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Chapter Text

In the vast expanse of nothingness and boredom, eons before Time knew how to tell what time it is, preluding the Age of Creations and much further before the Age of Gods and then the Age of Men, Life and Death continued their ageless existence, occasionally engaging in these whimsical conversations. They had been around since before everything was something, before something was nothing, and way before light and darkness even thought about playing hide and seek. Life was the yapper of the two, with a penchant for melodramatic complaints, while Death, well, Death was just lazy. Or, by His own definition 'content with the monotony of their existence'.

"Dear brother, I'm absolutely, devastatingly bored," Life bemoaned in an exaggeratingly dramatic fashion, as if the emptiness of space was the most tedious thing in the universe. "Can't you do something about this existential ennui? I can feel 'bro-con' looming, and I really don't want to go there."

Life figured that by annoying Death, it would keep herself from fading into oblivion out of sheer boredom. It was a risky game, but it beat staring at the void forever.

"You're being stupid again." Death would say to Her, for Life was being stupid. Again.

Life wasn't sure if they were truly siblings, but they certainly shared the same cosmic address – the void. Philosophers in some distant future would call them two sides of the same coin, but these two couldn't care less about such profound thoughts. Life was here for fun, and so far, space has been about as much fun as watching paint dry. Or rather, watching nothing do nothing. Other than the many times She prattled about Her inane wonders about creating 'things'.

One thing they did agree on, though, was that space was incredibly empty and depressingly boring. Imagine a pitch-black room that had no edges. That was space. Boring, boring space.

But one day, a peculiar thought rattled Life's consciousness. "Why haven't you created anything? Anything at all?"

"Why don't you?" Death responded with an apathetic shrug, a masterclass in cosmic laziness.

"Can I?"

"Have you ever tried?"

"Why would I? What're You here for?!"

"I ask myself the same question every moment we are together."

"Aw, how sweet," Life giggled, completely missing the sarcasm.

"That was not a compliment," Death replied dryly. He wondered if this whole creation business was a terrible mistake. But hey, it promised to be entertaining.

Life, ever the curious one, leaned in with wide cosmic eyes. "But how do I create, Brother? Do I just say, 'let there be light!' or somethi—"

And then there was light.

Life was flabbergasted by her newfound power, which wasn't exactly newfound because she'd had it since the dawn of, well, whatever this was. Her obliviousness to her own cosmic abilities was both endearing and irritating.

Death raised his non-existent eyebrow to convey his mild surprise, not by the fact that a new aspect of creation had just been born, but by his Sister's sheer cluelessness. This was going to be a wild ride, and he had a front-row seat.

But so what? This should be an amusing watch.

Once Life discovered her power, things spiraled out of control faster than a rogue comet. Her smile lit up the void like a thousand supernovas, sending splashes of colors dancing across the inky canvas of space. Floating rocks sprang into existence, which promptly collided with each other, birthing even more rocks and, of course, bigger ones. Rocks, rocks, and more rocks. It was a cosmic game of celestial billiards, and Life was racking up the points.

Death had never seen Life so elated, so vibrant that several more supernovas erupted from Her sheer joy, making the void resemble a Jackson Pollock painting. The once-empty expanse was now littered with pebbles, like a cosmic rock garden. And who else would have to clean up this mess other than Death?

As humans evolved and stumbled upon the evidence of the "Big Bang," they'd soon engage in heated debates about the shape of their planet. Some of them insisted it was a flat disc, which, quite frankly, was a profound disappointment to both Life and Death. However, the invention of such silly "conspiracy theories" was still a few billion years away in the future. Thankfully, cosmic beings didn't have to deal with flat Earth debates just yet.

With another cosmic sigh that echoed through the emptiness of the void, Death begrudgingly began organizing the chaotic mess that was Life's impulsive creation spree. He muttered to himself, wondering why he ever agreed to this whole "creation" thing in the first place.

The reason couldn't be any simpler. Death wanted a happy Life.

Unlike His hyperactive Sister, He was content to watch from the sidelines. He had no interest in shaping nothing into something, turning atoms into molecules, molecules into gasses, liquids, stars, planets, and moons – basically, creating the entire universe and its cosmic shenanigans that now occupied the edge of the enormous black sandbox called the Void.

Life took her sweet time, throwing together bits and pieces over a few millennia here and there until she finally managed to piece together a living, habitable planet teeming with vibrant life. Neither She nor Death paid any mind to that pesky thing called time. Time, after all, had no business bossing them around; it was Life's boundless creativity that called the shots. And through all those eons, Death played the role of a silent spectator, content to see the radiant smile on his Sister's face as she wove the very fabric of existence.

Aside from these siblings of course.

Yahweh, She had named her first living creation. A radiant creature blessed with a pair of pure white feathered wings and sporting an impressive long white beard that almost touched his waist. He was a radiant being, adorned with a pair of pure white feathered wings and an impressive long white beard that nearly touched his waist. Little did Yahweh know that his beard would become the gold standard for wizards, a must-have accessory for the wise, or a revelation for those who hadn't yet discovered the joys of razors – or couldn't afford them.

"What's with the beard? Is it necessary to make him look this elderly?"

"Shut up! It's cool! Makes him look wise and benevolent and stuff," Life defended her creative choices.

"I want to poke him."

"What?! No! He'll die!"

"I'm poking him."

"NO!" Life slapped the back of Death's hand, metaphorically speaking, of course, since neither of these Primordial beings had taken physical form yet. She had a mean slap.

At that moment, not even Yahweh, in all his divine wisdom, realized the existence of these two Primordial siblings. Nor did he have any inkling that his life had nearly met a premature end, saved only by Life's intervention to stop Death from bullying her very first sentient creation.

Life dove into her newfound hobby of 'naming' things with gusto. Yahweh was her very first, and then came a deluge of others: Ra, Isis, Osiris, DIO, Zeus, Odin, Seth, Izanagi, and the list went on and on. She was on a naming spree, an unstoppable force of nomenclature. Eventually, like an overwhelmed parent, Life got tired of coming up with names for these self-proclaimed "Gods." So, she bestowed upon them the divine ability to procreate and name things themselves.

Death did not comment on this. He had pretty much expected it to happen sooner or later. What's in a name, after all? Well, for gods, apparently quite a bit.

The so-called "Gods" remained blissfully unaware of the odd cosmic couple, two beings whose influence vastly overshadowed their own. And so, the universe continued to unfold, with Life crafting worlds and beings with the fervor of an overzealous artist, Death watching with detached curiosity, and Yahweh and co. blissfully ignorant of the backstage chaos orchestrated by two primordial troublemakers.

It seemed like everything was going swimmingly. Life and Death had found something to watch and spend Their endless time on after Life's hard work and Death's idle supervision – a small price to pay for cosmic entertainment, or so He would say.

"My job here is done," Death declared.

"But you didn't do anything!"

"Exactly."

At one point, Life decided to give these newly created deities the blessings to create life on their own. Chaos, it turned out, was about to get even more chaotic.

But first it got better.

The first deity to step up to the creative plate was the original old man with the magnificent beard, Yahweh. He went on a creative rampage, spawning angels, fishes, birds, mammals, and even crafting a massive garden complete with rivers, a forbidden Tree of Life, and another forbidden Tree of Knowledge. Oh, and he also decided to try his hand at making the very first creature that would later be known as 'human.'

Meet Carl.

Carl was, well, a failure. He lived a tragically short life, died almost instantly because he had no literal heart, and was promptly forgotten. Yahweh, choosing to exercise his divine right to forget about the whole Carl debacle, never spoke of it again.

Pretending Carl had never existed, Yahweh tried his hand at creating another human. This time, he apparently realized that humans needed bones and a heart to function properly, so he created Adam. This human was far more successful, and, just as Life had done to Yahweh, he made Adam his naming-slave. But in a twist of cosmic irony, Yahweh also decided to give Adam a woman to assist him.

Unlike Life who didn't even give him a wife.

Life's a bitch.

Life couldn't help but interject, "Hey! That's rude!"

"Who are you talking to, Sister? Is it your psychosis?" Death quipped.

"Psycho-what?"

"Never you mind."

