2 Days Later, Hyoudou Residence
Issei woke up groggily, his whole body aching from the brutal training routine Ddraig had forced on him. Push-ups, sprints, meditation, bursts of Boost over and over until his muscles screamed.
*(Screw you, Ddraig. I'll never wake up fully rested for school again…)* Issei grumbled inwardly as he dragged himself out of bed. Still, even with the exhaustion, he could feel it—his body was tougher, his flames burned hotter, his chest's furnace pulsing stronger with each passing day.
He scarfed down breakfast mechanically, gave his parents a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, and left the house.
*(I'm sorry, Mom… Dad… but this life isn't for you. The more I walk this path, the less you can ever understand me.)*
His thoughts were heavy as he walked toward school, so much so that he almost didn't notice the collision until he stumbled back.
"Ah!"
A small yelp rang out, followed by the sight of a young girl sitting on the ground. She had long blonde hair, pure green eyes, and wore a nun's habit—dark teal with light blue accents, white veil, and brown boots. The wind caught her dress as she tried to get up, revealing teal-colored underwear.
Issei's eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
"I-I'm sorry! Are you okay?" he asked, though his tone leaned more toward *perverted awe* than genuine concern.
The girl blinked, then gasped. "You… you can understand me?! You can really understand me?!" she said in Italian, her words flowing like a song.
*(Wait… Italian? What the hell? I don't know a single word of that!)* Issei froze—then remembered Rias's explanation. Devils understood all human languages naturally.
"…Uh, yeah. Guess so?" he replied awkwardly.
Her eyes sparkled with pure joy. "Oh, thank you God! I've been searching all morning for someone who could understand me!"
Issei's guilty conscience flared. *(Damn… she's way too pure for me to be thinking about her underwear like that…)*
"I'm Asia Argento," she said with a gentle smile. "I'm a nun, newly arrived in Japan. I've been trying to find the church in this town."
*(Church?)* Issei's chest tightened at the word, but the way she said it… there was no malice. Just faith. Innocence.
"Well, how about I take you there?" he offered before he could stop himself. *(School… or a pretty girl? Who am I kidding? Pretty girl wins every time.)*
Her face lit up. "You would? Even though you'll be late?"
"Don't worry about it."
They walked side by side through the quiet streets. Asia asked about Japan, about the food, about school life—every question simple, genuine. She even stopped to pet stray cats and compliment shopkeepers they passed.
Issei found himself smiling without realizing it. She was too good. Too kind.
"Why the church though?" he asked carefully.
Asia's smile faltered. "…I was excommunicated."
Issei's eyes widened. "*What? Why?*" His voice was sharper than he intended. *(How the hell do you throw away someone like her? Aren't they supposed to be the good guys?)*
She wrung her hands nervously. "Even if I told you… you wouldn't believe me."
Before Issei could press further, the cry of a child rang out from a nearby playground. Asia immediately rushed over to a boy who had scraped his knee falling off the monkey bars. She spoke softly to him—even though he didn't understand Italian, her gentle tone calmed him. Then her palms began to glow with a warm green light.
Issei's jaw dropped as he watched the wound knit itself closed before his eyes. The boy gasped, his tears vanishing into wonder, as his mother ran over, thanking Asia profusely.
Asia returned to Issei shyly. "Sorry about that…"
"Sorry?!" Issei burst out. "You *healed* him! And they kicked you out for that?!" His fists clenched, the heat in his chest flaring dangerously.
Asia reached out, her hand trembling but brave. "Please… don't be angry. I… I'm happy you care so much."
Her words cooled the fire, if only a little.
"…Issei Hyoudou," he said finally, rubbing the back of his neck. "Pawn in Rias Gremory's peerage."
"Pawn?" she repeated, confused, but smiled anyway. "It's nice to meet you, Issei."
For a few more minutes, they walked, Issei subconsciously taking the longer path just to hear her talk. By the time they reached the edge of town, his chest felt lighter than it had in weeks.
"I hope to see you again," Asia said softly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"…Yeah. Me too." Issei gave her a smile—one of his first true ones since his reincarnation. It made her heart skip.
Later That Day, Old School Building
"President," Issei said between push-ups in the clubroom. "I met a nun earlier. She said she was headed to that church on the edge of town."
