Issei continued running toward his house, his heart pounding not from exhaustion, but from deep panic. His mind raced, trying to recall all the weaknesses of the Imagine Breaker he had just obtained.
'Ddraig!' he screamed internally. 'Did you memorize all the weaknesses of the Imagine Breaker? I only remember five, aside from the Void-type ones! Haki, Dragon Will, True Magic, Biological Power, and Breathing Techniques!'
Ddraig, in his mind, answered in a weary voice, {Fighting Spirit, Meta-System Skill, Imaginary Energy, Beast Authority, and the last one... Narrative Conceptual Powers. I do not fully understand that last one. But so far, you have not suffered the misfortune effect. We should look for a solution.}
Crack!
Without warning, the sidewalk in front of Issei suddenly cracked, nearly making him trip. He ignored it, running until he reached his house, panting. He slammed the door open.
But then there was the sound of glass breaking as the Dragon Authority was neutralized.
Crack!
"I'm home!" he yelled, tossing his grocery bag onto the table in the living room. "Mom, there's something I need to do in my room real quick!"
He didn't wait for a reply, immediately dashing upstairs to his room. As soon as he entered, he grabbed a pen and a notebook. Just as he was about to sit on his chair…
Crack!
"Ouch!" Issei screamed in pain as the chair broke and he fell on his back, clutching his sore butt.
"The effect has begun," Ddraig said with a tone that was almost amused. "Good luck."
Issei grumbled, stood up, and immediately began writing in his notebook, trying to document all the Imagine Breaker weaknesses aside from Void which was unaffected:
· Haki (One Piece)
· Breathing Technique (Demon Slayer)
· Dragon Will
· True Magic (Possibly from Fate)
· Biological (Like Dragon Pheromone)
· Imaginary Energy (Honkai)
· Meta System Skill (Gamer's Mind)
· Fighting Spirit (???)
· Beast Authority (???)
· Narrative Conceptual Power (???)
After finishing the list, his mind worked furiously. "Ddraig... Ophis' power is Void, right? Can it seal the Imagine Breaker?"
"Of course not, idiot," Ddraig replied irritably. "Void is erasure, Imagine Breaker is neutralization. They're like water and oil—unable to mix or combine. Both reject, but in different ways."
Issei then left his room. In the living room, Ophis was still quietly watching cartoons on the television.
"Ophis," Issei said, approaching her. "I need your help. Can you seal this Imagine Breaker?" He raised his right hand, which emitted a subtle but constant aura of rejection.
Ophis stared at Issei's hand for several moments, her usually blank eyes seeming slightly more focused. "Because you returned one of my snakes," she said in her flat tone, "I will grant it."
Ophis closed her eyes. The air around her became cold and static. Thick black smoke, identical to the void she represented, began gathering and swirling before her hand. Slowly, the smoke condensed and formed an object.
Issei watched, stunned, as a pitch-black Gauntlet with glowing red rune patterns took shape. Its design resembled dragon scales, and each finger joint was engraved with red runes that pulsed with a dark aura. The Gauntlet radiated a terrifying, primal power.
(Image Here)
{Void,} Ddraig said in his mind. {Use that to restrain your Imagine Breaker. Even Ether Flow won't be able to touch you while you wear it. This is a cage for your curse.}
At that moment, Irina and Xenovia entered the living room. Irina immediately stared at the Gauntlet in Issei's hand with wonder.
"Issei-kun, what happened? And… what is that Gauntlet?" she asked.
Xenovia instantly took a defensive stance, sensing danger from the object.
Issei sighed. "Void Gauntlet. Just to restrain the effects of my Imagine Breaker."
To test it, Issei snapped his fingers. Instantly, an invisible barrier—Domain Imagine Breaker—spread, covering the entire house. All flows of magical energy (Ether Flow) were cut off, creating a piercing silence and emptiness. His home became a dead magical zone.
Then, carefully, Issei put on the Void Gauntlet over his right hand, covering the Imagine Breaker. He walked toward the mirror.
What he saw was himself wearing a black Gauntlet with glowing red runes that made him look like a high-tier villain cosplayer mixed with a strong Chuunibyou vibe.
"If supernatural beings see you, they'll be terrified and keep their distance," Ddraig commented. "But regular humans? They'll think you're a grade-8 syndrome patient, a high school kid who watches too much anime and thinks he's a protagonist."
Issei flushed red with overwhelming embarrassment. He covered his face with his left hand. "I regret everything… Can I just cut off this right hand?"
"That won't change anything," Ddraig replied irritably. "Your Imagine Breaker is fused with your existence. If Touma only needed to touch, you are the source. I warned you, but you were stubborn."
Irina looked at Issei with a mixed expression of awe and embarrassment. "Issei-kun, are you going to wear that… to school later?"
Issei let out a long sigh. "Yeah. If I don't, I'll be constantly unlucky and the Kuoh barrier might get destroyed because of my uncontrolled Domain. Though, I'm not sure if this Void Gauntlet won't bring its own problems." He then bowed to Ophis. "Thank you, Ophis. At least this will make me safer."
