It wasn't long after the match when Issei found himself walking down the hallway of the Gremory Residence with his friends, dressed in a new suit that had been tailor-made for him by a renowned tailor of the Devil Faction. The black fabric of the suit shimmered faintly under the chandelier lights as he walked beside his master, and though it perfectly accentuated his lean, muscular build, Issei couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable in such formal attire, being his first time wearing something like it.
Next to him, Rias walked with both of her arms around one of his. Like him, she was dressed for the occasion, being an elegant black dress that suited her quite well, with her crimson hair flowing behind her like a regal cape. Rias was carrying herself with grace, but anyone could tell that she was in a good mood, and who could blame her? She had just achieved something she had always wanted. The two of them and the rest of the Gremory Peerage were currently headed to the party organized by her parents. It had originally been meant to be the wedding between Rias and Riser, but with the Phenex being defeated in the Rating Game, the party had been changed to celebrate Rias' first Rating Game victory and subsequent release from the marriage.
Not that it would be viewed as such.
"Be sure to be on your best behaviors, everyone." Rias reminded them once they reached a large double door with two formally dressed devils standing beside them with stiff posture that radiated professionalism. "I know this is a celebration party, but we are still the future face of the Gremory devil household."
"Understood, Buchou." And with that, Rias nodded her head to the two devils standing at the door, who promptly bowed and pulled the large double doors open in unison. A wave of warm, golden light from the chandeliers spilled out into the hallway, revealing a grand ballroom beyond that was a stunning display of luxury and grandeur. Ornate columns lined the room, their intricate carvings adding to the elegance of the space. The polished marble floors gleamed under the soft glow of crystal chandeliers, while grand tapestries, bearing the crest of the family, cascaded from the high ceilings that rose high over their heads.
Filling this space had to be at least a hundred devils, all dressed in clothes that spoke of their status and wealth. Among them, a few stood out. Issei could see Sona Sitri and Tsubaki Shinra, the president and vice president of the Student Council, which Issei had been told before were the front of the Sitri Peerage led by Sona herself, the heiress of the Sitri devil household that produced the current Leviathan Maou.
Beside them, on the other side of the room, there was also a towering, muscular young man who had black hair and violet eyes standing next to a buxom woman with blonde hair. He seemed to be in high spirits as he talked to some devils, but the one thing Issei instantly noticed about him was the striking resemblance he had to both Rias and Sirzechs, making him wonder if he was related to them in any way.
As Rias guided Issei across the room with the rest of her peerage, Issei noticed that all eyes were on them, filled with a mix of interest and curiosity as murmurs and whispers floated through the air. Rias exchanged friendly greetings with a few of the guests, notably Sona, Tsubaki, and a beautiful, bespectacled young woman in her late teens with long, pale greenish-blonde hair escorted by a handsome young man dressed in a butler suit. However, Rias didn't stop to chat, and instead led her Peerage over to see her family, who were standing with Serafall, Aphrodite, and the Lord and Lady of the Phenex Household, accompanied by their daughter and her bodyguard. Issei couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable at the sight of them, even though they appeared fairly relaxed, since he had just beaten up their son a few hours earlier.
The Greek goddess was the first to notice their approach, and the smile that spread across her face seemed to brighten the already lively ballroom even when her eyes landed on Issei, who found himself appreciating the way the elegant white dress she was wearing conforming to the sensual curves of her voluptuous figure. Even in a room full of beautiful female devils, the goddess of love and beauty was clearly on a league of her own.
"There they are." Aphrodite said, turning all eyes to them as Rias greeted the members of her family before doing the same to the Phenex and Serafall, who beamed at her. "Congratulations on your victory, everyone. That was quite a spectacular show you guys put on."
"Thank you, Lady Aphrodite." Rias managed a small smile, her voice respectful while her servants lowered their heads in the same manner to the older devils. "It was a tough match, but I'm glad we came out on top."
"Oh please, there's no need for you to be so modest. Even someone who didn't know much about Rating Game could tell you and your servants dominated that match." Aphrodite spoke to Rias while waving a hand at her, making Rias chuckle softly in response.
"Lady Aphrodite spoke the truth. It's not every day that you get to see someone defeating a member of our household in such a convincing manner." Lord Phenex spoke up while directing his gaze at Issei, who turned to him and smiled nervously. "If you're worried that we might be angry at you for defeating my son, don't be. Truth be told, I believe this defeat will do Raiser more good than harm. Us Phenex are immortal, but that doesn't mean our powers are the pinnacle of the Devil Faction. Unlike his older brothers, Riser has grown arrogant and complacent. Hopefully, with this defeat, he will learn some humility."
"Ah... if you say so, sir." Issei said, bringing himself to smile at the man while feeling a huge weight being lifted from his shoulder.
"Though, I believe I can speak for everyone here that we were quite amazed at the strength you showed." Lord Phenex continued, with Lord Gremory and Sirzechs nodding their heads in agreement "I don't doubt your strength as the Sekiryuutei, but that summoning ability you showed at the end was quite a sight to behold."
"Unless you have another Sacred Gear we have never seen or heard of before, is it a skill you acquired from a Rune Stone in one of the Gates you cleared, Issei-kun?" Sirzechs asked, making Issei look at him before nodding his head in confirmation. He had talked with Ddraig, the only one who knew the true nature of his powers, and they had come to an agreement about what he could disclose and what to keep confidential when someone asked him about them.
"How many can you summon, Issei-kun?" Zeoticus asked, his eyes sparkling with interest. Issei could tell the man had clearly been investing a lot of thought into it, barely able to hide his passion. "And if I may ask, since those shadowy beings came from your shadow, did you create them from your imagination, or are they..."
"Dear..." Venelana interjected, her tone gentle but firm, bringing her husband's enthusiastic questioning to a halt. It was then that Zeoticus realized what he just did and coughed into his hand with a smile, with Lord Phenex resting a hand on his shoulder and giving him an amused look with Sirzechs.
