"You guys want a piece of me?"
Drawing Razan's Blade from his inventory and taking a stance with the weapon and Boosted Gear, Issei taunted, his eyes emitting an ominous red glow as he locked them onto the monsters.
"Come!"
Despite saying that, Issei didn't just remain idle and wait for the wolves to attack him. He knew that he was surrounded, and if he continued to remain in the same place, the wolves would soon overwhelm him with their greater number.
[Skill Activated] – Sprint
[!] Notice – Extra Requirements
Survive for 45 minutes
Or kill all monsters
With Razan's Blade in hand, Issei dashed forward and slashed at the first two wolves that lunged at him, his blades cutting through their flesh and leaving both smoldering on the ground, but there was no time to relish in the kills. More wolves rushed at him, their eyes glowing with feral hunger. One snapped its jaws at his right thigh, looking to sink its razor sharp fangs into his flesh, but Issei twisted his body to the side, narrowly avoiding the bite, and brought his blade down on its neck, severing it cleanly.
[Skill Activated] – Vital Slash
Another wolf came at him from behind, but Issei immediately spun around on his heel, using the momentum to deliver a backhanded slash that sliced across its body, making it yelp in pain as the [Burn] of Razan's Blade seared into its flesh. Two more joined the fray, and Issei could feel the tension in his muscles as he ducked, blocked, slashed and struck back against the seemingly endless wave of monsters, cutting them down one after the other using Vital Slash, although the skill cost him a lot of mana.
Despite lacking the elemental prowess of their pack leaders, the white-furred wolves compensated with sheer numbers and relentless aggression. He also noticed that they had greater speed, allowing them to easily catch up to him as Issei dashed through the forest with Sprint, forcing the monsters to chase him rather than giving them time to surround him, with the obvious exception of the Striking Lightning Wolf.
As if on cue, said wolf caught up to Issei as he dove to the side to dodge a massive fireball from its fire counterpart, moving so fast that its body blur of crackling energy, almost resembling a blue lightning bolt. Issei barely had time to react as he raised Boosted Gear to block the attack, sending a shockwave of crackling electricity out and pushing him back but Issei held firm. Throwing it to the side, Issei stabbed his blade down its head, but the wolf vanished with a strike of lightning, knocking Issei back.
HP: 2060 / 2255
MP: 501 / 855
Before Issei could recover, two white furred wolves pounded on him from behind. Sensing their movements, Issei spun around, slashing at their abdomens with Razan's Blade. The sword cut deep into their flesh, and the [Burn] debuff ignited their fur, sending it howling in agony as they fell down, their body engulfed in flames. Another wolf lunged at him, but Issei sidestepped and drove his sword into its side, leaving the wolf to collapse in a smoking heap.
' Their movements are predictable, and fire is effective against them.' Issei thought as he glanced to the side and saw the fire and water wolves chasing him in the distance. " But my sword probably won't work as well against those two. Gotta be careful."
Just as he killed another wave of white furred wolves, the wind wolf sent a tornado at him with a deafening howl, uprooting trees and ripping apart the ground as it barreled toward him. Issei immediately activated the Jump ability that he got from his boots and leaped high into the air, avoiding the tornado before he descended down upon a white wolf, killing it in an instance.
The lightning wolf took that opportunity to rush toward him for another attack, but this time, Issei was ready. Channeling his demonic power into Boosted Gear using his Transfer Ability, Issei waited for just the moment the wolf dashed at him to stop himself and turn around to throw a punch at its head. The impact created a brilliant flash of light and the wolf was sent hurtling backward, crashing through a line of trees before slamming into the ground with a thunderous boom.
[Striking Lightning Wolf LV. 24 – Defeated]
But the battle was far from over. Issei barely had any time to catch a breath as the wind wolf and two of its white furred counterparts pounced on him at once. Instinctively, he swung Razan's Blade in a wide arc, managing to slash across one of them, sending it tumbling to the ground. The second wolf aimed for his right leg, but Issei twisted his body to the side just in time to raise his knee and slam it into the wolf's head from below, snapping its neck.
The wind wolf, however, managed to bite into his right arm after its fangs pierced through the fabric of his jacket. Gritting his teeth at the pain while blood flowed from the wolf's snout, Issei punched the monster in the head with Boosted Gear, breaking its jaw and loosening its grip just enough to break his arm free.
Quickly changing the hand holding his sword by dropping it from his right, which was soaked in blood, and snatching it from the air with his left, Issei then executed a swift, upward slash with the weapon, slicing through into the wolf's side and sending it crashing to the ground. The bite wounds on his arm weren't fatal thanks to his jacket, but Issei didn't waste even a second to bring his flaming blade down to cauterize the wounds, stopping the bleeding before he could lose more blood.
HP: 1560 / 2255
MP: 390 / 855
Despite his vision blurring from the pain and the acrid smell of his own seared flesh and blood filling his nostrils, Issei reacted just in time to dodge another wolf as it lunged at him by swiftly moving to his right, Issei then spun on his heel and brought Razan's Blade down in a vicious strike, splitting its head cleanly in two. The wind wolf, now bleeding profusely from its back, tried to retreat, but Issei refused to let it escape. He ran towards it, closing the distance in a heartbeat, and drove his sword through its back to yank the blade all the way to its head, ending its life.
[Twisting Vortex Wolf LV. 24 – Defeated]
From the corner of his eye, he saw the Earthen Fury Wolf charging at him, its body encased in a thick armor of stone, with rocks flying around it like a living shield. The ground shook with each of its steps, and the Issei only had enough time to brace himself, using Boosted Gear and Razan's Blade to hold back the wolf as it slammed into him with the force of a speeding truck, sending him skidding back despite his best efforts to hold his ground.
HP: 1360 / 2255
MP: 389 / 855
To make matters even worse for Issei, the fire and water wolves used that time to finally catch up to him and blast him with a combined assault of their respective elements. Issei immediately rolled away, putting as much distance between himself and the wolves as he could to dodge the blasts, which generated explosions followed by eruptions of steam that filled the air around him, obscuring his vision and choking his lungs with heat and moisture.
Just when Issei finally managed to pick himself up, the earth wolf hurled a boulder at him. Issei brought Boosted Gear forward and punched the boulder, shattering it into countless fragments. A wave of scorching flames came at him immediately right after, forcing Issei to dive to the side, avoiding the worst of it. At the same time, the Earthen Fury Wolf charged at him again, its massive stone-covered body threatening to crush him.
[Partner, use Penetrate!]
"Way ahead of you, Ddraig!"
Issei said, and a red glow enveloped the blade of his sword as he gripped it tightly with Boosted Gear. Waiting for the moment the earth wolf lunged at him, Issei ducked his body down and spun around on one knee, slashing his blade upwards as the monster soared over his head. Unlocking Boosted Gear Level 3 had granted him more than just the ability to communicate with Ddraig — it had also given him access to another of his signature techniques, Penetrate.
