"…Sieghart."
"The one and only," Sieghart replied with a grin, sweeping his arms out in a theatrical flourish before letting them fall back to his sides. His smile softened slightly as he reached down and picked up a second fishing rod resting beside the log.
Issei blinked. That rod—he recognized it immediately. It was the same one Sieghart had made for him the first time they went fishing together.
"Come on." Sieghart patted the empty space on the log beside him. "Have a seat. You look like you'd fall over any second now."
Issei gave a brief nod and made his way over to sit down next to Sieghart. For a moment, there was only a comfortable silence between the two as Issei cast his line, the soft plop of the bait hitting the water breaking the stillness. He could hear the gentle crackling of the fire nearby, but the air was cool and oddly soothing, a stark contrast to the fiery battlefield that he had just been at.
"Is this real?" Issei decided to ask, glancing sideways at the fallen hero. "Am I… dead?"
"To be fair, I'm probably the worst person to answer that. But, if I had to guess, I'd say that you're still very much alive." Sieghart answered.
"Then how am I talking to you if I'm not dead myself?" Issei reasoned. Dying wasn't what he had in mind when he set out earlier that night to clear the Ascension Quest, but as much as he wanted to be alive, there was no way that he could have survived a direct hit from a blast like that, right?
Sieghart just gave a shrug. "You'd know better than me. I'm not the one who has powers over the deaths themselves. Plus, I'm sure he will have more answers for you than I do."
Saying that, the blond nonchalantly pointed to his left, prompting Issei to look in the direction he indicated. His eyes widened in shock as a massive form began to emerge from the surrounding darkness, sending quiet tremors through the ground before eventually revealing itself to be a towering, majestic Western Dragon with armors like scales and piercing green eyes locking onto Issei, who almost stood up in disbelief.
[I believe this is the first time we meet face to face. It's good to see you, partner.]
"Ddraig?" Issei uttered as the Welsh Dragon greeted him with an amused chuckle. If he hadn't just fought another version of himself who was capable of turning into Ddraig, he might have had trouble recognizing the dragon in front of him. Still, there was no mistaking him to be none other than the Heavenly Dragon whose soul was sealed inside the Boosted Gear, the same dragon who had had his back and provided him with every support he could from the day that they were able to talk to each other.
"You're here. But, how…" Issei trailed off, still in disbelief.
"He got here a moment before you did, and before you ask, I don't know where here is, either." Sieghart chuckled.
[As much as I would love to answer your questions myself, partner, I'm afraid I'm just as clueless as Sieghart about what happened to us.] Ddraig nodded, giving his two cents. [But since Boosted Gear hasn't moved on and I can still sense it inside you, I suppose you're still alive… for now.]
"Maybe I just got knocked out, and this is all happening inside my head." Issei said, looking back at Sieghart as he tried to make sense of his situation "But if that's the case then… no offense, Sieghart-san, but that doesn't make sense why you're here."
"To be fair, if all of this is inside your head then don't you think it makes perfect sense for me to be here?" Sieghart chuckled. "I mean… I've been dead for a while, but you haven't been able to get my death out of your head at all, have you, Issei?"
"I…"
Issei faltered, unsure how to respond as Sieghart's question hit him harder than he had expected it to be. Just like how it had been when his doppelganger taunted him, he wanted to brush it off, dismiss it as a fleeting thought, but the truth was undeniable. No matter how much he tried to deny it, Issei knew he had never truly gotten past the death of the man who had become the older brother he never had. The guilt, that nagging feeling that he could have done something, just anything, to save him… it never left, and was always there inside him.
There were flashing moments that he replayed that night in his head, wondering if he could have done something to change what had happened. Part of him believed that if he had just been stronger, faster… Sieghart might still be alive. Cha Hae-In had shown him that it was possible to overcome an enemy who used Stealth and Invisibly in combat with enough awareness, and if he had been able to do the same, he could have saved Sieghart from Baruka.
"Not that I can really blame you… I'm the kind of man who can always leave quite an impression on others. That's the curse of being this beautifully fabulous." Sieghart laughed, his arms extending out wide in that usual, over-the-top, dramatic flair of his.
Despite himself, Issei let out a breath that was almost a laugh, though it didn't quite make it all the way. If anything, it only made his shoulders slumped even as he turned his gaze to the small campfire in front of them. It was only then that he finally noticed there was no wood beneath the flames, no crackling embers—it was just heat and light, burning from nothing.
