Gasper Vladi has always been, without a doubt, the most underrated and nerfed character in High School DxD. His potential was immense and, for that very reason, he was one of the most valuable pieces I wanted to get for myself.
The problem? Since the beginning of the series, he had belonged to Rias Gremory. In other words, there was no way I could simply appear before her and recruit him to my side, as I did with Asia Argento. If I wanted him, I'd have to find another way to make it happen.
The other problem was that Gasper's power was terrifying — so dangerous that Rias didn't have the experience to train him properly at first. As a solution, Sirzechs decided Gasper should be sealed away in a room at the Occult Research Club and could only come out at night. After all, Gasper's powers activated when he was stressed and, as a person with severe social phobia, Gasper barely met anyone at night and therefore his powers didn't activate.
Originally, he wouldn't come out of this isolation until later. But I didn't have time to let everything unfold naturally —nor did I want to.
My plan was simple: prove to Rias that I was strong enough to handle Gasper. If she saw that I could help him, maybe she would allow me to get close to him. And then he'd be mine.
After classes ended, Asia, Makima, and I went to the Occult Research Club building. By this time, most of the students had already gone home, leaving the campus much emptier.
"So, this is where the famous Occult Research Club operates..." muttered Makima, observing the large, old wooden building that hid in a (part of the Kuoh Academy campus.
"It looks like an ancient chapel," Asia commented and held her bag a little tighter.
We walked up the steps to the main door and I entered casually. To my surprise, Rias Gremory was sitting on a sofa in the entrance hall.
When she saw us, she smiled, uncrossing her legs and putting aside the book she was holding.
"Everyone, welcome!"
She seemed to smile a little more than usual. I figured it was probably because Asia and Makima seemed fine after their first day at the academy or, more likely, because the decision on the marriage between Clan Phenex and Clan Gremory had been postponed.
Asia smiled shyly. "Good afternoon, Rias-senpai."
Makima just nodded, looking around with a neutral expression.
"Good afternoon, folks." Rias then looked toward me. "Have you come to pick up contracts?"
I walked over to the sofa. "Not really. I just came to wait for someone."
"Wait? For who?" she asked, frowning.
"I arranged to train Issei-kun today. He should be here any minute."
"Train with Issei-kun? Did he accept?"
"I told him I was interested in the power of the Welsh Dragon and wanted to test it in combat. I know he doesn't like me very much, but I'll try to make amends with him."
She let out a sigh, looking a little thoughtful. "That's surprising... He rarely enjoys training unless he has a special motivation."
"I can see… By the way, I mentioned that you'd be happy if he trained," I said with a slight smile.
Rias smiled back. "If that's the case, I'd be happy to oversee that training." She walked over to the nearby tea table and started preparing some cups. "Well, while we're waiting, how about some tea, everyone?"
A few minutes later, while we were drinking tea and chatting, the door to the club opened abruptly and Issei walked in.
"I'm home!"
He wasn't alone. Right behind him, Yuuto Kiba and Koneko Toujou entered the club, both observing their surroundings before locking eyes with me.
It had been a long time since I'd last seen them. Kiba was, as always, wearing his usual friendly smile. Koneko was staring at me with a neutral expression.
"You really came," I said to Issei, putting the cup of tea back on the table and standing up.
"Of course I came! I'm not a coward!" Issei replied, flailing his arms, and then his eyes landed on Asia. "But I didn't expect to find a crowd..."
"I just came to cheer for Milicas-san!" Asia added, as sincere as ever.
Asia's words were like an arrow to Issei's heart, who placed his right hand on the left side of his chest and staggered backwards with drama.
"I didn't expect you to come either." I said, looking at Kiba and Koneko.
Kiba laughed softly. "Well, Issei said he was going to train with you, so I was curious. Besides, we haven't seen each other since..."
"When you went to train at the mansion that time." "Exactly. I want to see how much you've evolved, and I think you'll be a good match for Issei."
Koneko just grumbled. "If he takes too many hits, we need to stop him from dying."
Issei almost stumbled backwards. "W-what?! Are you underestimating me like that?"
"You two want to fight one-on-one, right?" Rias intervened, standing up with her cup of tea still in her hands. "You can use the training ground at the back of the club."
I nodded. "That'll do."
We all went to the training grounds, which were in a more open area. The sky was turning orange with the sunset, and the cool breeze was lightly rustling the surrounding leaves.
[Optional Scene Started!]
[33 Patrons are now watching this scene.]
[The entities are excited about this unexpected clash against the protagonist.]
[The entity 'Hermit of the Golden Moon' is attentive to the outcome of this battle.]
'As I imagined... a scene has begun. I wish I could use all my credits now, but I won't spend them unless I feel it's necessary to beat Issei.'
Issei was already in the center of the arena, snapping his fingers and stretching his shoulders.
"I'll warn you, I'm a lot stronger than I was that day, and today I will not run."
I walked to the opposite position, stretching my arms a little.
"I know you never run."
I wasn't ignorant. I knew Issei Hyoudou's potential better than anyone in this place, perhaps even better than his Master.
Knowing that, in the future, he would be frighteningly powerful to the point of being strong as the Maous, I would have liked to have arrived a little earlier and been the one to save him from Raynare, but that wasn't possible.
Then, stealing Asia from him led to a kind of enmity. But I didn't like the way things were going and, since we were both men, I knew that crossing our fists could help us solve these problems.
Rias positioned herself on the sidelines, watching. Kiba, Koneko, Asia, and Makima stood a little further away.