[Skill Activated] – Penetrate
Required Boosted Gear LV. 3
Required mana: 200
Required STR: 60
Required DEX: 50
One of the Signature Move of the Heavenly Dragon, Ddraig. It gave the user the power to completely bypass their enemies' defenses and attacks.
Can be combined with [Transfer] to empower weapons. Increase armor penetration to 60%.
Empowered with Penetrate, Razan's Blade sliced through the earth wolf's stone armor like a hot blade running through butter. With a cry, Issei swung the blade downwards to finish his attack, cutting through both rocks and flesh. The Earthen Fury Wolf let out a howl as the flaming blade seared into its flesh, and soon its stone armor crumbled away as it fell to the ground and died.
[Earthen Fury Wolf LV. 24 – Defeated]
"You guys are next!" Issei shouted as he dashed toward the fire and water wolves, eliminating the remaining white furred wolves on his way. The fire wolf growled, flames licking at its maw as it unleashed another torrent of fire at Issei, who immediately leaped into the air to avoid the blast of fire before descending upon the monster with a powerful blow. It dodged and tried to pounce on him, but Issei instantly spun around and threw a powerful punch directly at the wolf's exposed side. The force of his blow staggered the monster, causing its flames to flicker and weaken, and gave Issei an opening to follow up with a decisive blow to its head, making its flames sputter out before collapsing to the ground.
[Blazing Inferno Wolf LV. 24 – Defeated]
The Water Wolf pounced on Issei from behind, but he reacted quickly, dodging to the side and slashing at the wolf with Razan's Blade. Just as he had expected from the start of the fight, the sword passed harmlessly through its liquid-like body, which dispersed around the blade before immediately reforming as the wolf landed on the ground and lunged at him again.
[Boost!]
This time, Issei didn't bother to attempt another futile slash. Instead, he transferred his energy into his sword, feeling the flames intensify as they danced along the blade before he swung it in front of him in a wide arc, unleashing a fiery wave towards the monster. The wave of flame collided with the water wolf, forcing it to solidify as the intense heat disrupted its liquid state.
The wolf let out a guttural growl, its form flickering erratically as it crashed into the ground. Before it could liquefy again, Issei burst through the cloud of steam and drove his sword into the wolf's neck. The blade cut deep with Vital Slash, making the Water Wolf convulse before finally collapsing, its body reverting to that of an ordinary blue-furred wolf as it lay lifeless at the end of his blade.
[Rising Tide Wolf LV. 24 – Defeated]
[!] Notice – You have earned the title: Wolfbane
Deal 10% more damage to beast-type monster
[!] Notice – Extra requirement fulfilled
Time remains: 00:09:45
Enemies killed: 50
You have earned 50000 Promotion Points.
[That's the last of them. You did it, partner!]
"No, those are just the elites. There's still the boss left." Issei said while cautiously scanning his surroundings for the boss, which could show up at any moment just like the previous Dungeons.
Fortunately for Issei, a message window then appeared in front of him, bearing a notification that allowed him to exhale in relief.
[!] Noticed - Area cleared.
Proceed to the location marked on your map to face the boss of the dungeon.
[Take a moment to rest first, partner. I think you need it.]
"Yeah."
Issei took a deep breath as he sat down and brought out some bandages in his inventory to wrap them around his right arm, wincing a little at the pain before leaning back against the trunk of a large tree with the Boosted Gear to rest. For several minutes, he just sat there with his eyes closed, letting the cool breeze of the night soothe his weary muscles and reduce his fatigue naturally to just a single digit. Fighting those wolves had been just as difficult as he had expected from the start, and Issei already knew that the boss would be much, much harder than all of them combined.
"Let's look around and see if those wolves dropped anything useful." Issei decided as he stood up and wandered around. To his expectation, he found a good amount of items scattered around, and among them were two loaves of buttered bread that would replenish 350 HP and 100 MP each upon consumption. It wasn't much, but considering he wasn't allowed to use Consumable Potions and his MP was down to double digits, the bread was like a blessing sent by the Maou themselves.
Without pause, Issei opened the wrap around the first bread and devoured it, not realizing how hungry he was until his nose caught its delicious aroma.
[How did a pack of wolves drop bread instead of meat? How does that even make any sense?]
"Ddraig, how did a wig cost 10 Golds to buy?" Issei replied with his own question as he ate the second bread. "I know it's weird, but you don't ask for logic when it comes to things like this."
[Riiight.]
HP: 2060 / 2255
MP: 244 / 855
The breads were great, but they weren't the only items that he found. After a few minutes, Issei was able to gather a total of twenty five [ Wolf Fangs] and forty [ Wolf Claws, E-rank junk items that he could sell for a hefty amount of Golds at the System Shop despite their low rarity.
"Hey Ddraig, dragons love gold, right?" Issei asked as he stored the items away in his inventory, planning to sell them later since the Shop was locked and there's no way for him to access it until he'd finished the dungeon.
[Oh, you have no idea, partner.] Ddraig responded with an amused chuckle . [I knew some dragons who were absolutely obsessed with those shiny little coins and jewels. I personally didn't have much time for them back when I was still alive, so you don't have to worry about inheriting that kind of greed from me.]
"I wouldn't be too worried." Issei grinned.
As he headed all the way back to where he had begun the dungeon, being extra careful that he didn't miss anything, Issei soon found unique drops where he had slain the Elemental Wolves, being claws that emanated a strange glow corresponding to their respective elements when he picked them up. In addition, all five fangs had generally the same descriptions, being:
[Items: Blazing Inferno Wolf Claws]
Rarity: Rare
Category: Crafting Material
The claw of an Inferno Wolf. Can be sold in the Shop, or used with the other items as materials to refine a Legendary Weapon.
Sell Price: 100000 (G)
"A hundred thousand!?" Issei gasped with his eyes widening in disbelief. That was way more than what he had at the moment, even after selling all those junks in his inventory. However, it didn't mean that Issei had any plan on selling them, since all five claws were materials that could be used to refine a Legendary Weapon, which alone made them far more valuable than anything he had.
[A legendary weapon? Now you should definitely hold onto those claws for now, partner.]
"You don't have to tell me, Ddraig. No way I'm selling these."
Issei replied excitedly as he put the items in his inventory. A Legendary Weapon? That would be a massive step up from Razan's Blade, as reliable as the fire sword had proven itself so far. From his experience with video games, he knew just how overpowered and broken those weapons could be, and the mere thought of wielding one into battle sparked an excitement in him unlike anything Issei had ever felt before.
"Alright! I think that's everything." Issei said as he opened his map and checked the marked location. "Let's go face down this boss and get our class."
With that said, Issei took off at a sprint, the dark forest around him blurring as he sped toward the marked location on the map. With no more monsters around, the path ahead was eerily silent, with the only sound he could hear being the crunch of leaves beneath his feet and the faint rustling of the trees as he zoomed past them.