After a moment, the dramatic grin on Sieghart's face softened into a more genuine smile. He reached out, placing a hand on Issei's shoulder with a gentleness that stood in contrast to his trademark flamboyance.
"You've been carrying that around for a long time, haven't you?" He asked "The idea that you could've saved me, that maybe you should've done something different."
"I could have." Issei said "If only I had been a little stronger… Baruka wouldn't even have had the chance to sneak up behind you like that."
"I saw what Cha Hae-In could do, how she fought using all of her senses, how she could track her enemy while he was in Stealth. If only I'd been half that strong back then, I could've stopped Baruka, maybe—"
"Issei." Sieghart interrupted sharply, his hand tightened slightly on Issei's shoulder. "That's enough."
"You're saying it like you were the one who killed me. You didn't. Baruka did. That bastard got the jump on me, not you. Stop blaming yourself for something that wasn't your fault, because that kind of thinking will eat you alive. I've seen what it does to men who carry the guilt they were never meant to bear, and you're not doing yourself any favors letting it weigh you down like this."
"You kept your promise to me, and you brought everyone home. That's all that mattered." Sieghart continued after taking his hands back, an earnest smile spreading out across his face as he turned and looked at Ddraig. "You're not perfect, Issei. Neither was I. We all screw up, miss things, fall short… but that's the beauty of it. You learn, you grow, you keep moving forward, but that doesn't mean you have to do so while taking all the responsibility to yourself. You've got others who care about you, who want to help. Don't let those burdens sit on your shoulders alone. Got it?"
For a moment, he sat there and remained silent, processing everything Sieghart had just told him. Although he gave a small nod in response to the man, he wasn't sure if Sieghart saw it. However, when he looked up, Issei saw that Ddraig was watching him. The dragon gave him a slight nod back, and that was enough to put a smile on his face.
"I got it." Issei finally spoke. For the first time in what felt like ages, he felt at ease…
Sieghart grinned, patting Issei on his shoulder. "Good. Because if you didn't, I would haunt you for real."
"I don't think I'll ever be ready to handle that." Issei said, making Sieghart laugh loudly in response. Even Ddraig let out a low, rumbling chuckle before Issei continued. "Thanks, Sieghart, and you too, Ddraig. I don't think I've ever really said it, but… your support means a lot to me."
[You're my partner, Issei Hyoudou.] The Welsh Dragon said, his voice firm and reassuring. [Just wish I could do more to help…]
"I know you would have if you could, Ddraig. But don't worry… you've already done more than enough." Issei replied, offering a small smile. At that, the campfire between them suddenly flared, growing stronger and brighter, causing Issei to lean back slightly in caution. "Uh, is it supposed to do that?"
Before Sieghart could answer the question, Issei noticed a sharp tug on his fishing rod, making him snap to it and reach both his hands out to grip the handle tightly. After a moment of fighting against the surprisingly strong fish, he was able to pull it out of the water, holding it up triumphantly with both hands.
"Yes! I got it!" Issei exclaimed with a wide grin. He had never been able to properly catch a fish during his time in the Snow Forest Red Gate, always messing up and using too much strength, causing the line or even the whole fishing rod to break.
"Well done, Issei. You finally got the hang of it." Sieghart grinned, standing up to pat Issei on the shoulder before walking over to the campfire. To his surprise, the blond hero then bent down and reached directly into the flame, his hand disappearing for a second before he pulled back and turned around to face Issei with his entire hand engulfed in a swirling, brilliant blaze.
It wasn't that Issei had never seen Sieghart use fire magic before, as he was quite good at it, but he couldn't help but have a feeling that the fire was something else entirely…
And his Ascension Quest… Find the Flame…
"I'm supposed to give you this… both of you." Sieghart explained, holding his flaming hand out before he continued "Listen, brother. You're still young, and you're going to live a very, very long life. There's so much ahead of you. Don't let things that happened in the past drag you down. Keep moving forward, and don't be afraid to lean on those around you when you need to. You've got a good heart, and that's what matters."
"I will, Sieghart-san." Issei nodded, a sincere smile spreading across his face as he looked up at Sieghart. Without thinking much more, he reached out and grabbed his hand in a firm, brotherly handshake. The fire spread to his hand, but it didn't feel hot—just like the dragon flame Issei had been using for some time now, it was warm in a comforting, almost familiar way.
"And while you're at it, make sure the Shadow who takes up my Shield is at least half as beautiful as I am."