Issei was wearing his school uniform, while I still wore the standard Kuoh Academy outfit. However, I took off my blazer to be more mobile.
"So, how are we going to do this?" Issei asked, punching his own hand.
"Simple rules. Fight until someone gives in or Rias interrupts." I replied, raising my right hand. "You can use your Sacred Gear with no problems."
He smiled. "If that's the case... Boosted Gear!"
Issei raised his fists and activated his Boosted Gear. A red glow enveloped her left hand, and a red metallic gauntlet that seemed to imitate dragon scales appeared.
"Boost!" Ddraig's voice came out of the greenish gem on the back of the gauntlet, increasing Issei's power.
I had expected Issei to accumulate boosts before attacking.
"Are you two ready?" Rias asked.
We nodded in agreement, and Rias smiled.
"Start!"
I then immediately started running towards him and turned into a blur of movement.
My speed took Issei by surprise. In the next instant, I was already in front of him with my fists closed.
He raised his arm to block, but my palm hit the center of his chest.
*BOOM!*
The impact threw him backwards, causing him to slide across the dirt floor before regaining his balance.
[The entities were pleased with his eagerness to win against the protagonist.]
[100 credits were sponsored.]
"What the fuck was that?!" Issei exclaimed, clutching his chest.
"You can't just wait around to accumulate Boosts. I won't let you." I commented as I folded up the sleeves of my shirt. "If your opponent is fast enough, he won't give you that chance."
"Damn..." Issei gritted his teeth. "So I have to attack you before I get enough boosts?"
"That would be a start."
With wounded pride, he started running towards me. The Boosted Gear's hilt glowed with another Boost and I could see his speed increasing in mid-movement. Then, when he got close, he tried to hit me with a direct punch. However, I expected that. I stepped back, bent down, and did a little alchemical transmutation on the ground.
The ground beneath Issei's feet rose slightly, enough to throw him off balance for a second when he tried a second punch.
Issei remained off balance long enough for me to grab him by the arm and spin him around, using his weight to throw him to the ground.
*THUD!*
He fell backwards, and this raised a cloud of dust. Silence hung for a moment.
"Hmm..." Koneko muttered. "That was cruel."
Asia covered her mouth with her hands. "Milicas-kun is very strong..."
Makima just watched with an amused look.
Issei sat down, rubbing his head. "That's not fair! What kind of skill was that?!"
"A type of alchemy I'm developing. I can alter the shape of the surrounding matter in real time."
He widened his eyes. "Damn... That's pretty cool!"
I glanced at Rias, who was watching closely. It was the first time I had shown this power to a high-level devil.
"If you don't want to fall for it again, try being more unpredictable."
He gritted his teeth and stood up. "Right! Again!"
I smiled slightly.
Training continued for another half hour. Issei, despite his limitations, was resilient and had a decent fighting instinct. He began to learn and avoid some of my more obvious transmutations, trying to be more aggressive so as not to give me time to manipulate him.
Once in the anime, Azazel told Rias she was too soft for training her servants, and I couldn't agree more. Issei certainly had an exceptional talent lying dormant, so much so that I could see a small evolution with just a few minutes of training.
As we trained, I realized Issei was much faster and stronger than at the beginning, and this growth was extremely rapid.
"Boost!" A blinding glare disturbed my vision when I threw a punch.
'Tsk! Another Boost?'
I stepped back a little because I felt that my physical advantage was no longer that great. Then I stretched both hands forward and materialized a sphere of water.
"You know how to use magic too?" Issei exclaimed, stepping back.
"All the devils must know!"
[The entity 'Sorceress of the Black Flame' was very excited by his change of strategy.]
[100 credits have been sponsored.]
Issei jumped to the side when I threw the water sphere at him, and the bubble burst next to him. He then lunged forward, attempting a direct punch.
Issei's problem was that he relied too much on brute force. It was predictable.
I used my alchemy to modify the ground beneath his feet once again, and he tripped over the minor relief. I took advantage of this to shoot a jet of water in his direction.
Issei reacted instinctively, crossing his arms to defend himself. But the jet of water was like a fire truck hose.
Surprisingly, Issei was still standing, but completely soaked, when the jet stopped.
I took a deep breath. That attack had consumed more magical power than I had expected.
Rias clapped her hands. "I think that's enough for today."
Issei deactivated his Sacred Gear and slumped to the ground, exhausted.
"I lost, huh?"
"Let's say it was a draw." I said.
[The Patrons admire your humility.]
[50 credits were sponsored.]
Issei laughed out loud. "Fine, I'll accept that."
[Issei liked your idea and your training. Now he respects you a little.]
[You received +4 Relationship Points with Issei Hyuodou.]
"Issei-san, are you all right?" Asia asked from afar, placing her hands parallel to her mouth so that her voice would carry far.
He held up a thumb. "I'm fine, Asia-chan. I just need to sleep for twelve hours!"
Rias smiled as we approached them and threw Issei a towel. "That was a good workout."
Issei took the towel and, blushing, muttered as he dried his face: "A towel from the President! Aii! I couldn't be happier!"
Taking advantage of the fact that we were here, I looked at Rias and said:
"Speaking of which, Rias-neesan... I wanted to ask you something."
"What would that be?"
"Gasper's situation."
The room fell silent. Kiba and Koneko stared at me, while Makima, Asia, and Issei didn't know what I was talking about.
Issei removed the towel from his face and, confused, asked: "Who's Gasper?"
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