"My apology. Seems like I got carried away again." The crimson haired man said with his own smile.
"It's quite alright, sir. Your daughter actually asked me the same question when I revealed this power of mine to her. I can see where she got her enthusiasm from." Issei said, making Rias narrow her eyes playfully at him while the rest just laughed in amusement.
"Yes, I trust that one day Rias can take over the Crimson Emporium and not just our business enterprise." Zeoticus continued "I initially started it as a side project because of my hobby for tinkering that had materials with magical properties from my younger days. I had no idea it would evolve into a major business with such widespread influence."
"With more and more Gates appearing all around the world, you're the only one I trust to create the best items from the materials we harvest from them, Zeoticus." Lord Phenex remarked, making Zeoticus nod his head and smile at him before he turned his attention to Aphrodite and quickly added "No offense to Lord Hephaestus, of course, milady."
"Oh, none taken," Aphrodite responded with an amused smile. "Even Hephaestus had praised Zeoticus for his skills, you and Azazel from Grigori. Last I checked, he seemed fairly interested in meeting you in person. Although we divorced a few hundred years ago, we parted on good terms, so if you want, I can arrange a meeting for you two so you craftsmen can... discuss your crafts."
"I'd love nothing more than that, milady," Zeoticus said, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. "I'd greatly appreciate the opportunity to exchange ideas and techniques with Lord Hephaestus."
"Men and their toys... I myself can never understand what they find so fascinating in weapons. But who am I to judge?" Aphrodite giggled heartily as she exchanged a look with Venelana, who sighed and gave her husband a look, which he ignored to chat with Lord Phenex.
After a moment, Zeoticus then turned his attention back to Issei and spoke to him. "Anyway, we will have plenty of time to learn more about your abilities later, Issei-kun. I must admit this might not be the best place or time to discuss such matters... but after the party, if you'd like, I can take you and the others to visit the Emporium. It's also about the clearance you requested from Sirzechs."
"Really?" Issei asked in surprise, looking over to Sirzechs to see him nodding his head.
"I promised we would talk more about it later, didn't I, Issei-kun?" The crimson haired Maou smiled. "There are several matters we need to discuss. We will leave in about an hour, and I'll have Grayfia inform you when it's time. For now, enjoy the party with your friends and my sister. This celebration is for you five, after all."
"Thank you, Sirzechs-sama/Onii-sama."
With that, the young Gremory Peerage turned and made their way to the other side of the ballroom, leaving the adults to continue whatever discussions that they had had before they arrived to find for themselves an empty table, which Rias had the waiters and waitresses serving the party filled up with foods and drinks. As they waited to settle in, several young devils approached to congratulate her on their victory over the Phenex Peerage. While Issei could sense that many were merely trying to leave a good first impression on the heiress of the Gremory Household, some seemed aware that it was him who had single handedly defeated Raiser, leading them to come to him to express their acknowledgements for his strength and ability.
And it was Sairaorg Bael who truly stood out the most amongst them.
"Say, you guys don't look that excited learning that we're going to see the Emporium." Issei asked while filling his plate with the foods on the table before offering to do the same for Asia. The Peerage had just finished making a toast to their victory with their choices of drinks and were currently chatting among themselves.
"Trust me, Issei-kun, we're excited." Kiba said with a small chuckle "The Gremory has many shops here in the Underworld as well as all around the human world, but the headquarters here will be unlike anything you have ever seen before. I still remember the feeling I got the first time I saw the place with my own eyes."
"But other than the new items, there really isn't anything about the place we haven't seen before." Akeno giggled as she hid her smile behind the sleeves of her black kimono, making Issei nod his head in understanding while eating the food on his plate. "I have accompanied Rias to the Emporium here so many times I know the place like the back of my hand."
"Oh, I get it now." Issei grinned before he decided to ask "So, anything super interested Asia and I should look out for when we visit?"
"Obviously the skull of the Pitch-Black Flame, Ennio."
Before Rias could answer his question, a voice rang out behind Issei, causing him to turn around to find himself looking at the muscular young man whose face resembled that of Rias and Sirzechs from before as he walked toward them with the blonde whom Issei assumed was his Queen. Now that he was near, Issei could see the overwhelming aura he was emitting, making him easily one of the strongest young devils in the room, outclassing even some of the adults with the exceptions of Sirzechs, Grayfia and Serafall.
"Sairaorg!" Rias addressed the devil with a beaming smile, making Sairaorg grin broadly at her while the blonde walking behind him bowed her head to the crimson haired devil, with Akeno, Koneko and Kiba doing the same to her master.
"Hey there, cousin! Mind if Kuisha and I join you and your family?" He asked, holding up the glass in his hand, while Issei and Asia widened their eyes at the way he just addressed Rias.
"Of course not. You're always welcome to join us, Sairaorg" Rias beamed before she turned her attention over to Issei and Asia to introduce them "Ise, Asia, this is my cousin from my mother's side as well as the current heir to the Bael Devil Household, Sairaorg Bael, and his Queen, Kuisha Abaddon."
"Nice to meet you!" Sairaorg nodded his head to Issei and Asia, maintaining his easygoing smile as he extended his hand out and offered it to them.
"Nice to meet you as well, Sairaorg-san."
Issei smiled as he shook hands with Sairaorg after Asia had done the same, noting that the man before him had an insanely strong grip despite the fact that it didn't look like he was trying at all. Additionally, the way he carried himself, how pleasant and relaxed his demeanor was despite his status already made Sairaorg Bael a cool guy in his eyes.
"I heard you were the one who beat Raiser. Overpowering a Phenex and forcing him to be retired from the game is no small feat." Sairaorg spoke to Issei with a grin that spoke volume of his excitement "I was invited to watch the match but couldn't make it back in time. Wish I could have seen you guys kick his face in."
Alright then, Issei thought with a wide grin. Sairaorg Bael was definitely one of the coolest guys now.