Issei laughed, nodding. "I'll do my best, Sieghart-san. But I think living up to your standards might be a little too much for any of my shadows."
"I'm sure there'll be at least one who will meet the expectations, don't worry." Sieghart grinned before he looked over to Ddraig and said "Take care of my little brother, will you?"
[You have my words, Sieghart.]
At that, the fire between their hands flared, swirling around Issei as the sky above cracked open, letting streaks of light shine through. The ground beneath them began to shimmer, then roared to life, glowing with embers that spread in all directions like veins of fire.
Sieghart didn't move, started crawling up his legs and shoulders. He just stood there with a proud smile on his face.
"You'll be fine now, brother." He said for one last time. "Go."
And then, all but Issei and his dragon partner burned away.
[Flame Accepted]
[!] Quest completed.
"Let's go, Ddraig." Issei murmured, taking his hand back and wiping away the tears that had fallen from his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket. The Welsh Dragon smiled and moved up behind his partner as Issei turned around and started walking away, the air around him shimmering before exploding in a wave of crimson aura.
[You lead, I'll follow, partner.]
[!] Your pact with Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) has leveled up.
All Associated Abilities have leveled up.
Due to the unique bond between the Player and the Welsh Dragon, Y Ddraig Goch [Fire], a [Soul Link] has been formed.
[!] New Feature
Link Gauge: 120/120
Even as the violent roar of the Dragon Blaster continued to beat against his eardrums, the pain had vanished. Snapping his eyes open, Issei found himself surrounded by an intense aura of flame, shielding him from the blast. The pressure remained immense, cracking the ground beneath him, but he stood firm, his resolve unwavering.
The moment that the Dragon Blaster ended, Issei instantly activated his new Soul Link with Ddraig, causing the air around him to explode into a raging inferno of pure dragon fire. Piece by piece, the remnants of his damaged Scale Mail shattered and broke away, vanishing into the flames until only his pauldrons, armguards and greaves remained, each taking on a new form as if reforged by the blazing fire as the Soul Link finally took full effect.
For a brief moment, the other Issei stood frozen, stunned by the transformation Issei had undergone and the overwhelming pressure he now radiated. Soon, the inferno around him slowly began to calm, leaving Issei standing with the Kamish daggers in his hands, the blades pulsing faintly as if resonating with his newfound power. His eyes, glowing the same deep crimson as the intense aura that now flickered around him, burned with fierce determination while the tattered flap of his jacket, which had seamlessly fused with his new armor, fluttered behind him like a burning war banner.
Link Gauge: 119/120
Link Gauge: 118/120
Link Gauge: 117/120
The moment that his new gauge started ticking down, decreasing by one unit every second like a 2 minute timer, Issei knew that he had no time to waste.
"Our turn." Issei spoke while holding up his blades, but his voice carried a dual tone, one that was his own and the other unmistakably Ddraig's.
In an instance, Issei propelled himself forward, the world around him blurring as he closed the distance with his doppelganger, who felt only a slight shift in the air before he realized Issei was standing right in front of him. He instantly reacted, throwing his fist out in a hook, but Issei had ducked his head down and slashed his left dagger across his torso in a flaming arc, leaving a deep, molten gash in his Scale Mail.
The other Issei staggered back, but before he could recover, Issei was already on him. With a swift spin, Issei swung his right dagger down, the blade trailing a wave of fire as it cut through the air. Although he managed to dodge at the last second, the dual Kamish daggers still sliced through his twin cannons like a hot blade cutting through butter.
Promotion - Knight
Promoting himself to Knight, the other Issei donned himself in the lean under-armors of his own Scale Mail before surging forward with increased speed. In a flash of red, he closed the gap between them, Ascalon gleaming as he slashed it at Issei, aiming to decapitate him in one attack. But in response, Issei moved even faster than his evil twin did, his daggers flashing in streaks of crimson as they clashed against the other Ascalon with deafening cracks. The two Sekiryuutei moved in blurs, streaks of red and crimson dashing and clashing across the battlefield as their weapons collided in rapid succession, sparks flying with each strike.
Link Gauge: 86/120
Link Gauge: 85/120
Link Gauge: 84/120
With a sudden pivot, Issei leaped into the air, his daggers slicing downward in a flaming arc as he descended with a burst of dragon fire. The other Issei threw himself back, barely managing to bring his sword up in time to block the strike, but the resulting fire explosion of the strike hitting the ground still sent him sliding back, slamming into a nearby boulder with such force that it shattered on impact. Before he could regain his footing, Issei was on him again, his fist cocking back to throw a punch that the other Issei knew would either send him to the other side of the battlefield or break every bone in his body.
