**Chapter 7**
**Issei PoV**
I was walking through the thicket to reach the warehouse. Rias lectured me while we walked.
"Issei, the stray devils are those who have run away from their master and have lost their minds to the power they have gained."
"They eat humans to sustain themselves as normal food doesn't work on them. They also mutate, losing their humanoid forms, making them chimeras!"
Matches what Ddraig said. We then finally entered the warehouse. While Rias continued with her class.
"As for how I revived you? The Beelzebub has created the evil pieces. They can revive anyone who is not a God or Buddha into a devil."
That's absurdly useful. Is the Beelzebub really that smart? He must be on another level.
"The evil pieces take the form of chess pieces, with the king being the leader and other the remaining pieces."
At that, she stopped and looked near the ceiling, or tried to. Unlike devils, who could easily see in normal darkness, I couldn't.
Is that, miasma? So the stray is there?
"Issei, I will continue where I left off. You should watch how others fight. It is important you know how to cooperate with them."
(Don't listen to her. No matter how strong they are, you will be stronger in a short time. They should learn to fight according to your style.)
Yeah, but they don't know that and Akeno has kept her promise and didn't tell Rias that I just whooped some fallen ass.
I stayed a little behind Rias to watch and then it appeared out of the darkness.
It was huge, towering near the roof of the warehouse. And wait! Her boobs are out! Those are glorious!
(Partner, focus!)
I am focused, Partner.
(On the wrong things. Look at her lower body!)
I looked at Ddraig's call and was scared. What is that? A centaur and ogre hybrid?
And why are there so many teeth on it?
"You little children, I shall eat and enjoy the bone marrow!"
What kind of weak-ass insult is that?
"Issei, now look at Yuna. She is my knight. As such she has enhanced speed, her ultimate weapon is a sword!"
Ultimate weapon? Isn't something like a Sacred Gear supposed to be that?
Kiba almost vanished, from my eyes. But I had a trick to watch him. Ddraig!
[Dragon Booster!]
[BOOST!]
And with the reappearing of the gauntlet my eyesight became sharper and I could watch Kiba with ease.
She immediately reached below the humongous target and swung her swords, drawing it from its sheath.
There is no blade? Is that a wind-based sword?
And she swung it, and the huge front legs and the strays normal hands got cut off.
Damn, the blood spray would reach here!
"Gahhh! Curse you wretched bitch!"
The voice is not very pleasing to hear.
I dodged it and fell back, I did not want to get drenched in some unknown fluid. The human arms of the stray were thrown behind me and Rias.
"Next is Koneko, she is my rook. As such she has ridiculously high strength and defense."
Koneko moved in and was swallowed by the huge mouth that opened in the beast's torso.
Is it really necessary? I think she deliberately did that to show off in front of me. I was fine with just knowing that she was good at strength and defense.
The teeth closed and chomped on, but it didn't manage to close off completely. It stopped midway.
Well, she did eat something she can't chew on. Slowly like a movie scene, the monster's maw opened and Koneko appeared.
Hell Yeah! Boobs and panties!
The digestive juices really put in the work. She easily overpowered her way out and punched.
That form was terrible, she was wasting a lot of power.
[BOOST!]
But the effect was tremendous, the teeth broke and the huge beast was thrown back and crashed into the pillar, taking it down with it.
(She could have done that better. They really don't know how to fight efficiently. Only the knight is decent.)
And I agreed with Ddraig's statement. This peerage didn't know how to fight skillfully, they are fully dependent on overwhelming might.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something come out of the darkness behind the second pillar.
(Partner, the severed arm!)
Ddraig also warned me. A double pincer and their target is Rias-!?
"Now, Issei finally-!?"
Before she could complete her sentence, I had moved close to her and pulled her by the hand towards my body.
The severed arm crossed her former position and went to join its main body. While the being that came out of the darkness was,
Another stray? How did we miss it?
(Probably its ability.)
But that didn't matter, my hand had left Rias and was already in the position to throw a solid punch.
"Finally, you came! Help me!"
My ears captured the weak voice of the first stray. But that didn't matter now, I was mentally counting and it's correctly timed.
My eyes landed fully on the monster in front of me.