Back to Yahweh and his First Humans, things took a turn for the weird as the two of them went on to give birth to two sons, who had no other women around. As more and more offspring were bred and the concept of inbreeding became a disconcertingly common occurrence, to the point Life nearly confused a sandwich to a person born as a result of 7 lineages of inter-familial incest, Life started to develop questions regarding Her created gods, because they were… far more kinkier than she wanted them to be.

"They have problems," Death stated plainly as he observed a Nordic God named Loki giving birth to an eight-legged spider-horse. And that wasn't even the strangest thing happening in the divine realm. "By the Void. Why? Why a horse?"

"It's... It's not weird for them, okay...? Th... They're gods... They do those kinds of things... I think... Quit looking at me like that."

"They're creeping me out. You're also freaked out. We're weirded out, Sister. Are you sure they're not abominations? If not, they certainly are turning into one."

"They're never perfect!" Life exclaimed in her defense, her radiant fingers of pure light fidgeting nervously.

"You're the one who made them imperfect."

Life twiddled her majestic fingers, suddenly embarrassed. "Because... I want to be special... 'kay?"

"You are special. In another term."

"Hey that's just rude!"

Meanwhile, the other gods and goddesses, lacking originality, decided to 'borrow' Yahweh's idea of creating humans, considering that the concepts of 'patent' and 'copyright' were not yet discovered in the cosmos. They went ahead and made their own humans, who, in turn, worshiped them devotedly. These deities placed their human creations on the same planet, in various realms such as Valhalla, the Land of the Dead, the Realm of the Dead, and Australia.

"That's straight out plagiarism, you know."

"Well... Yahweh didn't seem to mind," Life reasoned.

"You made him far too nice."

"It's his personality! He's meant to be nice and kind!"

Death snorted. Why should it matter? "Fine. But those gods of yours are narcissists and you know it."

Life pouted. "Well... can't argue with that. At least not all of them are vain..."

"You can have them make an altar for you if you show yourself. You are their 'Creator' or the sort," Death suggested.

The idea repulsed Life. "Ew, no! Getting praised makes me embarrassed… it's like being caught in cosmic stage fright."

Death would have raised an eyebrow if He had one. "And you call yourself a God?"

"Eeeeee— you always make fun of me!"

"You're my only reliable source of entertainment. What else am I to do? Go stargazing?"

"I dunno, make your own stuff?! Create your own existential crisis?"

"Nothing I make can ever hope to replace you, Sister. Believe me, I tried knitting once, and the universe didn't take to it."

"..." Life couldn't understand how Death could always find the words to make Her stop being mad at Him. "Hehe. You're saying I'm irreplaceable."

"For now."

"Hey what's that supposed to mean."

During a peaceful era when gods were practicing 'niceness' like it was the latest divine fashion trend, everything was absurdly nice. A gentle breeze of harmony wafted through the divine realm, and even the deity of the ducks quacked their approval. However, the winds of change began to billow when the gods started to taste the sweet nectar of supremacy over one another. A competition for dominance, a test of their mettle, and maybe even a celestial bake-off competition soon became all the rage.

Power became their insatiable need. Domination became an unquenchable thirst. Ambition twisted their intentions into something wicked.

The First Conflict emerged as the first step toward a dark end, a nihilistic end for the Age of the Gods, and even the ducks shook their heads in disbelief.

At that very moment, Life muttered to herself, "...Crap..."

But it was at that moment that Death did something rather unexpected – He smiled. For the first time, He felt that elusive 'something' He'd been missing all these eons: pandemonium. A chaotic break from the long-lasting peace. While Life reveled in tranquility, Death found a sprinkle of chaos to be downright cathartic.

As the gods clashed and chaos erupted, blood flowed like cosmic punch at a frat party. Even their siblings and offspring weren't spared from their celestial cage match. Lands were ravaged, realms shattered, and the celestial realm resembled a really rowdy cosmic tavern brawl. Fortunately, the gods had the decency not to drag their puny human creations into the fray, although the ducks might have had a different opinion about the whole affair.

But even as Death relished the bedlam, He knew deep down that his enjoyment was of little consequence. What truly mattered to Him, as it always had and always would, was His Sister.

Nonsensical as She was, Life had a heart softer and more fragile than the fluffiest clouds in the cosmos. Her very first tears had shattered Her heart, and that moment ignited a fire within Death. He realized one thing: He was capable of anger.

And He was furious.

With the force of hurricanes and the fury of a thousand supernovas, Death descended to their plane of existence, crashing their divine brawl like a cosmic wrecking ball. The gods, who had romanticized their spat as the First Conflict, were about to learn a lesson in divine discipline.

Where Life had given them blessings, Death bestowed upon them a curse: an end to their immortality. And thus, the Gods became lowercase gods, and cosmic chaos found its equilibrium once more, or at least until the next divine feud over who got the last celestial slice of pizza.

Death, with his black cloak billowing like a maelstrom and the hood casting an abyssal shadow over His face, introduced the concept of 'death' to the power-hungry and short-sighted gods during their power trip. He taught them how fear could be an iron grip on the heart. His presence was an ominous specter, a dark harbinger of the unknown. With crescent blades gleaming with the promise of finality, He brought an end to their godly existence with each swing. Death showed them the very definition of tranquil fury, sowing unholy terror without the need to utter a single word. It was a masterclass in divine dread.

Death hadn't started the First Conflict, but He sure as the cosmic custodian ended it all by Himself. His first godly kill was followed by a grim parade of nearly godly genocide, a deicide of epic proportions. The cosmic battlefield turned into a graveyard as the gods fell one by one.

Yet, Death cared little about their fate.

Life, however, cared deeply. She always did.

She mourned for the souls lost in that single battle, shedding a tear for every wasted life. Each one was a missed opportunity, a chance to transcend the divine into something greater.

But Life did not point fingers or place blame on Her Brother, who had taken lives mercilessly. She blamed Herself, for causing her Brother to act without mercy.

For all the beauty and wonder She had created, She couldn't bear the weight of the evil Her creations had brought into existence.

Death couldn't understand why. These beings were born from nothing and would return to nothing. From nothing to nothing. Why should they matter to her this much?

Then again, he didn't create anything. He wasn't a creator. 'Nothing' was his masterpiece.

Unlike Life, Death did not sow. He simply reaped.

Most times as genially as possible like a touch of a lifelong lover; so comforting and so right. Sometimes a tornado that struck without warning; quick yet deadly effective. And on the rare occasion, he was like a needle – a little sting, a swift end, no fuss. Ultimately, Death's actions or inactions depended on the gods' personalities. Horrible personalities often met horrible ends, like cosmic justice with a dark sense of humor.

It took Life centuries to let go of the sorrow that had consumed Her. The depth of Her grief had been boundless, and even Life, in all Her radiant splendor, was not immune to post-traumatic stress disorder. She never was the same since the First Conflict. Turns out, even Primordials have their own emotional baggage.

During those years when Life was lost in mourning, Death made a solemn oath to Himself: for the sake of His sister, there would never be another Conflict. Whenever the gods became too ambitious, their egos inflated like celestial balloons, He'd snuff out their plans, preventing their ambitions from becoming actions. He'd be the sinister reminder to humble a god, as the cosmic equivalent of a 'Stay Humble' bumper sticker on a sports chariot.

Because even in the vast cosmic expanse, some lessons had to be taught the hard way – with a dash of divine irony and a pinch of post-deific trauma.

And what better way to humble these haughty gods than to turn to the most unexpected and seemingly weakest creation of all – humans? Death, always one for cosmic irony, decided to teach the divine beings a lesson in humility by choosing the most unlikely candidate among humanity.

Enter Hyoudou Issei, a young man known for his perverted deeds and an insatiable love for the female form. His notoriety among the gods was less than divine, but that was precisely the point.

Of course, Death had to twist a few celestial arms to make this happen, notably those of Yahweh, who had grand plans for the boy involving something called a Sacred Gear and the soul of a dragon. But Death, with his knack for divine manipulation, made sure His own plans would overshadow the divine competition.

Ddraig, the dragon whose soul was supposed to find a home within the boy, was the first to be benched. His proud personality simply didn't align with the easily distracted human boy Death had chosen. So, the Sacred Gear was unceremoniously moved elsewhere, making room for a dragon 'cursed' with Death's gift. The stage was set for a cosmic comedy, where Death intended to guide this easily-distracted human to become His Enforcer, the Slayer of Gods, their Executioner if needed.