Promotion- Rook
With his Rook promotion, the other Issei's armor transformed into the heavier, more imposing form that was further reinforced by two massive shields that hung across his arms. He then raised them both and brought them together, bracing himself in an attempt to block the incoming attack.
"We can play that game as well, bastard!" Issei roared before shouting out the command. "Promotion, ROOK!"
Instead of gaining extra armor, a wave of crimson energy exploded from his body, and a Boosted Gear, an arm that could only belong to Ddraig himself, materialized next to Issei as he threw his fist forward, its immense size dwarfing his own form. The moment that Issei landed his fist on the shield, the spectral dragon arm also shot down like a cannon, striking the two shields with such overwhelming force that they shattered instantly upon impact.
Link Gauge: 62/120
Link Gauge: 61/120
The sound of the crash reverberated through the battlefield as pieces of the shields flew in every direction, and the force of the blow sent the other Issei careening through the air, his body violently thrown backward before he crashed into the ground, skidding across the earth, leaving a trail of scorched dirt behind him. After a moment, he slid to a halt, his body mangled from the brutal strike, and the once-imposing Rook form now looked vulnerable and broken as both of his arms were left broken.
"It's not over yet!" The evil Issei shouted as he threw his sword aside, unleashing a violent inferno of dragon flame that consumed the area around him in an explosion. Despite the pain he was feeling, he slowly rose to his feet, his eyes burning with defiance as the silhouette of Ddraig took shape before fully materializing, roaring with anger as it bore its fangs down at Issei, who put Kamish's Awaken away and held his hand out to recall Ascalon with a quick Ruler's Hand.
Link Gauge: 50/120
Link Gauge: 49/120
The moment that the sword landed in his hand, its blade being set ablaze in dragon fire, Issei dashed forward, still moving faster than the eyes could follow despite currently being a Rook. The red dragon lashed out with a swing of its own clawed hand, striking the ground with enough force to send a tremor through the earth, but Issei had already flared his wings and taken off into the air before the blow could connect.
Soaring upward, he spun once midair to build momentum, then threw his fist up in a sharp uppercut. In response, the spectral dragon arm once again materialized beside him and mimicked the motion, striking the other Ddraig square in the jaw. The impact echoed like thunder, sending a shockwave rippling across the battlefield as the dragon was sent reeling from the sheer force behind the punch before it flared its own giant wings out and tried to fly into the air.
But Issei didn't let it happen. He shot down to the ground and threw his hand out in a grabbing motion. In response, the spectral dragon arm shot forward, its massive claws clamping tightly around the dragon's snout. With a roar of effort, Issei yanked his arm back, dragging the beast from the sky just as it managed to lift off. In the next instant, the giant dragon was slammed into the earth – head first, the crash shaking the landscape and kicking up a violent storm of dust and flame. Craters split the battlefield from the landing spot, leaving it laying on the ground, dazed.
Link Gauge: 35/120
Link Gauge: 34/120
With Ascalon blazing in his grip, Issie dashed straight toward the massive head of the stunned Ddraig and leapt into the air once more to descend, striking its snout with a downward slash of the dragon slaying weapon, stabbing deep into its flesh as flames erupted from the wound. As he landed on the ground, Issei did not stop and immediately followed with another slash, then another, each one carving deep, cauterized gashes across the dragon's head as the holy blade tore through its scale-like armor.
Mid-combo, Issei spun and slammed his fist into the side of the dragon's head, causing the spectral arm to instantly mirror the strike and deliver a crushing blow that rocked the other Ddraig to the side. The dragon let out a fury roar as it slowly picked itself up, its head shaking repeatedly as if to clear the haze from its vision. Before Issei could move in for another strike, the dragon suddenly flared its wings wide and flapped them with violent force, sending out powerful gusts of wind and flame that sent Issei back all the way back to the spot where he had started the fight with the other Issei.
Link Gauge: 23/120
Link Gauge: 22/120
Stabbing Ascalon into the ground, Issei halted himself to a stop, his eyes narrowing slightly as he saw its chest pushing forward, its head reeling back while fire and energy began to gather in its maw. The green jewels embedded across its body flared to life, each one shining intensely as raw powers were funneled into the incoming blast.
BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!
Confidently, Issei stood his ground, his eyes flaring with raw energy as he held up his hands, palms facing forward. "Promotion, Bishop."
As the chant left his mouth, his magic power spiked dramatically, causing the aura surrounding him to flare intensely like wildfire. Without wasting a moment, Issei began gathering his energy, creating a concentrated, flaming orb of crimson energy before his palms. At the same time, the half-full spectral form of Ddraig materialized above him from a tornado of fire, flaring his wings wide as he opened his maw and started channeling his own fire in the same manner his counterpart was doing.
"TOGETHER, DDRAIG/PARTNER!"
[BOOST!] [BOOST!]
[BOOST!] [BOOST!]
[BOOST!] [BOOST!]
[BOOST!] [BOOST!]
[BOOST!] [BOOST!]
[TWINFLARE!]
With a simultaneous roar, Issei and Ddraig unleashed twin blasts of searing crimson energy that then fused into a single, unstoppable wave of destructive power, just as the other dragon released his own blast in response. The two energies collided in the center of the battlefield with a cataclysmic explosion, sending shockwaves across the battlefield, the sky lighting up with blinding light. The collision created a deafening roar, with waves of heat and energy tearing through the ground, creating massive cracks and craters in every direction.
For a split second, the two blasts collided in a brief, unstable standoff, but there was no contest. Issei and Ddraig's conjoined attack instantly overwhelmed the other blast, swallowing up the opposing energy instantly as it tore toward the other Ddraig, who was struck with an explosion so massive it consumed everything in its vicinity. The shockwave sent debris flying in all directions, the ground beneath them crumbling as the battlefield was finally fully torn apart.
Link Gauge: 12/120
Link Gauge: 11/120
Link Gauge: 10/120
Finally, as the dust finally began to settle, revealing the battered form of the other Ddraig as it struggled to stand. In an explosion of fire, the dragon reverted back to the other Issei, whose form fell helplessly through the air. Before he could make any attempt to at least land on his feet, Issei had descended upon him with Ascalon in his hand.
[Skill Activated] - Vital Slash
With a cry, he slashed his blade in a circular motion, rending through his counterpart's chest in one final, decisive blow. The other Issei barely managed a gasp before his body crashed like a lifeless doll into the ground while Issei landed behind him, his greaves scraping against the earth as he slowed to a stop, twirling Ascalon downward in his hand before stabbing it into the earth beside him.
Link Gauge: 1/120
Link Gauge: 0/120
With his Link Gauge fully depleted, the Soul Link came to an end. His crimson aura and the fiery glow in his hair faded away like embers carried off by the wind. The moment the last flicker of flame vanished, Issei felt his strength leave him, and the pain from the beating his counterpart had inflicted on him, combined with the strains of forcing his body to operate the way it had during the Soul Link, hit him all at once. The world around him spun as Issei dropped to one knee, having to use his sword to keep himself from collapsing completely.
Looking over his shoulder, Issei saw that his counterpart had vanished, his form fading into the darkness underneath him as if he himself was a Shadow Soldier. For a brief moment, the entire battlefield was in complete silence, with the only sounds being the crumbling of shattered stone and the flickering of fire burning from the earth.
[!] Notice
Congratulations! You have completed your [Dragonsworn] Ascension Quest.
[!] Level up!
[!] Level up!
[!] Level up!
[!] Level up!
[!] Level up!
[!] All System Functions have been restored.
[!] New features have been unlocked: Professions
You can now choose a Profession to practice.
[!] You have received the following rewards:
- 5.000.000 (G).
- Full Rejuvenation.
- 20 bonus stats.
[!] New Title: Champion of the Dragons
Increase the damage of Dragon-related abilities by 15%. Take 15% less damage from Dragon-type enemies.
Ally dragons will also benefit from this title if in [Party]
"Alright." Issei grinned as a familiar soothing warmth that he hadn't felt in a long time spread across every inch of his body, making every injury and bruise disappear before wiping away the lingering fatigue like it had never existed. His breathing evened out, and the heaviness that had threatened to pull him under moments ago vanished entirely. "Now that's more like it."
[And look at all those rewards. You have a lot of work to do, partner.]
"We do, Ddraig." Issei chuckled, nodding his head as the exit portal cracked open before him. Grabbing a pair of fresh clothes that was identical to the set he was wearing from the Inventory, Issei quickly swapped out the sweaty and bloody remnants of his outfit before exiting the Dungeon as the battlefield started dissolving around him into darkness, finding himself back in the Gymnasium of Kuoh Academy after a brief moment of weightlessness.