"But I'm glad I made it for this celebration party. Congrats, cousin. Never liked your fiancé, so I'd have hated it if I came back and found out I had to attend your wedding with him," Sairaorg said, turning his attention to Rias as he held up his glass, making the crimson-haired girl playfully roll her eyes at him.
"Don't tell me you thought I would lose to Raiser, Sairaorg," Rias teased, prompting Sairaorg to hold up his hands in fake surrender.
"I admit I had my doubts, but when I heard one of your servants was the Sekiryuutei, I had a feeling you were set for a better future," Sairaorg said, glancing over at Issei. "I will look forward to hearing more about you, Issei Hyoudou. I have no doubt that you'll grow into an incredibly powerful devil in the near future."
"Ah... thank you." Issei replied. He couldn't help but feel that the Bael heir was sizing him up like a combatant evaluating a worthy opponent. Given how powerful Sairaorg seemed, it was hard for him to decide whether he should feel honored, or intimidated.
"Sairaorg Bael-san is regarded as the current strongest young Devil, Issei-kun," Kiba whispered into Issei's ear, causing his eyes to widen in surprise.
"Anyway, it seems like you guys are visiting the Emporium later. Do you think Uncle Zeoticus would mind if I tag along?" Sairaorg asked Rias, who crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him.
"I don't think so, but why do you want to come with us? Don't tell me it's just because you want to check out Ennio's remains again," Rias asked, her tone making her sound more amused than anything else.
"Rias, when you know your uncle is keeping the skull of a catastrophe-level Gate monster in his basement, it's only natural for one to come and check it out from time to time." Sairaorg explained dramatically, making Rias snort while shaking her head at him. "Just kidding, Rias. I have some work to take care of later at home, so I will leave you and your family to it."
"I'm sorry but... what or who was Ennio?"
It was then that Issei decided to ask, drawing all eyes to him.
It was Akeno who answered that question for him. "It's the monster that came out of the worst dungeon break that ever occurred, Issei-kun. Seventeen years ago, before we fully understood how Gates worked, hundreds of dragon-type monsters emerged from an S-rank Gate and wreaked havoc throughout the Underworld. However, the most terrifying of them all was a dragon later known as Pitch-Black Flame, Ennio."
"It was said that its strength surpassed that of the Five Dragon Kings, and rivaled even the likes of the Two Heavenly Dragons told in the tales." Sairaorg then continued, making Issei look down at the palm of his hand. He knew that Ddraig was also intently listening to the story "Its rampage across the Underworld only ended after our leaders banded with the Fallen Angels and, with the aids of our own dragon allies and several heroes from the Hero Faction, successfully killed it and every other dragon that came from the Dungeon Break."
Rias added, "It was the second time in history that we put behind our past conflicts and worked with Grigori. The first, of course, you already know about, Ise." Issei nodded in understanding, aware that Rias was referring to the sealing of Ddraig and Albion. Their battles against each other had led the leaders of the Three Factions to unite for the first time, ultimately leading to the destruction of their physical forms and sealing of their souls into the Longinus Sacred Gears, Boosted Gear and Divide Dividing.
"So... does that mean your brother was there to fight it?" Issei asked, looking at Sirzechs who was having a conversation with Serafall and Aphrodite. If Ennio was as strong as they had made it, then his respect for the man just skyrocketed.
"Yes, he and Azazel from Grigori led the final assault against Ennio. I was too young to remember anything and only learned about the battle from stories told in books." Rias nodded her head before adding "Anyway, after the battle, Ennio's remains were divided among the Factions that took part in his defeat, with us Devils receiving the skull, wings and a couple other items dropped from its corpse. A few years ago, my father got the right to safekeep the skull in our Emporium, which was built over the exact location where he died. It's impossible to tell what happened to the other parts, but I heard quite a few weapons were made from the bones and scales."
Issei looked intrigued. "What about the wings?"
"Oh, they are in the museum," Rias answered before adding with a soft laugh when she saw the look Issei was giving her. "Yes, we have museums, Ise. We might live for thousands of years, but that doesn't mean we don't have places to display and preserve historically significant objects."
"Then I have to see them for myself later, after I see the skull, of course..." Issei declared, making Sairaorg grin and give him a thumbs-up in approval.
After that, the celebration went by rather uneventfully for them. Since Rias and in addition Sairaorg were the ones who were approached by the high class, noble devils, Issei was free to spend his time enjoying a celebratory meal with everyone else. As they ate, he also got to learn a few more things about the heirs and heiresses of the Devil Households from Kiba, who seemed to be quite fluent in their histories and backgrounds.
However, the story that he most interested in was that of Sairaorg, feeling an immense respect for him as he learned how Sairaorg was born as the eldest son of the Bael Devil household yet he did not inherit the trademark Power of Destruction, which Rias and Sirzechs inherited from their mother, who came from the Bael Clan. This led to his younger half-brother being appointed as the next heir while Sairaorg and his mother were shunned and sent to the countryside. Despite this adversity, Sairaorg trained his body to its utmost limits and became so powerful that he easily defeated his half-brother to reclaim his birthright as the heir of the Bael, which was the highest-ranking household amongst the 72 Pillars and held the rank of Great King.
To top it off, his Peerage consisted of members from Devil Households that had either gone extinct from the 72 Pillars or from the Extra Demons, leading them to be looked down upon and regarded similarly to how their master had been by much of the Devil noble society. Despite this, Sairaorg had taken them under his wings and helped them grow into exceptionally powerful devils while the Bael heir himself had become the strongest young Devil, who took great pride and honor as both an heir and warrior. After learning this, Issei's admiration and respect for the Bael heir only grew stronger, and it wasn't hard for him to decide that Sairaorg was the coolest devil that he had ever met.
"Zeoticus wants to let you know it's time for you to leave for the Emporium."
The sweet, somewhat seductive voice that carried a hint of playfulness turned Issei from the slice of chocolate cake he was enjoying, leading him to look up to see Aphrodite walking toward him with a smile on her face.