Life was, needless to say, pretty upset with Death when she learned he had meddled with Yahweh's divine blueprints. The cosmic equivalent of the silent treatment followed. However, Death, being the master of diplomacy, knew exactly how to earn Her forgiveness – a few well-timed headpats and a cosmic bouquet of stardust roses, and the siblings were back on speaking terms, proving that even Primordials have their quirks and their methods of making up after a squabble.

Issei died.

Yuuma killed him.

Or Raynare.

Both?

His death had a rather complicated backstory involving his ex-girlfriend. In the grand scheme, the details of your demise aren't that important. What truly matters when you're dead, after all?

His ex-girlfriend tricked and killed him for some bullshit reasons involving something inside him that wasn't in his pants. She claimed he had the potential to destroy the world. Destroy the world? Issei didn't even know what was on the other half of it! Heck, he had flunked his Geology test just days ago. The idea of him being a planetary menace was utterly preposterous.

He never expected that his 'death day' would be the result of a murderous first date. Not by a crazed yandere girlfriend, mind you, but by a Fallen Angel. Who, as it turned out, was exceptionally unhinged.

Of course his 'death day' would be the day he discovered the existence of these nifty supernatural stuff. Spears made purely from light? How badass was that? And sexy girls with wings?! Issei had wished for a good old-fashioned truck isekai scenario for ages, not realizing that he didn't need it after all.

Alas, he wouldn't be around to experience this brave new world.

But he did find solace in one thing – at least he got to see more than just her cleavage. Her scanty fallen angel getup left little to the imagination, providing ample views of her sideboobs, underboobs, and many other sides of her boobs that defied the laws of gravity. To Issei, it was enough to meet the end with remarkably little regret.

.

.

.

Dying felt… empty.

Felt about as exciting as reading a particularly dry instruction manual.

It was like dining on plain white rice – bland, uneventful, and lacking any kind of zing.

His senses were still intact, but there wasn't much to sense. It was as if he had been dropped into a room of utter darkness, and he floated aimlessly within it. His feet weren't touching anything, and there was no sound, smell, or tactile sensation to speak of. He couldn't even see himself, but he could wiggle his limbs around. It was an odd sensation, to say the least. The silence was deafening, and his mind started to conjure up eerie tricks.

Little did he know that his soul had taken residence in the enigmatic Limbo, a realm that existed somewhere between existence and non-existence. It wasn't heaven or hell – too dark for the former and far too quiet for the latter. It was a place that defied easy categorization, a cosmic waiting room. Issei had no clue how much time had passed or how long he would remain here, but the prospect of an eternity in this desolate void was starting to sound utterly terrifying.

It was the cosmic waiting room, and Issei had no idea how long he had been here or how long he would be here, and eternity sounded terrifying.

However…

No paradisiacal visions of scantily clad, well-endowed women greeted him. There were no 72 virgins either. Just a plain, boring expanse of endless blackness that seemed impervious to any light source, including Issei's puzzled expressions.

Issei came to the profound conclusion that death, in all its infinite wisdom, truly sucked.

"You take that back," a voice suddenly thundered, cutting through the oppressive silence.

"Whoa… what?" Issei looked around frantically, or at least he thought he did, but it was hard to tell in this sea of nothingness. He was certain he had heard a man's voice – rough, deep, echoey, and with a bass so profound it could make your heart do the cha-cha. But there was an odd hollowness to it, as if the voice had taken a detour through a particularly lengthy tube.

"How do you do? Issei Hyoudou." Greeted the enigmatic being who emerged from the blackness, as if stepping through a curtain of thick black smoke. This entity was grand and enormous, like a dragon but much bigger than anything Issei had ever seen in movies. "Hey, that rhymed."

And it is a dragon. A huge one in fact. So ridiculously huge.

But what truly floored Issei was the sheer size of the dragon. It was so immense that Issei had the fleeting thought that its arm alone could comfortably house an entire football stadium. The dragon's scales were jagged and skeletal, cloaked in a shade of black that almost matched the inky void surrounding them, yet they had a strange, polished purple sheen that made them stand out against the darkness. Wisps of purplish smoke enveloped its near-skeletal form, and its two eyes glowed with an eerie, dark purple light that pierced through the smoky shroud.

Issei's jaw dropped. Likely in the most literal sense because he couldn't feel his jaw. Dragons were undeniably cool, but encountering one in the middle of an existential crisis wasn't exactly on his bucket list.

"Calm down. People die when they are killed, but you can't die while you're still dead," the dragon reassured, Its massive form looming overhead like an overzealous storm cloud. He sounded far more chill than your average world-ending mythical creature.

"Wh-wh-what? What is this? Am I dreaming? What kind of a dream is this?!" Issei babbled, trying to make sense of his bizarre situation.

"If this is a dream then at least it isn't a nightmare," the Dragon replied with surprising nonchalance, given the circumstances. It was as if discussing dreams and dragons in the same breath was an everyday occurrence for it."I am…"

The Void Dragon paused.

Issei held his breath, waiting for the name drop.

Death paused.

Naming things had never been His strong suit, and He suddenly realized that giving this Devourer a name was a weighty responsibility. He could have asked His Sister for suggestions, but He knew she'd come up with something absurd like "Arnold," "Dio," or "Seifer." Names that would sound more fitting for a misfit in a fantasy role-playing game than a devourer that roamed the Void.

The awkward silence stretched on, and Issei's curiosity grew unbearable. "…You are?" he prompted, eager to end the suspense.

"…Balthazar. Pardon the wait." Death realized naming was difficult. He hadn't realized that naming things could be as challenging as trying to assemble planets without atoms. "I'm a dragon, as you can see. Wayfarer of the Void, a place similar to the one you are right now. Harbinger of the End, Destroyer of Worlds, the Winged Death. And others."

"…And others?" Issei inquired, his skepticism growing alongside his curiosity. It wasn't every day you met a dragon with an impressive resume that included "Destroyer of Worlds."

"I just made those up, but we'll earn other titles I'm sure. Your world loves handing out epithets that roll nicely on the tongue." Balthazar reasoned, "Balthazar the Dreaded, for example, to all who will learn my name through you."

"…Uh… What do you mean? Titles? Dreaded? …Are you part of the baddies?" Issei's skepticism was practically doing gymnastics at this point.

"…" Balthazar let out an exaggerated sigh, as if preparing to spin an epic yarn. He launched into a fanciful tale about Sacred Gears and Longinus, God's Gifts, and his own supposedly unique and never-before-seen-or-heard-of Longinus. Most of it was an elaborate fabrication, a grandiose work of fiction that would make even the most imaginative novelist green with envy.

"So. Simply put, you are Death's Chosen," Balthazar summarized with a dramatic flourish, as if unveiling a shocking plot twist in a fantasy novel.

"W-wait… hold on…" Issei stammered, his mind doing somersaults to keep up. "Death's Chosen?"

Balthazar nodded sagely, playing along with the theatricality of it all. "Aye. It's a long story, but just know that I am Death's creation, just as you are God's creation."

"D-Death as in… God of Death?"

"No. Just Death."

Issei thought for a moment. This was getting crazier by the second. "Death like… the idea?"

"No. Just Death."

That explanation didn't clarify much, but Issei decided to go with the flow. He doubted he had the mental capacity, even in death, to fully process this kind of thing.

"…And I'm His Chosen…?"

"Aye. You were handpicked to carry my soul. You should be grateful to Him; you're His first ever Chosen."

"Whoa-whoa-whoa—Death handpicked me? And to not die?! I thought Death picks people to die?"

"I recommend you don't try to guess the will of the Gods. They never make much sense anyway and will only hurt your head," Balthazar advised, his massive draconic form looming like an otherworldly oracle.

"R-right… I guess I'll just accept it… for now."

"Yes. I can answer questions later."

"But I'm dead—" Issei wasn't a smart boy by the standard definition; his grades were average, but he was a quick learner. Some teachers say that had he tried, he could get straight 80s. "—does this mean I get a second chance in my life?!"

"Yes, and no."

Issei's spirit slumped, and it wasn't just a metaphorical slump; he could feel himself drooping like a deflated balloon.

"You will have your second chance, and no, as it won't be just your life. Your life is mine as well, Hyoudou Issei. Should you die, I too shall perish. So it's within our best interest for you not to die."

