Despite neither sensing any suspicious presence, Issei and the black-haired young man—whose face had become familiar to him despite the noticeable changes over the months—both shot their hands out at the same time to stop the arrow flying toward the young girl standing between them.
As Issei expected, the arrow passed harmlessly through his hand, but the other young man managed to catch it, stopping it mere inches from the girl's head. An armored warrior standing a few feet away from them, however, was not so fortunate. No one near him saw the arrow coming in time, and they reacted even slower to the attack. The projectile pierced the man squarely between the eyes, encasing half of his head in ice before his body even hit the snow beneath him.
Issei snapped his head to the side, his eyes locking onto tall, humanoid figures emerging from the shadows cast by the towering trees. Though they bore a striking resemblance to humans, their blue skin, white hair, glowing white eyes, and long elven ears set them apart. Each one held a bow, their piercing gazes fixed on the group, clearly targeting the weakest members to thin their numbers.
Noticing the young man next to him crush the arrow in his hand, Issei turned his attention over and saw him glaring at one of the elves. One of them sneered, raising his free hand to draw a smug, deliberate neck-cutting motion across his throat with his thumb before vanishing into the winds with his partner, moving with a speed and silence that made them impossible to follow. The party was left standing in tense silence, the wind howling around them, as an uneasy feeling settled over the group.
Issei watched, in shock and confusion, as the giant man who looked like the party leader picked out the strongest members of the group and left with them, leaving the young man and the noticeably weaker ones behind to fend for themselves. It did not take it long, however, for the young man to prove himself more than capable of handling the situation. He provided warm clothing to those left with him, shielding them from the cold and the dangers lurking in the snowy forest. When a massive ice bear charged at the group, the young man leaped into the air and descended upon the monster to defeat it with a single, powerful punch. The devastating impact of the punch sent its colossal body crashing into the snow, lifeless, with a deep fist-shaped indent caved into its skull as the young man sat on its back, looking quite satisfied as he had found more than enough food to supply them for days to come.
You are doing well.
Issei gasped, his eyes widening in surprise when he heard that voice, looking over to see the young man looking directly at him. He opened his mouth to speak, to address him, to ask what was going on… but no sound came out, no matter how hard he tried.
The other young man, meanwhile, remained as calm as he had always been. With the bangs of his dark hair shadowing one of his eyes, he continued to speak to Issei, all the while rubbing his wrist.
Your situation is a little better than mine. Unlike what happened to us, your group sticks together, and you have a capable leader leading them with you, while our leader made the decision to abandon those that he deemed weak.
But you are in much greater danger than we ever were, so be very careful from now on, Issei. The survivability of everyone in your group depends on it.
And with that, Issei felt himself jerk awake, his eyes blinking open as his internal clock roused him from his slumber. His mind lingered on the dream for a moment as he continued to lie there, staring blankly up at the wooden ceiling above him. Lately, he had begun to wonder... were all these dreams truly just dreams, or was there something more to them? They were too vivid, too real, to be mere figments of his imagination.
And then there was the young man—the same figure who appeared in every dream, now speaking directly to him. Issei hated to admit it, but it had started to become a little creepy.
Shaking the thoughts off, Issei sat up, tossing off the thick fur that he used as his blanket. It belonged to the beast he had slain days ago in the area not far from where they were staying, and though he had initially tried to decline it, believing others needed it more than he did, everyone had insisted he keep it for himself. Admittedly, the fur had become a rare luxury that had kept him warm during the long, bitterly cold nights in this seemingly endless, snow-covered forest.
From the look of it, the storm had ceased for the day, but the biting cold still remained, as relentless as ever.
[Morning, partner.]
"Morning, Ddraig."
Turning around, Issei set his bare feet onto the cold wooden floor of his cabin and stood up moving over to his clothing rack to grab his fur jacket before heading outside for his daily morning workout. Despite the harsh conditions, he had a strict routine to stick to – more out of necessity than choice, as the System continued to issue its daily quest to make him workout at four every morning, refusing to let him break his schedule for even a single day. Issei still had no idea what the punishment would be for failing to complete the quest on time, but he had no intention of finding out, not when there were people depending on him for their survivability every day.
"Morning, Issei-kun."
"Morning. Hayato-san."
Issei smiled, his breath forming faint puffs of mist in the cold morning air as he offered a wave of his hand to the man currently patrolling the area before picking up the pace to a jog.
As he moved through his daily tasks, his thoughts drifted to their current situation, while wondering how Rias and everyone were doing. They must have heard the news by now, as two weeks, fourteen hours in their world, had passed since they had been trapped in this Red Gate. Even though the conditions were harsh, things had settled down and their group had managed to hold its own.
It felt like it was just that yesterday that they had managed to find this clearing where they had built their base, which they had called simply as the Hideaway, a home amidst the harsh, snowy landscape and the relentless monsters lurking in the snow. The cliff behind them provided cover from storms, while the huge lake in the front offered a source of freshwater. It was far from ideal, but it was far better than wandering aimlessly in the cold or staying in caves when night fell.
While everyone contributed to the construction of the Hideaway, it was his shadow soldiers that had made the process significantly faster. Unlike them, his shadows didn't tire or suffer from the cold, and in just two days, they had built a sturdy wall with spike traps around the area to protect them from monsters before constructing several wooden cabins to house the raid. Each cabin, while modest, provided much-needed shelter from the harsh weather, and the wall offered a sense of security that was sorely lacking when they first arrived.
"Anything to report?" Issei asked, pausing briefly at a lookout near the main gate where two of his shadows stood on duty. They bowed in response before shaking their heads, silently conveying that all was clear. With that, Issei resumed his run, pushing forward with steady strides.
Having just completed the first lap around the Hideaway, he still had several more to go to cover the required distance. Thankfully, the quest had never specified where he had to run, so he never had to leave the base for his morning routine.
And once their home had been built, it became a matter of ensuring their survival. Once their home had been built, it became a matter of ensuring their survival. Fortunately, the lake they had been drawing water from also provided a steady supply of fish. Breaking through the thick ice was no small task, but the full stomachs made the effort worthwhile. Combined with the animals and beast-type monsters they were able to hunt in the surrounding forest, they managed to maintain a steady supply of food.
In this regard, the harsh cold worked to their advantage. The freezing temperatures acted as a natural preservation method, allowing them to store meat without fear of spoilage for days, sometimes even weeks. This gave them more time to focus on other essential tasks without the constant need to hunt, though they always remained mindful to keep their stores well-stocked.
Every day, a scouting party would leave their base to search the forest for game and monsters, as their main goal was to find the boss and kill it to end the Red Gate. At the same time, most supporters stayed at the base, taking care of cooking, mending clothes, maintaining tools and weapons to keep them in top condition, and reinforcing the defenses and traps around the wall. Firewood gathering also became an everyday task, as the cabins required a near-constant supply to keep them warm throughout the bitterly cold nights.
Issei helped out wherever he could, but mostly with the fighting while his shadows took care of the rest. After Sieghart, who had been keeping the Hideaway running like a well-oiled machine, decided that his unique skill set and combat capability would be wasted as a supporter, he had become a member of the main strike team, allowing Issei to fight alongside the heroes that he had started to admire for their courage and resilient.
Still, despite the fact that Issei had proven himself to be their strongest fighter, he suspected that at least half the population of the Hideaways believed sending him out to fight was a risky move by their leader, and Issei could see why. Devil or dragon, he was only seventeen, technically a kid in the eyes of the adults, so naturally they believed that they should be the ones doing all the fighting for him instead of the other way around. Many had also grown fond of him, even more so than their eccentric leader, but most importantly, Issei and his shadows had proven themselves to be an invaluable asset to the Hideaway, making their daily survival—against the constant snowstorms and the dangers lurking in the snowy landscape—much easier than it should have been. If anything were to happen to him, his shadows would also disappear, and the Hideaway would be left without that extra edge.
As much as he appreciated their concern, staying behind and being looked after was the last thing he wanted. Some had voiced their opinions on the matter, but Issie had made it clear that he would continue fighting, using everything at his disposal until the Red Gate was nothing more than a bad memory.
"Hey, Issei. Sieghart is looking for you. Go see him in the main house when you can."
"Okay. Can you let him know I will be there in a bit?" Issei replied, glancing at the man standing on the ground below while hanging upside down from the tree branch he had been using for his sit-up task.
