The twilight sky began to fade, replaced by soft hues of purple and orange. Issei looked at the sky briefly before turning to Sona, who was still sitting beside him in the backyard.
"Your friend, Tsubaki, is already waiting outside," said Issei softly. "By the way, shall we exchange contacts?"
Sona nodded, her face still slightly flushed. She took out her smartphone in a slightly hurried motion. "Alright. I'll save your number." Her fingers danced quickly on the screen. "I'll send a message via SNS later," she added, trying to return to her professional demeanor.
Suddenly, her gaze turned serious, her eyes narrowing behind her glasses. "And Issei," she said firmly. "Don't approach other women. Your pheromones... are dangerous."
Issei could only offer a small smile, accepting her concern. "Yeah. I'll wait for you on SNS later. And... I'll try to stay away from other women." The promise was made sincerely.
Sona then stood up, straightening the wrinkles on her uniform. "See you again... Issei." His name was spoken with a hint of shyness.
Issei responded with a warm smile. "See you, Sona."
He watched Sona turn and walk out of the yard, joining Tsubaki who had been waiting faithfully. Issei then returned inside the house.
As soon as he entered the living room, Irina immediately approached him, her face full of long-held questions. "Issei-kun, is Kuoh... a devil school?"
Issei nodded, trying to answer calmly. "Yes, although most of the residents are girls. No need to worry. Unless it's a Yokai school—you might not be able to handle it because their forms are sometimes... not entirely human."
Xenovia then approached, more directly to the point. "Issei-kun, how about we start the search for the Excalibur fragments tomorrow?"
Issei turned to her, looking tired. "Alright. But for today, I just want to rest first." He then dropped himself onto the sofa, closed his eyes, and seemingly fell asleep.
Inner World: Endless Grassland
Issei opened his eyes within his own consciousness. He stood in the middle of an endless green meadow, under an eternal blue sky. The atmosphere felt different.
"That's unusual," he muttered. "It feels like there's residual battle energy here."
He walked toward the massive red dragon who was sleeping soundly—Ddraig. Patting Ddraig's hard scales, Issei called out, "Wake up, Ddraig. I need your help."
Ddraig growled, slowly opening his glowing yellow eyes. The dragon's body rose with a rumble. "Fuck. That woman hasn't changed," he grumbled, referring to Tiamat. "What is it, Issei?"
Issei scratched his head. "Can you modify the structure of this Power of Destruction magic? I can only copy it, not alter it." From his hand, a complex red-colored magic formula glowed—the essence of the destructive power he had stolen from Rias.
Ddraig brought his eyes closer, examining the pattern carefully. "Power of Destruction. The legacy of the Bael and Gremory Clans. You... stole it?" his voice was filled with astonishment and slight admiration.
"I only copied it! And... Tiamat caught onto my trick. Tehe~," Issei joked to lighten the mood.
Ddraig snorted and, with his large claw, flicked Issei's forehead lightly. "Idiot. Of course Tiamat noticed. Do you think she's a dumb dragon? Even I don't want to deal with her."
"Ouch!" Issei rubbed his forehead. "I can't ignore this magic. I just want to change the structure, make it black, undetectable, and I'll use it as the embodiment of my own Dragon Will."
Ddraig looked at the magic pattern again. "This magic is actually really good, but it's too destructive in nature. However, there's one thing that's interesting... its ability to erase souls."
Issei froze, his eyes staring blankly at the red energy in his hand. He didn't expect this power to be that fatal. "Can you change it?" he asked with a trembling voice. "This... is perfect for me. Enemies can be instantly incinerated and vanish along with their souls, without needing flashy big spells."
Ddraig sighed, thin smoke escaping from his nostrils. "I figured you'd think that way. Even the cruelest assassins would look like amateurs compared to you with that crazy idea."
With skillful movements, Ddraig took the core of the Power of Destruction magic. Issei watched, stunned, as the spell structure was disassembled and rebuilt from scratch by Ddraig. The process was intricate and filled with glowing magical symbols.
