The town was buzzing with chatter about the mysterious Dragon Emperor. Issei had become somewhat of a celebrity—not just because of his overwhelming power but also his unique personality. Rumors circulated that he was on a quest to form the ultimate team of adventurers, though everyone knew he had a particular "type" he was recruiting.
Issei lounged in the guild hall, leaning back in his chair, sipping some strange fantasy-world soda. "Man, this place is nice. Cute elves, tough adventurers, and plenty of quests for easy money. Life is good."
"You're awfully relaxed for someone who just annihilated the top three guilds in town," Ddraig muttered in his head.
"They started it!" Issei protested. "They said I wasn't 'respecting their traditions.' How was I supposed to know blowing up the dungeon boss before they even got to it was against the rules?"
"Because you literally heard them complaining about it beforehand."
Before Issei could retort, the guild doors burst open with a loud crash. A figure stepped in, her presence alone sending shivers through the room. She had long, jet-black hair, piercing crimson eyes, and an air of cold determination.
"Which one of you is Issei Hyoudou?" she demanded, her voice sharp and commanding.
The room fell silent, all eyes turning to Issei. He, of course, responded in the only way he knew how.
"Wow, you're hot!" he blurted, nearly choking on his drink. "Are you here to join my harem?"
The woman froze, her expression wavering between shock and pure disbelief. "Y-your harem?!" she sputtered. "I am not here for such ridiculous nonsense! I've come to challenge you to a duel, Dragon Emperor!"
"A duel?" Issei tilted his head. "Wait, why does everyone want to fight me? Is it because I'm too awesome?"
The woman drew her sword, a blade glowing with ethereal light. "My name is Selena, a knight of the Sacred Order! You've disrupted the balance of power in this region with your reckless displays of strength. As a servant of justice, I will defeat you and restore order!"
Issei sighed and stood up, cracking his knuckles. "Alright, if it's a fight you want, I won't hold back! But if I win, you have to do one thing for me."
Selena frowned. "And what might that be?"
"You have to join my harem!" Issei declared with a grin.
Selena's face turned bright red. "Y-you're insufferable! I'd never—just prepare yourself!"
The Duel Begins
The two stepped outside, the crowd from the guild eagerly gathering to watch. The open field behind the guild became their arena.
Selena wasted no time, unleashing a flurry of strikes with her sword, each swing infused with divine energy. "Take this!" she cried, her blade glowing brilliantly as it aimed for Issei.
But Issei didn't even flinch. He stood there, arms crossed, letting the attacks bounce harmlessly off his aura.
"Huh? That's it?" Issei yawned. "You're gonna have to try harder than that if you want to take me down."
Selena gritted her teeth, channeling more power into her attacks. She summoned holy chains to bind Issei, calling upon the blessings of her order to amplify her strength. The ground trembled as her magic surged.
"Impressive," Ddraig commented from within Issei's mind. "She's no amateur. If you were still your old self, this might have been a decent challenge."
Issei smirked. "But I'm not my old self, am I?"
With a single burst of energy, he shattered the chains like they were made of paper. Selena's eyes widened in shock.
"No way... that was my strongest binding spell!"
"Selena, you're strong, but I'm on a whole different level!" Issei declared. "It's not fair to compare someone like you to me. But hey, I like your spirit! So here's what I'll do—"
Before she could react, Issei activated his Boosted Gear.
BOOST!
With a light tap of his finger, he sent a shockwave that knocked Selena's sword out of her hand and gently pushed her back. She landed on the ground, unharmed but completely overwhelmed.
"I-I lost..." she muttered, staring at the sky in disbelief.
Issei walked over and offered her a hand. "Don't feel bad. I'm pretty much unbeatable. But hey, you're welcome to join me! You've got serious potential, Selena."
Selena hesitated, torn between her pride and the undeniable truth of her defeat. Finally, she took his hand, though her glare could've burned a hole through him. "Fine. I'll follow you—for now. But don't think I've given up! I'll surpass you one day, Issei Hyoudou!"
Issei grinned. "That's the spirit! Welcome to the team!"
Trouble in the Kingdom
With Selena now reluctantly traveling alongside him, Issei's adventures continued to grow more chaotic. Their next stop was the royal capital, where rumors of a dragon terrorizing the outskirts had reached the king's ears. Naturally, Issei volunteered to deal with it.
"Wait," Selena interrupted as they neared the capital gates. "You're not going to just destroy it, are you? Dragons are sacred creatures in some cultures here."
"Don't worry," Issei replied. "I'm a dragon expert. I'll handle it with care."
By "care," he meant challenging the dragon to a one-on-one duel while simultaneously trying to recruit it as his pet.
To Be Continued...