Eventually, Issei reached the central area of the forest, where a clearing opened up before him. In the middle of this open space lay a vast, circular arena, surrounded by jagged, rocky terrain. The ground was uneven, with massive boulders and sharp stones scattered across the battlefield, creating an intimidating environment.
Bracing himself, Issei walked into the arena, and the moment he crossed the threshold, a massive ring of fire erupted around the perimeter of the arena. The flames shot high into the sky, encircling the battlefield in a fiery barrier that seemingly trapped him inside. The heat was intense, almost overwhelming, but Issei remained unfazed. He marched forward with Razan's Blade in one hand and the Boosted Gear in the other, fully prepared for whatever lay ahead.
But still, nothing could have prepared Issei for what crawled out of the ground upon his arrival. From the center of the arena, the earth split open, and a monstrous figure slowly emerged from within, taking on a form similar to the Blazing Inferno Wolf but magnified to an unimaginable scale, making it at least fifteen to twenty times larger than its lesser counterparts. Its fur was a vibrant red, flowing down its back in sharp, jagged tufts. The metal that coated the lower half of its streamlined body was segmented and sharp, interlocking to form a suit of armor that glinted ominously in the light of the flames that encircled the arena.
[Red Mane Lycan – LV. 30]
Before Issei could do anything, the monster let out an earth-shaking howl that almost knocked him flat on his back, making him raise both arms to shield his face before activating [ Jump] to launch himself into the air just as the wolf's massive paw came crashing down where he stood. The impact was cataclysmic, the ground beneath the paw exploding into a cloud of dust and debris as the terrain was obliterated. Rocks and shards of stone were sent flying in all directions, and the earth quaked violently under the sheer power of the strike.
[Boost!]
"Ddraig, keep track of my mana for me!"
Knowing that he would be as good as dead the moment he took his eyes off the monster even for a split second, Issei shouted to his dragon companion as he descended toward the colossal monster and brought Boosted Gear down with all his might upon its head. The resounding impact echoed across the battlefield, causing the beast to recoil, its head jerking down from the force of his empowered strike.
However, the moment that he landed on the ground, the wolf lunged at Issei with terrifying speed for something its size, with Issei seeing its fur crackling with electricity. Issei barely had time to dodge as the monster bit down on him, rolling to the side just as its fangs tore through the air where he had been standing. No sooner had he regained his footing than the wolf swung its paw at him again, and this time, he couldn't avoid it.
'Shit.'
Was the only thing echoed through his mind as the massive paw squatted him like a bug, launching him across the battlefield like a bullet that slammed through one rock after the other, leaving behind a path of destruction behind him until his body collided with a massive boulder, which exploded to send rocks and debris everywhere.
HP: 460 / 2255
[!] WARNING - HP critical!
But Issei didn't see the warning, as for a brief moment, everything went black for him as he fell to the ground, blacking out as blood dripped from his head. The monster pounced on him again, and Issei snapped his eyes open just in time to see the Red Mane Lycan above him, flame flickering from its fur. Instinct took over as he forced his aching body to roll out of the way, narrowly avoiding its snapping jaws.
As he scrambled to its feet after being knocked away by the force of its landing, the wolf unleashed a fireball at Issei. He was able to dive out of the way, but the explosion generated by its colliding with the ground sent out a shockwave still sent him flying, crashing into another boulder before falling to the ground.
'This thing... it can change element?'
'Not good.'
HP: 360 / 2255
[!] WARNING - HP critical!
"Shut up." Issei growled in frustration to the notification window and dashed away as the ground trembled beneath his feet with Red Mane Lycan summoning a tornado on a scale he had only ever seen in science fiction movie, its fur now shifting to a green hue corresponding with the element it was wielding. The winds roared around him, and Issei had no choice but to dig the claws of his Gauntlet into boulder to keep himself from being hurled into the air. Dust and debris swirled violently in the air cutting into his skin and reducing his health repeatedly.
HP: 360 / 2255
HP: 350 / 2255
HP: 340 / 2255
HP: 330 / 2255
HP: 320 / 2255
Eventually, the tornado started to subside, and the wind died down. Left with 230 HP, Issei barely had time to breathe a sigh of relief before he noticed the wolf's fur changing once again, this time to a deep, dark blue. The air around it grew heavy, thick with moisture, as the wolf shifted its elemental affinity to water. A low growl emanated from the beast as it opened its maw, and a torrent of water bursting forth toward him with terrifying force.
Issei's eyes widened in shock as the wave surged towards him, crashing down like a mini tsunami. With no place for him to hide He threw up his arms, trying to brace himself, but the water slammed into him with the force of a waterfall, knocking him off his feet. He was swept away in the current, tumbling and spinning as the icy water pummeled him from all sides.
HP: 140 / 2255
[!] WARNING - HP critical!
[Partner! Partner!]
' Hold on Ddraig... I have a plan...' Gasping for breath, Issei thought to his dragon partner while clawing his way to the surface, fighting to stay afloat. Just as he had expected, the monster shifted the color of its fur once more, this time to a deep, earthy brown.
The ground around Issei feet trembled violently before splitting open, and massive stone pillars erupted from the ground, surrounding Issei on all sides. One shot forward, flying at his side with bone-crushing force, but Issei was able to vault onto the pillar and run on, dashing forward until he arrived at the tip to launch himself at Red Mane Lycan as the other pillars came crashing down from every angle.
[Boost!]
"Eat this!"
With that announcement from Boosted Gear, Issei descended to throw his metal gauntlet into the side of its head with all of his might and then some. The impact broke the layer of stone armor around it and sent the monster sprawling, its colossal form crashing into the rocky ground with a deafening rumble. The arena shook violently as rocks and debris were scattered in all directions, creating a massive cloud of dust where the monster had landed,
[Boost!]
Issei pressed the advantage, charging forward the monster with renewed vigor. He dodged a swipe of its massive paw by vaulting over it, the force of the swing sending dust and small stones flying, and threw his fist into its flank, causing it to roar in pain as it was once again thrown sideways. The Red Mane Lycan tried to get back on its feet, but Issei didn't allow it the luxury as he dashed forward and rammed his shoulder into its stomach, sending the beast crashing through a large boulder that shattered to pieces upon impact.
[Boost!]
Not allowing the monster to have the time to switch elements, Issei moved in close and leaped into the air to deliver a powerful left uppercut to its jaw, causing its head to snap back. Before it could react, Issei followed up with a crushing right hook, sending it reeling sideways. The shockwaves from the blows rippled across the battlefield, stirring the ring of fire that surrounded the arena and sending debris scattering in all directions.
[Boost!]
Issei dashed in, ducking down and sliding across the ground to avoid a swipe from the monster. The moment that he was right below it, Issei launched himself at the monster and latched his arms around its neck to wrestle it down with a fierce, determined cry.