Not exactly the pep talk Issei was hoping for, but the prospect of having a dragon as his life coach did offer some consolation.

"Really? Awesome!" Issei nodded approvingly. Having a literal dragon and a giant one guiding his life? He couldn't ask for better. This was like those (mostly) trashy wish-fulfillment isekai manga he read, but better, and he didn't need to get hit by a truck. "…Wait, wait… there's a catch, is there…?"

"Why, of course. Everything has a catch." Balthazar grinned, showcasing a mouthful of white fangs and razor-sharp teeth. Issei involuntarily flinched, wondering if his spectral companion had just auditioned for a cosmic horror movie. "Becoming my vessel is among them. Worry not, I'll guide you through everything when the time comes, and even get you laid."

"You son of a—" Issei held himself back, "-say no more; I'm in."

"…" Balthazar paused for a moment, his immense dragon form radiating a sense of profound contemplation.

"What?"

"I appreciate your simplemindedness. Applaud it, even. If more were like you… I'm not sure, frankly. The world could be a horrible place for women."

"H-hey now… that hurts."

"A small jest. No harm intended."

"Well. That's cool. I would high five you if I could right now— but what will happen to me?"

Balthazar chuckled deeply. He was Death's First Creation, and he had seen it all. But there was something endearing about the sheer curiosity and willingness of the living, even in the face of the unknown.

"You'll have choices."

Two imposing doorways materialized behind him, and as Issei turned to look, they swung open on their own, revealing a blinding light that gradually dimmed.

"Where do they go?" Issei asked cautiously.

"Doors mostly stay in their place."

"..." For a second, Issei thought Balthazar was saying something profound, until he realized the dragon was being sarcastic.

Issei scratched his head, feeling a mixture of excitement and trepidation. "So, what's behind Door Number One?"

Balthazar shrugged, or at least, he tried to in his massive dragon form. "Heaven, hell, a tropical beach, or maybe just a really good barbecue joint. Who knows? Just open it."

So open the two doors he did.

To Issei's left, he could see the park where he had met his untimely end, frozen in time, with his fateful killer still in the frame. On his right, a familiar sight greeted him – his own bedroom. The digital clock on his bedside table read 06:04, just half an hour before his daily alarm would rudely interrupt his slumber.

"Walk through the door on the right, and you'll wake up in the morning. Everything that has happened will be nullified. You'll retain your memories and remember everything up to this point. Choose that, and you'll restart your day."

Issei's mind raced with possibilities. "Wait, you can do that?"

"Not me. Death can."

Issei was genuinely impressed. "Woah, that's pretty cool. Can I do that too? Or can Death do it again in the future?"

"No. This is a one-time offer."

Issei's enthusiasm dimmed slightly. "Oh... But what if I die again? I mean, not to doubt you or anything, but shit happens, you know… I-I mean, uh… bad things happen."

"It's fine. Mutter your curse words, I don't care." Balthazar said, surprising Issei, who had expected a dragon to be more uptight about profanity. "The future is never certain until it becomes the present, but let's not worry about the future too much shall we? It's the present that's important."

"D-damn… alright. That was kinda deep dude…"

"You'll find that wisdom can come from the most unexpected places," Balthazar chuckled. "The door on your left will lead you straight back to the very moment you died; at the precise moment that fallen angel speared you."

"…Won't I just die again then? I have a… a hole in my chest."

Balthazar gazed upon him solemnly, as if rethinking his life choices. "I understand this may sound to be an insurmountable task I am asking you; but try not to be a complete idiot. Why would I send you back to your death."

"…Ouch…" Issei winced at the logic, realizing he might have overthought things.

"You won't die," Balthazar reassured him. "You will feel pain, that's unavoidable, but death won't be on the menu. I'll keep you safe and lend you a hand. How you want to deal with the rest is entirely up to you; consider me your ever-present advisor."

Issei stared at the door leading to the park, where the Fallen Angel with the sinister smile awaited. Amano Yuuma… No, Raynare… His first 'girlfriend,' his first 'love,' even if it was all a sham. His feelings had been genuine, and the pain of betrayal cut deep.

"…I… Um… have a favor… Bal- Balsa- Balto- Baltozaru… er…"

"…It appears my name is quite the tongue-twister for you."

Death pondered briefly. Maybe He should have considered the boy's potential difficulty with non-Japanese names. Bah, it didn't matter. The boy would get the hang of it.

Issei mulled for a bit. "...What about 'Raz'? Is 'Raz' alright? That works for you? Sounds pretty good to me… "

A violet puff of smoke billowed from Balthazar's massive nostrils as he considered the suggestion. "Raz, you say? Very well. Sure. We'll go with that."

"Awesome! You're surprisingly easygoing for a dragon—no offense, of course. I always thought dragons were supposed to be, you know, fiery and angry, like in video games and movies… Even if you're… fucking gigantic man… I mean holy hell."

"You calling me fat?"

Issei squirmed. "Uh… um… that wasn't—"

"Relax, boy. I was kidding," Balthazar chuckled, a deep rumble echoing through the entire Limbo. "And what? You expect dragons to be excessively haughty? Prideful?" He then let loose of purple flames from the sides of his maw, surprising Issei as it split the darkness. "That's the problem for this world's dragons. Not necessarily limited to dragons either. Listen closely, boy, Anything with power struggles with humility—whether it's money, raw strength, intellect, or, in your case, me. You can aim for all the women in the world you want, but do not -and I cannot stress this enough- do not be ignorant. Remain grounded at all times even when you've reached the very top. That's why gravity exists."

"O-okay. I swear I'll try. I don't think I like bragging anyway… unless it's for a joke." Issei paled and nervously gulped, because Balthazar looked quite pissed. An angry dragon, up close, even in the afterlife, was not a calming sight to behold.

Fortunately, Balthazar quickly calmed down. "Don't just 'try', do it."

"Right. Yes. Of course! I'll do my damn best! I don't have many things I can brag about anyway!" Issei admitted, pondering his rather unique 'collections' that he could only boast about to his two friends.

"Good." Balthazar grinned, his teeth gleaming in the void. "So, what's this favor you're seeking?"

"Oh right… you see, I—"

Issei began to explain his request, and as Death listened, He couldn't help but feel that choosing this boy as His vessel was indeed the right call. Life through Issei's eyes promised to be exciting, daring, bold, and full of the unexpected.

And, of course, it was bound to be filled with an ample amount of a woman's bosom.

Break

"Please let me know if I did anything wrong."

Was the boy's humble wish.

For this perverted and healthy young human male, all he wanted was to ensure he didn't mess things up with the woman who would eventually skewer him on their date. Issei entered the door and relived a day in his life as before, eagerly anticipating Balthazar's advice. Had he come on too strong? Not strong enough? Chosen the wrong restaurant? Maybe he simply wasn't good enough for her.

But as the day played out once again, Balthazar remained silent, offering no guidance or reassurance. Issei felt a growing sense of unease as the date progressed, a lingering fear that he might once more fail to meet her expectations.

And it ended precisely the same way, with the same five-worded phrase.

"Will you die for me?"

Issei hadn't made any mistakes, and yet somehow, he still failed. Nothing had changed. It didn't matter how hard he tried, how much effort he put into making their time together special; it was all futile. No matter what he did or said, he couldn't change the tragic outcome that awaited him.

{Do you realize it now, boy?} Balthazar's unmistakable voice echoed within his mind.

'Yeah…' Issei thought somberly as Amano Yuuma transformed into Raynare.

{It was never your fault.} Balthazar continued.

'…I know…'

{I'm sorry it ends this way. There are things you can't change, unfortunately, but your effort is noted.}

'It's alright. I kinda expected this too, I just wanted to make sure, y'know? But fucking hell man, this sucks. This sucks major ass. My chest hurts so much, and it doesn't even have holes in it yet!'

Issei emerged from the experience with a newfound understanding of the cruel and unforgiving nature of the world he had been thrust into. He couldn't control the actions of others, no matter how much he wished he could. All he could do was face the challenges ahead with courage and determination, knowing that not everything would go his way.

No. That single stubborn word of childish refusal echoed deep within him. This would not end that way again. He, Issei Hyoudou, should be the one to determine his own story.

"WAAAAAITT!" Issei screamed at the top of his lungs, stopping Raynare from her mid-monologue and even surprising Balthazar- including Death who was watching.

