The gentle night breeze still felt soft in Issei's consciousness. He moved his hand lazily, then yawned widely while rubbing his still heavy eyes. After that, he stood up and stretched his body, feeling every stiff muscle.
He looked around. Ddraig was not visible near him, probably relaxing somewhere in this 'world' they had created. Soon after, the figure of the giant red dragon appeared from the distance, approaching him with heavy steps.
Issei tilted his head, curious. "Ddraig, where were you earlier? And... why does this place feel more spacious? Like a dungeon stretching out."
Ddraig answered in a slightly annoyed tone, "The previous place was too cramped. So I expanded it a bit within this consciousness. So you don't arbitrarily change everything according to your mood."
Issei then looked around. In the distance, he could see a volcano emitting smoke and a vast desert. His eyes sparkled with a new idea. "Ddraig, can you add an ocean, a beach, and maybe a more complete training ground?"
Ddraig snorted, sounding irritated. "This is a realm of consciousness for training, not for vacation!"
Issei just smiled. "Why not? Besides, time here is slower than in the real world. So I can relax or even play on the beach. This place within consciousness should be able to be a pleasant place too."
Ddraig grew more annoyed. "Enough! You better return to the real world. You've been sleeping here for five days. Don't become a lazy Dragon who only hibernates!"
Issei was shocked. "Wait? Seriously? I slept for five full days here?" He realized how his nature was becoming increasingly inhuman. "I'm less and less of an ordinary human..."
Ddraig answered with his typical sarcasm, "Indeed."
Issei closed his eyes, focusing his mind to return. The world of consciousness faded, and he returned to reality.
Issei opened his eyes. The quiet sound of the wall clock ticking broke the silence of his room. Only moonlight illuminated the room. He got up slowly, yawned, and stretched. "Much better," he murmured.
He then went downstairs to the first floor. There, dinner preparations were underway. Tiamat glanced at him.
"You slept very soundly in there," said Tiamat.
"I thought you would train in your consciousness, but instead you fell asleep with Ddraig."
Ddraig's annoyed voice echoed in Issei's head, {Tch, so she can enter my consciousness as she pleases. No wonder I smelled her 'scent' here.}
Issei just sighed. "I was just tired."
Miki, Issei's mother, turned and smiled. "Dinner is almost ready. Lucky you woke up, Issei."
"Because I'm busy looking for Excalibur fragments tonight," Issei answered. "Hopefully it won't go until 3 AM."
Xenovia, who was helping in the kitchen, placed Miso Soup on the table. "Not until that late. Besides, we're only searching in the churches in this city."
Issei answered in a lazy tone, "Hopefully."
Irina, who was setting plates, added, "If we don't find it, we won't force ourselves to stay out that late."
Runeas, who was already sitting cheerfully at the dining table waiting, asked, "Can I come? It seems fun!"
Issei immediately answered in an annoyed tone, "No. Just sleep after this."
Runeas immediately pouted. "Stingy!"
Issei turned to his mother. "Mom, did the others go home this afternoon?"
Miki nodded while placing food on the table. "Yes, at 5 PM earlier."
Gorou, Issei's father, who was also already seated, said, "I didn't expect you to have a fiancée. But I won't be surprised anymore..." His voice then whispered softly, "...and I want a harem too."
Miki, standing next to him, smiled darkly. "Ara~, I think I heard something."
Gorou immediately flinched and widened his eyes. "T-That... was just a joke!"
Issei ignored their conversation. He then said, "Itadakimasu," and began eating slowly. The others, including Ophis, Tiamat, Runeas, Xenovia, and Irina, also joined the meal.
After dinner, Issei helped clear the plates. He then got ready, putting on a jacket. Irina and Xenovia were also ready.
Miki waved. "Don't be out too late at night."
Issei turned. "Not past midnight." They then left.
Issei guided them using the GPS on his smartphone towards the first church that was their target. He turned to Irina. "Actually, why are you looking for these Excalibur fragments?"
Irina answered, "Because the Excalibur Sword fragments were stolen by Fallen Angels. Three swords are missing."
{Issei,} Ddraig's voice suddenly spoke in his head.
{I think this search will be futile.}
Issei was confused. 'Why?'
{Did you forget what you did some time ago? Your large Dragon energy surge?} Ddraig answered.
{This city is under tight surveillance by many parties. You think those Fallen Angels are stupid? Even low-level Devils would flee this city after sensing that energy.}
Issei sighed. When they arrived at the first church, the sight they witnessed confirmed Ddraig's words. The church looked deserted and dusty, as if it had been abandoned years ago. Issei used his Etheric Eyes, scanning the entire building. There was no one, not even traces of holy or dark energy.
"Let's go," Issei said, turning around. "There's no one here, not even the sword."
Xenovia, with a serious look, asked, "Didn't you check it more thoroughly? What if something was missed?"
Issei answered flatly, "Feel free to check it yourself. I'll wait outside. My eyes are never wrong, unless there's an unforeseen factor."
Irina tried to mediate. "Xenovia, let's just go. Besides, he's reliable."
Xenovia finally sighed and nodded. "Alright. Let's go to the next church."