Sit-ups: 120/120
[!] Quest Completed
[The Path Toward True Might III]
The notification window popped up, making Issei grin before allocating the new level into his Shadow Monarch subclass. After two weeks inside the Red Gate, his overall level was now Level 40 Dragonsworn/Level 15 Shadow Monarch. His Attributes likewise had increased by a decent amount. Leveling had been progressing smoothly for him, thanks to the monsters of the Red Gate yielding an abundance of experience points. Even his daily quest had become more challenging, offering greater rewards upon completion.
He could push for the secret limits again, but since Sieghart was looking for him, it's best not to keep him and the captains, who formed a small council running the Hideaway, waiting as they were probably discussing their next moves.
The sun had risen, and another day beyond the Red Gate began.
The warmth of the hearth hit Issei as he stepped into the main house, brushing frost off his sleeves before turning his attention to the large wooden table in the center of the room, where Sieghart, Frank, who represented the supporters as their leader, and the captains appeared to be discussing the locations for their next scouting mission. The table before them was strewn with maps and sketches, marked with notes indicating danger zones and unexplored regions, many of which they could not tread too far into because of the storms.
But since they seemed to have good weather that day, no doubt the captains wanted to go in there and explore the areas.
"What about this route here?" Satou, the leader of the First Division, suggested, his finger tapping an area on the map just north of their camp. "If the weather holds, we might be able to push deeper into this side of the forest before nightfall."
Captain Hase of the Second Division shook his head, eyes narrowing as he studied the map. "Too risky. That place is crawling with predators. For all we know we could be walking right into their dens. I think the eastern ridge is a much safer option."
"But that could take us days to cross. By the time we are halfway through another storm could strike." Satou reasoned with his arms crossing over his chest, making Sieghart and Frank, who represented the supporters as their leader, exchange a look.
It was then that Sieghart finally noticed Issei, who had been awkwardly standing in the same spot since entering the room, and welcomed him with his usual flair.
"Ah, there you are, my beautiful dragon friend."
Issei chuckled at the usual dramatic greeting. "Morning, Sieghart-san. Heard you were looking for me?"
"Indeed, indeed!" Sieghart gestured grandly toward the table, his shining armor, which he polished every day, catching the firelight. "Come join us. We are just discussing our next little excursion into the icy unknown today."
"Morning, Issei."
"Morning, Frank. Everyone." Issei greeted, lowering his head politely to the others as they smiled at him in acknowledgement before walking up to stand next to Sieghart and Frank. While he might not be part of the council, not officially, at least, Sieghart let him join so that he would know what decisions were being made and could lend his strength where he needed.
After Issei had settled in, the captains resumed their debate, their voices overlapping as they argued.
Satou pointed to the northern area on the map. "I'm telling you, Hase, this route offers the most potential. If the weather holds for just a single day, we can push further than we have ever been in days."
"And risk walking straight into a predator ambush?" Hase shook his head. "The eastern ridge is a safer option. It may take longer, but we will get results without unnecessary casualties."
"We're not accomplishing anything by sitting on our hands!" Satou shot back, his voice rising. "If we keep taking the safer routes, we'll be here until spring thaws."
Frank cleared his throat, trying to maintain the peace between the two captains. "Maybe there's a way to mitigate the risks for both?"
The room grew tense as the captains started talking over one another again, each defending their opinion on the matter while Frank acted as the mediator and tried to keep the argument from escalating. Issei could only stand there and glance between them, not feeling entirely sure if he should give his opinion or not since this was a serious matter.
Fortunately, enough for him, he did not have to, as Sieghart raised his hands dramatically, calling for order.
"Your passion is commendable, my friends, but let us not forget that indecision is the greatest enemy of all!" Sieghart declared dramatically, causing all eyes to turn to him. With a smile, he then turned his gaze down and placed a finger on the map. "Neither option is perfect. What we need is a plan that minimizes risks while still making progress. We know not for how long this beautiful weather will stay, but we need to use every second of it. I decree that we send a scouting party to the northern area. A small, capable team is enough. They will help us assess the danger before the rest of us proceed, how does that sound?"
"I will take the lead." Satou volunteered eagerly.
Hase fixed his gaze on their leader, giving him a skeptical look. "Are you sure about this, Sieghart? Sending a small group into that kind of threat could backfire."
Slowly, Issei raised his hand, making all eyes turn to him. It was Satou who spoke up before the young reincarnated devil could say anything "No. You will stay here, Ise. We have talked about this. These scouting missions are far too risky for you to come along."
Issei gave a small, apologetic smile. "I… I didn't mean to ask to join the mission, Satou-san. I just wanted to tell you if you need extra support, I could have another squad of shadow soldiers tag along with you guys."
Since they were essentially immortal and could not die, Issei had attempted to send his shadow soldiers out to scout before, but the results had been far from what he had hoped for. Without direct instructions from him, his minions were often no match for the more ferocious monsters lurking in the forest in small groups. They would charge ahead, only to be torn apart by beasts far stronger than they were, causing him to more often than not waste his entire mana reserve just for them to reform and return to him, as they kept getting killed on the way back.
That, and the fact that none of them could not talk, made it so much harder for them to know what were in the area that they ventured into.
If only he could communicate with them, or see through their eyes. At the very least, the shadow wolves and panthers were quite useful. Both types were quick on their feet and agile, capable of navigating even the most treacherous terrains with their riders. Because of this alone, they had become a valuable asset for the scouting missions, helping the teams traverse the rough, frozen landscape far more efficiently than they could on foot.
"Right. With luck, we should be able to make it back before nightfall," Satou said with a nod toward Issei.
"Well, that settles it, then." Sieghart nodded his head with a smile.
Before he could continue, Hase cleared his throat, stepping forward. "Hold on, Satou. If you think I'm just going to let you do this by yourself, you are dead wrong. I'm coming along."
Satou turned to him with a raised eyebrow, his lips twitching into a grin. "You sure about that, old man?"
"Old man?" Hase scoffed, folding his arms. "I'll show you old. Someone gotta keep you from rushing headlong into trouble. Might as well be me."
"Fine, fine," Satou chuckled, shaking his head. "Meet me at the Gate in ten minutes. Don't forget your walking stick, Hase."
As the captains left to gear up for the mission with Frank, Sieghart turned his attention back to Issei and asked.
"Well, my dragon friend, now that the matter has settled, wanna go fishing with me? Today is a rare, beautiful day, and we could use a break before the next storm rolls in. What do you say after breakfast?"
"Fishing? With you?"
Issei asked in surprise, raising an eyebrow. Not that he had anything else to do besides training all day with some of the more seasoned heroes of their group, as some of them had been helping him hone his techniques, but Sieghart was simply too good as a fisherman for him to join him. After all, it was Sieghart who had caught the first few fish for the group during the first few days of the Hideaway, using nothing but a makeshift fishing rod crafted from a sturdy branch, some twine, and a sharpened piece of metal.
"Have you ever gone fishing before? If not, then there's no need to worry, my dear friend. I'll teach you how to fish, as well as how to look as spectacular as I do while doing it. No better time to learn than on a day like this. What do you say?"
Issei chuckled as Sieghart struck a flamboyant pose in front of the window, his armor glinting brightly in the rare morning sunlight. "Well, I think I will give it a try."
"Splendid, my friend. Now come, let us see what delightful delicacy the kitchen has prepared for us today."
"You know… now I just have a feeling that you want me to tag along because you need me to melt a hole through this ice."
"Oh, your words hurt me so, Issei. How could you think of your beautiful older brother so little after all we have been through these past two weeks?" Sieghart replied with mock offense, putting a hand over his chest dramatically.
Having gotten used to the theatrical nature of the blonde haired hero, Issei just grinned in response before following Sieghart to the lake outside of their Hideaway. Moving to the edge, Issei took off one of his gloves and lowered himself down on one knee to place his right hand on the cold, frozen surface, unleashing a continuous, steady torrent of blue dragon flame from the palm of his hand, letting it spread outward across the area in front of him. Within just a few seconds, a large section of the ice had dissolved despite its thickness, revealing the water below with steam rising from the surface as Issei rose to his feet.
"A job well done as usual." Sieghart beamed as he patted Issei on his shoulder before handing him back his fishing rod. "Now, allow me to teach you the art of beautiful fishing. First is how to cast your line."