Raynare, still holding her buzzing lightspear, raised an eyebrow, her expression a mixture of confusion and annoyance. "What? Do you finally want to beg for your life? Not that it'll change my mind."

But Issei had no intention of begging for mercy. Instead, he offered a humble dogeza, a profound Japanese gesture of apology or a deep desire for a favor. And with unwavering determination, he made a request that would forever alter the course of his fate, surprising not only Raynare but also Balthazar and Death themselves.

His following request would forever haunt her.

"LET ME FEEL YOUR TITS!"

Issei yelled with profound determination, his outburst echoing through the tense atmosphere of the otherwise empty park.

"…" Raynare was silent, utterly dumbfounded by Issei's unexpected request.

{…} Balthazar was quiet, his enormous dragon form unable to comprehend the situation.

"…" Even Death Himself was stunned, a rare occurrence for the entity.

"…" Issei, still kneeling in dogeza, refused to look back up until he heard a response, fully aware that another lightspear could pierce his head at any moment.

"…Are… are you an idiot?" Raynare finally managed to sputter out, her voice tinged with bewilderment. "I'm going to kill you, you know?"

"I know, and that's exactly why!" Issei locked eyes with Raynare, his brown irises burning with determination and the fervent dreams of a youthful boy. "Let me feel them! Just the tip! Don't you understand how painful it is to be so close to your body and yet so far? To know that I'll die without ever copping a feel of a woman's body?! Let me experience it once! Just once! Before you try to kill me!"

Raynare was taken aback by Issei's passionate plea, her initial anger and murderous intent momentarily replaced by confusion and surprise.

"Y-you're literally the scum of the earth. I'd still kill you even without any other reason."

Balthazar noticed something Issei failed to notice since he was focused on his begging; Raynare wavered. Her intent to kill him wasn't as strong anymore, and without realizing it, her lightspear was starting to lose its malevolent energy.

{You tell her boy.} Balthazar encouraged Issei, his ethereal voice resonating within the boy's mind. {Show her how passionate you are to your desires.}

'HEEEELLLL YEAH I WILL!'

"YES! I AM SCUM," Issei declared boldly. "So please, before you kill me, bless these hands of mine with thine flesh! Look at them! They're practically spilling over!" He gestured toward Raynare's provocative attire, which left very little to the imagination. "At least let me die knowing I've held the chest of a beautiful lady!"

Raynare hesitated, her expression caught between disbelief and annoyance. "You really think sweet-talking will save you from your life?"

Issei, undeterred and standing firm in the face of his bizarre fate, invoked the power of his determination, rivaling the protagonist of those corny action manga where friendship could stop doomsday devices.

"I MEAN IT!"Issei shouted, channeling his inner motivational speaker. "You're the hottest girl I've ever seen in my whole life! In fact, you're so hot I don't care if you kill me! Just let me feel them once!"

"K-kuh—why you… this is absurd…" Raynare's resolve wavered, her hand trembling as she grappled with the sudden shift in her plans. She was ready to carry out her sinister mission, but here she was, engaged in a strange negotiation with a boy who had the audacity to ask for a... unique farewell.

Once again, Issei groveled. The tips of his brown hair scrubbed the sandy surface of the park's ground, and his forehead was level with it. "Please! Hear out this scummy boy's one wish! What else you got to loose huh?"

And then, the unthinkable happened.

"Tch… F-fine…"

"YEEEAAAAAHHHHHH!" Issei dual-fist-pumped the stagnant air, his elation reaching absurdly high levels. It was a momentous achievement, a victory of unparalleled significance in the annals of his perverted life, right up there with that one time he found an extra slice of pizza in the box when he thought they were all gone. Pure euphoria. Pure catharsis.

{HAHAHA! You did it boy!} Issei's burning fortitude resonated even through Balthazar, the Wayfarer of the Void. The Scion of the Primeval Death had been moved, and he roared a booming laughter.

For once in Death's very long life, a human managed to surprise Him. In a good way. Needless to say, Death was impressed. And with this, He knew for sure Issei wouldn't let Him down and left Balthazar to guide this boy, for Death had other matters to attend to than just observing the boy's journey on becoming His Chosen; such as calming down His frustrated Sister after witnessing such an act of degeneracy.

But now came the most important moment- the moment he had been waiting throughout his life, from the time he built a replica of his ideal pair of tits at the sandpit when he was just 9 years old, from the time he first discovered the existence of porn magazines, from the time his friends showed him the joys of 18+ eroge games; the time to fondle his first pair of real, actual, living, fleshy boobs.

However, Issei was faced with another conflict. Where should he first grab?

"Hmm…" Issei held back his drool as he scrutinized the exquisite pair of mounds held in place by a tantalizingly thin black cloth. Being this close to a pair of breasts without getting a slap to the face was a first for him, and it marked an achievement he'd probably write in his memoirs someday. But right now, Issei was focused.

"The side? The upper-side? Or the underboobs? Hmm… By scientific theory, the underboobs should provide the most heavenly sensation because of gravity and the weight… but the firm sides can't be underestimated either..."

Raynare could feel his eyes practically caressing her, and, even for a fallen angel with a heart as dark as hers, she couldn't help but feel a touch bashful.

"Just get on with it!" she snapped, her patience fraying like an old shoelace.

"NO!" Issei exclaimed with unwavering determination, "This is an important decision in my life that I mustn't take lightly. I have to choose wisely, or I'll regret it forever."

"…O-okay…" Raynare whimpered, visibly taken aback by the absurdity of the situation.

{You even silenced her without my intervention. You surprise me, boy. Well done. I'd have ended her myself. I can hardly wait to see the future you'll shape.}

'Shut up! I'm thinking!'

{BAHAHAHA!}

And then, at last! Divine enlightenment arrived.

As his eyes traveled across her smooth plains, he detected a certain stiffness at a peculiar part of her black cloth.

The nipples.

They had hardened.

Of course! How could he have been so perplexed when the answers were right under his nose? Literally.

With a grin that could only be summoned when you're inches away from your life's most cherished moment, Issei locked onto his target, his hands primed and ready. It was a legendary moment in the making. The titillation of destiny, you might say.

"Hehe—here I go!"

"Fallen Angel Raynare."

"—!" Before his hands could land on their designated plumpy targets, Raynare moved away from him reflexively, and even adopting a defensive stance as her attention was torn away from him. "You…"

"NNNNNOOOOOO! COME BACK!" Issei's hands hung in the air like a pair of defeated balloons. His grand titillation mission had been thwarted, not by the fallen angel but by the sudden appearance of the stunning Rias Gremory.

Issei followed the stern warning voice and saw Rias Gremory, standing tall with her hands poised beneath her buxom chest. But alas, those voluptuous treasures were even further from his grasp than Raynare's.

Regret began to gnaw at him. His hesitation cost him this.

"You have the nerve to try and kill a human within my territory." Rias' eyes narrowed, and a small, challenging smirk played on her lips. "Need I remind you I do not take trespassers lightly?"

Raynare clicked her tongue in a villainous fashion, but her glare remained fixed on the boy before her. "Hmph. Was all of that a ruse of yours? Stalling my time? Distract me while you wait for the devil's help?"

"Huh? Devils? What're you on a bout, I really was—"

Issei was silenced by Raynare's further response; "You win this time… Hyoudou Issei. The next time we meet, you won't be as lucky."

"And who says there will be a next time?" Rias readied a black ball of demonic energy within her palm.

"You and your fancy words." And Raynare proceeded to cast something that exploded like a flashbang, blinding the devil and the human.

When their vision returned, Raynare had disappeared into thin air, leaving Issei in a state of despair. The opportunity to cop a feel of the forbidden fruits had slipped through his fingers like a bar of soap in a prison shower. Fate had played a cruel joke on him, granting him a momentary victory and then snatching it away, leaving him feeling like he'd been slapped by the hand of irony.

She had vanished. And with her, the tits. An opportunity lost. A great loss to all Isseikind. How could fate be so heartless?

Instead, he was left with empty hands and his life. It was so close. So, so close… It was right there. Right there. He could even see them hanging in the air. How could this happen to him? Why? WHYYYY?!

Issei slumped to the ground, the agony of his missed opportunity weighing heavily on his soul. It was a feeling worse than heartbreak; it was the crushing realization that he had come so close to his goal, only to see it vanish right before his eyes.