Without making a sound, Issei snuck out, keeping his head low as he crawled under the window of the guard station at the front gate to avoid old Yamato, who had dozed off in his chair watching comedy shows on his mini TV. Once out on the street, Issei checked the time on his phone and saw that only three minutes had passed in real time, giving him plenty of time to head home at a relaxed pace.
Moreover, since the mana residuals from the Raid he had signed up to help as a miner earlier on that afternoon still lingered on his body, as it usually took at least half a day for them to fade, no one at home should be able to tell that he had just tackled the Ascension Dungeon, not even Ravel, who Issei had discovered to be quite skilled at sensing mana, or Sirzechs and Grayfia, if they suddenly decided to drop by his house again. Issei knew that the lingering mana would mask any traces from the dungeon… unless they suddenly decided to use a mana-meter to scan him, but the chances of that were slim.
Even though Sirzechs had signed a temporary permit to let him join Raiding as a frontliner before he had to take the promotion test, him kept discovering Gates in Kuoh, a town that somehow had never had them showing up before for the past 17 years – until the System started opening Dungeons all over it, when no one else did would undoubtedly raise even more questions than the lies he'd told about the first four Gates he'd soloed. Without a doubt, Sirzechs, Grayfia and every experienced adult out there had become suspicious of him… It's just that they were polite, or careful enough to not say it right to his face.
"I'm home!" Issei called as he stepped through the door of his home and slipped off his shoes.
Rias appeared from the kitchen with a warm smile, wearing an oversized hoodie that matched the color of her hair and a pair of shorts. "Welcome back, Ise! How was work today?"
"It was fun. Lady Aphrodite treated me to dinner after I told her about the Raid I helped earlier today." Issei answered with a sheepish smile, making Rias pout a little.
"You've been getting awfully close to the goddess of love, do you know that?" Rias asked with half-lidded eyes as she leaned in a little and tapped a finger against his chest, making Issei grin sheepishly while scratching the back of his head. After a moment, she leaned back and continued with a smile "Anyway, we're having a movie night. Ravel's also baking some chocolate cakes for everyone in the kitchen, so make sure you grab one for yourself before they're all gone… if you're still hungry, that is."
"Absolutely!" Issei nodded, feeling his stomach growling already. The items he had consumed might have helped with restoring his HP, but it didn't do anything with the hunger… and Ravel's chocolate cake was just too good to miss out on. "Think I'm gonna go take a shower first. Save a slice for me, okay?"
"Can't promise." Rias said playfully, folding her arms before asking. "Do you have any plans tomorrow, Ise? I could use an extra pair of hands with the last-minute preparations for the Three Factions meeting at school."
"Nothing important, really." He said while heading for the stairs. "Just let me know what time and I'll be there."
"Great." She called after him before disappearing into the kitchen to rejoin the rest of the house.
As Issei headed up to his room, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Curious, he pulled it out and glanced at the screen, seeing that it was Aphrodite who was calling him. The two of them had exchanged numbers a couple of weeks ago, and while she often texted him late at night whenever she wanted him to come over and work for her, it was rare for her to actually call him.
Without wasting any time, Issei answered the phone call, putting it on speaker. "Hey, Lady Aphrodite. What's up?"
Her melodic voice came through smoothly. "Hey, Ise. Just want to give you a quick update. Serafall has invited me to the Three Factions Meeting this weekend as an honorable guest."
"Really? That's great!" Issei grinned as he opened his wardrobe and grabbed a fresh pair of clothes.
She giggled, sounding quite pleased. "So, I'm hoping you could show me around Kuoh Academy tomorrow. I'm not really familiar with the area, and I'd prefer to have someone trustworthy by my side."
"Oh, perfect. I'll probably be at the school all day tomorrow anyway helping my friends out with the preparations. So yeah, sure—I can show you around when I'm free."
There was a pleased laugh from the other end. "Wonderful. I'll be counting on you then."
"Of course." Issei replied, smiling as he made for the shower. Before he entered, however, something that he had been thinking about came up. Quickly making up his mind, Issei leaned his back against the door of his room and began "Hey… uh, Lady Aphrodite, since you're the goddess of love, you probably know a lot about love, right?"