Soon enough, with their fishing lines settled in the water, Issei and Sieghart sat back in the chairs that they had brought along with them. Between them, a small kettle rested over the fire Issei had made using a few branches they had collected from the nearby tree, simmering quietly as a soothing scent of herbs filled the air around the two as they enjoyed the rare morning sunlight.
"Here." Sieghart said as he poured the boiling liquid into two cups, offering one to Issei, who accepted it with both hands and blew lightly on it before taking a cautious sip. The flavor was bitter, causing Issei to cough while Sieghart just grinned in amusement. "Not hot chocolate, is it?"
"Yeah, you tell me." Issei chuckled as he looked at the liquid in his cup. Still, the warmth from the drink spread through his body quickly, easing the chill in his bones. He took another sip, this time more confidently, and leaned back into his seat while holding the cup in his gloved hand, letting his mind wander for a moment.
He thought about the scouting party and wondered if Satou, Hase and the others had made it to the destination, having seen them off earlier with Sieghart at the gate before heading off to eat breakfast. Since they wanted to keep the party small so they could move quickly, the shadow squad he had sent with them consisted of only five shadow troopers and one berserker, trusting that they would be enough to help the heroes handle whatever came their way.
"You know, this is kinda chill, no pun intended." Sieghart said, breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen between them. "Going fishing with you like this… it reminds me of the fishing trips I used to go with my brothers."
"Brothers?" Issei asked, raising an eyebrow as he turned to look at Sieghart.
"Yup. I'm the youngest in the family. I have always wanted a younger brother though." Sieghart replied with a chuckle, puffing out his chest proudly. "What about you, Issei? Any brother or sister?"
Issei shook his head as he stared down into the cup in his hands. His mother did have two miscarriages before she had him, but Issei had never dwelled too much on the idea that he could have had two older siblings. "I'm an only child. It was just me, my parents…"
"But I do have a little sister now, sorta. Asia moved into our home to live with us a few weeks ago… and there is also Rias-senpai." Issei continued with a small smile.
"Rias Gremory? Your master? She lives with you?" Sieghart asked, making Issei nod his head in confirmation "Right, I always forget that you are a devil servant of the Gremory, not like Frank and his team, who just work for them. If you don't mind me asking, how did you end up becoming a devil anyway?"
"Ah, well… it's a bit of a long story." Issei began, recalling the event that had led him to become the reincarnated devil servant of Rias Gremory. "There was this girl I liked at school, Amano Yuuma—or at least, I thought that's who she was. Turned out she was a fallen angel assigned to watch over me because her boss believed I possessed a powerful Sacred Gear. She was right, and she... well, she asked me out and killed me on our date."
"Wow. You serious?" Sieghart gasped, his jaw hanging slightly as Issei nodded his head with a chuckle. "And here I thought I had bad luck with women. At least my dates usually just dump me— they don't literally dump me six feet under"
Issei chuckled sheepishly while scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, that was definitely not my proudest moment. I was all excited, thinking I finally scored a date. I didn't have that much luck with girls either… Yuuma was really cute too…"
"So, what happened after? Rias Gremory found you and brought you back as her servant?"
"I think I accidentally summoned her with my dying wish." Issei answered, deciding to keep the part that his dying wish was to die in the arms of a beautiful woman to himself. "Next thing I know, I woke up in my bed like nothing happened."
"And your life as a devil started that day, I bet." Sieghart nodded knowingly, leaning back in his chair. "And here you are, getting trapped in this Red Gate with us. Guess it's been an eventful and exciting few months for you, hasn't it?"
"You have no idea." Issei chuckled "What about you, Sieghart-san? How did you become a hero?"
"Ah, a tale as grand as mine? Where do I even begin?" Sieghart asked, his hands gesturing dramatically toward the sky. "Born under a shining star, gifted with unparalleled talent and striking good looks—naturally, the gods themselves demanded I step up to save the world. I mean, how could they not? A man of my caliber? Clearly, it's destiny."
"Suuuureeee…."
"How dare you doubt me? Do you not see the aura of destiny radiating off me? The sheer gravitas of a man chosen by the gods themselves?" Sieghart replied, moving his hands sideways as he sat up. With how clean his armor was, it glistened in the sunlight, making him look almost regal – almost glowing as he struck a dramatic pose, his chest puffed out and his chin raised high.
After a moment, the blond dropped the theatrics. His tone softened as he continued with his hands lowering at his side. "That, and being heroes is just… a family tradition. My father, my grandfather… They were all warriors, nobles who dedicated their entire life to beauty, grace and fighting to protect the weak. After my brothers chose to follow their footsteps, I decided to do the same. The golden ages of heroes have long since passed, but there are still people that need our help all around the world."
"Do you know why I chose a shield to be my weapon?"
"So, you could protect your appearance?" Issei asked with a raised eyebrow. Notably, he had also noticed that Sieghart had a small mirror attached to the back of his black shield. Strategically, it provided him with the means to check for enemies trying to sneak up on him from behind, a known weakness of tanks and shielders, but Issei was pretty sure Sieghart used it to check himself out more than anything else, even in the midst of battles.
The grin that Sieghart had on his face widened, as he was clearly not offended by the remark.
"Well, you are not wrong there, my dragon friend. A man gotta maintain his image, not just for himself, but for those who fight alongside him. Plus, I have already told you… my family valued beauty and grace above all else. A shield is a perfect weapon to help me maintain my dashing look, even in the middle of a battle." He paused, before continuing with a small, genuine smile "That, and protecting others, shielding them from any harm coming their way… there's just nothing in this world that is more beautiful than that."
For the first time since they met, Issei was speechless. It was as if the man behind the, quite literally, shining armor, dramatic speeches had pulled back a curtain of narcissism to reveal his true self. Moreover, from the moment that they built the Hideaway together, Issei had suspected that his comically theatrical demeanors were merely a façade he maintained to amuse those around him. True, it might annoy some and make him seem self-absorbed, egotistic even, but it helped keep their spirits up in the otherwise grim situation that they had found themselves in, giving them the strength to fight for their survival every day.
"Oh shit, you've got a bite, look!" Sieghart suddenly said, causing Issei to snap his gaze to his fishing rod to see it bending as something tugged hard on the line.
"Whoa, what do I do now?" Issei asked as he quickly grabbed his fishing rod and stood up to gain some solid footing before the fish could pull the whole thing away, causing the line to jerk violently in response.
"Careful now. The line will break if you rush it while it's struggling." Sieghart instructed. "Let the fish tire itself out and then reel it in slowly. You have to be patient."
"Really not my strong suit, Sieghart-san." Issei grinned as he adjusted his grip on the fishing rod, briefly wondering if the line was strong enough for him to just yank the fish out of the water with his strength. However, he quickly dismissed the idea—the rod itself probably was not durable enough for that. It was probably best to follow Sieghart's instructions.
[!] Alert
An emergency quest has arrived.
Before Issei could do anything else, a notification window suddenly popped up in front of his face, bearing the familiar glowing texts he had seen many times in the past. At the same time, he could see his mana dropping rapidly on the window showing his current status, twisting his stomach with an uneasy feeling as he knew exactly what it meant.
"Tora!"
"Issei!"
Sieghart shouted after him in surprise, but Issei had already disappeared into the forest with his shadow Coeurl, who swiftly leaped out of his shadow at his call and let Issei jump onto its back as he bounded forward, his powerful legs propelling them through the snowy forest with a speed that left the trees blurring past in a grey and white streak. Without wasting any more time, Issei willed open his Quest log, and as the familiar blue window appeared before him, what he saw made him widen his eyes in horror and his stomach drop.
[Emergency Quest]
Rescue Mission.
The scouting party is being attacked by a fearsome beast. Many are in critical conditions. Save as many of them as possible.
The rewards given will depend on the number of people rescued.
Current number of survivors: 7
"Faster, Tora!" Issei shouted to his Coeurl, which let out a roar in response before digging its claws into the snow and picking up speed, his sleek, shadowy form tearing effortlessly through the snowy landscape. Issei gripped the reins tightly, heart pounding in his chest as he opened the Map, his eyes scanning the glowing coordinates. The needle pointed steadily ahead, confirming he was heading toward the right direction.