"I will be right there," Issei said as he finished the cake and put the dish down, cleaning his hands and mouth with a handkerchief. As he started making his way toward where the Gremory were standing, he noticed that Aphrodite hadn't moved from her spot and decided to turn back to ask her, "You coming?"
"I have some important business to take care of with Serafall, so no. Plus, this feels like a private affair between you Gremory, so it's best that I keep my nose out of it... at least for now," Aphrodite answered with a playful smile, making Issei chuckle in amusement before nodding in understanding. "Before you go, there is something I would like to ask. Is it possible for me to see you resuming your work at my place starting tomorrow night?"
"Oh, of course. I did promise you, didn't I?" Issei grinned.
"You also promised to work extra hard to make up for the week you couldn't come to my home." Aphrodite added, pointing a finger at him with the smile on her face turning... seductive. "I will hold you to that promise, you know. One fact you should know is that you cannot make a promise to us deities, especially one like myself, and think you can just walk away from it."
Issei's eyes widened for a moment before he smiled broadly, offering Aphrodite a bow of his head before declaring "Yes, I'll make sure to give it my all. You can count on it."
"Good," Aphrodite replied with a meaningful, playful wink. "I'll see you tomorrow night then. Now shoo, go join the others. Have a good time at the Crimson Emporium; I have been told that place is quite the spectacle."
With a nod and a smile exchanged, Issei turned to join the Gremory, who then announced the end of the celebration. After thanking the guests, the group then exited the residence, moving out to the front yard to see a number of horse-drawn carriages awaited them, with Grayfia checking in with the drivers to ensure everything was in order.
The ride to the Crimson Emporium was an uneventful, but pleasant one, with the carriages rolling smoothly through the elegant streets of the Underworld. Issei settled comfortably in the carriage with Rias and Akeno, who pointed and introduced him to the various landmarks and locations outside the window that all belonged to the Gremory as they enjoyed the ride together. To say that Issei was shocked when he was told that the Gremory had a territory that was about the same size as Honshu in Japan would be an understatement.
"Here we are, Ise." Rias announced, and Issei found himself following his master outside, where he was welcomed by the sight of the Crimson Emporium Headquarters in the Underworld. The building was a grand structure of striking crimson and gold, with towering spires that seemed to gleam under the purple sky. Its architectural style was a perfect blend of classical elegance with modern design, showcasing clean lines and intricate details that spoke volumes of its owner's wealth.
The entrance, framed by tall columns, led into a spacious lobby. Inside, the decor was just as refined as Issei had expected, with polished marble floors and elegant chandeliers hanging from the high, vaulted ceilings supported by ornate pillars. Display cases of enchanted glass lined the walls, showcasing a wide variety of magical gears, from gleaming weapons mounted on sleek, modern shelves, to an array of light, medium to heavy armors with the same level of craftsmanship displayed on the racks nearby. Additional items were neatly arranged in glass cases, from magical charms that offered magical protections similar to the Cinder Ward Amulet, to trinkets that seemed to pulsed with faint magical energy. Each item was meticulously labeled, offering insights into its magical properties, revealing the artistry and power behind its creations.
"Whoa..." Issei murmured as he and Asia marveled at everything around them while following the others into the Emporium, with Horace Morgan Winston arriving to welcome them, shaking hands with Zeoticus and Sirzechs before bowing his head to Venelana and congratulating Rias on her Rating Game victory. Thanks to the System, Issei could see detailed information about all the gear and items around him, including their names, origins, rarity, and effects, many of which were more powerful than anything he currently had available in the System Shop.
"Those daggers are Kasaka's Venom Fang."
Zeoticus spoke as Issei paused at a display case, staring at the pair of daggers within. Although he typically preferred swords, even Issei had to admit that the weapons were stunning. Each blade featured a sleek, curved design, with a dark, obsidian-like metal forming the edges, faintly glowing with an eerie green light. The core of the blades was etched with vein-like patterns while the guards were crafted to resemble the claw of a beast, forged from a golden material that stood in striking contrast to the rest of the weapon.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" The current head of the Gremory Household remarked as he joined Issei, both of them gazing at the weapons in the display case. "As much as I would love to claim credit for such exquisite craftsmanship, these daggers weren't forged by me or any of my subordinates. They were actually discovered within the corpse of—"
"Blue Venom-Fanged Kasaka." Issei blurted out, cutting off Zeoticus before he could stop himself. The crimson-haired man raised an eyebrow in curiosity, and Issei quickly realized everyone was now staring at him. "Ah, well... since you mentioned their name was Kasaka's Venom Fang, I just took a wild guess about their origin,"
He added quickly, hoping to cover for his slip-up. Fortunately for him, everyone seemed to buy it, except for Sirzechs and Grayfia, who exchanged a brief look that Issei missed as he wrestled with his own confusion. Even he could tell that something was off. The System window had displayed detailed information about the daggers—their name, origin, and rarity—but it hadn't mentioned anything about a boss called Venom-Fanged Kasaka. So how did he know the specific name of the creature the daggers were dropped from?
"By the way, Ise, don't you still have some items from your Raids that you wanted to sell?" Rias reminded him, making Issei nod his head before making his way over to the counter where a female devil was standing behind. Giving the woman a smile, Issei then casted the spell Akeno had taught him to store his belongings, having decided that it would be best to keep his Inventory a secret, as revealing it could raise more questions that could potentially risk exposing the System itself.
"There they are." Issei said as placed the items on the counter one after another. The female devil and Horace, who joined her behind the counter, raised their eyebrows in mild surprise, clearly impressed by the quality of the items Issei was laying out before them. From crystals to enchanted ores, and several unique magical items, everything he laid out gleamed under the overhead lights and emitted a faint glow that hinted at their magical origins. Many were worth a couple thousand Gold in the System Shop, but Issei had also included some junk items that he had chosen from his stack to see if he could sell them at the Emporium for some real-life money.
