150A week later, and Issei had made a lot of progress in his efforts of learning the language of magic seals. It was a slow process, and he could have just done it in his mind if he wanted to, but he didn't have anything else to do. Not yet at least.
However, he did learn enough to make a new barrier around his base of operations. The barrier was just a simple barrier that would stop magical attacks. This way, someone couldn't just shoot the equivalent of a nuke but in the supernatural world and kill him. The reason that it wouldn't work because he had made the barrier dozens of times stronger with his boosted gear.
Usually, the magic would just wear off eventually, but Issei added in a magic absorption seal along with the barrier, which made the effects permanent. In fact, that was all he needed to do to make any affects permanent when it came to seals.
A magic absorption seal would absorb all the magic he sends into the seal, doubles its power, and then acclimate that new power into the seal permanently. It was a simple concept.
But for now, he had to make the first step in his plans. So, he called upon Kuroka to his base of operations. He repressed a smug smile when he got the confirmation of the alarm system working, sending him a signal that someone was teleporting into his base of operations.
Kuroka came out of that purple magic seal as normal, sensually walking out. "You called, nya?" Kuroka sensually called as she walked towards Issei, taking note of the place she was currently in.
"Yes, it's time we take the first step in my plans. Go get the others." Issei told her, which prompted them all to walk out of the purple seal. Issei watched as they all looked around in wonder. "Good, you're all here."
"And what would this place be," Vali asked, his usual delinquent attitude on display.
"This is my base of operations, and the place you will all live at once we reach that stage of the plan," Issei said.
"And this plan, are you ever going to share it with us?" Vali asked, annoyed to all hell.
Issei looked at Vali with a glare. "The plan is a need to know basis, and you don't need to know it," Issei said, pissing Vali off.
"Who do you think you are?! If you don't remember, we have no obligation to help you." Vali threatened.
Issei sat down at a table, crossing his arms under his chin. "Is that so? Very well, go then. I'm sure Ophis will appreciate you had thoughts of betraying her." Issei threatened right back.
Vali looked at Issei in pure rage but knew he couldn't do anything. If he left, Issei would let everyone know he and his group were planning to betray the Khaos Brigade. Which would result in them becoming enemies of the Khaos Brigade, which would leave them with no allies in the entirety of the supernatural world.
Issei had set himself up in a position where they had to work with him. Or else they would all be killed. By either himself or Ophis.
"Now, moving onwards, we are taking the first step. We are going to take a hit at the Khaos Brigade's strongest fighting forces. As I understand, the Khaos Brigade works in groups, just like yours. Your team Vali, second strongest team. We are going to hit Team Cao Cao, the strongest fighting force of the Khaos Brigade." Issei said.
"What?! Are you insane?! We can't just go and attack Cao Cao and his team! It will reveal ourselves as enemies of the Khaos Brigade." Kuroka yelled, scared at the implications of what would happen.
"No, it won't, because we won't be leaving any of them alive. If Cao Cao and his team are wiped out, then the number one spot becomes open. I want your team there." Issei said.
"You do realize who you're talking about, right? Your talking about Cao Cao, wielder of the True Longinus. You better have a good plan to take him down." Vali said, doubting Issei was going in this without a plan.
"I know who I'm talking about. I just need to know where they rest their head at night." Issei said.
Vali looked at him like he was crazy. Attacking them in their own territory? "You can't be serious," Vali stated plainly.
"I'm completely serious," Issei responded, his entire demeanor worry-free.
Vali released a sigh, figuring Issei wasn't going to let this go. "Luckily, the more major teams all stay in different places. Cao Cao and his team are currently staying in Kyoto. I can show you where." Vali said, all of his team members looking at him like he was crazy.
"Vali, you can't seriously be doing this," Arthur said worriedly. He knew they were no match for team Cao Cao. He was quieted however when Vali shot him a glare.
"Ok, then here's the plan."
A few days later and we find Issei standing on top of a tall building, nearly midnight, watching over the city of Kyoto. "Remember, don't step in till it's time. No matter how bad it looks." Issei said, all of team Vali nodding in reply.
"Alright, just stay here and conceal your signatures," Issei said, before suddenly jumping up high in the sky, twisting his body around and looking at a factory. The factory was just your average steel factory, except it had been sold around 2 months ago. This is were Cao Cao and his team were residing.