Soon enough, Issei arrived at his destination—a large, open field where numerous scouts lay scattered across the snow amidst the fallen trees, as if something huge had torn its way through the area, leaving huge footprints on the snow cover ground. Two were unmoving, unconscious and barely breathing, while the other three struggled weakly to stay awake, bodies trembling in pain and the cold air. Each and every one of them was bleeding badly, their blood staining the white snow beneath them in an unsettling contrast.
Issei didn't need his Observe skill to know that they were all in critical health.
Without wasting any time, Issei opened his inventory to bring out several vials of healing potions and handed them to his shadows, who immediately went to the injured scouts on his command, leaving Issei to scan the area for other survivors with Tora. Soon enough, he found Captain Hase slumping against the trunk of a tree several meters away, his armor battered and his undershirt covered in blood.
Grabbing another healing potion from his inventory, Issei quickly rushed to Hase, using one hand to support his head while the other slowly poured the red liquid into his mouth. As the healing potion took effect, his breathing began to steady, and the color slowly returned to his face, enough for him to regain consciousness.
"I-Issei…" Hase murmured weakly as he flustered his eyes open.
"You're going to be alright, Hase-san." Issei reassured him before he decided to ask "Where is Satou-san?"
"He was… taken by the beast... it came out of nowhere and… attacked us. Your shadows… chased after it…" Hase winced as another wave of pain hit him, his hand clutching his side.
"Rest, Hase-san. I will find him." Issei spoke to the man before summoning another shadow trooper to help take care of him, looking back to the rest to give the command "You guys stay here and take care of them. Tora, with me."
Once he had settled on the back of Tora, his shadow Coeurl moved swiftly into the forest, following the path of destruction that was left behind by the unknown beast. Fallen trees lay scattered across the ground, some broken in half while others uprooted entirely.
GROOOAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
A deafening roar suddenly echoed through the trees, sending the snow-covered ground rumbling. Immediately, Issei spurred his shadow toward the direction while the ground continued to shake beneath them. The roar echoed again, louder this time, and soon enough, Issei arrived at the clearing where his shadows were struggling against a hulking beast, which stood towering over the scattered remains of trees, its thick, blue skin gleaming under the light. Spiked protrusions ran down its back and limbs, while twisted horns curved ominously over its head. Massive, clawed paws swiped at the shadowy figure attacking it, each swing carrying enough force to send shockwaves that blew snow into the air. Its jaws, gaping with long, jagged teeth, were ready to tear into anything within reach, adding to the menace of its terrifying form.
[Kuza Beast – LV 50]
Rank A Hunt
[A hunt? This is your first hunt then, partner]
"We can worry about that later, Ddraig. Tora, grab Satou-san and get him out of here! Look after him." Noticing the unconscious captain lying beneath the giant form of the massive beast, Issei shouted the command to his shadow Coeurl before putting his feet on its back, using his shadow as a pedestal to launch himself into the air as he dashed forward, narrowly avoiding the giant paw of the Kuza Beast as it swiped at him. Swiftly, Tora weaved under its body to reach the unconscious Satou, pulling him out of the way by the back of his shirt just before the giant monster above them could strike again.
[Pact switch]
Chaos Karma Dragon, Tiamat (Fire) - Y Ddraig Goch (Fire)
[Activate] Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker – Boosted Gear: Crimson Armaments
[Skill activated – Penetrate]
[BOOST!]
At the same time, donning his arms in Balance Breaker dragon gauntlets, with Razan's Blade strapping to the back of his left shoulder, Issei descended upon the Kuza Beast with a devastating, Penetrate-empowered punch that was infused with the red flame of his dragon partner. The moment his fist connected with its head, the air around him exploded, sending out a shockwave that rippled through the air. As the very ground beneath the Kuza Beast trembled, the giant monster staggered back, stumbling and crashing to the side.
[Skill activated – Penetrate]
[BOOST!]
[Skill Activated – Phoenix Shift]
Issei didn't give it a chance to recover. The moment his feet touched the ground, he engulfed himself in dragon flame and dashed forward, vaporizing the snow in his path before it could slow him down, closing the distance before the Kuza Beast could rise. Disappearing in a burst of flame, Issei reappeared next to the monster in a blink of an eye and hammered his fist into its side, the force of the powerful Phoenix Strike launching the Kuza Beast across the clearing, its massive body leaving a deep imprint in the ground.
The beast snarled before swiping at Issei. Bringing out his wings, Issei immediately took off to avoid its paw, narrowly dodging the massive claws as they cut through the air below him before following up with the momentum to launch an uppercut into its jaw, causing the Kuza Beast to snap its head back, its giant body following briefly before crashing down just as Issei launched himself at the monster with another Phoenix Strike.
[Boost!]
The force of the blow sent the giant beast staggering back, and just before the monster could recover, Issei used his wings to propel himself into the air once more to diss out a series of quick jabs to its head, boosting his power up each time. Each hit connected with a thunderous impact that echoed and could be felt across the landscape, making the Kuza Beast roar in pain and fury as Issei continued bombarded it from every direction. Its gigantic tail thrashed angrily against the ground as it furiously swung its paws at him, but Issei swiftly flew under the swinging paw before he could be swatted like a bug and immediately launched himself back up to land a heavy blow into its body, briefly lifting its body off the ground before it came crashing down once more.
Enraged, the beast bellowed, sending out a series of shockwaves that forced Issei back, giving it a brief opening to brace itself to swing its tail at him. Before the Kuza Beast could do just that, however, a familiar sword whip wrapped itself around the end of its tail and stopped it, causing the Kuza Beast to snap its head over its shoulder. At the same time Issei looked to the side to see Sieghart standing just behind the monster, holding its tail back with his weapon with a wide grin on his face, though it did not last very long as the Kuza Beast swung its tail and flung him away like a ragdoll.
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[Skill activated] – Transfer
[Skill activated] – Vital Slash
[Skill activated] – Penetrate
Activating Boosted Gear abilities in rapid succession, Issei descended toward the monster just as it turned back to him, his right hand reaching across his shoulder to grab at the hand of his fire sword. Flames erupted from the blade as its stored power surged to its peak, radiating an intense heat that spread across the entire area and vaporized even the falling snow above him, leaving a faint mist in the air. The Kuza Beast roared, baring its jagged teeth as it swiped at him with a massive paw, but Issei twisted in the air, narrowly dodging the strike and letting its claws sail past him harmlessly before he spun around, using the momentum to unsheathe his sword and bring the fiery blade down its neck in a wide arc, slicing through its flesh and bone like a hot knife cutting through butter.
The Kuza Beast let out a guttural growl, the sound fading as the blade completed its swing, leaving its massive head to fall forward, thudding heavily onto the ground, followed by the collapse of its enormous as Issei landed gracefully in front of the fallen beast, the flames around his sword flickering before extinguishing as he sheathed it.
[!] Hunt Complete!
You have been rewarded 500.000 (G) and a Kuza horn [Refining Material].
[!] Level up!
[!] Level up!
[!] You have earned a new title: Wildbane
Deal 40% more damage to beast-type monsters.
[!] Emergency Quest Completed!
Your Observe Skill has leveled up (LV2).
The enhanced skill now allows you to perceive not only the current state of your targets but also see the names of the techniques, skills and magic targeting you while they are being casted. Does not work on instantaneous abilities.
"That… was… BEAUTIFUL!"
Sieghart exclaimed, just as Issei had expected, his voice booming across the clearing as he rushed back with his arms flailing in exaggerated excitement. Not a single leaf clung to his hair, nor was there a speck of snow on his armor, making him look as if he had emerged from being flung across the entire area completely unscathed.
"Thanks for the assist, Sieghart-san." Issei said, nodding his head to the man as he stopped beside him.
Sieghart struck a dramatic pose, one hand on his hip and the other sweeping out toward Issei as he said. "Assist? Please, it hardly looked like you needed my help at all. If anything, my arrival merely adds a touch of flair to your grand performance. You took care of the beast like it was nothing."
"Yeah… it's not my first time. I have dealt with giant monsters before. They are much easier to fight than you think." Issei chuckled, recalling the events of his Class Change Quest before widening his eyes "Captain Satou…"
"…is being taken care of, along with Hase and the others. I didn't come here alone, you know. They're going to be alright." Sieghart nodded, his hand reaching out to pat Issei reassuringly on the shoulder, allowing him to let out a sigh of relief he didn't know he was holding in. "Since we're still trapped here. This monster is not the boss, is it?"