The monster roared in feral anger, its powerful limbs thrashing wildly in an attempt to dislodge Issei as it bucked and writhed. The struggle was immense, with each of its movements causing the ground to quake and rocks to scatter, but Issei kept a firm, unyielding grip around its neck, applying so much force that the metal armor around the area started to bend inwards.
[Boost!]
"RRRRARGHHHHHHHHH!"
Using every ounce of strength and willpower that he had, Issei clenched his arms tighter around the monster's neck, feeling his muscles straining under the pressure as he planted one foot on its neck and pulled its head back, snapping its neck with a sickening crack, which echoed across the battlefield. In an instant, the wolf's colossal body went still, its struggles ceasing as its head hung limply and its tongue lolled out of its snout. Issei slowly released his grip, breathing heavily, and pushed himself away from the now lifeless form of the monster.
[Red Mane Lycan LV. 30 – Defeated]
[!] Notice
Congratulations! You have completed your Class Change Quest.
Accumulated Promotion EXP: 150000.
[!] ALL SYSTEM FUNCTIONS HAVE BEEN RESTORE.
[!] ACCEPT YOUR CLASS? Y/N
Issei, exhausted and battered, ignored the notifications and collapsed alongside the wolf as it fell, its massive form sprawling out motionless on the rocky terrain. For a long minute, the entire arena was filled with a heavy silence, broken only by the crackling of the surrounding fire and the settling of debris while Issei lay there with his eyes closed, his breath coming in heavy gasps. Every muscle in his body ached, and the adrenaline that had once driven him now left him feeling drained and weak.
[You okay there, partner?]
"Yeah. Just... gimme another minute, then you and I can celebrate with some buttered bread and healing potions." Issei said weakly in response, his voice carrying a hint of humor despite the exhaustion. Ddraig let out a chuckle, which quickly escalated into full-blown laughter. Issei found himself joining his dragon companion and laughed alongside him, easing the tension and pain that had been building throughout the fight.
Slowly, Issei managed to push himself upright, wincing as pain flared through his battered body. Opening his Shop, Issei bought 2 loaves of bread and a handful of potions, enough to heal him and replenish his mana to full.
"Cheer, Ddraig." Issei said as he held the bottle of Greater Healing Potion in the air as if toasting with the Heavenly Dragon himself.
[Cheer, partner.]
With that, Issei downed the potion in one go, feeling its cool, soothing magic flowed through his body and healed him. The pain in his muscles started to fade, and the fatigue that had weighed him down lifted. With a sigh of relief, Issei carried on with the vials of mana potions before leaning back against the nearest rock with a loaf of bread in his hand, tearing off a piece and savoring the warm, buttery flavor of the bread as it melted in his mouth.
"So, which class do you think I should pick, Ddraig?" Eating his second loaf of bread, Issei asked as he chose YES to accept his class on the notification window, but before Ddraig could answer the question, another window popped up in front him, making Issei widen his eyes as he read its message.
[The System will now analyze the player's behavior to determine the class to assign!]
"Wait, does this mean I don't even get to choose?" Issei asked in surprise.
Now that it had come to this, it was impossible for Issei to tell which class he would be assigned to, having no idea what the System meant by 'his behaviors'. Was it based on his stats? If so, then he likely received something akin to a warrior class, given all the points he had invested into STR and VIT. It's what he had in mind from the start, but not that he would mind if he ended up becoming a mage or a hybrid class as well, considering many of his techniques with Boosted Gear required a large mana pool and high INT.
Regardless, he knew that once he had received his class and understood what he needed to focus on, he would become much stronger than he was now.
[Your fighting style, strength, resilience, and the power of the Boosted Gear have shown that you are a warrior who draws power from both your physical might and draconic energy]
Issei's eyes widened as he read the message. "So it's actually taking all that into account?"
[Your friendship with the Heavenly Dragon Ddraig has further solidified your destiny. You are deemed to be a Dragon Knight, embodying the perfect union of humans and dragons.]
[CLASS ASSIGNED: DRAGON KNIGHT]
Issei looked on in astonishment, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation welled up within him. Dragon Knight... not only was it very fitting, but it was also one of the best classes that he could have.
"So, Dragon Knight, huh? Guess from now on I will have to..."
[!] Notice – Hidden Feature Unlocked
The Player is eligible to be assigned a sub-class for multiclassing.
ACCEPT YOUR SUBCLASS? Y/N
"Wait, what!?" Issei asked in surprise as he sat straight up, looking at the second notification window that appeared in front of him with his eyes widening as wide as dinner plates. A sub-class? Multiclassing? Not that Issei had any problem with it; quite the opposite, actually. He had played some games with the feature before, so he knew exactly what multiclassing meant for him. Without a doubt, he could become even stronger than he could have with just his Dragon Knight class.
"Ddraig, what do you think?"
[ Don't ask me, partner. You're the one who has experience in this kind of thing.]
"True..." Issei mused before making up his mind "You know what? Let's go for it! No harm in getting a subclass, am I right?"
With that said, Issei chose YES and in that instance, the entire world around him was enveloped in darkness.
[ Partner?]
Ddraig's voice echoed in Issei as Issei shot to his feet and looked around, feeling his skin crawl at the eerie silence around him. An unsettling sensation crept over him, much like the one he had felt weeks ago when he first summoned Boosted Gear.
Back then, Rias had told him to think of the strongest character he could imagine, and although he had thought of Son Goku, for a brief moment, he had seen those two figures instead. Both were seemingly shrouded in darkness — one wielding an axe, clad in armor of shadow and purple flames, while the other was a young man dressed in a cloak similar to the jacket he was currently wearing, but longer and pitch black...
Arise, Issei Hyoudou. Keep growing stronger. Stronger than you... and I will ever be.
Because my duty, my burden... will soon be yours.
The same figure suddenly walked past him and spoke to Issei with a hand placed on his shoulder. Issei snapped his head toward the man, but he had disappeared as quickly as he had appeared. The world around him then returned to normal, leaving Issei standing there in the destroyed arena, bewildered, with the body of the Red Mane Lycan next to him.
"Ddraig, please tell me I didn't imagine that."
[ You didn't, partner. I felt that too.] Ddraig answered seriously [ I have fought against Gods and the Devils themselves, but that... It's unlike anything I have felt before. Whoever that was... he was powerful.]
Swallowing hard, Issei decided to turn his attention back to the notification window as it showed him the reason for his assigned subclass.
[ Death follows the player everywhere.]
[The Player leaves a trail of bodies wherever they go, filling the air with a scent of blood.]
"Wait, what the heck is this supposed to mean?" Issei asked in surprise, but the message just continued.
[ The Player also has a fervent desire for power, so potent that it has attracted the lost souls in the valley of Death. The army of the Dead will obey your commands and open a path for you so that you may strive towards your goals.]