The sound of Rias's pen stopped. She looked up sharply, her eyes darkening. "You… did what?"
"What's the big deal?" Issei asked, annoyed.
"Stay away from the church," Rias snapped.
"I'll do as I damn well please." His tone was sharp, flames rippling faintly along his skin.
Rias stood, her voice dropping. "Issei, that's fallen territory. It's dangerous. Even for you."
Her words hit him hard, the fire in his chest flaring with rage.
"…I'm going," Issei growled.
"Not today!" Rias blurted, her calm breaking as she felt the heat in the room spike. "I have other engagements. Tomorrow—we'll go together, as a peerage, and wipe them out for good. Please."
Issei's flames receded slowly, reluctantly. "…Fine. Tomorrow."
That Night, Kouh Town – Unknown House
Asia stood outside a small home, wringing her hands. Beside her was a man she had only recently been assigned to: Freed Sellzen.
He grinned with manic delight, his short white hair sticking out wildly, his blood-red eyes glowing in the dark. His priest's uniform was splattered with stains.
"This is it. A filthy devil-worshipping family. Put up the barrier, sweetheart. Time to cleanse."
Asia obeyed, her heart sinking, as a pale dome of light surrounded the house.
Freed kicked in the door and stormed inside, cackling as he fired holy bullets from his pistols. The screams that followed clawed at Asia's soul. She froze in the hallway, trembling, as his laughter echoed.
Koneko's POV
Koneko adjusted her cosplay outfit stiffly, suppressing a sigh as the client's camera clicked. A contract was a contract, no matter how perverted.
Then the air shifted. A barrier.
Her golden eyes narrowed. She discreetly contacted her King, keeping her face blank.
The door exploded open, a blood-soaked priest standing there with a twisted grin.
"Yo, little kitty devil! Hope you scream pretty when I carve you up!"
Holy bullets sprayed the room. Koneko leapt forward, shielding the human man instinctively, only to feel searing pain as two rounds tore through her arm and leg. The wounds hissed, smoking against her skin.
"Light bullets. Tasty, huh?!" Freed howled, drawing his glowing sword.
The man screamed—but it was cut short, his body cleaved in two, cauterized instantly.
Koneko grit her teeth, dropping into a defensive stance. Freed's sword swings came wild and fast, each one fueled by his madness.
Kouh Academy, Student Council Office
Rias froze at the message from Koneko, Sona glaring across the desk.
"Don't tell me this is about that boy again," Sona sighed, pinching her nose.
Rias stood abruptly. "Sorry, Sona. Koneko's in danger."
Sona adjusted her glasses. "…We'll talk later."
Moments later, Rias teleported outside the barrier with Issei and Akeno. A crackling blast of Power of Destruction shattered it, the explosion lighting up the street.
"Damn, that's cool," Issei muttered even in the chaos.
Inside, the stench of blood hit them first. The family was already gone, their bodies twisted and mutilated. Issei gagged, bile rising, his chest furnace screaming for release.
*(Kill him. Burn him. Make him pay…)*
They rushed to the master bedroom—where they saw him. Freed Sellzen, laughing, blade dripping, as Koneko bled against the wall.
"Bastards!" Rias unleashed a torrent of crimson destruction, the energy ripping across the room. Freed dove out of the way, cackling.
"Damn devils just keep popping up!"
Asia stumbled in behind him, pale. "Freed, did you… kill them all?!"
"Of course I did, bitch!" he barked, pistol-whipping her across the face. "What else are devil-loving heretics for? The only reason you're still breathing is 'cause the Fallen want you in one piece. If it were up to me, I'd break you in first."
Something inside Issei snapped. Flames burst from his skin, the Boosted Gear roaring to life as the furnace in his chest erupted.
"Boost!" Ddraig's voice echoed, shaking the room.
Freed's manic grin faltered when he saw Issei's eyes—burning with nothing but hatred.
"Uh-oh."
Issei launched forward, ignoring Rias's frantic protest. His flames scorched the walls, forcing Freed to dive out the shattered window, firing wildly. One bullet grazed Issei's side, holy light searing the wound instantly, but he barely felt it.
All he wanted was to kill.
All he wanted was to burn.
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