"No." Issei muttered before drifting his gaze to the fallen beast behind them, with the [Target is eligible for Shadow Extraction] notification hovering next to the decapitated head.
"You're going to revive this beast, Issei?" Sieghart asked in interest. Having seen Issei do it before, he knew exactly what was about to happen. Because of their unique nature, Issei couldn't extract the shadows of the Ice Walkers, but the other monsters and predators they had encountered in this Red Gate — they were all fair game for him.
"Why not, right?" Issei asked with a grin and extended his hand out. "Arise!"
Tendril of shadow erupted from the decapitated body of the Kuza Beast, swirling around its massive form. For a moment, Issei thought it had worked, but then the shadow flickered and dissipated, leaving the beast motionless.
[Failed to extract the Shadow – Remaining attempt 2/3]
Issei frowned. "Okay, maybe a little more effort." Stretching his arms and legs a little, as if it could increase his chance to succeed, Issei then stepped closer to the fallen monster and called out, a little louder this time. "Arise!"
The shadow reappeared again, but once more it failed to solidify. The beast's body remained unmoving. Its massive form remained as lifeless as before.
[Failed to extract the Shadow – Remaining attempt 1/3]
"Maybe it's just not your day?" Sieghart asked, amusement in his voice. He had seen Issei fail before, so it wasn't a huge surprise when the monster didn't come back to life.
"Third time the charm, maybe?" Issei asked, trying to not let his frustration show. Not being able to add a formidable and badass shadow to his ranks always stung. "Last try. Arise!"
At the verbal command, more shadow erupted from the beast, swirling around Issei, thickening, and for a moment, it seemed like it finally worked.
But then, just as before, the shadow sputtered and vanished.
"Fuck!"
"Language." Sieghart remarked, his voice light and playful as he stood there and watched the massive body of the fallen Kuza Beast breaking apart with an annoyed and disappointed Issei, disintegrating slowly into the ground as if it were never meant to stay. In just moments, the once fearsome beast was reduced to nothing but a fading trail of smoke and dust, leaving the clearing eerily quiet, with the only sound the soft whistle of the winds.
"Well, you win some, you lose some, am I right?" Sieghart asked, stepping forward to pat Issei comfortingly on the shoulder before the two left the area to head over to the place where Sieghart's team was taking care of the injured scouts. As they approached, seeing the scouts awake, some still groggy but clearly alive and in one piece, the disappointment Issei had felt over his failed extraction started to fade, leaving him with only a sense of relief.
One that, unfortunately, did not last very long.
It was the night of the alarm belt that woke him up in the middle of the night, three days after the fight against the Kuza beast.
"Issei! Issei!"
The urgent voice and the sound of the belt, one that Issei had hoped he would never hear while setting it up with Frank, ripped him from his sleep, his eyes snapping open and heart racing from the sudden jolt. With his natural night vision, even in the dim candlelight, Issei could see quite clearly the familiar face of Mamoru, a young healer a few years older than him.
"Mamoru-san. What's going on?" Issei asked, springing out of bed instantly, standing in front of her. The sleepiness vanished in an instant when he saw the nervousness and fear in her eyes.
"Ice Elves... they are gathering outside our gate at the moment." Mamoru answered, leaving Issei to widen his eyes in shock. Sieghart had mentioned them to him before, and they were the most dangerous enemies a raid could face in a snow-environment Gate, by a wide margin, having earned their name due to their resemblances to the elves of their world— tall, graceful, attractive with long elven ears and snowy white hair to pair with their pale blue skin.
But that was where the similarities ended. These monsters were just as ruthless as they were deadly in battle, and those who had survived encounters with them had stopped calling them Elves altogether, instead referring to them as Ice Wraiths — a name that better suited their brutal nature…
… and coincidentally, they were the same creatures that had been haunting his dream.
Grabbing his coat, Issei sprinted out of his cabin with Mamoru. The cold air hit him as soon as he stepped outside, but the Sekiryuitei ignored it as he ran as quickly as he could to the front gate. The usual silence of the Hideaway at this hour had vanished. Shouted orders echoed through the night, and warriors hurried to their preassigned positions, their armor clanging as they moved swiftly on the snow-covered ground, preparing for battle.
"Sieghart-san!" Issei called upon reaching the front gate, wasting no time to climb the wooden steps leading up to the top. As soon as he reached the place where Sieghart was standing with the other captains, Issei could see them — the Ice Elves, standing in the darkness with their eyes glowing like some ghostly under the moonlight. There had to be at least a hundred, and each and every one of them carried in their hands a different set of weapons, from swords, daggers, to spear and bows and arrows, all of which seemed to glow faintly with an ethereal, frosty light.
Riding ahead of them on a magnificent steed that seemed to glide effortlessly across the snow was an elf with a distinctive look. His appearance was striking, with long, white hair that seemed to stick out in all directions. His glowing eyes had an almost eerie intensity to match the cruel smirk that he was wearing on his face. A purple, leaf-shaped pattern adorned the center of his forehead while the collar and shoulder parts of his blue parka was lined with white fur, giving him a regal air that radiated a sense of authority.
"If you are asking me, I think that elf's probably the boss of this Gate." Sieghart stated, knowing exactly who Issei was looking at.
"What are they doing? Why haven't they attacked us yet?" Issei asked, his tone laced with concern, as Ice Elves were known for their stealth ability. If they had wanted, they could have snuck in that way - not that Issei and the camp didn't have any measurement against such a method, so it was really strange for them to come to the gate for a direct confrontation like this. "Also, how did they get so close to—"
Issei stopped mid-sentence, his gaze drifting toward the guard posts he had assigned his shadow soldiers to, getting his answer before he could finish asking the question. Both the shadow trooper and assassin stationed there were completely encased in ice, frozen in place like statues with their weapons still gripped tightly in their hands.
"They must have used some kind of sheath ability to take out your shadows from a distance. As for why they didn't just sneak in and slit our throats while we were sleeping... I have no idea. Good thing the patrolls noticed them, or our throats would probably have been slit in our sleep." Sieghart said, crossing his arms over his chest, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
As if on cue, the horse-riding elf suddenly spurred his steed forward, its hooves crunching through the snow as it came to a stop just a few meters from the Gate. The smirk that the spiky haired elf on his face widened as he looked up and surveyed the gathered defenders, turning slowly over the group, one by one, before finally settling on Issei, who met his gaze fearlessly.
"So, the master of those shadow minions finally arrives." The elf said, his voice carrying clearly through the still night air. His tone was mocking, but there was also something else—curiosity, perhaps?
"You want to see me? Is that the reason why you are here?" Issei replied coolly, his tone carrying just enough edge in it to show he wasn't intimidated.
A sharp silence fell over both sides as the elf blinked, his jaw hanging slightly open as he observed Issei, showing much more interest than before. "Oh, so you do speak our tongue?"
Issei raised an eyebrow, momentarily taken aback. He quickly glanced over at Sieghart and the captains, only to find them staring at him, their eyes wide with shock and astonishment.
Sieghart, recovering first, broke the silence, his voice laced with disbelief. "You can… communicate with them, Issei?"
Issei blinked, confused by their reaction. "You guys can't?" he asked, still processing what had just happened. His gaze shifted between Sieghart and the other captains before he reached a conclusion. "Must be because I am a…"
"No, Issei. No one can, not even your kind with your language ability." Sieghart interrupted, shaking his head. "And We just heard you speaking in their language. No one here can do that."
[I can confirm, partner.] Ddraig's voice echoed in his mind, leaving Issei in a state of shock, wondering if it had anything to do with the System and its effect on him.
"Well, it certainly is fortuitous that we can understand each other… make things so much easier." The elf leader spoke up, turning Issei's attention back to him to see the amused smirk returning to his face. "The name is Baruka."
Regaining his composure, Issei replied, his tone firm "Issei Hyoudou."
"Very well, Issei Hyoudou. The others and I came here tonight to make a proposition." Baruka began, his hand gesturing to the side toward the other elves "I'm confident you may find the offer palpable as well."
"He paused, his glowing eyes narrowing as they locked onto Issei with keen interest. "But before that, I must ask... why do you dwell among these creatures, when you are clearly not one of them?"