"Quite the collection that you have here, Issei-kun." Zeoticus said with a hint of impression in his voice as he walked up next to Issei to pick up the sword of a Magitek Trooper and took a closer look at it "I have never seen a weapon like this before. It seems to be a perfect combination between modern machinery and magic. You found this in a Gate?"
"Yes, sir. It was from my most recent Gate. The monsters I encountered inside were some kind of machine soldiers infused with magic, generally the same as this sword." Issei said, making Zeoticus nod his head slowly in understanding. The crimson haired man continued to examine the sword for a moment before a realization hit him, causing Zeoticus to snap his gaze back to Issei at the same time Sirzechs and Grayfia did, looking to have come to realize the same thing.
"Wait, doesn't that mean they were the same as your Shadow Minions?"
Zeoticus asked, making Issei nod before Sirzechs made the request in a serious tone.
"Can you summon them, Issei-kun?"
Issei nodded again, having expected and mentally prepared himself for this moment. His shadow seemingly extended as three Shadow Troopers crawled out, standing behind their master wielding the same swords as the one Zeoticus was holding in his hand.
"Uh... these guys are the ones that cooked for us." Issei explained with a chuckle as the three Shadow Troopers bowed their heads to Rias and the others in the same manner that they did whenever they served food to them during their training. It was a habit they had picked up from watching the chefs on the cooking shows Issei had had them watch to perfect their culinary skills.
"So you have full authority over these shadow beings, Issei-kun?" Sirzechs asked, examining the Shadow Troopers closely. "Something tells me you didn't create these soldiers based on the monsters you encountered in your last Raid, did you?"
"No, I didn't, Sirzechs-sama." Issei replied, glancing briefly at Rias, who nodded at him with an assuring smile. He continued, "These Shadow Troopers are the very same magic-infused machine soldiers I encountered in my last Raid. The Rune Stone I found from my third Raid granted me an ability similar to that of a Necromancer. It lets me extract the shadows of a slain foe and revive them as my shadow soldier."
The room fell silent as Sirzechs and the other devils absorbed his explanation, with the crimson haired Maou turning his attention back to the three Shadow Troopers standing in front of him, who seemed to grow rather uncomfortable under the intense scrutiny. From Rias, Issei had discovered that Necromancer magics weren't uncommon, especially among older devils in their faction who still practiced them. Even Akeno could learn them if she wanted, as several of those spells were featured in the spell books that she had access to.
However, the way his power worked could be quite troubling for some. For starters, while traditional necromancy typically involved reviving the dead only temporarily, with the deceased reverting to their original state once the spell ended, the skill Shadow Extraction allowed him to maintain control over his shadow soldiers indefinitely. Moreover, they would not fall in battle so long as he had the mana to sustain them, which was another difference to traditional necromancy, with the revived dead behaving and functioning more or less like zombies, dying and being rendered useless after taking enough damage.
"How many have you revived, Issei-kun?"
"Including the wolves, about 60."
"Can they... die?"
"It seems they can automatically use my own reserve to heal themselves, so as long as I have the energy... they won't, at least in combat."
"This power of yours... it's not limited to Gate monsters, is it?"
Now that was the question Issei was waiting for, having fully expected someone like Sirzechs to ask it.
"I actually have no idea, Sirzechs-sama. I haven't extracted the shadow and revived anyone or anything outside of Gate monsters." Issei answered honestly before holding up two fingers. "Although there are two major weaknesses that I am aware of. The first is that I cannot successfully use it on those who are significantly stronger than myself and the longer the target has been dead, the harder it will be for me to revive them."
"I see... so these limitations prevent you from reviving something like Ennio." Sirzechs said, chuckling a little but anyone could tell that he wasn't amused by the idea "I was worried that when we brought you to see its skull later down in the basement, you would attempt to revive the dragon. Forgive me if I sound like I'm doubting you, Issei-kun, but with a power like that... it's a possibility that I have to take into consideration."
"Ah... I have no intention of doing so, Sirzechs-sama." Issei smiled nervously while waving his hands in front of him. While all of his shadows had shown absolute loyalty to him, with Gladio being the prime example, reviving something like Ennio after all it had done to the Underworld still sounded like the worst idea possible.
"Regardless, having these Shadow Soldiers, who are clearly a league above the usual undead minions of the Necromancers, prove that you will be an invaluable asset in our own battle against Gates and the monsters that come from them." Sirzechs said, making Issei widen his eyes in response "You said these soldiers cooked for you and my sisters during your training, does that mean you can command them to do anything outside of combat?"
"Yes."
"Then the labors shouldn't be a problem for them." Sirzechs said, exchanging a look with his father before turning back to Issei. "You see, Issei-kun, I've been thinking about your request. You've proven yourself to be a capable warrior, someone who could defeat even an immortal opponent like Raiser Phenex and his Peerage. Obviously, you've also shown that you're more than capable of handling a Gate solo even before you had these Shadow Soldiers. That's an incredibly impressive feat for someone in your position."
"However, that doesn't mean I can grant you clearance to join Raids before you reach Middle-Class," Sirzechs said, causing Issei's eyes to widen and his shoulders to slump in disappointment. "I'm sorry, Issei-kun, but you have to understand that there are reasons something like that has never been given to any individual before, even to those who had shown themselves to be much stronger and more qualified than you are right now. Strength is not the only quality that we use to judge if a devil is ready for a promotion to higher classes or jobs with this level of risk."
"Moreover, the main reason is that even if I give you the clearance now, it's highly unlikely that anyone from our allied Factions will hire you because I will still need to register you as a low-class devil. Everyone here knows what you're capable of, but do the others? Do you think they would willingly take the risks of enlisting your service for their Raid Team, not knowing whether or not you would be ready to work with them?"
[He has a valid point, partner.] Ddraig's voice echoed in his mind, and Issei knew he had no way to argue with the logic behind it. If no one wanted to hire him - when they clearly had more guaranteed choices in other devils - then he would be jobless regardless.