No arms, but wings of an eagle, the head of a spider, and the lower body of a snake. The torso was the only humanoid part there.
Seeing me reach for its head, it panicked and tried to shield but its feathers are not that good for defense, and it's about to come.
[BOOST!]
*Crack!*
The sound of bones cracking again sounded in my ears. And like a rocket, its body launched off the ground.
Crashing into the pillar it came from and tearing a hole in it.
Ddraig, is it me, or did my punch get stronger?
(You are a newly reincarnated devil, your body will take some time to get accustomed to it. It's not even the peak you have reached. And to top it off, devils keep on getting stronger as they live.)
So I can grow stronger infinitely?
(In theory? Yes. But the growth gets slower and slower as you get stronger and older. Training can compensate for it but till infinity? No, that is someone else's gimmick.)
I was tempted to ask Ddraig who he was talking about but decided against it and asked Rias, who was on her butt.
Damn that piece of ground! Getting to touch that ass!
"Are you fine, Rias-senpai?"
The red-haired bombshell looked at me, why was she gobsmacked?
Did she really not see that coming?
Wasn't this supposed to be a test of my attention and reaction? Hello, Ddraig.
Don't tell me this peerage is all bark and no bite.
(I am afraid that is true, Partner.)
"Thank you, Issei!"
I offered her my hand to stand up and she took it up and blushed a little.
Damn, I have got some game!
She then ignored me and stood in front of me.
Damn, I have got no game!
"Akeno, finish her off!"
Rias ordered. Is the other one dead, Ddraig?
(Yes. It would seem its special ability was stealth and sneak attacks. Its defense was horrible and with your steadily rising strength, its skull was most probably crushed along with its brain, maybe its spine snapped as well.)
Alright, I get it, the stray is dead. No need to give me nightmares.
"Issei, hear and see carefully,"
Can she really say that now?
"Akeno is my queen. She can use the abilities of all the other pieces. But her method of attack is using magic power! Especially lightning-based ones."
"What a bad stray, attacking the Buchou like that."
Akeno raised her hands above which sparkled with yellow lightning.
That form, that vase-like body figure, that's art! Do it more!
A huge lightning bolt struck the stray and brought me out of the perverted line of thought.
Weird why didn't Ddraig say anything?
(If she is the queen, then does the Gremory have a pole?)
No, Ddraig stop for the love of everything you hold dear don't!
"And what's more, Akeno is the ultimate sadist."
Don't say that proudly and why is Akeno laughing, you are torturing the poor soul!
*Arrrgh!!*
"Ufu-Uffufu!"
The voice seemed to have returned to the stray as she screamed but bolts of yellow lightning continued to fall on its already charred body.
"Akeno, that is enough."
Rias approached the stray and looked it in the eyes. Those eyes knew true fear.
"Done already? What a shame."
Akeno said as she looked at me and licked her lips.
Shit, I don't know whether to be turned on or be scared about tomorrow.
"Any last words, stray devil, Viser?"
So the name is Viser, I shall remember the horrors you have faced.
"Kill me!"
The voice, hoarse from screaming and pain, said.
"Very well then."
Rias said and spread her arms. And the Gremory seal glowed. She also said 'checkmate' I think?
Is she trying to look all cool? If so then she is killing it!
A crimson rose encased in a circular shape appeared before Rias.
A horrifying, haphazard beam of red shot out of the magic circle, and erased the stray?
(That is, Partner. The famed Power of Destruction. Originally the Bael Clan's trait, but it would seem due to marriage, even the Gremory possesses it now.)
Power of Destruction? Isn't it ridiculous to have such an absurd power? Couldn't she erase anything with it then?
(Indeed but it isn't all-powerful. Unless of course, trained to the peak like her brother, the current satan, Sirzechs Lucifer.)
Wait, her brother is the Lucifer? So, is she like the princess of the underworld? And her father is a Duke as well! Did I accidentally hit the jackpot?
(Well, you might as well have. A princess that treats her servants well, is good-looking, has no male in her peerage, and is rich and powerful.)
Damn! Rias looked towards me and said.
"And you Issei, are my pawn. The foot soldier!"
That was a terrible way to disclose it to me. Like, instead of a foot soldier, I can be any piece I want.
"I see."