"The fuck does that supposed to mean?" Issei asked, cocking an eyebrow at the smirking elf, who let out a laugh as if he was amused by his response.
Baruka's smirk only deepened at the response, and he let out a short, amused laugh. "Oh? So, you didn't know?" he said, his voice still laced with amusement. "How curious. Very well, let me explain."
His laughter died down to a low, almost mocking chuckle before he continued. "You see, we've been watching you. Apart from the fact that you wield an... interesting power and are clearly the most capable among these vermin standing around you, there's something else. You and I... I cannot help but feel that we're not so different."
Issei narrowed his eyes at Baruka, but he decided to remain silent, waiting for the elf to continue. Slowly, he lifted a hand and pointed to his head, his voice lowering as he spoke almost conspiratorially. "Did you know... there is a voice that rings incessantly in our minds, urging us to slaughter every creature of your world?"
He let the silence linger for a moment before continuing "Yet, none of us here could hear that voice with you."
"Maybe it's the counterpoint to your little theory?"
"Keep convincing yourself however you want. I can tell that you're just trying to deny the fact that you're supposed to be one of us." Baruka spread his hands out and shrugged his shoulders, making Issei harden his gaze "Regardless, that's not the reason why I have come here tonight. You see… I have no problem with you, and I do not seek to shed any more blood than necessary. Not to mention that your ability will prove problematic for us to deal with as well."
"What I want are the vermin you are safeguarding." the elf said, extending a hand toward Issei, who widened his eyes slightly at the demand "Hand them over to us and I shall guarantee your safety. What do you think of my offer?"
Hardening his gaze, Issei paused for a moment as if weighing his options before responding coldly. "Before I give you my answer, let me ask you something too. Who the hell are you guys?"
His question hung in the air, a feeling of deja vu washing over him, as if he had asked it before. Baruka, however, didn't seem taken aback by the inquiry, as though he understood that Issei wasn't just referring to him and the other Ice Elves, but something much bigger.
"Ah, you see. We are…"
Bzzt
"Keep convincing yourself however you want. I can tell that you're just trying to deny the fact that you're supposed to be one of us." Baruka spread his hands out and shrugged his shoulders. "Regardless, that's not the reason why I have come here tonight. You see… I have no problem with you, and I do not seek to shed any more blood than necessary. Not to mention that your ability will prove problematic for us to deal with as well."
"What I want are the creatures you are safeguarding." the elf said, extending a hand toward Issei, who widened his eyes in shock, but not just at the demand, but at what had just happened right in front of his eyes "Just hand them over to us and I shall guarantee your safety. What do you think of my offer?"
[Uhm, partner… did you feel that just now?]
'I did, Ddraig…' Issei replied to his dragon partner with a cold chill running down his spine, his gaze shifting between Baruka and the other elves as he tried to make sense of the odd repetition.
Did Baruka just… glitched?
Furrowing his eyebrows, Issei decided to test it, repeating the same question that he asked before. "Before I give you my answer, let me ask you something too. Who the hell are you guys?"
"Ah, you see. We are…"
Bzzt
"Keep convincing yourself however you want. I can tell that you're just trying to deny the fact that you're supposed to be one of us." Baruka spread his hands out and shrugged his shoulders, making Issei widen his eyes in stunned silence. "Regardless, that's not the reason why I have come here tonight. You see… I have no problem with you, and I do not seek to shed any more blood than necessary. Not to mention that your ability will prove problematic for us to deal with as well."
'He repeated it again… what's going on?' Issei thought as he stared oddly at Baruka, and it wasn't just his speech. Even his demeanors, his body languages were the same.
"What I want are the creatures you are safeguarding." The elf said, extending a hand toward Issei, who glanced over to the heroes standing next to him, seeing that no one seemed to notice what was going on "Just hand them over to us and I shall guarantee your safety. What do you think of my offer?"
"Do you accept?" It was then that Baruka continued, smirking confidently as the elves behind him did the same, readying the weapons.
Silently, Issei did a hand signal for Sieghart and the captains to do the same before finally giving his answer.
"I refuse."
"How disappointing. I gave you way too much credit, as her majesty has so graciously pointed out."
"Her majesty?"
Issei repeated, just as an overwhelming, icy pressure flooded the air. His inner alarm flared, the familiar feeling of impending danger washing over him like a tidal wave. Before Issei could say anything, the temperature plummeted suddenly to a degree so cold it felt as though the very air had turned to ice.
[Icicle Impact]
Issei widened his eyes as the notification window appeared before his eyes, just as Sieghart shoved him back with a hand to his chest.
"Get down!" The blond roared as he removed the shield from his back and held it in front of them as a large barrier of defensive magic extended out and shielded them from the imminent danger.
But the defense proved to be no match for the gigantic blast of ice that collided directly with them, so intense it seemed to freeze everything in its path. It shot toward them, shattering the ground beneath their feet before doing the same thing to the defensive barrier Sieghart had created with his shield. The massive wooden structure under them was blown apart and splintered almost instantly, its remains scattering into the air like paper caught in a storm. The wall of their base crumbled while the explosion of ice sent everyone on top and standing behind it flying, sweeping off their feet, their bodies being flung away like ragdolls under the sheer force of the ice blast.
Issei was thrown backward, his body unable to resist the force behind the blast. The ground rushed up to meet him as he crashed into the frozen earth, his body slamming hard against the frozen ground. Pain shot through him as his head spun, and the world around him became a blur of white and blue. Gritting his teeth, he tried to pick himself up, groaning in pain as he propped himself up on his elbows while his head rang.
[Partner! Are you alright!? Partner!]
Through the haze and cries of his dragon partner, his eyes caught the chaos that unfolded around him. He blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision, and saw Baruka stepping confidently into the ruined grounds of the Hideaway with the other elves. The smirk that he had on his face had grown even wider, almost sickening as he glanced around before turning his gaze up, just as the elves behind them lowered themselves down to their knees.
Slowly, a figure descended before Baruka, floating just a foot above the ground while carrying with them an aura of frost and majesty. It was a woman, with ethereal pale blue skin, like ice that had been carved from a glacier under moonlight. Much of her body was left fully exposed, as if the cold itself didn't bother her at all, as she was wreathed in elegant blue cloth that was only a shade darker than her skin, clinging tightly to her shapely figure while revealing so much only her feminine parts were not on full display. Long, cascading white hair that was pulled back in a high ponytail tumbled down her back, shimmering faintly in the icy light, making her look both hauntingly beautiful and unnervingly cold.
"Milady." Baruka smirked as he placed a fist, which was holding a glowing blade of his dual daggers, on his chest and lowered his head to the woman, who surveyed the devastation with a regal calm, exuding an aura of undeniable authority.
[Elva – Queen of the Ice Elves]
LV. 60
A cruel smirk, one that mirrored those on her kin, spread across her face, shattering her regal façade. Slowly, Elva raised her hands and declared. "Slaughter these vermin. Bring me their heads as trophies of your victory."
"GLADIO!"
Issei roared with all of his might, just as the elves unleashed an elated battle cry that could be heard throughout the entire forest. Leading his own squad, Baruka charged at the nearest group of heroes, but they were intercepted by Gladio himself, who was the first to leap out of Issei's shadows and swung his broad blade at the elves, swiftly cutting down four of them before engaging Baruka in combat.
Sparks flew between the two as their blades met, but Baruka merely laughed maniacally in response as he held his ground against the much larger knight, pushing his much larger weapon back with just a swing of his dual daggers before dashing past him, slashing at his torso. The damage was instantly healed, however, thanks to the combined effect of his sword and regeneration, allowing him to twirl around with his broadsword swinging in a wide arc. Baruka was able to narrowly dodge the blade, though the force behind the swing was still enough to force him back, making him struggle momentarily before regaining his footing, smirking frenziedly as he twirled his blades around and readied himself.
The entire battlefield, once a peaceful Hideaway for the raid, was a swirling, chaotic maelstrom of clashing steel, flashing magic, and the screams of both combatants and fallen warriors from both sides. Issei unleashed every one of his available shadows into the fray while he himself dashed across the battlefield, his Balance Breaker blazing with raw power and the intense heat of his flame as he tore through each and every single enemy coming at him and threatening the life of his comrades with devastating power. Each strike of his gauntlets sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, toppling elves and shattering their frost-infused weapons.