Aphrodite paused, then let out a playful laugh, sounding both amused and threatened at the same time. "Ise, are you seriously asking me that question?"
He scratched his cheek, a little nervously. "Well… yeah. I mean, who else would I ask?"
There was a soft hum, and she didn't press him further.
Taking a breath, Issei finally asked. "How can you tell if… someone really likes you?"
"Oh my? Who's the lucky girl? Is it me?" Aphrodite teased.
"I mean… I think you already know who... do you?" Issei replied, causing Aphrodite to giggle. "So… uh, I'm thinking about asking her out, so…"
[!] New ability; Soul Link (LV1)
Link Gauge: 120/120
Ability Description:
Enter a special combat state through the unique bond the Player shares with Y Ddraig Goch (Fire). This synchronized state amplifies the Player's strength, speed, and elemental power, incorporating Ddraig's attacks into their own and improving all Dragon-related abilities by 10% (15% with Fire Dragon Abilities). All Fire-Based attacks and abilities during Soul Link will be auto-charged with Full [Penetration], ignoring fire resistance up to 1000% and dealing [True Fire Damage]. Cast time needed for Fire Magic is reduced by 50%.
Taking damage and dealing fire based damage will charge the Link Gauge. Defeating enemies during the Soul Link State will recharge the Link Gauge by 2 units.
When Soul Link is active, the Link Gauge will be continually drained. Once fully depleted, Soul Link will end. Soul Link can be canceled at any time, but at least 120 units of Link Gauge are required to activate.
The Player cannot switch to other pacts while Soul Link is active.
Special Effect:
- Dragonic Promotion: Allow the use of Promotion without reducing the based stats of other Attributes.
- [Finisher] Twinflare: The Finishing Move of the Dragonic Bishop Promotion, an immensely powerful equivalent of the [Dragon Shot], combining both the Player's and Y Ddraig Goch's power into a single blast that deals 9524% of INT and CHR as [True Fire Damage]. MP can be expended to further charge this attack, increasing its damage by up to 100% depending on the amount of MP used.
Ultimate Ability: [?]
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Race: Reincarnated Devil
Class: Level 50 Dragonsworn / Level 20 Shadow Monarch (5 Unassigned Level)
HP: 16,755/16,755
MP [Current Attribute: Draconic/Demonic]: 4105/4105
Link Gauge: 120/120
Title: Champion of the Dragons
Strength: 216
Vitality: 185
Intelligence: 186
Dexterity: 190
Perception: 170
Charisma: 160
Unassigned Stat Points: 20
Unique Class Skills: Fire Imbue (LV3), Shadow Extraction (LV1), Shadow Storage (LV1), Karma (LV1).
Active skills: Doubling (LV4), Transfer (LV4), Penetrate (LV4), Sprint (Max Level), Vital Slash (LV1), Jump (Max Level – Equipment Ability), Observe (LV2), Ruler's Hands (LV1), Phoenix Shift (LV1).
Active spells: Fire balls (LV4 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Firewall (LV4 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Lightning Strike (LV2 – Lightning Dragon Pact Affected), Water Blast (LV1), Earth Shield (LV1), ...
Current Pacts: Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) – Pact LV3, Chaos Karma Dragon Tiamat (Fire) – Pact LV1, Rassei (Lightning) – Pact LV1.
Current Active Pact [3/4: Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) – Pact LV3
Current Shadows: 240 / 240
Elite Rank Shadows: Lycaon (Knight), Tora (Knight), Blade (Knight), Vulcan (Knight), Tempest (Knight), Gladio (Elite Knight), Glacia (Elite Knight).
Items: Boosted Gear (LV5), Razan's Blade (LVMAX), Magitek General's Helmet (LVMAX), Palace Guard's Boots (LVMAX), Metal Gauntlets (LVMAX – Only one currently in use -Stats Reduced), Kamish's Awaken (LV?), Key to the Demon Tower, Ascalon 1 (LV40), 10x Random Loot Boxes.
Potions: Healing Potions x15, Mana Potions x15, Greater Healing Potions x10, Greater Mana Potions x10, Miracle Potions x3...
Gold: 5.550.120 (G)
Ultimate: Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker – Boosted Gear Crimson Scale Mail (LV.2 – Pact Affected), Soul Link (LV1).
Finisher: Rage of the Fire Dragon, Twinflare.
Sigils: Sigil of the Shadow Commander - Igirs, Sigil of the Shadow Ice Bear - Tank.
End of Chapter 23