"You aren't surprised?"
"Well, all the pieces have been used, in a way. I didn't feel any of the enhancements you said, so it was quite obvious."
"It does make sense. Are you not angry?"
"Why would I be? I can literally be any piece I want to be, it's way cooler than being any one."
"That's an optimistic outlook. Then Issei, do your contracts for now and go back home! Safely, okay?"
"Yeah, sure!"
"Also you can do one of Koneko's contracts if you don't find one of your own."
No need to discourage me like that, Rias. But whatever.
I told her a short yes and was on my way.
…
Hey Ddraig, I know that the Boosted Gear can double my power every ten seconds but is it going to like forever?
And don't you have some more abilities? I don't think you were that strong just with Boost.
(Indeed. I have some more abilities called Transfer and Penetrate.)
Are you sure the last one isn't just some sexual innuendo?
(Get your mind out of the gutter. Transfer can send your power to virtually anything, but some of it is lost in the process. Penetrate can allow you to bypass anything except the target's baseline physical durability.)
So I could hit anything I want?—No barriers or special abilities would stop me?
(Yes. But beware, although I say so. There are beings who could see through your attack and dodge it. And I can't use it currently.)
Why?
(It's been centuries since I have used it, the Boosted Gear has lost it. I need some time to get it back.)
Then do it. And what about the BOOST limit?
(Well there is a way for that as well. Some call it a bug, some call it an intentional failure. The final evolution of a sacred gear, allowing the user to use the full power of their sacred gears to the limit, Balance Breaker.)
So this Balance Breaker, how do I achieve it and how does it work?
(The name of the Balance Breaker of the Boosted Gear is Scale Mail. As for what it does? There is no limit to the BOOST and the ten-second cooldown is also removed.)
That's awesome!
(Achieving it is simple, just get strong. You need to activate it only once, then you can do it easily. After that, your strength decides how long you can stay like that.)
I see. Then how close am I to it?
(Really close. Given months you would achieve it smoothly.)
Months? Then wouldn't everyone have it by now?
(You are wrong, few achieve Balance Breaker. And those with Longinus even fewer. You have trained yourself for five long years, it is the result of that. People train for decades to achieve this.)
Damn! But is there a way to achieve it faster?
(There is—a way. Sacrifice some of your body parts to me.)
Are you sure you are a dragon and not a devil?
(Don't make fun of me, kid. You get some benefits aside from the Scale Mail as well. The parts you sacrifice get immune to devil weakness. And get dragon benefits!)
But they get a dragon's weakness as well, right?
(Yeah, but how often can you find something with the attributes of dragon slaying? On the other hand, you can find holy gimmicks all over the place.)
Can't deny that. Let's see, I will do that if I need the Balance Breaker immediately.
For now, let's focus on Penetrate and Transfer.
(Transfer is fine, for Penetrate, I need to venture a bit. It might take me some time. So let's do it tonight after you get home.)
That's what I am talking about! And would you look at that, I am also near the summoner's house.
I pressed the doorbell.
*Ding-Dong*
But no response came. I pushed the door—and it was open?
Who keeps their door open at this time?
I walked in hoping that nothing bad was going to happen but alas, my gut was saying otherwise.
"Is anyone in? Pardon, the intrusion!"
I walked into a dimly lit room. They sure created the mood and I felt wetness on my socks.
It's gonna be blood, isn't it?
(Partner be careful!)
I listened to Ddraig's warning and looked at the wall. A man was nailed to it, his innards hanging off his stomach and his limbs nailed by inverted crosses.
Fuck!
I felt bile rising up my throat and turned around, my hand clamped my mouth.
(Partner focus! There is someone else as well.)
Ddraig's words made me focus, and I saw a man dressed as a priest sitting on the sofa and smiling at me.
"Ara! Devil-kun is here!"
And began to clap. Is he a priest? Did he kill my summoner? Why is he here?
"It's me, the Holy Priest, Freed Sezellen! I felt this bad man falling to the temptations of the devil and punished him! And you, the devil who tempted him, must be punished as well!"
Ddraig, I am gonna bash his skull in!
[Dragon Booster!]
[BOOST!]
(Let's show him, Partner!)
…
AN:- Today's chapter!!!