"Hopefully this will pick a few off," Issei muttered, his gauntlet appearing on his hand. Within an instant, every supernatural creature in Kyoto was on guard when a huge wave of magic struck over the whole city.
The source was one Issei Hyoudou, a red orb the size of several huge beach balls in front of his fist. He was so glad he had been constantly boosting that magic storage seal at the moment. The amount of magic put into this dragon shot was humongous. And he didn't even have to boost it, allowing him to just store them for a later time.
"Dragon Shot," Issei said as he punched the orb. The orb went flying towards the factory faster than a bullet, just a blur to everyone watching. The spectacle created when it touched the ground inside of the factory after breaking through a window was breathtaking, however.
The orb blew in an explosion with a diameter of approximately 30 feet. The explosion resulting in a quake reaching even all the way to Kuoh. Issei, however, knew, that although that explosion might have killed a few of Team Cao Cao, it didn't kill them all for sure.
Issei's feet touched the ground, landing around 10 meters in front of a group of four people. "What the hell is going on?" The man at the front, wielding a large spear yelled out. Issei presumed this to be Cao Cao.
"We've been attacked." A man with silver-white hair said plainly.
"I can see that Siegfried! Did we lose anyone?" Cao Cao spat at the Siegfried.
Issei studied them all. Issei had gotten a briefing from Vali of team Cao Cao and their abilities.
Cao Cao was the wielder of True Longinus, sad to be the strongest Longinus.
Siegfried, moniker The Demonic Sword Wielder, due to him wielding 6 demonic swords and 1 light. He had the ability to grow dragon arms.
Georg, wielder of the sacred gear Dimension Lost. A descendant of Johann Georg Faust, the man who made a pact with Mephisto Pheles.
Jeanne, sacred gear the same as one of Kiba's, Blade Blacksmith. She carries the spirit of the Maiden of Orleans, Joan of Arc.
Heracles, carrier of the spirit of the Greek mythological hero Heracles.
Finally, Leonardo. Wielder of one of the four strongest sacred gears, Annihilation Maker. Still just a child.
"Yes, sadly Heracles and Leonardo couldn't escape the blast radius in time. They were disintegrated." Siegfried replied to Cao Cao, yet to notice the assailant that had landed in front of them. A testament to how good his stealth abilities were. It, of course, helped that he was wearing all black and concealing his presence. Trying to see if he had killed anyone with that attack.
Both fortunately and unfortunately, he did. He knew he planned to kill every member of team Cao Cao, but he still didn't like it.
"Dammit! Whoever this is, I'm going to give them a slow painful death. It will take years to find Annihilation Maker again." Cao Cao said.
Figuring he had heard enough, he decided to step in. A blur shot in between Cao Cao and Siegfried. Cao Cao had just enough time to put up his spear, blocking it solely by instinct, before the blur was several meters behind them.
"Man, he's fast. Could even you see him, Siegfried?" Cao Cao asked, getting no answer. He looked to his side, trying to see why he wasn't answering, only to see Siegfried staring at him with horror.
"Siegfried?" Cao Cao asked again, only for Siegfried to fall to his knees, the instant his knees hit the ground a shockwave was sent through his body, forcing the until now unnoticed, severed head from Siegfried's body.
"I thought for sure that targeting you first would have been a waste of time, that you would have blocked it before I could take off your head. I guess in the end, I should have gone for you first, and him second. I guess your reputation proceeds you." The figure that had severed Siegfried's head.
Cao Cao shivered, the only reason he was alive was that this person had targeted Siegfried first. Cao Cao gulped. This person was dangerous. He just hoped the person had used some sort of ability to make him go that fast, and not that being his actual speed.
Cao Cao looked at the assailant. The man was wearing a pitch-black body cloak, a hood covering his hair. On his face was a black and red Kitsune mask, something Issei had bought at the Kyoto Shrine gift shop. He figured why not. It looked cool.
"W-Who are you?" Cao Cao asked hesitantly. Meanwhile, the other two members of team Cao Cao were shaking violently.
"Me? No one of importance." Issei said, before rushing forward, albeit much slower than before.
Cao Cao, seeing this, realized whatever attack Issei had used to make him so fast was something he couldn't continually use. So, he dashed forward as well.