"W-Wait a minute... you've gotta be kidding me." Issei asked, shocked, with sweat trickling down the sides of his face "You are telling me this is my subclass?"
[YOUR SUB-CLASS IS THE NECROMANCER]
Necromancer. If Dragon Knight was exactly the class he had wanted, then Necromancer was... something entirely unexpected, and it's definitely not in a good way. Even as a sub-class, it was the one class he disliked the most in RPGs. It's not that he despised it, but the idea of raising the dead, controlling lifeless corpses, and using dark magic just never sat right with him.
The class was creepy, unsettling, and completely opposite to his usual playstyle and how he wanted to grow, which Issei had brought to life with the System.
Issei groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Of all the classes... Why this one? I don't even like playing as a Necromancer in games!"
[ I must admit... the idea of you becoming a Necromancer is quite... unsettling] Ddraig said, his voice lacking its usual humor.
Issei sighed, still trying to wrap his head around the whole situation. "I mean, sure, it's definitely going to be useful, but seriously? What am I supposed to do with this?"
[ Perhaps there's more to it than we realize, partner.] Ddraig mused, though he sounded uncertain. [ Maybe... this will give you an edge we haven't considered. Some of your predecessors fought necromancers in the past, and trust me when I say they were the most difficult type of enemies to deal with.]
Issei could see why. A necromancer would only grow stronger as the battle went on with their power to raise and command the dead. Not only that, but they were also supposed to be experts in dark magic, capable of casting curses and hexes that could weaken or even cripple their opponents to leave them even more vulnerable at the hands of their undead summons. It was a style that focused on attrition, grinding down enemies with relentless waves of undead and debilitating spells.
[!] Notice – Your class and sub-class has been decided
You are now Level 20 Dragon Knight / Level 1 Necromancer.
"Hmmm, I see."
Issei mused as he looked at the displayed notification of his classes. If he wasn't mistaken then from the look of it, each time he leveled up, he would have the choice of either leveling his Dragon Knight class or his Necromancer sub-class, depending on what he felt would benefit him the most at the time.
This meant he could either focus on further refining his skills as a Dragon Knight, enhancing his physical strength and draconic prowess by raising his STR and VIT, or he could focus on his INT to start delving into the dark arts as a Necromancer, which should also benefited his Boosted Gear's techniques.
And also, having the ability to raise the dead might be not as bad as he thought. Things would have gone much smoother for him if he had had Necromancy from the start. In a way, the enemies he had fought so far in all three dungeons had tried to overwhelm him with their number, which was similar to what a necromancer could do with their undead summons. If he could raise the enemies that he defeated and made them his minions, then he could easily even the odds out.
Ddraig was right. This added a layer of strategy to his growth that he hadn't considered.
[!] Notice – Class Promotion
Congratulations! You have earned enough Promotion EXP by defeating every monster in this dungeon. Your classes are now ready to be promoted to higher tiers.
As the notification faded away, a circle of darkness formed at his feet. Issei considered backing out but stopped when he felt a surge of power as tendrils of darkness reached out from the circle and wrapped themselves around his limbs like a living shroud. At the same time, a red aura flared around Issei, encircling his body like a ring of blazing inferno. It was then that the two auras then converged, swirling and pulsing around Issei, kicking up the winds within the forest before they were absorbed into him, leaving Issei standing there, looking at himself in amazement as he felt the profound power of his newly promoted classes while a crimson aura flared around his body like a blazing flame.
[!] Notice - You are now Level 20 Dragonsworn / Level 1 Shadow Monarch.
1. You have been awarded bonus stats.
2. You have learned class-specific skills.
3. You have received a Sigil of the Shadow Commander, Igirs.
4. You have received a pair of Kamish's Slumber [Refinable].
5. New features unlocked: Crafting and Refining.
"Uh… what even is Dragonsworn? Or Shadow Monarch?"
Issei asked with an awkward smile. As cool and powerful as he was feeling, he actually didn't have a clue what his classes were anymore. What was Dragonsworn? And what did the System mean by Shadow Monarch? Could he now raise shadows of the dead and command them instead of their actual bodies? If that was the case, it would certainly make the class feel better for Issei, as he didn't want to be the master of zombies when his dream was to become a Harem King. He could hardly think that would attract the girls.
Hsst hsst
"Uh, what is that?"
Issei froze, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end as a low, agonized moan echoed through the arena. His gaze darted around, trying to locate the source of the sound, before it finally settled on the Red Mane Lycan, which lay lifeless on the ground next to him. The monster's colossal body remained still, yet the eerie sound continued to emanate from it.
Cautiously, Issei approached the fallen monster, a mix of curiosity and unease swirling within him. Once he was close enough, a prompt for [ Shadow Extraction] flashed in bold letters above the monster, making Issei widen his eyes in surprise
[Target is eligible for Shadow Extraction]
"I see... so this must be the skill." Issei said with a small smile as he looked at the wolf, understanding what it meant when he used the skill on it "Ddraig, what do you think?"
[I cannot think of a more beneficial and formidable first ally, partner.] Ddraig answered.
"Let's do it then." Isse nodded, and it was then that a second window appeared before him, bearing a message along with an empty box to type in.
[Designate the command for Shadow Extraction.]
"A command?"
Issei mused, shuddering a little as his dark aura suddenly intensified for a brief moment, as if helping him make up his mind with the choice, which flowed naturally from his mouth like something he had said multiple times before,
" Arise."
The moment the word left his lips, a dark mist rose around the corpse of the Red Mane Lycan. For a moment, everything was still, with Issei holding his breath as he watched intently. Then, the shadow of the wolf monster started to rise, peeling away from the corpse and taking on a form of its own to stand before him, a dark and ominous reflection of the monster it once was, its glowing red eyes locked onto Issei not with feral, murderous intent, but with absolute obedient, as if awaiting orders from him as he stood there and looked at the beast in awe and bewilderment.
"Woah..." Issei breathed, his voice barely above a whisper as he took in the sight of his newly risen shadow. The Red Mane Lycan had been terrifying in life, but now, as a shadowy specter under his control, it seemed even more formidable.
And there he thought he would revive the monster with a broken neck just like any normal Necromancer would have.
[The shadow has leveled up.]
[This shadow's level will start at level 5]
[You may assign a name to shadows with the knight rank or higher]
"A name? Do you want me to name you?" Issei asked while rubbing his chin thoughtfully, half-expecting the shadow to remain unresponsive even to his question. To his surprise, however, the wolf let out a growl and lowered its head down to nudge gently at him, as if to approve the idea.
Whatever this Shadow Monarch class was, it's definitely a tier above the normal Necromancer.
"Well. In life, you're Red Mane Lycan, so your name should be something like... Lycan... Lycan... Lycaon!" Issei said, the name rolling off his tongue with a sense of finality. "From now on, your name will be Lycaon!"