Even if Sirzechs added into his application that he had solo-raided a few Gates before to show that he was capable of handling the monsters inside by himself, then it would just show that he was reckless and a rule breaker, which would naturally make people think twice before deciding to hire him.
"However, that does not mean we can't do anything about it." Sirzechs continued with a smile, making Issei perk his head up "You see, Gates come in various shapes and sizes, and usually the higher rank Gates are too big for a common raid party of warriors to handle everything, and that is where the supporting division come in."
"The Gremory has a contract with the Hero Faction about this line of work." Zeoticus added, further explaining. "While our allies act as the main strike teams handling the actual raiding, we provide the necessary support from behind. It can be anything from our works here at the Emporium, mainly supplying them with essential gear and items, to other activities like mining valuable ores and essence stones, retrieving the cadavers of slain monsters, and helping with the transportation of their gears and resources. In return, we receive a percentage of the materials harvested from the Raid for our contributions."
"This is where you can come in, Issei-kun. Circumstances might make it impossible for you to be a member of the strike team of an official Raid right now, but that doesn't mean you cannot lend your assistance as a supporter through working as a member of the Gremory's Supporting Unit, especially when you have the skill set that can make things so much easier for you. The job has its own risks regardless, but it's not as dangerous so no one will ask even if you're a low class devil." Sirzechs said "This is also a well paid job even for a middle class devil, so if you work hard, your reputation will rise tremendously. In no time short, you will find yourself earning the right to promote yourself to the next ranking, when you can finally offer your strength as a combatant. Not to mention you can also think of it as a good experience that lets you learn how an official Raid works."
"Of course, rest assured that you will be safe." Zeoticus pointed out with a smile "Aside from the fact that the heroes are known for protecting their supporters with their lives, I myself have a duty to ensure that my employees come to no harm."
"So, what do you say, Issei-kun? I know that this might not be the most entertaining or challenging idea for you after your request was turned down, but I figure with your shadow soldiers, you might be able to provide the supporting team with a tremendous amount of manpower and..."
"I'm in, Sirzechs-sama!"
Issei declared eagerly, being barely able to contain his excitement. His enthusiastic response caught everyone, including Sirzechs himself, off-guard, his eagerness evident in his wide grin and voice.
"I mean… I'd love nothing more than that." The Sekiryuutei quickly added in a much calmer tone, making sure that he didn't sound too eager.
Of course, he was excited. This was the perfect excuse that he needed in case he would need to explain the Gate residuals that someone like Grayfia could sense on him after clearing an Instance Dungeon, just in case they decided to take extra measure. Additionally, the fact that these supporting jobs had its own benefits for him and were a great opportunity to raise his reputation for promotion was just the cherry on top, as it aligned perfectly with his goal of quickly becoming a high-class devil and obtaining his own set of Evil Piece to build his own harem.
This was literally the best case scenario with his original request being turned down.
"Alright then, I will handle the paperwork. If things go smoothly, you can probably start working sometime next week if that's what you want. Make sure to clear your schedule so it's not conflict with your schoolwork and other Devil Jobs, especially the one with Lady Aphrodite. She has specifically asked for you to continue working for her, after all." Zeoticus told Issei with a smile before turning his attention over to his daughter and the rest of her Peerage, speaking to them with an encouraging smile "If any of you wish to join him, feel free to inform me beforehand."
"I understand, father." Rias said, nodding her head to her father and mother with a smile.
"That settles it then." Sirzechs said with a smile before he turned to Issei "I take that you still want to see the skull of Ennio before we call it?"
"Of course, Sirzechs-sama." The Sekiryuutei found himself nodding his head eagerly in response before following Sirzechs, Grayfia and Zeoticus to the large, ornate elevator on the other side of the room with Asia and Rias, while the rest decided to remain behind as they had already seen the most valuable artifact of the Emporium most several times already.
"Woah..."
The elevator descended smoothly, and while the ride down was brief, it didn't need to reach its destination, a room with a large window giving a clear view to the entire basement, for Issei and Asia to see the skull of Ennio, mounted on a large platform with spotlights highlighting its details and features. The skull was truly colossal, easily the size of several tractors parked side by side, giving Issei a clear sense of how massive Ennio had been. The massive jaws were slightly agape, and the enormous teeth, each as large as two grown men, added to its intimidating presence.
However, the size of the skull wasn't the only thing that Issei noticed from the skull, but the enormous amount of mana that surrounded it, seemingly drowning the entire basement in a tsunami of black flame. Unlike anything that he had ever felt before, the mana felt suffocating, making it hard for him to breath despite the fact that they were several feet above it and the thick layer of glass separating them from the swirling aura.
"You can feel it as well, can't you, Issei-kun? Grayfia told me you were quite perceptive with energy reading." Sirzechs asked seriously, making Issei nod his head. "It's been almost seventeen years. All of its flesh had rotted away a long time ago, yet it feels like that dragon is still right down there, living and breathing."
"Was it that... powerful?" Issei asked, glancing at Sirzechs. The crimson haired Maou responded by rolling up the left sleeve of his shirt, revealing a scar from a horrible burn that extended from his wrist to at least his shoulder.
"You see, Issei-kun." Sirzechs explained, "I have a technique called the Human-Shaped Aura of Destruction. It was my trump card and the power I used to kill Ennio to stop it from unleashing its black flame into the entire Underworld. I got careless and thought the aura of destruction was enough to protect me from its flame as I pushed for a final attack, but it still managed to wound me this much even after I had slain that monster. Without immediate medical attention from a healer of the Hero Faction, a man named Min Byung-Gyu, I wouldn't be standing here right now."
Sirzechs nodded, and Issei found himself swallowing hard before turning his gaze back to the skull, feeling a shiver running down his spine the longer he stared at it.
Just how powerful was this monster?
It was eight in the evening that Issei found himself returning home, throwing himself onto his bed to stare blankly at the ceiling with his hands folded behind his head. The night had turned out to be much more eventful than he had expected.