They continued their search. At the second church, Issei suddenly felt something. There was a presence, a human, sleeping inside. "There's someone inside," he whispered. "Seems like an ordinary human... not dangerous."
Xenovia and Irina immediately became alert, their hands gripping their Excalibur swords tightly. As Issei opened the door, they saw a young blonde-haired girl, dressed like a nun, sleeping soundly on a pew.
Issei approached and woke her gently. "Wake up. Why are you sleeping in an empty church like this?"
The girl opened her eyes, revealing clear green eyes. "I... I was waiting, but all the churches seem empty." She then introduced herself, "My name is Asia Argento."
They then introduced themselves.
Xenovia bowed her head slightly, "Xenovia Quarta."
Irina placed her sword back on her arm, "Irina Shidou."
Lastly Issei, "Hyoudou Issei, Just a passerby."
then asked, "Why are you still here? Waiting for someone?"
Asia looked downcast. "I... was excommunicated from my church. Because I healed a wounded Devil. I then tried to come to Japan."
Irina looked sad hearing that. "May God forgive you and grant you steadfastness, Amen."
Xenovia, in a firm tone, offered, "Then, come with us. Let us take care of you."
Asia hesitated. "It's not necessary, I—"
Issei cut her off. "Just come. They've already thrown you out. I'm sick of racial conflicts and flawed logic like this." Without another word, Issei immediately carried Asia on his back. "We're busy. You don't need to walk, you look tired."
Asia's face turned red with embarrassment. "T-This... it's not necessary to go this far..."
As they exited the church, Issei suddenly felt an extremely powerful presence. Sure enough, Ophis suddenly appeared beside him via teleportation, startling Xenovia, Irina, and Asia.
{Issei! Great Red is coming!} Ddraig's voice urged in his head.
{Be prepared! Don't even try to fight, or the underworld could be destroyed!}
Issei immediately put Asia down. "Irina, Xenovia! Quickly, take cover behind me! Something is coming!"
Before they could ask, a tremendous pressure hit them. The air seemed to freeze and solidify. A red-haired young man, wearing a black robe, with eyes full of authority and seriousness, appeared. He was Great Red, the Red Dragon that Inhabits the Dimensional Gap.
Irina, Xenovia, and Asia immediately collapsed, unable to withstand the mental and spiritual pressure from his presence. Even Issei felt his chest tighten, as if an invisible gravity was crushing him. Ophis, beside him, emitted her own Dragon pressure to counter, staring at Great Red with her flat expression.
Great Red approached. Each of his steps cracked the ground and made the surrounding church buildings tremble. "Issei," his voice echoed, full of authority. "I have warned you. You are like a second threat after Trihexa. Do you think Trihexa is the end of everything?"
Issei struggled to withstand the pressure. "I know! There are Outer Gods out there, entities that don't make sense!"
Great Red snorted. "You're not that stupid. But do you think Outer Gods are like Trihexa? That they are just creatures threatening one world or multiverse? The answer is NO. They can still be defeated, or perhaps... erased from existence." His eyes stared sharply. "But... the path you are taking is exactly the same as someone I once knew. Also an Anomaly."
Issei, annoyed, snapped, "I don't know who you're talking about! Who is he?"
Suddenly, Tiamat appeared in her full battle attire. Her formidable appearance with horns and a dragon tail clearly visible stunned Issei—this was the first time he had seen Tiamat in such a form.
"Great Red!" Tiamat exclaimed with a serious face. "You come to the underworld as if to start a war!"
{Issei!} Ddraig shouted in his mind.
{Release your Dragon pressure now! Those three won't be able to withstand the pressure from three Dragons at once! They will die! Your Dragon Authority and Imagine Breaker are useless here! This is a manifestation of Absolute Existence dominating reality! If this continues, this city could be destroyed!}
Without a second thought, Issei stomped his foot on the ground. A powerful wave of Dragon pressure, though still at a beginner and weak level. His aim wasn't to attack, but to create a temporary 'neutral zone', protecting the three girls behind him from the clash of pressure from the three Supreme Dragons. The sky above Kuoh suddenly became overcast, the wind blew fiercely, and the ground around them began to crack.
Irina hugged Asia, who was almost fainting, while Xenovia gritted her teeth, trying to remain standing.
"Who is the person you're talking about?!" Issei yelled at Great Red.
"An Anomaly like you," Great Red answered.
"Always bringing trouble to every world he inhabits. A holder of a fragment from an Entity whose name must not be spoken... even though that person and that Entity are gone. I believe you are him."
Ophis suddenly interrupted, her voice flat but clear. "Issei is not him. His soul is still intact. That person's soul... was wounded by Void and stitched by Existential threads."
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Issei retorted angrily. "At least tell me his name! And lower your pressure! You will kill them!"
Suddenly, another voice echoed, full of authority. "GREAT RED! AND ALL OF YOU... LOWER YOUR PRESSURE!"
Issei turned. A group from the Church stood in the distance: Michael, the Leader of the Angels; Dulio Gesualdo, the strongest Sacred Gear user in the Church; Vasco Strada, the Saintly Protector; and Griselda Quarta.