Jeanne, seeing this, rushed forward along with Cao Cao.
Issei and Cao Cao met in the middle, sword locked with his spear, although it was obvious Issei was losing the bout of strength. Jeanne came rushing in from the side, rapier in her hand, poised to strike Issei through the side like a kebab.
Issei jumped back, but not quick enough, getting the rapier speared through his left arm at the elbow joint. Jeanne quickly pulled it back out, however, not wanting to lose her rapier.
Issei landed on his feet, before falling to one knee in pain. His left arm was now out of use, not to mention her rapier had holy qualities so he was burning right now.
Cao Cao and Jeanne seeing this confirmed that Issei was a devil. "A devil, aye. So, you thought you could just come and kill all of us. Although I must commend you, you have dwindled my teams' numbers quite a bit. For that, I will kill you myself." Cao Cao said, rushing forward while Jeanna lagged behind.
Issei and Cao Cao went on to exchange blows, Issei just narrowly dodging them. Issei wasn't able to keep up with it forever however, as Cao Cao landed a blow to his gut with the back end of his spear.
Issei was sent flying back, the air knocked out of his lungs as blood spurt from his mouth. He bounced off the ground several times before landing in a crater.
Bringing himself to his knees, he spat out the blood inside his mouth before wiping the rest off his face with his hand. Vali and his team seeing this, sprung into action, seeing the signal that Issei gave. The signal wiping his face.
It was decided beforehand that the signal for them all to join in was the wiping of his face. Whether it was because of blood, sweat, or tears. That was the signal.
Cao Cao quickly turned around when he heard the sounds of battle behind him. When he did, he saw team Vali behind him. Georg had already been defeated, due to him being at the back by himself and not being physically strong. His abilities didn't have many uses at the moment, so he decided to stay back.
"What the hell is going-" Cao Cao's sentence was cut off midway when he felt a sharp pain in his gut. He looked down to find that Issei sword was in his stomach currently.
"W-What? How?" Cao Cao asked confused, considering he didn't even feel, hear, or sense Issei even move. Which meant, he had to use a speed even higher than before.
"What? Did you really think I was so weak?" Issei said, taking his mask off. "No, no, no. I just didn't want you using your sacred gears other abilities. So, I let you believe my speed was just an ability." Issei said.
"You bastard!" Cao Cao said.
"Yea, yea. The bottom line is, you let your guard down. Because of that, you're going to die." Issei said before using his strength to pull his sword up vertically.
Cao Cao's eyes were set in pure rage forever as his body split down the middle down to his pelvis. He feels over dead in a matter of seconds, his sacred gear disintegrating, being passed on to a new wielder.
Issei looked up just in time to see Kuroka stab her claws through Jeanne's ribcage. Successfully killing off the last of team Cao Cao.
"It's a shame, these people could have been really strong, but they were too stubborn to realize the human body has limits," Issei said. Especially Cao Cao. With the True Longinus, he could have been very strong. His human body, however, was stunting his strength.
"Regardless, the plan was a success. You'll now be able to take over as the number one team in the Khaos Brigade." Issei said.
"Yea, but we barely got to fight. You said we would be fighting the entire Khaos Brigade. Yet, you're the only one that got to have a good fight." Vali said angrily.
"You'll get to fight more soon. We can't just go into this guns blazing. To do this correctly, we have to be careful of the moves we make. Every move is critical." Issei said, understanding what Vali meant, but he simply didn't care all that much.
"Besides, you're the number one team in the Khaos Brigade now. I'm sure you'll get plenty more fights now." Issei said offhandedly. "Now come on, we're leaving."
Issei walked off, heading away from the scene of the crime. Besides, other supernatural creatures and the cops will be here soon because of the blast Issei shot off. He wanted to get away from the area that they killed off the Khaos Brigade before teleporting back to Kuoh.
Issei sent team Vali back to their duties for the Khaos Brigade in light of what would happen once they found out about what happened to team Cao Cao. Meanwhile, he was going to continue to study and wait for the next part of his plan.
However, that was all halted when he got a call via a magic circle. Issei answered, wondering who it could be. "Hello?" Issei asked.
"Hello? Issei, is that you?" A familiar voice asked from the other line. It was a voice Issei would never be able to forget.
"Asia?" Issei asked, surprised.