He wanted to cry, questioning the elusive nature of the female bosom. It was like trying to catch a butterfly with your bare hands—always fluttering just out of reach.

Even Balthazar felt bad. {You uh… You'll get them next time… Pal.}

'They're gone, Raz… They were RIGHT THERE. And now they're gone…'

"Hyoudou Issei, right? Are you okay?"

With a single tear strolling down his cheek, Issei faced his senior, and muttered weakly; "No, Senpai… I'm afraid I am not."

"…!" Rias felt the strings of her heart tugged as she saw the face of the dejected boy; so dreary and tired. It was as if a giant hand had reached into her chest and squeezed her heart. A pang ebbed within her chest, giving birth to a desire to protect., prompting her to come to his aid.

She approached him with a reassuring smile, completely unaware that the tears she was comforting were shed over a pair of breasts rather than a traumatic near-death experience.

"It's alright… Everything will be okay."

Issei started to sob. He had lost a great opportunity in his life, all because of his indecisiveness. Raynare's breasticles. Gone. Thankfully not reduced to atoms, but still. They were gone. Far beyond his reach once again... And she even mistook all of that as an act as if that wasn't bad enough already. Was fate playing with him?

"…You're very upset aren't you? It's okay. I understand it was scary, but it's over now, Hyoudou Issei. You can rest easy now."

{Hm. It appears she has severely misunderstood the situation. Impressive, partner, not only you've coaxed the Fallen Angel, you tricked even the Devil. Do you really need my supervision?}

Issei continued to sob, his emotional turmoil having taken a toll on him. He felt exhausted both physically and mentally, and his vision began to darken around the edges.

"Wh—Hey! Hyoudou! Get a hold of yourself!"

{Ah right, since you didn't get any rest after your death, your body will be quite exhausted. Don't worry lad, I'll make sure nothing happens to you.}

Nothing happened. Exactly. Nothing fucking happened. Issei sobbed louder even as his body slept within Rias' embrace.

Little did the devil know she had just become a part of the misunderstanding of the century. As far as she was concerned, she was comforting a boy traumatized by a harrowing encounter with a Fallen Angel. In reality, Issei was mourning the loss of a once-in-a-lifetime chance to cop a feel. Misunderstandings, it seemed, were the order of the day.

Chapter Text

Life found herself in one of her frequent states of irritation, and she was determined to let her brother know.

"Brother!" Life's ethereal form puckered up like a petulant toddler. This wasn't the first time She had pulled this face, much to Death's eternal annoyance. She had pulled the exact same pouty expression when She found out He had been bullying Yahweh. Granted, that had happened mere minutes ago on Earth, but the passage of time wasn't exactly their strong suit. "EXPLAIN!"

"Dear sister, if only you understood that I did it all for your sake. Well, partially for my own amusement as well, but mostly for you. To a certain extent."

Life wasn't buying it. "How does that make me feel better?! Just look at that boy of yours!" She pointed her translucent hand at a certain young lad reclining on his bed, his cheeks marred by the evidence of recently shed tears. "He's a p-p-pervevt—- pervert!"

"You're getting flustered just by saying a word? And you call yourself a God?"

"I am!" Life retorted, pouting even harder. "Besides, what even defines a God, anyway? Who came up with the term 'God' in the first place?"

"You did."

"…A-ah…" Life's frank admission of her own blunder caused her to turn away, her ethereal form virtually radiating embarrassment.

Death sometimes wondered if His sole purpose in existence was to deliver snide remarks to His occasionally dense sister.

"W-w-well, that's beside the point—how could you suddenly change the subject like that?!"

"I didn't. You're the one who got sidetracked."

"...W-waah…."

Death let out a sigh so deep and profound that it could put mortal sighs to shame, though it didn't have much competition in that department. After all, he was Death, and being green around the edges had its perks.

"Th-then explain why you picked him! O-out of all people in this world, out of all beings, why does it have to be him?!" Life's frustration was palpable, and she couldn't help but question her brother's curious choices.

Death leaned in closer, his ethereal presence creating an uncomfortable chill in the void. "I worry how quickly 'gods' cast their judgment." His glowing blue eyes bore into Her, and even as Her brother, Death could be downright menacing when He wanted to be. "Look at me and tell me your honest opinion; is he a bad person?"

Life avoided His piercing gaze, Her form shimmering like sunlight through leaves. "N-no… Not really… B-but his perversion exceeds even some gods, you know?"

"Nonsense. Gods and their perversions transcend his. You focus only on his one flaw. Didn't you say it yourself that your creations aren't perfect? He's their creation, Sister. Can you expect the creation of the imperfect to be perfect?"

Life felt like She was being backed into a corner, and if there were walls in this void, Her back would be firmly against them. "N-no, but-"

"And aside from that one flaw, isn't he but an ordinary human?" Death's voice remained steady, but His words carried weight. "His mindset might be dedicated to the curves of a woman's body, but how is that any different from one whose life is dedicated to money? Is it something so bad that you must condemn him so?"

Life found Herself grappling with Her own judgments as Her Brother made His points. She was beginning to see that perhaps Her perspective had been somewhat one-sided.

"That's… w-well-"

Death continued His persuasive argument, undeterred by Her stuttering protests. "And more to that, that boy resorted to no violence in dealing with the one who had killed him. Unlike what the gods did, even though he could, not once did he use my gift to him. Isn't that an act worthy of praise?"

"…Y-yes- sure, but-"

"Above all else," Death's presence loomed over Her, casting an eternal shadow on Her ethereal form, "the way you acted should be the answer to your question as to why I chose him. He's a boy who not even the weakest of gods would even consider glancing at once. Almost all will look down upon him, as you yourself have proven. No one takes him seriously and sees him as a mere annoyance. The same exact reason why Yahweh blessed him to carry the soul of the Welsh Dragon."

Life's eyes welled up with tears, Her initial frustration giving way to a deep sense of remorse. "Waaaah— I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!"

Death couldn't help but enjoy the occasional bout of sibling banter. Bullying gods, including His own Sister, brought Him a certain sense of twisted satisfaction. But even He knew when He had gone a bit too far, perhaps crossing the line this time.

As Life sniffled in a way that only a god could, Death extended his shadowy hand to pat her head gently. Life, despite her earlier indignation, had a soft spot for headpats, and Death exploited it shamelessly.

"There, there," Death cooed, attempting to sound comforting. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lash out at you like that."

"Brother, you big meanie!"

Death couldn't help but grin at her accusation. "Yes, I am," he admitted without remorse. "But tell me, Sister, am I wrong in thinking that the gods need someone to keep them in check?"

Life, still sniffling a bit, had to concede that he had a point. However, she couldn't resist adding a final jab, albeit in a more playful tone. "...You're stupid."

"No, I'm Death."

Break

In the same empty void, Issei found himself wandering once more. At least this confirmed that he wasn't just dreaming, and everything that had happened, indeed happened.

"Am I in the void again?" He pondered out loud, attempting to jump, which resulted in nothing but futile, mid-air flailing. Swimming proved equally ineffective. How could he tell if he was moving when there was absolutely nothing of note around?

"Nope, not the void this time. You're experiencing a lucid dream," a voice he recognized all too well chimed in. It was Balthazar, the Wayfarer of the Void. This time, the dragon's entrance was just as dramatic, surging through a swirling curtain of dark smoke. Issei couldn't help but think that Balthazar relished these grand entrances, probably because they made him look cooler. And he was indeed, cool.

"I only bring you here when I feel the need to talk to you face to face."

Issei's eyes lit up with anticipation. "So, if this is a dream, that means..." He paused dramatically, formulating a brilliant hypothesis, "I should be able to dream myself surrounded by a harem of hot girls, right?!"

In the blink of an eye, Issei's dream manifested his heart's deepest desires. With a puff of anime-esque white smoke, a bevy of beautiful women materialized. They were the epitome of allure, boasting curves and assets that most people could only dream of. In Issei's eyes, big tits and big hips were the ultimate manifestation of "hotness."

"Ara~ Issei-kun~?" purred one of the dream girls, a near-perfect replica of Raynare, striking seductive poses that seemed plucked straight from an anime. She oozed irresistible charm.

Issei squeed.