A few moments later, Ddraig announced, "It's done. Shall I implant it into your body? The Bael and Gremory Clans will never realize this is their magic, now modified."
Issei nodded, his gaze full of determination. "I'm ready. My target is Trihexa."
Ddraig pushed the modified magic core into Issei's chest. Issei screamed briefly, feeling a shock of foreign energy fusing with him. However, the pain quickly subsided. He sighed in relief.
To test it, Issei created several straw dolls in the field. With a snap of his fingers, three pitch-black swords emerged from the shadows and simultaneously pierced the dolls—one in the heart, one in the side of the head, and one in the stomach. The dolls instantly turned to ash.
Issei smiled in satisfaction. Ddraig observed seriously. "I don't know how fast and far your progress will go. But be careful. Don't overuse the trick of inserting magic through Ether Flow, especially when dealing with Michael or the Gods. Keep that trick as a secret weapon."
Issei nodded. "Thank you, Ddraig. I'm heading out."
Issei opened his eyes again on the sofa. It was already dark. The wall clock showed 7:00 PM.
"So it's night already," he grumbled.
Gorou, his father, who was sitting on the opposite chair, watched him. "Bringing another girl home, huh? I heard from Miki. Has amnesia actually become a 'blessing' for your harem?" Gorou said, pretending to be serious.
Before Issei could respond, Miki appeared and gently tugged Gorou's ear. "Ara~, what's wrong dear? Thinking about a harem while you didn't help me in the kitchen at all?"
"Ouch, ouch, ouch! That hurts, dear! Please, it was just a joke!" Gorou whined.
Miki then turned to Issei. "Issei, could you buy groceries for dinner? Don't take too long."
Issei nodded obediently. "Alright, Mom. I'll get ready first."
After receiving money and the shopping list from Miki, Issei left for the supermarket. The night was quiet, only lit by street lights and the sound of crickets. The atmosphere was silent.
After buying everything he needed—eggs, chicken, seasonings, vegetables, and some snacks for himself—Issei paid at the cashier and began walking home.
On the way, under dim streetlights, a middle-aged man with dark silver hair and wearing flashy armor like a cosplayer stood blocking his path. Issei, reflexively, slipped a trace of his magic into the man's body like a virus, while pretending not to notice and trying to walk past him.
Rizevim Livan Lucifer smirked sinisterly. "Oh? Ignored, huh? For a Boosted Gear user turned Dragon, you're quite interesting."
Issei kept walking, not looking back.
In his head, Ddraig warned, {That's a Devil. More precisely, a descendant of Lucifer. Good, you managed to slip in your magic unnoticed. He's a real idiot. By the way, he has an interesting Sacred Gear.}
'What is it?' Issei asked in his mind.
{Sacred Gear Canceller. It nullifies all Sacred Gear abilities.}
Issei paused briefly. His mind worked quickly, analyzing the potential of that Sacred Gear. A crazy idea formed.
'Ddraig, can I 'take' and modify it? I see immense potential in it.'
{Yes,} Ddraig replied. {I can read your thoughts. Imagine Breaker. I warn you, that kind of power will reject the world. And in return, the world will reject its wielder.}
'But I need it,' Issei countered. 'If Trihexa uses magic that still obeys the laws of the world, this power can nullify it. Or at least weaken it.'
{Your choice,} said Ddraig in a resigned tone. {But remember, you'll become 'The Unlucky One', like Kamijou Touma in that story.}
At that moment, Rizevim was already standing in front of Issei, his face turning angry. "How dare you ignore me! I will—"
Issei cut him off, his voice flat and commanding. "Sit."
Instantly, Rizevim was forced to sit cross-legged on the asphalt, his body locked and unable to move. Inside, panic and anger raged. 'FUCK! Who is this kid? Is he not a regular Boosted Gear user?'
Issei looked at him coldly. "Do you possess the Sacred Gear Canceller?"
Rizevim, his eyes full of hatred, shouted, "Bastard! Who are y—"
"Answer." Issei's command was louder this time.
