Shalba…he's finally dead…Rias…my comrades…I can go back to them now right…?
[Partner! Hold on!]
I could feel the pain disappearing….Samael's curse is disappearing…that's good…right?
[Issei, Azazel and the others are going to open the Dragon Gate. You have to make it then so we can go home!]
I know, Ddraig…I wonder, though…what's the first thing I should do…?
"You will never make it," said Ophis in a monotone voice. My eyes moved weakly and I could see her out of the corner of my vision.
"Of course…I will…" I breathed out, weakly. "I still haven't taken Rias' virginity…or Akeno's…and I need to protect…Asia…from those lecherous bastards…"
"Those girls mean a lot to you," said Ophis, plainly. I smiled, weakly, as I remembered their faces before coughing up a blob of blood.
"I also…have dreams…goals…" I said, weakly. Ophis nudged me on, seeming curious. "Sairaorg, Kiba, Saji…Vali…I have to surpass them…my rivals. I have to…become the ultimate pawn…! I even want to…master the Dividing Gear…Of course my greatest dream is…to create a harem!"
My image of Ophis began to blur and I couldn't feel anything anymore. I was still laying on a chunk of the ground which was floating in the Dimensional Gap.
"Hey…Ophis…you don't seem like a bad person…so why…did you create the Khaos Brigade?" I asked, wondering what someone like her had in mind. I could just barely make out a puzzled expression from my blurred view of Ophis and I coughed up some more blood before continuing. "Asia…Irina…you saved them…"
"I was merely returning the favor," said Ophis, plainly.
"They…are some of my important friends…I came to save you…out of thanks for saving them…Why did you join them?" I said, weakly. Everything was starting to feel cold.
"I created the Khaos Brigade so that I could receive aid with my goal. Everyone who joined was forced to swear an oath to aid me in defeating Great Red," explained Ophis.
"So…when Great Red was defeated…you would just leave…?" I asked. Ophis responded with a simple 'Yes' and I continued. "They would never keep their oath…They just took advantage of you…and your snakes…"
"It doesn't matter to me as long as they are able to beat Great Red so I can return home," said Ophis while shrugging. I smiled and could feel the blood running down the side of my face.
"The Dimensional…Gap…means a lot to you," I said, weakly.
"That's why I came to the Sekiryuutei's home. I believed there was something there that could help me fulfil my dream and discover the secret behind the 'True Dragon' and 'Heavenly Dragon' that lies within you which would also help me find the reason why I, myself, exist," explained Ophis, confusing me. I was never really good with all the complicated explanations.
"…I understand," I began, smiling. Ophis was so pure and the Khaos Brigade just took advantage of her purity. She was just a figurehead to the organization. I began to feel sleepy and my eyes drooped a bit. "Hey…Ophis…do you want to…become my friend?"
"…Friend?" said Ophis in a surprised tone. "How would I benefit from being your 'friend'?"
"I could be someone…you could talk to…like about your home…" I said.
"I see. That would be fun," said Ophis in her usual monotone voice.
"Hey…Ophis…when we go back…come and live with me…and the others," I said, smiling, weakly.
"With the Sekiryuutei?" asked Ophis, curiously. I nodded while smiling and I could just hear her get up and walk over to me.
"I would very much like that...but you won't make it," said Ophis, kneeling next to my head. My brow scrunched up and I muttered 'I have to' several times but she continued. "You won't make it until the gate opens."
My life began to flash before my eyes and frowned. Was this the end?
[Issei…Partner…] I could hear Ddraig crying. This wasn't his usual grief cry from the Oppai incidents but a true cry of sadness. [You…You were the best partner I ever had. You made the most impossible things possible. Even with the grief your perverted nature gave me, you never ceased to amaze me. Please don't die, Partner…I don't want to leave your side…]
"I can tell you are greatly loved by everyone, Sekiryuutei. Even Ddraig. I know everyone would be sad if you died. You are a really nice guy, though perverted," said Ophis.
"Call me Issei…since we're friends now…" I said, weakly.
"Issei…my friend," she said, gently. She leaned in close enough that I could feel her breath on my face. "Hey…Issei…I have a question before you die."
"Alright…" I said.
"What if I said I could send you and Ddraig back ten years with your current memories?" asked Ophis. I became confused by what she said. Back in time? Well, I kind of know…
"Well…I would get…a lot stronger…take martial arts classes…and visit the youkai in Kyoto. I'd also visit…Akeno's shrine…and meet all the people I…could have met earlier…" I said, thinking of all the people I might leave behind if I died.
"Alright," said Ophis before hopping to her feet and stretching. I said 'Huh' and she was unfazed by what I said. "I'm sending you and Ddraig back now, are you ready?"
[Ophis, do you know what will happen to you if you do that?]
"I'll still exist in the past even I send your souls back then. This will be my first time performing such a spell and I know for a fact it will rebound. There is a high possibility those close to your heart will retain their memories of the future," said Ophis, calmly. "Issei, are you ready for this?"
"Yes…!" I said with as much energy as I could muster.
"Alright…hey…Issei…will you really keep your promise to me, that is being my friend?" asked Ophis.
"I promise," I said before coughing up some more blood. I could just make out a smile on Ophis' face and magic circles appeared around her.
"And when the time comes…you will save me again?" said Ophis, hopefully. I smiled and breathed out an 'Of course' before she smiled. Goodbye, Issei."