Abandoned Church
The abandoned church loomed like a corpse of stone and wood, its shattered windows watching the intruders like hollow eyes. The air reeked of mildew and dried blood.
Issei stood at the front, fists trembling, Asia's hand brushing against his arm. Behind him, Rias's crimson gaze burned with command, Akeno's smile never wavering, Yuuto's eyes sharp, and Koneko silent as always.
"Tonight," Rias said firmly, authority dripping in her voice, "we enter, we eliminate all who stand in our way, and we return alive. If you don't… I'll kill you myself."
The others didn't flinch. Even Issei, who normally would bristle at her bossiness, said nothing. His anger burned hotter than his nerves. *(They killed me… they hurt Asia… I'll make them pay.)*
Asia clutched her cross, trying to keep steady. She knew blood would be spilled, and though she was terrified, she had resolved to do one thing: keep Issei alive.
Issei peeled off his shirt.
"Why are you doing that?" Asia asked innocently.
Before Issei could answer, Koneko's dry voice cut in. "Pervert."
A tick mark twitched on Issei's forehead. "My clothes always get destroyed when I activate the Boosted Gear! I'm running out of shirts!"
Akeno giggled. "Why not make clothes with your demonic energy, like the rest of us?"
"Because nobody taught me how!" he growled.
"Fine, fine," Akeno smiled teasingly. "I'll teach you when this is over."
The doors groaned as they pushed inside. Rows of pews stretched forward into shadow, where three exorcists stood waiting, weapons gleaming.
Rias raised a hand, crimson energy crackling into a sphere of destruction — but Yuuto touched her wrist. "Save your strength, President. I'll handle them."
"Then I'll help," Issei said, Boosted Gear already forming with a fiery pulse.
Yuuto's demonic blade shimmered into existence, its black edge humming with the ability to devour holy energy. The exorcists charged.
Steel clashed, gunfire roared — and the fight began.
Yuuto's blade moved like water, disarming and disabling in elegant arcs. Issei was more raw — fire and fury, his punches scattering molten sparks, his wings slicing through steel.
But the exorcists were only human. One blade snapped, and Issei's flaming strike cut too deep. The man crumpled, screaming once, before going still.
Issei froze. His stomach lurched. He hadn't meant to kill him. His hands trembled as another fell, burned by his flames.
He staggered back, staring at the bodies. "I… I didn't—"
Asia gasped but rushed to his side, clutching his hand. "You didn't want this. I know."
Rias stepped closer, her tone softer than usual. "This is war, Issei. Don't let it break you."
Before he could answer, a manic laugh echoed from the shadows.
"OH, how precious! The little dragon feels guilty? That makes this even better!"
Freed Sellzen stepped into the light, holy sword in one hand, pistols in the other, eyes gleaming with lunacy.
"Asia!" he shouted gleefully. "Little Healer-chan! Did you miss me? Don't worry — I'll carve you up slow this time!"
He lunged for her — but Koneko intercepted, her kick slamming into his ribs and sending him flying into a wall.
Issei's rage snapped. He charged forward, fire erupting, magma wings spreading wide. "YOU—!"
Freed laughed, raising his sword to meet him.
And then, from above, Dohnaseek descended, his new metallic wings gleaming. His voice dripped with venom. "For what you did to me, Red Dragon… I'll see you in hell."
The real battle began.
Freed's laughter rang like nails on glass, his holy sword flashing as it clashed against Issei's gauntlet. Bullets screamed past, ricocheting off fiery wings that erupted from Issei's back in a blaze of molten orange and crimson.
"Magma wings?!" Freed cackled. "Oh, you're flashy, I'll give you that! But can you *use* them?"
Issei snarled, swinging his arm in a fiery arc. The wings flared, hurling a crescent wave of molten flame across the chapel. Stone melted where it landed, pews turned to ash.
"BOOST!" Ddraig's voice thundered from the Gauntlet, power flooding Issei's body.
Issei lunged, fire trailing like a comet. Freed blocked desperately, his blade glowing with holy energy — but the molten heat bent the steel, burning his hand.
"Ahhh-hahaha! YES! More, more, more!" Freed shrieked, blood dripping from his palm. He kicked off a wall, firing his pistols wildly.
The molten wings folded forward, catching the bullets in bursts of flame. Issei shot upward, wings tearing chunks of stone as he blasted into the rafters.
"You're insane!" Issei growled, diving with a fist like a fireball.
"Better insane than boring!" Freed cackled, blade scraping along the Boosted Gear. Sparks and firelight exploded between them, illuminating his crazed grin.
Then another voice cut through the madness.
"You filthy brat."
Dohnaseek descended from the shadows, his metallic wings unfurling with a screech. Each feather gleamed like a blade. His face twisted in fury. "For the wound you gave me, I'll peel your flesh inch by inch!"
Issei's eyes narrowed. *(Two-on-one. Great.)*
"BOOST!" Ddraig roared again, his voice steady in Issei's head. *"Focus, Partner. One strike at a time. Your wings are not just for show — they're weapons, shields, your greatest advantage. Use them!"*
Issei gritted his teeth. "Got it."
Dohnaseek hurled spears of light, dozens raining down. Issei flared his wings wide — the molten fire melted the spears mid-air, splashing harmlessly against the stone. Freed darted in, sword slashing, but Issei twisted mid-air, a wing slicing across Freed's chest and leaving a molten burn.