"Issei! I'm so glad you picked up; I've missed you very much." Issei couldn't help but flinch when he heard the sadness in her voice.
"Sorry about that Asia. I promise once I'm done with my mission I will come back to the ORC." Issei said although he didn't mention that he had no idea how long until his mission would be over. It could be years before he kills off the entire Khaos Brigade.
"It's fine Issei, I understand. Your mission is very important. But I was calling because I have something to tell you." Asia said.
Issei smiled, thankful for her understanding. "What is it, Asia?"
"Well, tomorrow Rias is having a rating game. I didn't know if you wanted to participate or not, but I thought you should at least know." Asia said.
"Why am I only hearing of this now? I might not be there with you guys at the ORC at the moment, but I said I would still participate in the rating games." Issei said.
"Well, everyone else is mad at you right now," Asia said, Issei getting the picture.
"I see. Regardless, I'll be at the ORC tomorrow. I wouldn't leave you guys to fight a rating game by yourselves." Issei replied. After all, he was Rias' main fighting force.
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow Issei!" Asia said, the excitement easily heard over the magic circle.
"Alright, bye," Issei said, hanging up the call. "So, they're still made about me taking this mission. I guess that's understandable." Issei mumbled to himself.
He sometimes wonders if he made the right choice doing this. Was it really necessary to declare a one-man war against the Khaos Brigade?
Shaking his head, he went upstairs and to his room. He could study some other time, for now, he would have to prepare for the oncoming storm that would be meeting his fellow peerage members again after a while.
The next day and Issei were walking towards the school. He could have just teleported, but he was relatively close so there really wasn't a point. There was quite an uproar amongst the school when they saw Issei walk in through the front gates of Kuoh Academy.
"Is that Issei?" Some random girl asked.
"The perverts back?" The girl next to her asked.
"I thought he got expelled or something." Another person said.
As he expected, everyone started to murmur amongst themselves, making up rumors of where he was all this time. He didn't really understand what the huge deal was though. He had only been gone for like a month.
Issei locked eyes with Sona, who had been walking along the path Issei was taking to the ORC. Most likely she was coming back from wishing everyone good luck on the rating game.
"Hyoudou," Sona said in greeting.
"Sona. Nice to see you again." Issei replied.
Sona disregarded him not calling her Kaichou, not really caring. After all, she knew it was most likely just his pride as a dragon. "I didn't expect to see you here," Sona replied, a hint of venom in her voice.
Issei just kept walking, however, not really caring to take offense to her dig. "I would never abandon those I love," Issei said simply as he continued his walk to the ORC.
Sona couldn't help but stare at Issei's back as he continued walking. Even from here, she could feel the strength he exerted. It was a feeling he had only felt from the likes of her sister and the other Mauo. Issei was strong, that was for sure. And with the boosted gear, he could possibly be the strongest person in the entire Underworld. She also couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips. It was nice to know that he still cared about the ORC, despite all the actions he had been taking recently.
She kept watching until he disappeared behind the front doors of the ORC.
Inside of the ORC, Rias and everyone was discussing their plan for the rating game against Diodora Astaroth, heir to the Astaroth house. Asia, however, was preoccupied with constantly taking excited glances towards the doors to the ORC.
"What is going on with you Asia? You seem distracted." Rias asked Asia.
Asia blushed at being called out and started poking her fingers together. "Well, u-ummm you see, I ummm, might have told-"Her sentence stopped when everyone heard the door to the ORC start to open.
Everyone looked to the door, curious, except Asia who looked at it in excitement. They were shocked however when it was Issei who walked in. "Issei?!" Everyone shouted in surprise.
"Yo!" Issei replied casually, giving a one-handed wave. He was interrupted however by a yellow blur that crashed into him.
That blue would be Asia, shedding tears as she hugged Issei for dear life. Issei's eyes widened for a second, before turning soft, a warm smile gracing his face. "I missed you too Asia," Issei said returning the hug.
Asia looked up at him with teary eyes. "Issei! I'm so glad your back!" Asia said, reburying her face into his chest, relishing in the presence of Issei, her first friend.
The heartwarming reunion was interrupted however by a rather heated statement. "Issei, what are you doing here? I thought we weren't important enough for you." Rias said her arms crossed under her chest, her face set in a scowl. The others were also upset with him, but it was Rias who was the most furious.
