Izashi's eyes remained locked on Vali, who was floating a few feet away, his white wings glowing with the energy of his Divine Dividing. The tension between them was palpable, a raw intensity that crackled in the air. Vali's expression was serious, but there was also a hint of excitement as he addressed Izashi.
"You know," Vali began, his voice low but filled with anticipation, "I'm really curious about how you'd handle my Juggernaut Drive. What do you say we find out?"
Izashi's eyes narrowed slightly as Vali took a deep breath, beginning the incantation that would awaken his most dangerous form. "I, who am about to awaken, Am the Heavenly Dragon who has taken the principles of supremacy from God. I envy the 'infinite' and I pursue the 'dream'—"
Before Vali could finish the chant, Izashi moved with blinding speed, appearing right in front of him. Without hesitation, Izashi's fist shot forward, burying itself into Vali's gut. The force of the punch sent Vali crashing into the ground below, the impact leaving a deep crater where he landed.
Izashi hovered above the crater, his expression calm and composed. "I told you," he said, his voice carrying easily to where Vali lay, "I don't want to use my full power here. We'll save that fight for another time."
Vali coughed, a small spatter of blood escaping his lips as he pushed himself to his feet. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, looking up at Izashi with a mixture of shock and respect. This was the first time anyone had managed to make him bleed, let alone with a single punch. Vali was the descendant of the original Lucifer, his physical strength was nearly unmatched among devils, so why did he feel such pain after just one hit?
Vali met Izashi's gaze, his silver eyes gleaming with a new understanding. "I see... You're thinking about the humans living here, aren't you? If we both go all out, they'll be caught in the crossfire."
Izashi's expression softened slightly as he nodded, "Bingo. I'd rather not cause unnecessary casualties, even though I have no real obligation to spare them. But if I can avoid it, why not?"
Vali let out a long sigh, his wings twitching slightly as he dusted off his clothes. "Fair enough. Another time, then. We'll fight using our true powers in a place where we don't have to hold back. Perhaps in one of your Devil dimensions?"
Izashi smiled slightly, appreciating Vali's understanding. "Sounds like a plan. A battle where we can go all out without worrying about collateral damage. I'm in."
With that matter settled, Izashi's expression turned curious as he looked at Vali. "But tell me, why were you sent here? Surely you didn't come all this way just to fight me. There has to be more to it than that."
Vali shrugged nonchalantly, not seeing the need to keep secrets. "Azazel sent me to keep an eye on the Fallen Angels here. They're monitoring a human for his Sacred Gear."
Izashi couldn't help but facepalm at that, letting out an exasperated sigh. "You're too late. The guy they were watching? He's already dead. A Fallen Angel named Raynare took care of him. But here's something interesting—you might want to hear this. That guy? He's been revived as a servant of my twin sister, Rias. And guess what? He's the holder of the Boosted Gear."
Vali's wings flickered as he heard the deep, rough voice of Albion, the dragon within his Sacred Gear, echoing in his mind. "What? The Red Dragon has finally awakened…"
Izashi's eyes widened slightly, a grin forming on his lips as he realized what he was hearing. "So, that's the voice of the White Dragon Emperor, Albion, huh? Fascinating…"
Vali nodded, though he was visibly tense, his mind racing with thoughts. There was a single question burning in his mind, though he hesitated to ask it, almost afraid of the answer. Finally, he spoke, "So, is he strong?"
Izashi shook his head, his expression turning serious. "No. Right now, he's pathetically weak. You wouldn't even need to activate your Sacred Gear to deal with him."
Vali sighed in disappointment, feeling a wave of frustration wash over him. 'So, my true rival with the Boosted Gear is a weakling at the moment,' he thought, his mind struggling to reconcile this reality with the legend he had been chasing.
Albion's voice rumbled in Vali's head again, filled with ancient rivalry. "It doesn't matter. Kill him, and I will finally prove to that Red Dragon that I am superior, even after our demises. Our long-standing destiny will end with my victory."
But Vali wasn't interested in simply claiming victory over a weakling. He craved the thrill of a real fight, one where his opponent could push him to his limits, where he could truly feel alive. The idea of facing someone who wasn't a challenge held no appeal for him.
However, there was something different about fighting Izashi. The tension in his body when they clashed, the goosebumps that ran down his spine—it was a feeling he had longed for. The realization that he had finally found someone who could match him, someone who could challenge him, was exhilarating.