[Thinking about Ennio, partner?] Ddraig asked, with Issei summoning the Boosted Gear so that he could feel like he was talking directly to his dragon partner instead of doing so in his mind, which could be quite awkward at times.
"A little... that one was a creepy dragon skull, don't you think?" Issei nodded, recalling the feeling that the skull of Ennio brought him.
[It's not uncommon for the remains of a powerful dragon to have that kind of energy reading even years after it died... but the sensation you felt was definitely unusual. I must admit, it's been a while since I felt anything like that, even with Albion, who was considered a Heavenly Dragon in his prime.]
"Still, not like I can use Shadow Extraction... but do you think I could try to make a pact with a dragon like that?"
[Best to aim for one that is as friendly as I am and does not try to burn down everything it encounters, partner.]
Ddraig answered him with an amused chuckle, making Issei let out an amused laugh alongside him, feeling the heavy atmosphere that had clung to him since he first saw Ennio's skull finally lift.
To make himself feel even better, Issei reached into his Inventory and pulled out his phone with a wide grin plastered across his face. The screen was still displaying a text message informing him of a change in his bank balance, which occurred after Horace had finished evaluating items he had sold to the Emporium. Zeoticus had transferred the funds to him, and to put it simply, Issei had never seen so many zeroes in his bank account before in his life.
"Hey Ddraig."
[Yeah?]
"You wanna try out that new Tower of Ascension now?" Issei asked, opening the main interface of the System to look at the icon of a shadowy tower, which had been on his mind ever since he checked it out for the first time. This new feature, along with Hunt and Bounties, had been unlocked after he completed the additional objectives of the King of The Game Quest in the Rating Game against the Phenex Peerage. Supposedly, this was the place that he could use the sigils of shadow he had received to challenge the associated bosses of the tower to unlock the General Rank for his shadows.
No doubt this was an extremely difficult challenge he had to overcome to help shadows like Gladio and Lycaon ascend, or break over their limit to grow even stronger once they had reached the maximum level of their current rank. Not that they were anywhere near it just yet, but giving the Tower a look to see what it's all about wouldn't hurt.
Right?
[Don't you have a date with that Akeno girl in an hour, partner?]
"Well, true... but that also means I have an hour to check it out," Issei replied, his excitement bubbling up.
[Suit yourself then, partner.]
With a chuckle from Ddraig, Issei reached out with one hand and pressed the icon of the tower. Upon confirming his choice to teleport to the place, tendrils of darkness shot out from his shadow and wrapped around him in a swirling embrace, giving him a brief moment of weightlessness before he felt the pull of the teleportation.
In an instant, Issei found himself standing in a dimly lit hallway. The air was cool, and a faint echo of his footsteps reverberated off the stone walls. Purple torches, their flames flickering with a rather eerie light, cast long shadows that danced along the corridor. The hallway seemed to stretch on endlessly, but it didn't take it long for Issei to see the silhouette of massive double doors at the end after a moment of walking. The surface seemed to be adorned with intricate runes and symbols that pulsed faintly with an otherworldly energy, while in the center of the door was what looked to be a keyhole, shaped perfectly to fit one of the sigils Issei had received.
"Ready?" Issei asked his dragon partner before bringing out the Sigil of the Shadow Commander, Igris—the first sigil he had gotten after obtaining his classes. The markings on the door seemed to align perfectly with those on the sigil. and upon slotting the item into the keyhole, a notification window appeared in front of him while the doors slowly creaked open, revealing a shadowy expanse beyond.
[!] Welcome to the Tower of Ascension
This is where the Player can challenge special bosses to unlock the rank of General for their shadows.
With the [Sigil of the Shadow Commander – Igris] has been used, the associated shadow will be Gladio (Knight).
The rules of the Tower are as follows:
· The Player may use any items they have prepared before entering the Boss Room. All System functions other than Inventory and Status Window will be disabled upon entering.
· The Player is not allowed to summon their shadows to aid them in their battles against the Bosses.
· The Player can only leave the Tower and return by either defeating the boss or having their HP decreased to 0.
· If they fail, the Player is free to come and try again as many times as they wish until they succeed.
"Wow..." Issei murmured as he read the rules. Despite the restrictions, the rest sounded awfully generous, unlike the Class Change Quest. At the same time, however, this also meant that whatever was waiting for him inside had to be his most difficult challenge yet if the System was that confident in his potential failures.
Then again, it also meant this would be the perfect place to hone his skills if he could keep coming back to face the boss inside.
The doors behind Issei creaked ominously as they slowly swung shut, sealing him inside the chamber. A soft thud echoed through the room as the doors locked, leaving him alone in the dark. For a brief moment, there was nothing but the sound of his own breathing, before with a sudden whoosh, torches along the walls ignited themselves in bursts of purple flame, illuminating the vast, shadowy interior of the room.
Sitting on the throne directly in front of Issei, the towering form of the Shadow Commander cladded in dark, shadowy armor radiated a menacing presence. His form was bathed in a faint purple glow that seemed to emit from the small gaps in his armor like smoke. A tattered, pitch-black cape hung from his shoulders, while the scar running down the left side of his helmet, along with the long red hair-like ornament that extended from the back, gave him an even more ominous appearance.
"You are..." Issei found himself uttering in surprise, instantly recognizing the knight from the vision he had while attempting to extract the shadow of Magitek General Glauca. The realization sent a chill down his spine as he took in the full presence of the towering figure before him.
[Partner, focus!] Ddraig warned him in a dead serious tone, making Issei blink before bracing himself as Igris stabbed his massive broadsword into the ground, using it to push himself to his full, imposing height before pulling it free with ease. The knight pointed the blade directly at Issei, a silent but unmistakable challenge in the gesture.
"Looks like you are not the chit-chat type." Issei muttered, clenching his fist and activating his Balance Breaker, unleashing his power at full force as he prepared to face the shadow commander.