"Ari…"
Just before he could utter the command to extract the shadows of the elves he had killed, Elva appeared right in front of him and placed a finger on his lips, stopping him dead on his track and freezing him in place, with his arms and legs being fully encased in ice even before he realized it. "So, you are the one that… mentioned…"
She spoke to him, her voice as smooth as silk but her icy breath was even colder than the air around them. Issei struggled and tried to break free, igniting his fire at full force but the ice holding him in place continued to remain.
"The power of the … of the Shadows, and the power he created to rival and challenge the… of Destruction, both in the same body." The elf queen mused, but her voice kept cutting off randomly as she trailed her graceful, slender finger down his chest. Her other hand extended outward, a graceful yet commanding motion, and the ice beneath her feet began to shift and rise. Slowly but deliberately, it morphed into the towering forms of Ice Walkers, the same enemies that Issei had battled countless times ever since he became trapped inside this Red Gate.
"It was… you…" Issei gritted his teeth, his breath starting to become visible in the freezing air as he clenched his fists. His teeth gritted against the numbing cold that was creeping through his body, gnawing at his strength and consciousness. His aura flickered while his flame continued to struggle to burn through the oppressive ice surrounding his arms and feet.
Elva smirked, a cruel and knowing expression that seemed to cut deeper than the cold itself. "Yes." She whispered as she slowly leaned her face down, moving her icy cold lips toward his. "It was always me."
Just before she could press her mouth against his, something whipped through the air toward her, and Elva raised her arm just in time to catch the familiar sword whip of Sieghart himself, who then charged forward and slammed his shield into with a battle cry after tearing his way through her Ice Walke. The impact sent her flying through the air, her cold sneer transforming into a brief grimace of shock before she crashed into the nearby cabin, splintering wood in every direction.
With the Ice Queen momentarily displaced, the ice binding Issei began to crack and melt away, the chill in the air lifting just enough for him to break free. But the effort was too much for him, and he collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath.
"Get up, Issei. A little ice is not going to keep you down, is it?" Sieghart asked, offering a hand to Issei, who looked up and saw Sieghart grinning at him.
Issei managed a strained chuckle, throwing his arm up to allow Sieghart to pull him to his feet. "You always know how to make an entrance."
Sieghart grinned. "What can I say? I'm a natural."
[Heavenly Strike]
Reacting much faster this time, Issei wrapped his gauntlet in dragon flame and launched himself into the air, smashing through the giant block of ice that was dropped on them, shattering it into a thousand jagged pieces that scattered like shards of glass. From the wreckage of the collapsed cabin, Elva emerged—her once calm demeanor replaced by a fierce, seething rage. Her eyes seemed to burn with fury despite her nature, and her aura pulsed like a blizzard, cold and violent.
"Insolent insects!" She screamed, her voice a chilling screech that cut through the air. "You will pay for that!"
"I take that she's angry." Sieghart remarked, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he readied himself, his sword whip strapping itself back while his shield remained firm in his other hand. "She's the boss, isn't she?"
Accept Sieghart to your party? Y/N
"We kill her. This nightmare ends." Issei said, punching his palm with a fist of flame after confirming the party creation. The green jewels on the back of dragon gauntlets seemed to glow brighter as he stepped forward with Sieghart, their eyes locking on Elva with unwavering resolve.
With a vicious scream, Elva thrust her hands forward, sending a barrage of ice spikes hurtling toward the two of them. Sieghart moved first, positioning himself defensively in front of Issei, who then waited for his moment to dash over the blond and rushed at Elva as she focused her attack on Sieghart. Before he could reach her, however, a massive chunk of ice produced from the ground, halting his advance before shattering just as Elva turned her right hand to him and unleashed a blast of icy wind, instantly cutting through the heat of his flames and chilling him to the bone. Issei gritted his teeth against the cold, struggling to maintain his footing as the frost spread across his limbs.
Before the ice could get trapped again, Issei unleashed the full force of his flames and summoned his dragon wings, taking off with a burst of speed. The ground cracked and groaned as pillars of ice rose up, aiming to impale Issei through his guts as he weaved through them to get to Elva. Sieghart swung his sword whip at the elf queen, but she froze the weapon completely mid-swing before throwing one of the ice spikes at him like a spear. Rather than attempting to block, Sieghart dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the lethal projectile. The spike tore through the air, missing him by inches, and instead crashed into the shadows fighting the elves behind him, tearing through all of them as it left a deep rift on the ground.
As his shadows regenerated, Issei launched himself at Elva, avoiding a shard of ice to throw his flaming gauntlet at Elva, but she reacted instantly, summoning a wall of ice in front of her that absorbed the blow with a loud hiss. Her eyes then flared with anger as she made the ice wall shatter into million pieces, which then stopped in midair and turned their sharp, pointy edge at Issei before flying at him, slashing and cutting into his skin as he was sent flying back while using both of his arms to protect his face.
Sieghart tried to rush to his aid, but Elva sent him flying with a pillar of ice, which she then willed around and threw at Issei next, making it crash into him with a devastating force. Issei groaned in pain as he was sent sprawling across the ground, feeling the weight of the entire ice pillar crashing into him while the blood dripped from the gashes all over his body, staining his clothes and the earth beneath him in the same color of his gauntlet. His flames and the defensive aura of his Balance Breaker flickered weakly, barely holding against the cold that seeped into his very bones.
"Weak!" Elva roared with mocking laughter as she summoned a long spear and threw it at Issei, aiming directly at his heart.
Before the spear could reach its target, Sieghart arrived just in time, his shield raised to guard Issei from the lethal attack. The force of the impact rattled his shield, but he stood his ground, giving Issei the precious moment he needed to catch his breath before quickly opening his inventory to bring out a Greater healing potion and chug it down. Feeling some of his strength returning to him, Issei nodded his head to Sieghart, and the blond brought his fist back to punch his shield with all of his might, sending out a shockwave toward Elva that forced her to fly to the side to dodge.
In a seamless motion, Sieghart reached for a small dagger strapped to his belt. With a swift flick of his wrist, he hurled the blade at Elva. The projectile sliced through the air with deadly precision, nearly invisible in the surrounding darkness, its trajectory aimed right at the face of the elf queen, who widened her eyes as she sensed the incoming threat, turning her head just in time to avoid the thrown weapon.
But in doing so, it gave Issei the opening he needed as he flew at her from the side, having slipped out from behind Sieghart the moment that Elva turned her gaze away to dodge the dagger. Elva immediately conjured another ice wall between the two of them to protect herself, but Issei was fully prepared for it this time, using two Phoenix Shifts in quick succession. The first he used to move to the side, leaving behind a fiery silhouette of himself before following up with the second one to launch himself at the ice queen.
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[Skill activated – Penetrate]
Boosting his power up as many times as he could, Issei then activated the Penetrate ability of his Sacred Gear just as his knuckle made contact with her cheek, sending Eyla soaring through the air before crashing into the huge chunk of ice created by her own Icicle Impact. The massive ice block exploded upon her landing, making shards fly in every direction as the elf queen disappeared into the huge chunk of ice. Even the elves were stunned, as they stared at the wreckage with a mixture of shock, unable to believe that their queen had been defeated so easily.
But then, the brief moment of victory was shattered, as the huge block of ice broke apart into million pieces as Eyla shot into the air. The right half of her face was horribly burnt, but her left eye gleamed with an ominous, almost unnatural light. Her lips curled into a snarl, and a blood-curdling shrieked tore through the air, echoing across the battlefield.
"You think... you can defeat me so easily?" Elva snarled with her hands raised high above her head, her power surging, swirling around her in a dangerous, volatile storm of ice. The temperature around her plummeted as she gathered every bit of her power, generating an intense blue aura from her body that was so cold the very air around seemed to freeze in her wake.
"ALL OF YOU WILL DIE HERE!"
[Diamond Dust]
Issei gasped as he saw the notification of the technique, while the ground beneath them trembled under the intense pressure of her power. With a vicious snarl, Elva brought her hands down, then thrust them forward, unleashing a massive blast of icy winds with glistening shards of ice swirling around it at Issei and Sieghart, who immediately planted his shield down and got on one knee to brace himself against the overwhelming force.