Great Red snorted in annoyance. "This is not your business, Angels! You are not even worthy of interfering, busy with your own noisy war!"
Michael, with a cautious face, spoke softly but firmly, "Please stop this. You are only making the situation worse."
Seeing Irina, Xenovia, and Asia growing weaker, Dulio immediately used his power to create a shield around them. "Vasco, take them to a safe place!" he ordered.
Vasco, understanding the situation, immediately approached and carried the three girls, assisted by Griselda.
Issei knew this had to end. His usual Imagine Breaker Domain wouldn't be enough. A crazy idea emerged.
'Ddraig,' he called in his mind.
'I know a normal Domain won't work. But this Void Gauntlet... can I use it together with my Imagine Breaker without removing it? To create something stronger?'
{That's very dangerous, Issei!} Ddraig warned.
{But... better than nothing at all. Great Red is too stubborn. Remember, don't lose control! If it gets too dangerous, I will force-shutdown your consciousness, even deactivate your powers temporarily!}
'Do it if that happens!' Issei answered with firm resolve.
"ENOUGH!" Issei shouted into the real world.
He raised his right hand wearing the Void Gauntlet. The red runes on it glowed brightly, brighter than ever before. With a confident snap of his fingers, an invisible wave of energy that felt like "shattered fragments of reality" exploded from his body.
KRAAAAK—!
A Zone formed suddenly.
All sound vanished. All colors faded to a grayscale. The pressure from the Dragons and Angels disappeared instantly. An absolute and terrifying silence enveloped an area of 100 meters around them. Everyone, including Great Red and Ophis, looked surprised, trying to speak, but no sound came out.
In Issei's head, the "system" voice from his Sacred Gear Canceller spoke:
[VOID DOMAIN – IMAGINE BREAKER SYNCHRONIZATION]
Status: STABLE
Radius: 100 meters (expanding with will)
Component Systems:
✓[Imagine Breaker]– Source: Sacred Gear Canceller (Existence)
✓[Void Core]– Source: Void Gauntlet (Ophis Fragment)
✓[Synchronization: 97%]
Domain Effect:
•Absolute Nullification of all supernatural inputs
•Reality overwrite(localized)
•Temporal-Stability Enforced
•Soul Pressure:Equalized to baseline human field
Detected Targets:
–[Great Red]: Pressure Nullified
–[Ophis]: Presence Stabilized
–[Tiamat]: Aura Distorted → Absorbed partially into Void buffer
[Allied Status – Stabilized]
✓Xenovia
✓Irina
✓Asia
✓Dulio
✓Vasco
✓Griselda
✓Michael
[Warning]
Holding domain too long may cause backlash
Michael and Dulio were stunned, feeling their powers completely gone. Tiamat looked at Issei with a mixed expression of awe and worry. Her lips moved, "Issei... What have you done?" but no sound was heard.
Great Red understood this zone. The path was exactly the same. Even after that person vanished, his memory remained. That meant that person wasn't truly gone.
Then, something strange happened. Ophis's voice suddenly resonated within the soul of every person inside the Domain, not through the ears.
"...I have stood in a place like this before."
"You remind me of...him."
"Someone who called me without a voice, but I heard it more than any sound."
The system voice in Issei's head sounded again, but this time with a different and concerning message:
[Void Gauntlet – Imagine Breaker Domain Status]
Domain State: Anti-Existence (Stable)
Environmental Audio: Null
Visual Spectrum: Greyscale Filter
Voice Projection: Rejected
[Exception Detected]
Source: Entity [Ophis]
Voice Medium: Existential Waveform
Message: "...I have stood in a place like this before..."
[Memory Trace Activated – Tag: "Kyo / Nihil Exousia"]
Emotional Resonance: Undefined
Log Stored
The system message continued, becoming increasingly chaotic:
[Sacred Gear Canceller Interface]
Status: Sync 100%
Aura Void: Detected
Analysis...
[Fragment Signature Identified]
Name: ████ Exousia
Classification: [REDACTED]
Tier: Outer Anchor Entity – Beyond Existence
SYSTEM WARNING:
⚠️Unreadable Designation
⚠️Name Triggered: "Nihil Exousia"
[ERROR: NAME NOT PERMITTED]
[ERROR: CONCEPTUAL OVERFLOW]
[ERROR: SYSTEM MEMORY COLLAPSING]
[SYSTEM SHUTDOWN ENGAGED]
User Consciousness: SEVERED
Vital Sync: SUSPENDED
Memory Trace: SCATTERED
Bzzzzt—!
The system sound turned into broken, chaotic electronic noise.
Issei suddenly clutched his head with both hands. Unbearable pain stabbed through his brain.
"Aghh…! What… what is this…!?"
The world around him spun. The system voice was like thousands of meaningless whispers deafening his inner ear. His vision flickered, the grayscale colors around him began to shake erratically.
And then, in a fraction of a second before everything went dark, one name echoed in his head, a name he should not have known:
"Nihil..."
His consciousness was severed. His body went limp, and he fell helplessly to the ground, in the midst of the Domain of silence he had created himself, while the legendary beings could only watch in silence, trapped in the soundless, power-less zone.