Before charging at him, Issei activated his Observe skill, hoping to gain some insight into...
[Shadow Commander – Igris]
Rank: General
Level: 99
"Eh?" was the only sound that Issei could make before Igris suddenly disappeared from his vision with an insane, sudden burst of speed to reappear behind him and cut off his head with a clean swing of his blade.
"AHHHHHH!"
Issei screamed as he fell down the floor of his room hard, with the Sigil of Igris rolling next to him before coming to a stop. Drenched in sweats, his hands shot to his neck and face, frantically checking to see if his head was still attached. That was just too real.
Had he just gotten decapitated for real?
"Issei-san, are you alright?" Asia's concerned voice came from the other side of his door. He had no doubt his parents were shortly behind her. He did just scream for the whole house to hear.
"I-I'm fine, Asia... I just... stepped on a Lego!" Issei blurted out hurriedly, swallowing hard to regain his composure. After a moment, he stood up and walked over to the door to open it to see the concerned face of Asia, as well as those of his parents looking at him. "Yo."
"Are you alright, Ise?" His mother asked in concern, while his father peaked his head into his room to see if anything was out of the ordinary "We heard your scream just now."
"A-As I just told Asia, I stepped on a Lego. It was quite painful." Issei answered while chuckling nervously and scratching the back of his head. The excuse was obviously not good enough.
After settling with his parents and housemate, Issei returned to his room and sat on the bed, taking a few minutes with his eyes closed to truly calm down his nerves. When he opened his eyes again, the familiar blue window was right in front of him, bearing the question that made his eyebrow twitch slightly.
[Would you like to try again?]
Yes/No
"Fuck no!" Issei scoffed and closed the window with a swipe of his hand, while Ddraig roared in laughter at the back of his head.
[You have to admit, partner, that was a good one.] Issei growled in frustration in response as he lay back on his bed, still feeling the sting of that swift, one-sided defeat. The System could have at least warned me that Igris was going to be that strong. Seriously? Level 99? That was more than double his current level across both classes.
With a sigh, he stood up and walked over to his wardrobe. "Guess I'm really not ready for that just yet," he admitted to himself, pulling out a shirt and jeans before leaving his room to go take a shower.
Half an hour later, Issei found himself riding his bicycle down the streets of Kuoh, using the GPS app on phone to navigate himself to the location of Akeno's home after having her send him the address. The path took him through winding, tree-lined roads that eventually led to a traditional Japanese shrine nestled in a serene corner of the town, beautifully illuminated in the night by lanterns hanging from the torii gates, casting a warm glow over the stone path. With its wooden beams and sloping tiled roof, the traditional architecture stood in a stark contrast to the modern buildings surrounding it.
As he drove over to the stone steps, he saw the familiar figure of Akeno Himejima standing near the main entrance in anticipation. cladded in a white, buttoned up shirt with long sleeves and a pair of form fitting, dark blue jeans. Her hair was also left cascading down her back from her usual ponytail, with a few strands resting over her shoulders and an orange ribbon on the side of her head, making her look not just breathtakingly beautiful, but adorable just like any normal teenage girl.
"Issei-kun, you made it!" Akeno greeted him, her voice cheerful and inviting. "Thank you for coming."
"Yeah, of course!" Issei replied, trying to keep his tone casual. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting. Uhmm... you look amazing, by the way."
"Ara, thank you, Issei-kun. You don't look so bad yourself." The Yamato Nadeshiko praised Issei while eying him up and down. He was wearing dark blue jeans like hers, and a white shirt underneath a black and red hoodie jacket. The casual yet stylish outfit suited him well, and Akeno couldn't help but smile at the sight of him before turning her gaze to his bicycle. "So, is this our ride to the concert?"
"Yeah... I don't have my driver's license yet, so..." Issei chuckled, a bit embarrassed.
"Hnm, it's fine." Akeno hummed pleasantly as she hopped onto the backseat, sitting sideways with her legs draped over the left side and her arms wrapping around his waist. "I like it this way more. It makes me feel... normal."
Issei could help but smile at her words.
It's hard for him to not agree with her.
Current Stats:
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Race: Reincarnated Devil
Class: Level 34 Dragonsworn / Level 10 Shadow Monarch
HP: 7615 / 7615
MP [Current Attribute: Draconic/Demonic: 2135 / 2135
Title: Shieldbreaker [Add 10% Armor Penetration]
Strength: 160
Vitality: 129
Intelligence: 124
Dexterity: 134
Perception: 114
Charisma: 104
Unique Class Skills: Fire Imbue (LV1), Shadow Extraction (LV1), Shadow Storage (LV1).
Active skills: Doubling (LV2 – Pact Affected), Transfer (LV2 - Pact Affected), Penetrate (LV2 - Pact Affected), Sprint (Max Level), Vital Slash (LV1), Jump (Max Level – Equipment Ability), Observe (LV1), Ruler's Hands (LV1), Phoenix Shift (LV1).
Active spells: Fire balls (LV2 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Firewall (LV2 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Lightning Strike (LV1), Water Blast (LV1), Earth Shield (LV1), ...
Current Pact [1/4: Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) – Pact LV1.
Current Shadows: 67 / 90
Elite Rank Shadows: Lycaon (Knight), Gladio (Knight).
Items: Boosted Gear (LV4), Abyssal Cloak (LV15), Razan's Blade (LV7), Magitek General's Helmet (LV1), Palace Guard's Boots (LV6), Metal Gauntlets (LV5 – Only one currently in use -Stats Reduced), Kamish's Slumber (LV?) ...
Potions: Healing Potions x15, Mana Potions x15, Greater Healing Potions x10, Greater Mana Potions x10, Miracle Potions x3...
Gold: 1,510,420 (G)
Ultimate: Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker – Boosted Gear Crimson Armaments (LV. 1 – Pact Affected)
Sigils: Sigil of the Shadow Commander - Igirs, Sigil of the Shadow Ice Bear - Tank.
End of Chapter 10