Suddenly, Miki's voice echoed from the kitchen. "Dinner time! Don't take too long, the food will get cold!"
Issei, Ophis, Irina, and Xenovia went to the dining table. Issei led the prayer, "Itadakimasu," then began eating the curry his mother prepared. Ophis, calmly, also ate using chopsticks skillfully.
After dinner, Miki finally asked, while eyeing the Void Gauntlet still on Issei's right hand. "By the way, what is that thing, Issei?"
Issei scratched his head, trying to come up with an excuse. "This… is just a regular gauntlet, Mom. I have to wear it so bad luck won't hit me." A vague answer, but enough for Misa.
Irina and Xenovia, who had finished washing dishes, said good night. "We're going to sleep now. Don't forget about tomorrow night, Issei-kun," Xenovia said.
Issei waved. "Good night. And… wait, why at night?" But Xenovia and Irina were already heading to their room.
Miki then smiled at Ophis. "Alright, Ophis-chan. Let me take you to your room." Ophis nodded obediently and followed Misa.
Back in his own room, Issei stared sadly at his broken chair. "I need a new chair. And that… REQUIRES MONEY." He imagined how many items would break if he took off the Void Gauntlet. He then lay down on his bed, closing his eyes.
"Ddraig, we need training again tomorrow. But this time, focus on other powers. If those other worlds like in anime really exist… how do we reach them?"
"How should I know," Ddraig answered lazily. "If Outer Gods are real, I'd rather go to sleep."
Issei stiffened. "Outer God?... I'd rather face Trihexa than Outer Gods. Now I can't sleep. Ddraig, can you turn off my consciousness so I won't overthink?"
{…} Only silence responded.
Issei grew irritated. "Seriously? Fucking Lizard!"
He forced his eyes shut, trying to sleep. But his mind was filled with visions of other worlds that were far more dangerous.
Issei awoke with heavy eyes. The clock showed 5 a.m. He stretched and saw the Void Gauntlet still attached to his right hand. "So… it wasn't a dream."
He picked up his phone and was shocked to see several unread messages. Then he remembered—Sona! Their unofficial engagement! With a pounding heart, he opened the SNS app.
[Sona] (21:30): The 18th, Sunday. I have a nice place for us to relax together.
[Sona] (22:15): I will pick you up at 8 a.m. at your house.
[Sona] (23:00): Issei…?
Issei's eyes widened. "How is it that I, as a man, am the one being invited on a date? This is completely backwards!"
He quickly replied.
[Issei] (05:15): Sorry, I just woke up and checked my phone.
[Issei] (05:15): Something unexpected happened last night.
He immediately turned off the screen and went to shower, still wearing the Void Gauntlet that felt strange and awkward. After showering, he returned to his room and began writing his training plan.
· Haoshoku Haki: Crossed out. "I don't need this. I already have my Dragon Authority. Reality obeys my will, even if not fully trained. It's simpler and its scope can be wider with Boost."
· Kenbunshoku Haki: Not crossed out. "I haven't opened my Dragon Eyes. They can see and find enemies in other dimensions as long as they are within the same world, even sense opponents' emotions. Better to use this for now. Besides, I can infiltrate magic into opponents before fighting. But can Kenbunshoku Haki predict attacks from entities like Outer Gods, who might be outside time?"
· Busoshoku Haki: Circled. "This seems suitable for my Imagine Breaker. I really need physical defense, especially with my dragon scales already enhanced. This is a priority."
· Breathing Technique: "I can manipulate my heartbeat up to 250 bpm and increase my body temperature above 39°C? That's easy."
Seeing the clock hit 6 a.m., Issei went downstairs. His mother was already busy in the kitchen. Issei immediately helped. Irina and Xenovia had finished showering. Gorou, his father, was already dressed neatly and enjoying his coffee at the dining table. Ophis had just woken up, her hair messy and eyes still foggy.
"Ophis-chan, you should take a bath first," Miki suggested. "After breakfast, you can sleep again if you want." Ophis only nodded sleepily and walked toward the bathroom.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
"Who's visiting this early?" Issei asked.
Miki smiled while preparing breakfast. "It's Tiamat-san. She said she'll be staying here. Don't worry, she's already discussed the payment."
Issei was shocked. He rushed to the front door and opened it. Standing there was Tiamat, with a large suitcase beside her.
"Why… are you bringing a suitcase? Are you moving in?" Issei asked in disbelief.
Tiamat smiled sweetly while lifting her suitcase. "To keep an eye on you, of course. And… it seems something very interesting happened last night." Her sharp eyes locked on the Void Gauntlet on Issei's hand. "Ophis' power. And… this protector is unusual. This isn't your Dragon Authority."
Issei could only let out a long sigh, his frustration peaking. He looked up at the sky and screamed at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing in the calm morning:
"WHY IS MY HOUSE BECOMING A DRAGON NEST?!!!"
His scream was the pinnacle of all the chaos that had begun since his awakening as a Dragon, and it seemed the 'peaceful' life he dreamed of was drifting farther and farther away from reality.