[!] Name Assigned
[Lycaon LV. 5]
Rank: Knight
As soon as the name was spoken and registered by the System, Lycaon lifted its head towards the sky and let out a deep, yet hauntingly beautiful howl directed at the full moon that hung in the starry expanse above. Issei stood there and watched in awe as the howl cut through the silence of the night, reverberating through the entire forest before fading slowly into the distance.
It was then that the wolf lowered its head, allowing Issei to reach out and pat it gently. He started cautiously but grew more comfortable as the shadowy monster let out a guttural growl of approval.
"Good boy." Issei said with a smile, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction before he decided to ask as he looked around. "Now that I have a good look at you, aren't you a little smaller than before? Maybe you get bigger as you level up?"
He had noticed that while Lycaon still retained its formidable presence, it was noticeably smaller than the colossal beast it had been in life, being reduced to only twice or three times the size of an elemental wolf. Not that it was a problem, however, since its current size made Lycaon more manageable.
"Speaking of... hey, can you bring me to the forest outside so I can revive others as well?"
Issei asked, remembering the wolves that he had slain in the forest outside the arena. He had a maximum of 30 shadows to work with at the moment, so he could revive every wolf he had slain if he didn't miscount.
Without hesitation, Lycaon lowered its body, allowing Issei to climb onto its back. Once his master had settled, the beast rose into a crouching posture, building up strength in its powerful legs before launching itself forward, traversing the rocky terrain with little to no trouble before launching high into the air, soaring over the ring of fire surrounding the arena to land on the forest floor. The impact was barely jarring for Issei as the wolf touched down and started carrying him over to its lesser counterparts, allowing him to revive each and every one of them with his main priority being the five elemental wolves, which had the rank of Elites while the rest were Common just as he had expected.
It was ten minutes later that Issei found himself sitting with his newly revived pack of shadow wolves, his back leaning against the streamlined form of Lycaon as it lay behind him and rested its head on the forest floor. The rest scattered around, minding their own affairs like a real, living pack of wolves in the wild. Issei was still in amazement at how alive they felt, despite the fact that they were supposedly his undead summons.
Definitely not zombies, Issei thought.
With his subclass settled at level 1 for the time being, leaving him with little more than Shadow Extraction to work with, Issei started to look into his main class, Dragonsworn. Fortunately enough for him, the class came with a digital manual, which he bought from the shop for 10 Gold – same price as that wig, and had the System display it to read with Ddraig, who was just as interested in the class as he was.
"Alright, let's see here," Issei read. "Dragonsworn are the oathbound protectors of dragons. A Dragonsworn can make pacts with dragons, inheriting their strength and abilities to use in combat. Okay, so actually not that different from our current situation."
[Indeed. But perhaps there is more to it.] Ddraig responded.
Issei nodded in agreement and opened his Character Menu, noticing that he currently had four Dragon slots available. If he wasn't mistaken, this meant he could form pacts with four different dragons and use their powers as his own. However, he doubted that he could wield all four at the same time and would likely need to switch between pacts.
"A Pact will further enhance the powers of the Dragonsworn corresponding to the elements of their Pact Dragons. If a pact is made with a fire dragon, then all fire spells or fire related skills the Dragonsworn uses will receive a boost in power, at the same time granting a natural resistance to the element. The same goes for any other powers the dragons might have, which the Dragonsworn already inherits through other means." Issei continued to read, his eyes widening in realization. "Wait, does that mean if I make a pact with you, Ddraig, then all of Boosted Gear's techniques will receive a boost in power?"
[That seems to be the case] the Heavenly Dragon mused.
"Well, do you want to make a pact with me?"
[Partner, you don't have to...]
"You're right I don't have to. I want to, Ddraig." Issei said with a grin "You and I are partners, right? I wouldn't have beaten this dungeon without you. Plus, making this pact with you could benefit us both more than you think, and I'm not just talking about boosting up Boosted Gear. You're a Heavenly Dragon, aren't you like... one of the strongest dragons there is?"
[Yes. Albion and I are the second strongest dragons of this world, surpassed only by Great Red and Ophis, the Dragon Gods themselves.] Ddraig answered [But I'm technically dead, partner. We don't know if Pact making will even work on a dead dragon. Surely there are more available options for you to make a Pact with out there than me.]
"Have you already forgotten that I'm also a necromancer now? Well, technically, anyway," Issei said with a grin, causing the Heavenly Dragon to fall silent. "And it doesn't hurt to try, right? Me having Boosted Gear is basically us already having a pact. If I can make this pact with you, we'll just make it official."
[If you say so, partner.] Ddraig replied with a small, amused chuckle before his tone turned solemn. [Very well then. It would be my pleasure, and honor, to make this pact with you, Issei Hyoudou.]
"The feeling is mutual, Ddraig," Issei grinned. A few seconds of silence passed between them before Issei asked with an awkward smile, after Lycaon broke the silence with a yawn "Uh, so how do we do this, exactly?"
As it turned out, all they had to do was have Issei confirm his choice when the System asked if he wanted to make his first pact with Ddraig. In return, the Heavenly Dragon also needed to give his consent by responding with YES when asked if he wanted to make a pact with him by Issei, making the draconic symbol of Ddraig himself appear in the first Dragon Slot.
And as soon as the confirmations were made, Issei felt a surge of energy course through him as the System registered his pact with Ddraig.
[!] Notice - Pact Confirmed
You have made a Pact with the Heavenly Dragon, Red Dragon Emperor of Domination, Y Ddraig Goch [Fire].
Current Pacted Dragons: 1/4
Current Pact Level: 1
1. All available Boosted Gear's Techniques will be enhanced! Lost when Pact Switching.
Doubling (MP cost: 20 - 10): Stamina required to handle each Boost reduced to 98%.
Transferring (MP cost: 10 - 0): Add 10% to the amount transferred.
Penetrate (MP cost: 200 - 150): Power increased. Armor Penetration: 60 - 80%. Can no longer be distinguished from normal attacks.
2. Passives earned!
Dragon's Physiology: Grant immunity to all diseases, poisons, and status ailments. Greatly improves health regeneration when the Player is asleep. This passive won't be lost when Pact Switching.
Dragon's Sight: Enhances vision to allow the Player to see through illusions and detect hidden objects or enemies. This passive won't be lost when Pact Switching.
Dragon's Resilience: Increases resistance to physical and magical attacks by 10%. This resistance increases by 5% for each additional dragon the player makes a pact with. This passive won't be lost when Pact Switching.
Dragon's Might: Your true potential has been unlocked, allowing you to grow stronger with each level. HP now also scales with STR, MP now also scales with CHAR, and dragon-based attacks now deal a percentage of VIT and DEX. This effect increases by 5% for each additional dragon the player makes a pact with. This passive won't be lost when Pact Switching.
Fire Mastery: Through the pact with Ddraig, a fire dragon, you have gained mastery over fire. All fire-based skills and spells will have their MP cost reduced by 20% and deal 15% more damage, increased by 2% for each additional fire dragon the Player makes a pact with. This passive will be lost when Pact Switching to dragons of other elements.