"I'm here because you guys are participating in a rating game. There's no way I would miss it." Issei said, looking at them all.
Rias however just grunted and looked the other way. "Says the one that abandoned us all," Rias said heatedly.
Issei's face was instantly set into a frown. "Is that what you think I did? That I abandoned you all?" Issei whispered.
"Well, what do you expect us to feel like? We thought we were all happy, but then out of nowhere you go and have yourself temporarily removed from the peerage and left us to go on some mission! Without even telling us first!" Rias said. Issei couldn't help but agree in some sense, considering he did do that, but he did not abandon them.
"And you think I did that because I wasn't happy because you weren't all important to me?!" Issei spoke in a raised voice. "If you really think that then you're stupid!" Issei said, making most of them angrier.
Before any of them had the chance to retaliate, he continued to rant. "The truth is that there isn't a single place in the universe I'd rather be than here! This is my home, where my family is, where you guys are!" Issei, this time yelled.
"Well then why did you leave us?!" The one who yelled surprised everyone, this time being Koneko. No longer able to hold in her feelings, as when Issei left she felt like she was going through the same thing she did with Kuroka.
Issei calmed down slightly, gathering his thoughts before voicing his reason. "When I watched Irina die, someone, I cared for, murdered right in front of me, something inside me broke. I don't know what did, but it did. Afterword's, I realized I was weak. Too weak to accomplish what I wanted, and that was protecting all of you." Issei said, looking down at the floor.
"And then after the incident with Loki, I realized that because of me, everyone here was a target. The entire Khaos Brigade wanted me either dead or to join them, all because of my sacred gear. So when the thought of someone else dying, but this time because of me, something inside me broke again." Most of the people were looking at Issei softer now, beginning to understand his reasons for leaving.
"When I left, it was to get stronger. So, when the day comes that someone truly strong comes looking for me when someone seeks out my power, I'd be strong enough to protect you all. No matter who the opponent was." Issei said passionately.
Although they weren't as angry as before, they still held some anger for him leaving. "Yet, despite all that, you didn't stop to consider how much it hurt us when you left," Rias said the same hurt she was talking about heavy in her voice.
Issei flinched at that. Of course, he had thought about that, it was one of the reasons he doubted if asking Asmodeus for his mission was the right choice. In the end, he always thought that growing stronger, and eliminating the main threat to the underworld, and by proxy, all of them was more important.
Issei looked at them all apologetically, Asia still buried deep within his chest, sobbing. "Look, I'm sorry if I hurt you all, it wasn't my intention. I never wanted to hurt any of you. You guys are my family, there isn't anybody more important to me in this world." Issei said.
"But I also can't promise you all that I will always be here. There are times when you have to give up on one thing to preserve another. In this case, I had to give up being here, with you guys, in order to preserve, and guarantee you guys stayed alive, unharmed."
"Look, if you want me to leave, I will. But know that I will never abandon you. In your times of need, I will always be there. Even if I have to go through heaven and hell." Issei said, finishing his rant.
There was silence for a while before suddenly, Akeno joined in the hug Asia and Issei were sharing, followed by Koneko, then Irina, Kiba, Xenovia, then finally Rias. "Of course, we don't want you to leave. No matter how mad we get at you, you will always be family. And you never abandon family." Rias said, tears falling out of her eyes.
"Thank you," Issei said gratefully. It was nice to be here again, with the people he loved, even if it was only for the rating game, and then he would return to his mission.
"Now, come on, we have a rating game to win," Rias said, a smile plastered on her face.
Everyone broke away from the hug, and with a chorus of "Right!", everyone went back to planning their strategy for the rating game.
Now first, some people said that I have strayed away from the romance aspect of the story everyone was promised. I can assure you, however, I have not. There are just some things I have to get out of the way before I focus on the romance aspect. For right now, I'm building Issei's character first, and then I'm going to build upon Serafall's character, then finally build upon their relationship.
Second, a lot of people are saying they want me to keep Issei OP. Now I can't stress this enough, but Issei will be considered OP for DxD characters. There won't be a single character in DxD strong enough to rival him in time. However, I'm going to add OC villains that won't challenge him physically, but also mentally. One such will be introduced very soon and will force Issei to his breaking point, and be an essential key to the other OCs.