Just as Issei's grin was about to transform into something decidedly more debauched, Balthazar, with a single swipe of his gigantic claws, erased the dream harem in one fell swoop. Issei, naturally, screamed in pure horror.

"GYAAAAAAH-! My hot girls! Why did you do that?! Very uncool!" he wailed, clinging to the remnants of his tantalizing dream. "Not again… so close yet so far!"

Balthazar, however, seemed unfazed by Issei's complaints and instead wore a knowing grin. "Listen, boy. While you can dream up as many scantily-clad ladies of various races as you want in your dreams, I should warn you that it'll desensitize you to them."

"Nani?! What are you talking about? That's impossible!" Issei exclaimed, his face paling at the thought. To him, few things were more terrifying than the idea of becoming immune to perversion, second only to the idea of losing his "Issei Jr."

"Oh, but it is," Balthazar replied sagely. "Let me put it in simpler terms for you: if you play the same game over and over again, day and night, won't you get bored of it eventually?"

Issei slumped to the ground on all fours, the weight of the harsh reality crashing down upon him like a tidal wave. "...Impossible. You mean... I can do it, but I can't even enjoy this... gift?"

The thought left him utterly crestfallen, a perversion of fate that not even Issei could have predicted.

"With great power comes great responsibility," Balthazar sagely advised, his words carrying a weighty wisdom. "But fear not. The waiting is part of the thrill. Imagine the joy you'll feel when you finally grasp your goals—the immense sense of fulfillment that comes from achieving your lifelong ambition, instead of just dreaming about it."

Issei, inspired by the dragon's words, rose to his feet with newfound determination. "You're right... You're absolutely right! With these hands, I will grab them." He clenched his fists for emphasis. "And next time, I'll be decisive."

"Good, good." Balthazar chuckled, his laughter resembling a rumbling volcano—deep, guttural, mildly unsettling, and utterly overwhelming. "That's the spirit, boy. Let your ambition fuel your resolution. But let's cut to the chase; your life won't be the same.

"Great! My life was boring anyway!"

"Perhaps you won't mind it now, but you might start to miss its normalcy," Balthazar cautioned. "I'll spare you the sermon for now, though. As Death's Chosen, you'll inevitably attract attention, some of it unwanted. Gods might even pursue you like a boar, boy."

Issei had the sense to pale at that notion. "Gods…? W-wait… wait-wait-wait. How am I supposed to outrun a god?"

"Hah! You're looking right at the answer. Don't forget that my soul is linked to yours, and I will grant you strength. But right now, your body is about as sturdy as a noodle. Your right arm, however, is a different story, and I will not ask why."

Issei coughed, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Well, I have been working it out... in my own way, you know?"

"I didn't remember asking for the specifics," Balthazar sighed. "Regardless, you will need to exercise if you ever wish to have a taste of Death's Gift. But to better motivate you, let me say this; some goddesses cannot be won by power alone."

That gained his full attention. "Wait, you mean even goddesses can be... convinced?"

Balthazar chuckled deeply, the sound reverberating through the void. "It's not just goddesses, lad. Be it goddesses, mortal women, or even dragons... there are those who are drawn to power. Sometimes, if you defeat them in a battle or outsmart them, bedding them might as well become your just reward."

"I'll train like I've never done before." Issei said with a dead-serious kind of face. People might start to mistake him as a battle-manga MC where in truth he was just trash. Trash he might be, but an honest pile of trash with burning ambition.

Balthazar's laughter echoed through the void like thunder. This vessel is entertaining. "I must say I really appreciate your straightforwardness. I truly do. In this world of backstabbers and liars, your fervor is like a breath of fresh air."

Issei scratched the back of his head, blushing slightly. "...Well damn. I never thought a dragon would be so... supportive of my silly dreams."

"Oh, your dreams are indeed silly, there's no denying that. Many would find you intolerable, but there's goodness in you, boy. Believe in yourself as I do. You might not be a saint, but you're far from the worst this world has to offer."

Issei was momentarily stunned. "Wow, I never thought I'd get a pep talk from a dragon."

Balthazar grinned, his colossal form radiating warmth and reassurance. "Hah! Consider me your trusty motivational dragon, then."

Issei felt relieved. Joy at the knowledge of having someone-or a dragon-as dependable and supportive on his side. With Balthazar's encouragement, he felt like he could conquer mountains, or at least take on a few gods.

"ALRIGHT!" Issei hammered his palm with a fist. "Raz-san, I'll do my damn bestest! I'll be relying on you so please guide this perverted bastard and help me fulfill my dreams!"

Gales of laughter erupted from Balthazar. "Gahahaha! Of course, boy. I'll always be by your side, and don't forget, Death is on your side as well."

"That's a bit unsettling but let's do this!"

Issei jolted awake, his right fist raised high in the air, his heart racing, adrenaline coursing through his veins. His mind raced as he saw the time on his square digital clock.

08:40.

School would start at 08.45.

"Fuck."

{It appears that you are bound to be late.}

Issei scowled at Balthazar's commentary. "Thanks for that insightful observation, Captain Obvious."

Break

Alas, Issei might be Death's Chosen, Soulbearer of Balthazar, the Wayfarer of the Void, but he was late and got penalized accordingly; to stand in the hall through the first lesson. Which, he realized, turned out to be a blessing in disguise since it was a PE session for the seniors. Free sightseeing was always appreciated.

His leering eyes locked onto the dynamic duo of the school: Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima. For the moment, his attention was squarely fixed on Rias, the drop-dead gorgeous redhead bombshell who looked absolutely stunning in her bloomers and white shirt. She was beautiful in a way that could make even a devil blush.

"Wait, wasn't she there yesterday?" he thought aloud, staring at very specific parts of hers that jiggled as she moved. "Actually, what happened after I passed out?"

{I advise you to think instead of talking audibly. You'll come across as weird, and people might think you have brain damage.}

'R-right, yeah.' Issei corrected himself, while still eyeing Rias. For once he wasn't stripping her mentally this time. 'So what happened?'

{She brought you back to your home. Devils utilize magic circles to do the brunt of their work. More to that later.} Balthazar said as he noticed Issei had developed new questions. {Your parents have no memories of it as she had modified it. And if my suspicion is right, only you and the supernaturals remember the time you had with that fallen angel from yesterday. The fallen angel must have wiped anyone's recollection of her time with you.}

'Dang... That explains why I don't have our pictures anymore… dammit. They were cute pictures too… Does this mean I can't brag to my friends either?'

{Nope,} Balthazar said. {But that's not important. The devil has set her eyes on you, boy, and it seems she's aware that you're no longer an ordinary human.}

Issei pondered for a moment, working his brain, connecting the dots. '…Should I be worried? I mean, devils are… devils… They are the baddies most of the time.'

{Don't be so quick to judge.} Balthazar mentally gave Issei a head-slap. {A devil is just like a human; it's a race. Not all humans are unable to do bad as not all devils are unable to do good. Same goes for them. Not to say you shouldn't approach things carefully, however.}

Issei spent some more moments scrutinizing Rias' pair of twins. Devil or not, it didn't matter as long as they have great racks; was his conclusion.

A conclusion Balthazar dismissed blasely. {She will make an attempt to contact you. Or even recruit you to her side. In fact, I'd be surprised if she doesn't.}

Recruit him? Issei's mind had already traveled far and wide beyond his seas of wild illusions. Having Rias as a master, staying close to her side, keeping her protected and getting 'rewarded' by being smothered her bountiful chests sounded like a perfect life.

{Ohoho, I know what you are thinking. Which is why I ask you this, boy; would you rather have her as your master, or as the one who serves you among others?}

Issei's mind stopped.

Being served by Rias?

Doing anything as he bid? As he wishes?

Giving him lap dances while dressed in a belly-dancer's outfit?

'Count me in on that.'

Balthazar had gotten used to it. He was a quick learner like his vessel.

{Gwahahaha! It's important to weigh choices before you make one boy! It is your life to live ultimately, but know that whatever you pick, I will support you.}

'Thanks! Damn, man, you're like the best! Ever!'

{No, boy, thank you.} Balthazar laughed a few more seconds. He really enjoyed this; it was much better than just wandering in the Void for threats that mostly never came. Last moderately exciting act he did was disciplining another dragon for bumping into his arm.