Fire Resistance: Through the pact with Ddraig, a fire dragon, the Player has gained fire resistance. All fire-based skills and spells will deal 5% less damage to you. You can also withstand high temperatures and heat-based environmental hazards. This resistance increases by 5% for each additional fire dragon the player makes a pact with. This passive will be lost when Pact Switching to dragons of other elements.
3. Skill Unlocked.
Fire Imbue: Through the pact with Ddraig, a fire dragon, the Player has gained the ability to imbue their weapons with fire, dealing fire damage equal to 30% of Attack with a chance to [Burn] the target, increase 5% for each additional fire dragon the Player makes a pact with. This passive will be lost when Pact Switching to dragons of other elements
"Woaaahhhh! This is awesommeee!" Issei exclaimed, his eyes wide with a mix of amazement and excitement as he read carefully through the whole thing. Enhanced Boosted Gear techniques, mastery and resistance to fire — this was everything that he could have hoped for the Dragonsworn class and his pact with Ddraig. He had no doubt that as he leveled up his Pact Level with Ddraig, additional skills and status would be available to him.
[This is... something else.] Ddraig said in amazement. He was most impressed by the enhancement to the Penetrate technique, which could no longer be distinguished from normal attacks, a common problem that he and all of the past wielders of Boosted Gear had when facing experienced opponents. Users of Divine Dividing, in particular, could naturally counter the technique because of Albion, but that should no longer be a problem with the enhanced Penetrate.
"Hmm, I will lose the buffs and benefits of the Pact with you if I switch to another dragon. Fire Mastery and Fire Resistance lost when switching to dragons of other elements." Issei mused while rubbing his chin, looking deep in thought for a moment before widening his eyes in realization.
This whole element-changing thing... it was just like Lycaon. Moreover, those five elemental wolves he fought at the start—could it be that they were means for the System to show him the powers of the elements and what he could do with them?
And what about the non-elemental wolves? They were summoned by their elemental counterparts to fight him... perhaps they were meant to give him a glimpse of strength in numbers and what he could achieve if he had minions by his side to overwhelm his enemies. Of course, these were just his assumptions, but Issei almost felt as if this dungeon had been designed with Dragonsworn and Shadow Monarch as his classes specifically for him from the start.
There was really no analyzing the behaviors?
With that in mind, Issei opened his inventory and brought out the items that he had received earlier to examine them. First was the Sigil of the Shadow Commander, Igris. It was obvious that the sigil was an item that he could use to summon a powerful shadow named Igris, but the specific requirements to use it were all shown as UNKNOWN.
Deciding to leave it in his inventory for the time being, Issei brought out the second item, Kamish's Slumber, which revealed itself to be a pair of daggers, one larger than the other. The blades were a deep red, with the smaller dagger having a black blade guard, while the thicker one had a golden blade guard. Both daggers, though impressive, showed signs of wear — with cracks and chips covering their surfaces.
Despite these flaws, the edges appeared to still be incredibly sharp, and the weapons themselves seemed to hold a latent power, as if waiting to unleash their full potential.
[!] Item
[Name: Kamish's Slumber]
Rarity: ?
Type: Dagger
Attack: 100
A pair of daggers forged by a master craftsman from the fang of a dragon. Both weapons bear signs of extensive use, with cracks and chips etched into their surfaces. Despite their condition, the edges remain sharp, and there is a hint of power that has yet to be awakened. Perhaps it could be returned to its former glory using Refinery with the right materials.
Materials Required:
[Elemental Fangs] x 5
[UNKNOWN] x 1
[UNKNOWN] x 1
[UNKNOWN] x 1
Next stage of Refinement: Kamish's Awaken
"Hold on... is this the Legendary Weapon?!" Issei asked in surprise as he looked at the daggers in his hands, remembering the fangs he had collected earlier from the Elemental Wolves. Opening the new Crafting Window, Issei put Kamish's Slumber into the Refinery Slot, confirming that the Elemental Fangs in his inventory were indeed among the required materials to refine the weapons.
[Impressive craftsmanship, I have to say.] Ddraig's voice echoed from Boosted Gear, making Issei nod his head in agreement.
"So where exactly am I going to find the other materials then?" Issei asked himself, frowned as he pondered the missing material after putting the weapons back into his inventory. Its stat wasn't that impressive for a pair of daggers with no special passive or technique, but Issei could feel the power pulsing within it just like what the description said. He had no doubt that once he refined the weapons, their true potential would be unlocked, but that seemed to be a long way off.
"I guess it's time to call it a night." Issei said as he stood up, stretching his arms over his head before looking at the wolves as they turned their attention to him, looking at him in expectation "Time to go home."
What an eventful night it had been.
"Your family would have been very upset if you had succeeded in doing something this drastic to break off your engagement, Ojou-sama."
"I know, Grayfia. You don't have to repeat that for a second time." Rias replied distastefully, not just because Grayfia, who had arrived to confront her soon after she discovered that Issei wasn't in his room, had reminded her of her previous actions, but also because of an earlier comment where the maid had called Issei a lowly person.
That was something she couldn't accept, regardless of Grayfia Lucifuge's status as the head maid of the Gremory Devil Household, her brother's personal assistant, and one of the strongest female devils in the Underworld.
"In any case, you are the next heir of the Gremory Household. You should consider your actions more carefully next time," Grayfia said, maintaining a calm tone as she addressed Rias. "It's getting late. Let's—"
Before Grayfia could finish, the window on the other side of the room was gently eased open. Both Rias and Grayfia turned their attention to it, watching in silence with a mixture of surprise and curiosity as Issei Hyoudou crawled his way in, doing it slowly and carefully as if he didn't want to disturb his parents and Asia, who were sleeping, in the house.
Eventually, he was able to slip fully into his room, and once he did, Issei immediately turned around to close the window. The unexpected entrance left the room in an awkward silence, broken only by Issei as he turned around and flinched when he saw Rias and Grayfia.
"Buchou?"
Issei addressed his master in surprise, before turning his attention over the maid standing next to her. Calling her beautiful would be an understatement, even next to his Rias Gremory, the most beautiful girl of Kuoh Academy, with the appearance of a beautiful and extremely voluptuous woman in her early twenties with gorgeous red eyes and stunning back-length silver hair that featured a long braid on each side with small blue bows at the ends, while the rest was let down and ended in twin braids.
Being a maid, her outfit was a blue and white form fitting French maid outfit with long sleeves and a white maid headband over her head. In addition, the woman also donned light makeups with red lipstick as cosmetic accessories, which accentuated her beauty even further.
However, what shocked Issei the most the moment he saw her was the extraordinarily dense silver aura that seemed to envelop her and flare out to his entire room. Lately, Issei had noticed that he could see the aura of power emanating from others, allowing him to determine their overall strength without having to use Observe for detailed analysis. The aura surrounding this woman was by far the most overwhelming he had encountered.