"Yes!" Rizevim responded, unable to resist. "I have the Sacred Gear Canceller! It can nullify all Sacred Gear abilities!"
Issei smiled thinly. "Can you give it to me?"
"I can't!" Rizevim shouted again, though his body was still locked. "If the Sacred Gear Canceller is given to someone else, the user dies!"
Issei's smile widened, becoming more sinister. "In that case... just die."
He snapped his fingers.
Rizevim barely gasped before the same three black swords from Issei's inner world emerged from within his own body, piercing his heart, head, and stomach simultaneously. His body instantly burned, turning to ash and vanishing without a trace.
From the remaining ash, a small black symbol—like a snake—flew and coiled around Issei's right wrist.
{That's Ophis's Snake,} said Ddraig.
Issei observed the small black snake coiled around his wrist. He raised his left hand and gently touched the snake's head. "Kinda cute. Lucky I killed him quickly."
At Issei's home, Ophis who was watching TV suddenly turned toward the window. "Mine," she whispered flatly. Instantly, the black snake on Issei's hand vanished.
Issei wasn't surprised. He then took the remaining Sacred Gear Canceller—a simple black medal—and wore it on his right hand. Immediately, his magic seeped into the Sacred Gear.
With firm resolve, Issei implanted his 'Dragon Will' into the artifact. "This Sacred Gear Canceller is mine. Belongs to no one. If Kamijou Touma has to touch with his right hand, I will create a Domain—no need to touch, just be within range."
Suddenly, the black medal glowed and fused into the skin of his right hand, as if merging with his very existence.
Then, a series of "System" voices echoed in his mind—not actual voices, but a pure stream of information.
[System Notice] Sacred Gear structure: CANCELLER — Corrupted.
[System] Host's Will overriding artifact limit...
[System] Unauthorized Evolution Detected. Initiating Forced Mutation...
[Warning] Artifact link with Heaven System: TERMINATED.
[System Rewrite] Domain-Class Ability initializing...
[Mutation Success] New Sacred Gear Awakened: DOMAIN IMAGINE BREAKER
[Passive Effect] All supernatural systems (Magic, Ki, Esper, Blessing, Curse, Divine Authority) — Nullified within 5m radius.
[System Notice] Domain Anchor: Fused with Host's Existence.
[Warning] Cannot Unequip. Cannot Seal. Always Active.
[Extended Function] Domain Expansion available (manual trigger)
[Note] Void-Aligned Entities not affected.
Including:
- Haki (Kenbunshoku, Busoshoku, Haoshoku)
- Dragon Will (Existential Will)
- Breathing Techniques (e.g. Sun Breathing)
- Biological Abilities (non-systemic)
- Instinctual Combat / Fighting Spirit
- Root-Based Magecraft / True Magic
- Imaginary Energy (Quanta/Imaginary Space)
- Meta-System Skills (e.g. The Gamer)
- Narrative Conceptual Powers
- Divine Core / Beast Authority
[Side Effect] Luck parameter forcibly reduced to zero.
[System Sync] Boosted Gear Detected — Synergy confirmed.
[Final Log]
This power... is not meant for order. It is the rejection of all systems. A curse disguised as a shield.
Issei and Ddraig were both silent, digesting the overwhelming information. Issei's heart pounded, not from fear, but from the limitless—and dangerous—possibilities his new power brought.
'DDRAIG! THIS IS BAD!' Issei shouted in his mind while running quickly toward home. 'THE MULTIVERSE IS REAL! AND THIS POWER HAS SO MANY WEAKNESSES I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS!'
Ddraig, inside his mind, responded with a voice that sounded both annoyed and impressed, {I TOLD YOU! AND... THIS IS INSANE! MULTIVERSE? EVEN I WHO'VE LIVED FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS NEVER REALIZED THERE WERE OTHER WORLDS!}
Issei kept running, his shopping bag swinging. He had just killed a Lucifer and obtained a power that could change everything. Tonight, his life once again veered toward a completely unexpected fate.