"Since you know him, can't you train the Boosted Gear user? He's also my rival, and I don't want to fight someone who isn't worthy," Vali proposed, his tone a mix of curiosity and hope.
Izashi raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the idea but also cautious. "Oh? You want me to train that perverted guy? And what's in it for me?"
Vali's eyes lit up with a glimmer of excitement as he outlined his plan. "I'm putting together a new group—a team of strong people like you and me. You could be the leader alongside me. Imagine it—a group where we can all spar, push each other to our limits, and grow stronger together. You'll just have to prove your power to the others, and the best part? We'll be able to train against each other regularly."
Izashi thought about it for a moment, weighing the pros and cons. His mind was already buzzing with the possibilities, and he couldn't deny the appeal of what Vali was suggesting. He finally nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Alright, I'll see what I can do. But don't get your hopes up too high. It all depends on that kid. If he can't handle the training, he'll die before he even gets the chance to fight you."
Vali laughed, the sound rich and full of genuine amusement. "I wouldn't have it any other way. Let's go our separate ways for now."
With that, Vali turned and shot off into the sky, his wings leaving a trail of light as he sped away. Izashi watched him go, a thoughtful expression on his face as he mused over their encounter. "Those two really have such good teamwork… Albion and Vali. I guess I need to master this Golden Energy quickly. Unlike Vali, I don't have a dragon inside me to guide me. It's all on me to control it."
He let out a tired sigh, feeling the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him. "Well, I guess I should head back. They should be back by now." With a flick of his wings, Izashi took to the air, making his way back to the clubroom.
When he arrived, he was met with a curious sight. Issei, Rias' newest servant, was whimpering quietly while stealing nervous glances at Rias and Akeno. The two women seemed unfazed, chatting lightly as if they hadn't just returned from a dangerous mission.
Izashi's eyes softened slightly as he took in the scene. 'Poor guy must have seen Akeno in action. She probably tortured their enemies before Rias finished them off. No wonder he's shaken… It's a lot for a new devil to handle.'
He decided not to press the matter, walking past Issei without comment. Issei, his head still hanging low, seemed relieved that Izashi wasn't going to question him. The room was filled with an odd tension, one that Izashi chose to ignore for now.
Suddenly, the red circle on the floor glowed, signaling the arrival of a new contract. Issei glanced at it, his face scrunching up in a mix of anxiety and determination. "I guess I should go now…" he muttered to himself, sounding less than enthusiastic.
With that, he walked out of the clubroom, heading toward the client's location with slow, hesitant steps. Izashi watched him go, feeling a pang of sympathy for the boy. 'He's really down on himself… Must be tough, realizing you're the weakest piece on the board.'
The night air was cool and crisp as Issei made his way through the streets, the moon hanging high in the sky, casting a silver glow over everything. A light breeze rustled the leaves, but Issei barely noticed, lost in his own thoughts. 'I'm just a pawn… The weakest piece…'
His footsteps echoed in the empty street as he finally reached the client's house. He hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open, calling out in a loud voice, "Hello? I'm here for the contract!"
But there was no answer. The house was eerily silent, the kind of silence that set his nerves on edge. He stepped inside, his heart pounding in his chest as he moved deeper into the house. When he entered the living room, he felt something wet under his shoe. Bending down, he touched the floor and felt the sticky warmth of blood.
A chill ran down his spine as he heard a crazy, manic laughter echoing through the room. He stumbled back, his eyes wide with fear as a figure emerged from the shadows. "My name is Freed Zelzan. A priest with a special talent for exorcism, though I'm definitely not some pathetic demon."
"A priest!?" Issei backed away even further, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of the situation. This was definitely not what he had been expecting. The figure before him was unlike any priest he had ever seen, with a crazed look in his eyes and a sadistic grin stretched across his face.
Issei's body tensed, every instinct screaming at him to run, but he was frozen in place, caught between fear and the realization that this might be his first real test as a devil.
~~
A/N: I hope you all liked this long chapter.
(I want to request you guys to support me on my p.atreon and continue to read 12 advance chapters ahead over there. MC is gonna fuck the sexy Strongest Queen Grayfia in the chapters on Patreon.
P.A.T.R.E.O.N link: https://bit.ly/evildragon)