"GAHHH! Still not enough!" Freed howled, firing wildly, laughing even as his skin smoked.
"BOOST!"
Power surged again. Issei's flames condensed, flowing into his fists and wings like molten steel. He thrust forward, a winged strike colliding with Dohnaseek's metallic feathers. The impact rang like hammer on anvil — until the metal began to drip, molten heat eating it away.
"NOOOO!" Dohnaseek screamed, his wings melting into slag.
Issei pressed forward, flames roaring like a dragon's breath. "This… is for Asia!"
The magma wings slashed, carving through Dohnaseek's chest. Fire erupted, engulfing him entirely. His screams echoed as his body disintegrated into cinders.
Freed staggered back, one arm charred, his sword shaking. And then, as Issei turned toward him, the Gauntlet pulsed again.
"BOOST!"
Issei's power doubled, flames erupting into a dragon-shaped aura that towered behind him. Freed's manic grin twitched, blood dripping from his lips.
"Heh… ahahaha… you're a monster… a *real* monster. This is fun! This is divine!" He raised his blade for one final clash.
But Issei's flames were faster. A searing strike with his magma wings cut across Freed's arm, burning it to the bone. The holy sword clattered to the ground as Freed staggered back, shrieking in manic delight.
"HAHAHAHA! WONDERFUL! PAIN! BLOOD! Keep it up, Red Dragon! I'll be back for more!"
With that, he vanished into the shadows, laughter trailing behind him like a curse.
Issei stood, chest heaving, flames still roaring around him. The metallic stench of burnt flesh filled the air. The sight of bodies, ash, and melted steel surrounded him.
His flames flickered… and then died.
He collapsed to his knees, trembling. His fists clenched, but his eyes blurred with tears.
*(I killed them… all of them… what the hell am I becoming…?)*
"Partner." Ddraig's deep voice rumbled softly now, not commanding but… almost comforting. *"You fight because you must. But do not lose yourself to rage. You are more than destruction."*
Asia rushed forward, catching him as he fell. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling his burning hands into her own without hesitation. Her voice trembled but carried firm warmth.
"You're not alone, Issei. Not anymore. I'll stay with you. Always."
Issei buried his face into her shoulder, tears finally falling as the church around them smoldered.
While Issei fought, Rias confronted Raynare. The Fallen's black feathers scattered as she sneered.
"You think you can protect that nun? That boy? Pathetic. He was mine. My toy. And now he's your servant?"
Rias's crimson eyes narrowed, the Power of Destruction swirling in her palm. "You hurt him. You humiliated him. You tried to break his spirit. For that…" She unleashed a wave, blasting one of Raynare's wings clean off.
Raynare shrieked, crashing to the ground, blood spraying. "Wait! Please! Mercy! I-I was only following orders! I can change!"
Rias advanced, power crackling, her expression colder than steel.
On the opposite side, Akeno clashed with Kalawarner. The older Fallen fought cautiously, twin spears of light spinning in defensive arcs.
But Akeno only giggled, her holy lightning dancing like serpents. "You're not very fun… let's fix that."
The church shook as she unleashed a torrent, white lightning frying through Kalawarner's defenses. The Fallen screamed, wings burning to ash, before collapsing, smoking and twitching.
"Oops. Did I overdo it?" Akeno whispered sweetly, though her smile never wavered.
Mittelt snarled, feathers whipping into blades of light, but Yuuto parried each one with graceful sweeps of his blade. Koneko darted in, fists like hammers, her strength shattering stone with every blow.
"Damn kids!" Mittelt shrieked, summoning a spear — only for Yuuto to shatter it with a dark blade and Koneko to smash her into the ground with one brutal punch.
The fight ended almost as quickly as it began.
The dust settled. Bodies smoldered.
Issei staggered forward, breathing ragged, his flames flickering out. Dohnaseek was ash. Freed had vanished, screaming laughter trailing behind.
The group gathered around Raynare, who lay broken, sobbing.
When she saw Issei, her eyes widened. Her body shimmered, feathers falling away, until Yuuma stood before him again — the girl who had kissed him, who had killed him.
"I-Issei… it's me. Don't you remember? Don't hurt me. Please… save me."
The others froze, unsure. Asia gasped, eyes wide.
Issei's face was unreadable. Inside, his heart twisted. Rage, betrayal, and sorrow all churned together.
"Partner," Ddraig rumbled, voice heavy, "do not lose yourself."
But Issei raised his hand anyway. Flames licked across his fingers. He placed it gently against her cheek.
Raynare's eyes lit with false hope — before the god-killing flames consumed her. Her scream ended in ash.
Silence.
Issei trembled, collapsing to his knees. The smell of burning feathers and flesh lingered.
"I… I killed her. I killed them all…" His voice broke, tears spilling.
Asia rushed forward, wrapping her arms around him, pulling his head into her chest. "You're not alone. You don't have to bear this by yourself. I'll stay. Always."
The others stood in silence, watching the young dragon cry as the church burned.
And deep inside the Gauntlet, Ddraig's voice whispered one last time.
"Good… cry, partner. But do not break. A dragon's path is cruel. Yet… you are not walking it alone."
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