Night had fallen over Kuoh, but the air was electric with something unnatural. The moon hung above like a bloodstained eye, and beneath its gaze, Leon stood alone in an empty clearing just outside the town.
The System had spoken again.
[New Main Quest: Trial of Domination]Objective: Steal and evolve the Longinus-class Sacred Gear: Boosted GearTarget: Issei HyoudouBonus Objective: Achieve Synchronization with the Red Dragon EmperorRewards: Forbidden Gear Slot | Ddraig Integration | ???Penalty for Failure: Quest Lockout (Sacred Gear Theft - Boosted Gear)
Leon's gaze sharpened as the details lit up his vision like fire across glass.
"Finally," he murmured. "Something worth claiming."
The moment the quest activated, he felt it — a faint pulse resonating across Kuoh. It wasn't magical in the traditional sense; it was draconic. Ancient. Dormant, but angry. It was Ddraig, the Red Dragon Emperor of Domination, bound to a fool who couldn't harness even 1% of his true potential.
That wouldn't stand.
The Next Day – Kuoh Academy Grounds
Issei was laughing. Loudly. With his two perverted friends and no sense of the ticking time bomb inside his soul.
Leon watched him from a distance, arms folded, leaning against a sakura tree like a ghost in the wrong timeline. Asia stood nearby, quiet as ever, her eyes flicking between the two boys—one she used to follow, and the other she now trusted with her life.
The System chimed again.
[Quest Stage 1: Initiate Sacred Gear Overlap Protocol]Conditions: Physical Contact with the HostStatus: Ready
He moved.
One instant Leon was under the tree. The next, he was directly in front of Issei, arm extended. His fingers clamped around Issei's wrist.
"Wha—huh?! L-Leon? What's up, dude?" Issei blinked, laughing nervously. "You're... kinda intense right now."
Leon said nothing.
Then, the light appeared. A swirling red glow, forming a gauntlet over Issei's left arm.
[Sacred Gear Detected: Boosted Gear – Confirmed]
"Partner," a voice echoed from the gear. Deep. Tired. Ancient. "Something is wrong—"
Leon's eyes flashed blue.
[Engaging Extraction Mode – Overwriting Host Link…][WARNING: Host Soul Resistance Detected – Forcing Synchronization]
"W-Wait! What the hell is going on?!" Issei shouted. His body convulsed as the red light flickered violently.
And then—silence.
The gauntlet ripped off his arm in a flash of red and blue energy, flying toward Leon like a loyal dog returning to its master. The world held its breath as the Boosted Gear reshaped itself midair—sleeker, sharper, more refined.
It attached itself to Leon's arm, glowing not just red, but tinged with silver and black circuit-like etchings—markings of system interference.
[Boosted Gear: Stolen][Gear Potential: 1,241% — Overdrive Initiated][Reforging into Variant: Apex Emperor Drive]
Issei dropped to his knees, gasping. "You... y-you took it…"
Leon didn't respond. The power was immense, nearly sentient. His veins glowed. His blood boiled with domination.
And then, it spoke again.
"...You. You are not like the others."
The voice was still Ddraig's—but it no longer sounded tired.
"You are the host I've waited for."