And just as he had expected, having no doubt that she had unbelievably high Perception Stat, she appeared to have noticed what he was doing. Her red eyes narrowed just a little as she casted her gaze on him, making Issei immediately turn his attention back to his master, laughing awkwardly as he asked her to ease the sudden tension that had fallen between the two of them.
And also... did she just glance at his shadow on the floor? It didn't seem like she realized anything, but just how high was her Perception stat?
He had to learn to hide Lycaon and the others better.
At this point, Issei was nervous to find out about it, having a feeling that the moment he activated Observe, she would notice.
"Uh, what are you doing here? When did you arrive?" He asked, turning around to look at his bed and widen his eyes when he saw that his disguise was fully revealed. Laughing nervously, he turned back to Rias, and saw her looking at him worriedly as she stood up from the bed.
"I got here a few minutes ago. I had something to ask of you but... it doesn't matter now. What happened to you, Ise?" She asked him, making Issei laugh nervously while scratching the back of his head, having intended to go straight to the shower to clean up. While most of his wounds had healed up, he still looked like someone who had just been attacked by a pack of wild wolves... which was the truth.
"Uh, I... was out training." He answered.
"Training? With who?"
"Ojou-sama, we can worry about that later." Grayfia spoke up, making Issei and Rias look at her as she turned to him "You must be Issei-san. Nice to meet you. I'm Grayfia Lucifuge, the headmaid of the Gremory devil household."
"Uh, hey. Issei replied, waving his hand in greeting.
"We need to have your wounds checked, Issei-san," Grayfia continued, prompting Issei to raise his bandaged right arm and look at it. "As I recall, Asia Argento, the wielder of Twilight Healing, is living with you, correct? We should call her to heal..."
"No, no need to wake her up. It's already late. Let her sleep. We have school tomorrow." Issei interrupted with a wave of his hands in front of him before he continued "And also, I'm fine. This is only a scratch."
"I find it hard to believe that it's just a scratch when you are reek with Gate residual, Issei-san." Grayfia said, making Issei widen his eyes in surprise. What did she just say? "We need to have your wounds checked, and it's final."
And with that, Issei found himself sitting on his chair with his right arm resting on the deck, facing Grayfia as she unwrapped the bandages, revealing the cauterized wounds underneath and making Rias gasp in horror.
"I'm fine, really. Don't worry about it, Buchou."
Issei said with an assuring smile. He definitely could have healed himself better, but Issei had wanted to test his Dragon's Physiology passive to see how well he would heal after a good night's sleep. He just didn't expect to meet anyone that night as he returned to his room.
"Anyway, Grayfia-san." Deciding to change the subject, Issei turned back to Grayfia to ask her as she carefully disinfected his wounds. The woman clearly had experience in the medical field "If you don't mind me asking, you mention something about Gate, what is it?"
"I take that ojou-sama hasn't told you." Grayfia said before she carried on explaining ""Well, you see, around eighteen years ago, portals that we believe connect ours to another world started to show up all around the globe. If left unaddressed within a few days, monsters and magical beasts inside will start flooding into our world through these portals, threatening the safety of not just us devils, but humans, and every other being out there. Each faction calls it something different, but the common term we all use is 'Gates'."
"I have seen a few of them but only on news and reports." Rias continued "But as far as I can tell, each of these Gates works like a dungeon in video games with a powerful boss monster residing inside, and it will remain open until this boss is defeated. Many people have tried other methods to force-close these Gates, but none of them worked, so pretty much everyone just sticks with fighting. Not like we don't gain anything from them by doing it though."
'No way...' Issei widened his eyes in shock. What they had just described was exactly what he had encountered so far with those dungeons. Could it be that he had been fighting in those Gates this whole time? And the keys he received from those random loot boxes were a means to force open those Gates? This raised even more questions about the System. ' Ddraig, do you know anything about this?'
[Sorry, partner, but this is my first time hearing about something like this too. These portals must have been around for as long as you are alive, and I was in slumber the whole time until you woke me up by summoning Boosted Gear for the first time.]
Issei could only nod his head mentally to Ddraig. He couldn't really blame the dragon for not knowing it.
But Ddraig had a point there... Why had they been around for as long as he was alive. Did it have anything to do with the System?
"Humans have created many organizations around the world to deal with these Gates and keep them a secret from the general public, the most famous and notable of them are the Mages and the Hero Faction." Grayfia continued to explain "They are known to enlist our assistance to help with Gate Closing or any other matters that related to Gates. However, due to the nature of these Gates and the dangers within them, only middle-class devils and above are allowed to partake in these activities as Devil Jobs. Every job is incredibly high risk, but very rewarding."
"So our peerage isn't qualified yet?" Issei asked, looking over to Rias to see her shaking her head at him.
"Which brings us to my earlier question, have you been training by entering these Gates and fighting the monsters inside, Issei-san?" Grayfia asked, sharpening her eyes at him while Rias looked at him worriedly "You are very lucky because those Gates must have been low-ranking, but what if you encountered a high-ranking Gate, or a Red Gate."
"Ise, how long have you been doing this?" Rias asked him.
"Well, a couple of times. The last one is easier but..." Issei answered with a chuckle but was cut off when Grayfia applied some pressure with her thumb on his arm, making him wince in pain "Ouch."
"I suggest that you be more careful next time. If you encounter one of these Gates again, please report back to your master so experienced devils could come and take proper care of it. This is a global problem on a scale that you still can't possibly imagine, Issei-san."
With that said, Grayfia moved her other hand over his wound and casted a healing spell. While it was clear that the spell was not as effective as the aura of Twilight Healing, it still lessened the pain and made him feel a lot better.
"I will keep that in mind, Grayfia-san." Issei said, nodding his head to Grayfia as the maid wrapped some fresh bandages around his arm. It was after this that Rias and Grayfia left, departing from his room using teleportation magic, with his master promising to talk more with him tomorrow, although he had a feeling that it's just her way of giving him a dress down for being reckless.
' Gates, Dungeons... What the hell is going on? Just what is the System?' Issei thought as he quietly left his room and headed to the bathroom to take a shower and clean up before going to sleep, his mind continuing to be occupied by all the questions that he had had since the moment that he cleared the Class Change Quest Dungeon.
Little did he know that this was just the beginning of his journey.
End of chapter 6
Current Stat:
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Race: Reincarnated Devil
Class: Level 20 Dragonsworn / Level 1 Shadow Monarch
HP: 3955 / 3955
MP [Current Attribute: Draconic/Demonic: 1255 / 1255
Strength: 90
Vitality: 75
Intelligence: 70
Dexterity: 80
Perception: 60
Charisma: 50
Current Pact: Y Ddraig Goch (Fire).
Unique Class Skills: Fire Imbue, Shadow Extraction