, in a maid outfit. On the other side was a girl with crimson hair and blue eyes—Rias Gremory, Sirzechs Lucifer, and Grayfia Lucifuge.
**Rias**: I see you're here.
**Akuro**: Yeah. Mind telling me why one of the Maou, specifically the strongest, the Crimson Satan, is here? *He asked, narrowing his eyes at Sirzechs.*
**Sirzechs**: Haha, seems you're well-informed. *He said with his usual gentle smile.*
**Akuro**: Yeah, but I doubt you're here to talk about that, right? *He said, staring directly at Sirzechs, unfazed and unintimidated, which all three noticed.*
**Sirzechs**: You're quite sharp, as Sona-chan said. I came because I got interested in you after seeing you fight Riser Phenex. *He said, revealing his motives.*
**Akuro**: By "interested," you mean my powers, right? *He asked, narrowing his eyes further, voice serious.*
**Sirzechs**: Exactly.
**Akuro**: Rias, I thought we'd talked about this. *He said, turning to Rias with a cold tone that could unnerve even the bravest.*
**Rias**: W-Well, I told Onii-sama, but he insisted on coming to ask. *She said, nervous from Akuro's tone, almost like he was a different person from the one who saved her a week ago.*
**Akuro**: I see. So, what do you want to know? *He asked bluntly, unconcerned that he was facing a Maou.*
Sirzechs and Grayfia were slightly surprised by Akuro's indifference. Grayfia wasn't fond of his insolence toward Sirzechs but held back to avoid disrupting the conversation.
Rias wasn't focused on how Akuro spoke to her brother; she was hoping he'd reveal something about his powers, curious since seeing them, especially after how he acted with her and Akeno during Asia's rescue. She hoped he'd share now with her brother present.
**Sirzechs**: Let's start with this: are your powers tied to a Sacred Gear?
**Akuro**: Why do you ask?
**Sirzechs**: The powers you've shown don't match any known Sacred Gear. Given your strength, it's likely a Longinus, but none fit the description of what you displayed. We thought it might be a new, unseen Sacred Gear granting diverse powers. *He finished his explanation.*
**Akuro**: Interesting theory, but my powers "aren't from a Sacred Gear." *His words shocked everyone in the room.*
Even Rias, despite Akuro's reluctance to discuss his powers, assumed, like everyone who'd seen them, that he had a Sacred Gear—the only known reason humans could rival supernatural beings. The idea he didn't have one never crossed their minds.
**Rias**: But how?
**Grayfia**: A human fighting like that without a Sacred Gear is impossible. *She said, unable to believe it.*
**Sirzechs**: Impossible. *He said, incredulous.*
**Akuro**: Believe it, my power has nothing to do with that. *He said indifferently.*
**Sirzechs**: That's hard to believe.
**Akuro**: I've got no reason to lie. Believe it or not, up to you. *He said with a disinterested look.*
**Sirzechs**: Then how can a human like you fight like we saw and use those strange powers without a Sacred Gear?
**Akuro**: Same answer I gave Rias: all you need to worry about is not having me as an enemy. *His voice was sharp, eyes challenging and threatening simultaneously.*
Seeing his demeanor, Grayfia couldn't hold back anymore and intervened.
**Grayfia**: Don't be insolent before a Maou! *She said, releasing her demonic aura.*
As the Underworld's strongest queen, her aura oppressed even Rias, a pure-blood high-class demon. But…
**Akuro**: Oh, not bad from the Underworld's strongest queen. *He said, unaffected by the aura.*
**Grayfia**: Huh? *She was shocked that the human showed no weakness before her power.*
**Akuro**: But are you sure you should be using your power like that? You might seriously hurt Rias. *He said, pointing to Rias, who was on her knees, struggling under the demonic aura.*
Realizing this, Grayfia stopped immediately. As the aura dissipated, Rias felt relief and could breathe normally again.
**Rias (Thinking)**: *I thought I was going to die. Onii-sama and Akuro weren't even fazed. I must be the weakest here.* *She acknowledged mentally.*
**Sirzechs**: Grayfia, make sure this doesn't happen again. *He said with a serious face and tone, unlike his usual gentleness.*
**Grayfia**: Yes. *She said, recomposing herself.*
**Sirzechs**: My apologies, she got a bit carried away.
**Akuro**: No problem. I didn't feel a thing. *He said, glancing briefly at Grayfia.*
Grayfia's face twitched, clearly provoked by Akuro's taunt.
**Sirzechs**: Since you won't tell us about your powers, how about a demonstration? *He said, resuming his gentle smile.*
**Akuro**: I don't see a problem. *He said indifferently.*
Akuro placed a clenched fist on the ground, the other hand on his knee, and said…
**Akuro**: GEAR SECOND!!!
Steam rose from his body, and his skin turned reddish, shocking the three.
**Grayfia**: His body…
**Rias**: It's steaming!
**Sirzechs**: "Gear Second"? *He wondered, noting Akuro's words.*
**Akuro**: You wanted a demonstration, right? *He asked rhetorically.*
He stood, lifting his fist from the ground and hand from his knee, smiling at their surprised looks, which confused them further.
Without warning, Akuro charged at Sirzechs with absurd speed. The tables and sofa behind him flew from the force of his jump and Gear Second. It was so fast that neither Rias nor Grayfia could see or react. Sirzechs could see him but wasn't fast enough to respond—the classic case of seeing an enemy's moves but being unable to keep up. Sirzechs only saw Akuro because he allowed it; otherwise, not even his shadow would be visible.
Akuro raised his fist, ready to punch Sirzechs, but stopped millimeters from his face. A weak gust of wind from the punch's force passed Sirzechs. Now that Akuro was still, Rias and Grayfia could see him.
**Grayfia (Thinking)**: *So fast, I couldn't even see him.*
**Akuro**: So, think that's enough of a demonstration? *He asked, staring at Sirzechs.*
**Sirzechs**: I think so. *He said, replacing his shocked expression with his usual smile.*
Akuro withdrew his fist, deactivated Gear Second, returning to normal, and put his hands back in his pockets, walking toward the door.
**Akuro**: I'd better go or I won't eat before break ends. Oh, and sorry about the furniture. *He said, referring to the tables and sofa sent flying.*
He walked out, leaving the three alone.
**Grayfia**: Is it okay to let him go? He just tried to kill you.
**Sirzechs**: No worries. He didn't try to kill me; he just did what I asked—showed his power. From what I can tell, he's the type to keep to himself if left alone. I don't think he'll cause trouble. *He said, explaining why there was no need to worry.*
**Grayfia**: If you say so.
**Sirzechs**: Besides, that kid is incredibly strong. If I fought him, I'd have to be ready to lose at least an arm and a leg. *He said, turning his chair to look at the wall, cracked from the gust of Akuro's punch.*
Grayfia and Rias, noticing this, were shocked again.
**Rias**: W-What strength…
**Grayfia**: That kid…
**Sirzechs**: That was just from the force of his punch. It seems he held back. If he'd used full power, not just this wall but everything in his fist's path would've been obliterated. And I feel this is just the tip of the iceberg. *He said, serious in his final words.*
**Rias (Thinking)**: *I've asked this before, but Akuro, who are you really?* *She wondered, seeing someone who could pose a threat even to her brother, one of the world's strongest.*
Walking down a school hallway, Akuro was carefree, listening to the clubroom conversation with his powers.
**Akuro (Thinking)**: *Funny, Sirzechs. If you really fought me, you'd need to be ready to "die."* *He thought, continuing down the hall.*
**To be continued…**