"WE NEED TO BLOCK THIS ATTACK OR SHE'S GOING TO KILL EVERYONE. GET BEHIND ME, ISSEI!"
The hero shouted. Instantly, Issei darted behind him, taking cover behind his shield just as the full force of Diamond Dust collided with it, instantly freezing the ground around them and spreading frost across the air and onto their bodies. The shield groaned under the pressure, its surface freezing over as the wind cut through their defenses. Gritting his teeth, Issei pressed his shoulders against the back of the shield, infusing his flames into the defense to give them a fighting chance while jagged ice spikes began to rise from the frozen earth, creeping slowly but steadily toward their lower bodies.
"Hold strong, my dragon brother! Hold!" Sieghart shouted, his muscles straining to keep the shield up. Together, the two stood their ground and held back the relentless blast, even as the cold gnawed at their bones and the spikes started to dig deeper and deeper into their flesh.
Eventually, just as quickly as it had come, the ice blast started to dissipate. The last of the frozen shards crumbled into the air, and the wind died down, leaving only the sound of heavy breathing and the crackle of frost. As the attack appeared to have taken a lot from her, Elva fell down and collapsed onto her knees, gasping for breath. Her once-dominant aura flickered. The cold sheen of exhaustion was evident on her face as she struggled to keep her composure.
"You still holding alright there, Issei?"
"Yeah, just barely."
"We need to take her down now. This is our chance. Just a little more…" Sieghart grunted, his voice filled with urgency as he struggled to push himself up from the frozen ground. The pain in their bodies was excruciating. The ice spikes that had impaled them now dug deeper, but the two warriors ignored the agony as they forced themselves to rise. "On three, okay? One… two... three!"
The moment that Sieghart finished the count, both men surged forward, shouting over the pain that tore through their bodies. The spikes that had punctured their flesh were wrenched free as they pushed themselves to their feet, with Issei unleashing his flame to melt away the frost on him, allowing him to move freely before he could help Sieghart to his feet.
"Go. Finish her." Sieghart urged as he took in a deep breath to gather himself, making Issei nod his head in understanding before turning on his heels to rush at Elva, who kneeled there and stared at them in disbelief. "I will be right behind…"
Issei felt his heart skip a beat as he snapped his head back just before he could dash toward Elva. His gaze locked onto Sieghart, who stood frozen in his place and stared at him with a shocked expression. Blood then poured from his mouth as a long, familiar white blade erupted from his chest, causing Sieghart to finally let out a cry of pain before Baruka fully materialized behind him, smirking maniacally as he twisted his dagger.
"You haven't forgotten me yet, have you?" The ice elf asked, laughing alongside his elf queen, who had put on the act the entire time to distract them.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Issei screamed, the raw emotion tearing through him like wildfire. His flames surged out of control as he threw himself forward faster than he had ever moved and threw a punch at Baruka with all his might. The ice elf swiftly raised his other blade to block the strike, but the force behind it was still enough to send him hurtling back through the air before he could stop himself, smirking as he readied his daggers at his sides.
Before Sieghart could hit the frozen ground, Issei was there, catching him in his arms. The hero's once-vibrant, full of life eyes were now dim, and his breathing was shallow, each gasp rattling in his chest. Blood soaked through his armor, staining Issei's hands as he lowered himself down.
"Sieghart!" Issei cried, his voice cracking. "No, no, no! Not like this! You're going to be okay—I'll heal you! Gladio! GLADIO!"
Issei shouted desperately to his shadow commander, who was at his side in an instance. Forcefully, he yanked his sword from the shadow's hand and tried to get Sieghart to hold onto it…
… but he could see it. Even with the healing power of the blade, Sieghart's health continued to drop. The light in his eyes flickered as he coughed, blood staining his lips.
"Hah… I guess… it's too late… for me..." Sieghart spoke, his voice coming in labored breaths.
"No! Don't say that!" Issei shook his head violently as tears streamed down his cheek. "You're going to make it, Sieghart! You have to! We are supposed to go home together."
"S-Sorry… little… brother…" Sieghart managed a weak chuckle, though it turned into a cough as more blood spurted from his mouth. Issei desperately searched for an item that could help heal him in his inventory, before doing the same thing to his shop, but deep down, he knew that nothing could help him.
"Hey… Isse…" Sieghart called weakly, making Issei turn his gaze to him "Please… promise me… that you will… finish this. Promise me… that you… will bring everyone… home… safe."
"I… I promise."
A faint smile tugged at his lips as his body began to relax. Summoning the last of his strength, Sieghart raised his hand, tapping Issei's chest lightly with the side of his knuckle. "Good… just know that it's been fun… hanging out… and fighting alongside… you… brother."
His voice trailed off, his eyes dimming as the light of life left him as his hand fell at his side.
Issei just kneeled them and stared at him in stunned silence, clutching Sieghart's lifeless body as a torrent of emotions crashed over him. Sobbing, he lowered his head down and rested his forehead against Sieghart's chest, his tears dripping onto his bloodstained shirt as he balled his hands into fists.
"Kill the brat!"
Elva snarled, making the troop of ice elves that had rushed her side at Issei, who snapped his head up with his eyes blazing with fury. In a blink of an eye, the elves were sent flying, their bodies being torn to shreds under the devastating force of Issei's attack.
[These bastards…]
"I will kill you..."
Issei growled as he stood there with fists clenched tightly at his sides and his entire body trembling with fury and grief. His gaze locked onto Elva and Baruka as pieces of crimson armor started appearing around him and strapped themselves to his body with sharp metallic clicks, encasing his entire body in a full set of armor. His eyes, with tears streaming down his cheeks, were the last to be covered, shining brilliantly for a moment before the very air around him erupted.
A massive shockwave burst forth, crackling with raw energy and scattering debris in every direction. Flames surged outward in a swirling inferno, melting the frost-covered ground and disintegrating the creeping ice spikes that had spread from the attacks done by Elva as it took the shape of a dragon spreading its wings before shifting its color fully to dark and purple. The sheer force of the dark, menacing aura caused the entire landscape to shake, forcing even the two elves to falter, their confidence flickering for the first time as they gazed at the being standing before them with a hint of fear in their eyes.
And for a split second, Baruka saw the silhouette of a certain black haired warrior in the blazing aura radiating from Issei..
[!] Your pact with Y Ddraig Goch has leveled up.
All associated abilities have leveled up.
Boosted Gear's Balance Breaker has evolved. Crimson Scale Mail unlocked!
"I WILL KILL ALL OF YOU!"
Current Stat:
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Race: Reincarnated Devil
Class: Level 40 Dragonsworn / Level 17 Shadow Monarch
HP: 10285 / 10285
MP [Current Attribute: Draconic/Demonic: 3455 / 3455
Title: Shieldbreaker [Add 10% Armor Penetration]
Strength: 160
Vitality: 159
Intelligence: 154
Dexterity: 164
Perception: 144
Charisma: 134
Unique Class Skills: Fire Imbue (LV2), Shadow Extraction (LV1), Shadow Storage (LV1), Karma (LV1).
Active skills: Doubling (LV2), Transfer (LV2), Penetrate (LV2), Sprint (Max Level), Vital Slash (LV1), Jump (Max Level – Equipment Ability), Observe (LV2), Ruler's Hands (LV1), Phoenix Shift (LV1).
Active spells: Fire balls (LV3 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Firewall (LV3 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Lightning Strike (LV1), Water Blast (LV1), Earth Shield (LV1), ...
Current Pacts: Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) – Pact LV2, Chaos Karma Dragon Tiamat (Fire) – Pact LV1
Current Active Pact [2/4]: Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) – Pact LV2
Current Shadows: 116 / 160
Elite Rank Shadows: Lycaon (Knight), Gladio (Knight), Tora (Knight).
Items: Boosted Gear (LV4), Fur Jacket (LVMAX), 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 Slumber (LV?), Blessed Random Box (x1)…
Potions: Healing Potions x15, Mana Potions x15, Greater Healing Potions x10, Greater Mana Potions x10, Miracle Potions x3...
Gold: 2,740,630 (G)
Ultimate: Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker – Boosted Gear Crimson Scale Mail (LV2 – Pact Affected)
Sigils: Sigil of the Shadow Commander - Igirs, Sigil of the Shadow Ice Bear - Tank.
End of chapter 15