Dohnaseek stared at Issei menacingly. "So you're the brat that Raynare claimed she killed."
Issei's hands clenched into fists until his knuckles turned white. The fedora-clad figure loomed in the dim streetlight, his trench coat flapping slightly in the breeze, eyes gleaming with cold amusement. Memories of the "date" flashed through Issei's mind, Yuma's sweet smile turning to betrayal, the spear piercing his chest.
Rage bubbled up, hot and unfamiliar, like fire stirring in his veins. That bitch… and now this guy? Who does he think he is, showing up like some wannabe gangster? His heart pounded, the warmth in his chest growing not just anger, but something primal, draconic, urging him to fight.
Scarlet and Ddraig both felt Issei's growing anger.
Scarlet's chibi form popped up in his mind's eye, her voice urgent but steady. "Listen, kid, you're not strong enough to beat him head-on, but that doesn't mean you can't injure him. Play it smart, use everything you've got."
Ddraig growled from the gauntlet on his arm. "She's right, whelp. This one's a Fallen angel, mid-tier at best. Hit hard, dodge fast. Awaken your blood, but don't lose control."
A sharp chime rang in Issei's head as a red screen materialized:
[Urgent Quest Activated: Injure Dohnaseek]
Condition: Endure until reinforcements arrive
Reward: Awaken Dragon Breath
Penalty: Severe Vitality Drain(If Failed)
Issei gritted his teeth. "Who the hell are you? And what do you want with me?"
Dohnaseek chuckled, a low, mocking sound that echoed off the empty streets. "Just tying up loose ends, boy. Raynare was sloppy. She left the Red Dragon Emperor's host breathing. We can't allow that power to mature under the devil faction."He raised a hand, light coalescing into a spear, the air humming with holy energy that made Issei's skin crawl. It was the same burning sensation from Raynare's attack, pure, hateful divinity. "Time to correct her mistake."
The spear launched like a comet. Issei dove aside, the projectile scorching the pavement where he'd stood. Holy crap, that was close! Adrenaline surged, his devil-dragon instincts kicking in sharper than before, like his body was remembering something ancient.
Ddraig: "Boost!"
The gauntlet pulsed with crimson energy, flooding his body like liquid fire. Issei's muscles tensed, strength doubling as he charged forward, the ground cracking under his feet.
Dohnaseek smirked, summoning another spear with casual arrogance, but Issei was faster now. His fist connected with the Fallen angel's side, Dragon Claw activating in a flash of scales that gleamed under the streetlights. A crack echoed through the alley; Dohnaseek grunted, staggering back with a bruised rib, his coat torn slightly.
"Not bad for a newbie," Dohnaseek sneered, his wings unfurling black feathers glinting under the lights like obsidian blades. He took to the air again with a powerful flap, the wind whipping Issei's hair as he rained light spears down like arrows from hell. Issei rolled and dodged, the ground exploding around him in bursts of holy fire. One grazed his shoulder, burning like acid through his shirt. The pain did not vanish. It dulled slightly, heat sealing the worst of the damage but leaving his arm shaking and numb. Endure… just endure till help comes! Rias has to sense this, right?
Scarlet coached from the system: "Use the environment, kid! Fallen angels hate tight spaces, lure him down! Be mindful of your bleeding stamina."
Issei bolted toward a narrow alley, spears nipping at his heels, one clipping his leg and sending a jolt of agony up his spine. Dohnaseek pursued, diving low with a triumphant grin. Gotcha! Issei spun, activating a partial boost to conserve power.
His punch clipped Dohnaseek's jaw, drawing blood that splattered across the wall. Dohnaseek snarled, retaliating with a wing slammed into Issei's ribs, hurling him into a dumpster, the metal dented under the impact. Pain exploded through his back, but the quest bar ticked up: Injury Inflicted: 50% Complete. Issei spat blood, pushing himself up. This hurts like hell… but I can't stop now!
"You're tougher than you look," Dohnaseek admitted, wiping blood from his lip with a grimace. His severed wing stump smoked, black ichor dripping. "But playtime's over." He formed a larger spear, holy light crackling dangerously, the air ionizing with a sharp ozone scent. Issei braced, heart pounding like a drum. Where's Rias? I can't hold much longer! Come on, system, give me something!
The spear hurtled forward. Time slowed as Issei's rage peaked, his vision tinting red. "Ddraig," he rasped. "One more. Just one."
There was a pause.
Then Ddraig's voice came, heavier than before. "You are borrowing from tomorrow, boy. Do not forget that."
The surge was weaker, unstable, tearing through Issei's muscles like fire through glass.
Dragon Claw manifested fully for the first time, scales cracking and flaring with painful heat as claws extended. He leaped, barely avoiding the spear by mere seconds.
He used his momentum to slash upward with all his might. The boosted strike connected, tearing through Dohnaseek's left wing in a spray of black feathers and blood. The Fallen angel howled, crashed to the ground, one wing severed and smoking.
Injury Inflicted: 100% Complete. The system chimed: [Quest Complete: Injure Dohnaseek]
Reward: Awaken Dragon Breath (Dormant)
Fire surged deep in Issei's throat. fire bubbled up in his throat, hot and infinite, like a dormant volcano.
Issei collapsed to his knees. Then forward. Darkness took him.
"You little monster," Dohnaseek snarled, staggering back. "This isn't over."
From the shadows, Rias and her peerage arrived. Rias caught Issei before he hit the ground, Power of Destruction crackling around her hands.
Her gaze, full of hatred, fell on Dohnaseek.
He fled but swore that this was far from over.
She swept a strand of Issei's hair from his face. "You did well, my pawn."
She gave one order to her peerage. "Find out what fallen angels are doing in my territory and why they attacked my Issei." Her voice left no room for questions.
Rias opened a portal to Issei's room.
She joined Issei and his bed again for another round of healing.
As Rias wrapped her naked form around Issei and sleep claimed them both, a delicate tremor whispered through the fabric of time and space.
Without waking them, the short dragon made her way toward the sleeping Issei.
Ophis's hand rubbed his cheek. She let out a low growl toward Ddraig and Scarlet. "Who," she whispered, "harmed my son?"