He forgot the dragon's name as Balthazar himself wasn't that great with remembering names. However, Balthazar vividly recalled the crimson color of that petite dragon's scales. Either way, he sent that paltry dragon back to his dimension. No dragons should wander around the Void but him.

Unless they had a death wish and wanted to become a meal for the Eldritch Horrors. Or the Devourer himself.

Regardless, the Void Dragon thanked Death immensely for granting him this opportunity, which Death gladly accepted.

{I'll leave the choices to you.} Balthazar continued their brief discussion, {There are other Devils in this school as well. Seems to be their main base of operations for this city. None are particularly worrying in terms of their strength and capability, but you won't be able to fend yourself should they gang up on you all at once.}

'Okay. Right. Don't piss off the devils; noted.' Issei nodded, wondering if he could defend himself when the time inevitably came. He never learned any arts or skills related to fighting or self-defense, but he supposed he could always learn. 'You told me there's more? Can you sense them? Will I be able to?'

Say what you will, but the desire to learn of this boy impressed Balthazar. {I can sense them, yes. To explain, it's easier for me to show it to you. Lend me your eyes, boy.}

'Right.' Issei said, 'How do I do that exactly? Do I say 'I lend you my eyes'?'

{I'll take that as a yes.}

In that second, blackness consumed the world. All of the colors were drained and replaced with black and white. It freaked Issei out for a good three seconds until he realized this was what Balthazar meant.

'W-woah… this is kinda creepy.' Issei thought as he looked at his hands; they looked normal and had all the colors unlike everything around him. 'Wicked.'

{Look at Rias Gremory.}

He did just as told.

To his surprise, Rias had red all over her black and white body. Crimson-colored, just like her hair. It was like a red light that was faint, but noticeable still.

'The color Raz,' Issei muttered, mesmerized by the dancing lights, 'what do they mean?'

{Red indicates she's a devil. Demons share the same too albeit with a darker hue, it might get a bit confusing to separate one to the other.} Balthazar explained. {Now find the other one.}

Finding the 'other one' was easy when only her and Rias had colors. …Wait, there were others too. His seniors. Was that Tsubaki?

'Wait… isn't that…. Himejima-senpai? Wait… why is her color kinda… weird?'

Blue and red; two swirling lights that meshed together as the girl moved.

{I see… she's both a devil and a fallen angel. An odd mix, might I add.}

'…Kinda weird that the two hottest girls in the school aren't human… like, what a coincidence.'

{Don't look at me. Probably the will of their god or satan.} Balthazar shrugged.

'But if devils and fallen angels exist… angels should exist too, right? What about angels? What's their color?'

{Neon white.}

'…Figures.'

{You will see them clearer and even see through walls or underground as you grow accustomed. Right now, as you are untrained, this is all I can show you. Not a particularly useful ability when you're surrounded by them, but it's useful to tell apart one another, or to detect an unnatural being through your vision.}

'Dang… This is so cool… Can you… can you make it so that I can see through their clothes?'

{No.}

'Darn.' It was worth a shot. 'How do I turn it off?'

{Think of it.}

Issei did, and the black and white vision returned to his normal, colorful one. 'Whoa… Do I just think about it again to activate it—' it activated. '—holy hell. This is rad as hell.'

Balthazar smirked. New discoveries lead to excitement; one he had been thirsting for so long. But seeing others finding joy as they discover new things was quite wholesome.

{I'll let you play around for a while, so you can get the hang of it. But later on, you should be able to use it even without my help as you raised your, say, the strength of your soul.}

'How do I do that? Do I just train? I've no idea how I can train my eyes though… Do I just look up and down?'

{Training your body, hone your intelligence, sharpen your wisdom and instinct, anything that is beneficial to you will strengthen your soul. They make the core foundations, so to speak. Of course, this will mean you will be more noticeable to others.}

'But, by then I should be able to defend myself properly, right?'

{Of course. If you train correctly. Which I assure you; you will.}

'Alright! I'll count on you on that.'

Break

"You serious? What's he doing with her?"

Was one of the boy's envious words as they could only stare at him with obvious jealousy and slight confusion. The jealousy part overwhelmed the other emotion greatly though.

Issei responded with a true and smug grin, and an apt "Heh." to boot.

Balthazar guessed correctly. After school, the Kuoh Devils made their first contact with him with someone he would never guess to be a devil.

His own classmate; the school's alleged and proven kindest girl whose long pale golden hair even paled to her heart, someone who had never treated the most perverted of boys -namely, Issei and his co-felons- fairly, without prejudice despite their heinous acts of perversion. The only girl in his class that would talk to him normally without being disgusted by the idea that she was talking to a perverse incarnate.

You guessed it. Yumi Kiba.

And just to check if she was a devil as well, Issei had used his 'vision' earlier. Just like Rias, she had a bloody red outline on her body.

'I can see why Rias-senpai and Akeno-senpai are devils…' Rias simply had that strange air around her that he couldn't quite put, like she came from another world. Akeno was simply too enchanting and provocatively arousing. 'But Yumi Kiba…? She won't even hurt a fly!'

{You'd be surprised, boy.}

He tried imagining Yumi in a scene; in which she was laughing sadistically with a whip on her hand. A girl with Yumi's kind face acting like a sadist was… rather unnerving, but Issei sensed he might be into that kind of gap.

'I guess they're just that good at hiding since I got no idea who. …So… what do I do now?'

{Don't outright reject their advances} Balthazar advised, {See what they are offering you first and then we'll make a decision from that point. You're not strong yet, so should you choose to serve them, they can grant you their safeguard for the time being while you amass your strength.}

'B-but what about my lap dances?'

{You dream big or nothing hm?} Balthazar huffed, sniggering warmly. {That may have to wait, but you'll never know. Mayhap she is willing to grant you one once you gain her trust and heart.}

That idea perked him up and tickled his motivation in the right places. 'That… that doesn't sound too bad…'

{Also, boy.}

'Yeah?'

{Don't get distracted by your own illusion or dreams. Make it happen.}

'Hell yeah!'

As he walked side to side with Yumi Kiba, earning himself a questioning and several condescending looks from both the male and female student bodies, he marched with newfound spirit. To them, he said; 'screw you'. From all the way from his classroom to the back entrance of the school, Issei held his chin up and his shit-eating grin as irritating as possible.

That grin vanished once he realized he was going out of the main school building. "Wait, where are we going?"

"Senpai is waiting for you in the old school building, Hyoudou-san." Ah Yumi. Ever so polite. How could you possibly become a devil? What kind of dark, troubled past did you have? "And now that we are clear from the public… how are you holding up?"

"H-hm? What do you mean?"

Yumi looked worried. It made his heart throb like the sucker he was. "Senpai mentioned you fainted yesterday… were you hurt?"

"N-no! Not at all! I'm perfectly fine!" Physically, at least. Having Raynare's twin puppies taken away before they were in his hands was still mentally traumatizing. It pained him just to remember that lost opportutitties..

"Is that so? I'm glad."

Issei's mind felt refreshed as Yumi smiled. How nice.

{The girl has a nice smile.}

'…Yeah…' Issei thought, swooned already. '...Nice racks too.'

{You just had to point them out eh.}

''Course! That's the duty of a man!'

{An idiot who thinks with his junk rather than his brain more like. But you do you, boy.}

Onward to the old school building they entered. It was his first time being inside the old building, which didn't really look that old. Windows weren't cracked, the floor-panes, although wooden, were well maintained and clean Free from specks or dust bunnies. The air itself felt like a cozy, rustic building, not the musty, old, abandoned kind of smell this sort of building would suggest.

'Did they use magic to keep stuff clean?'

{Yep.}

'Thought so.' Having powers was certainly convenient. Imagine how much time he could waste if he didn't have to clean his room.

Yumi led him past the classroom after classrooms, arriving at the rumored Occult Research Club; a club shrouded with mysteries that left the normal students wondering whether or not only hot girls were allowed inside since the members happened to be hot girls, or irresistibly cute.

"Please come in."

As Yumi opened the door, Issei felt like he just entered a different building. Everything was so… westernized. Which was thematic with the building's design, but this was fancier than the normal clubroom in the current school building. The layout of the sofa, the bookshelves, the tables, and even the decorations was a far cry from a modern Japanese highschool. Or a normal clubroom. He wondered how big the budget this club had.

But what took his attention most was the little girl on the couch. On her hands was a white plate with a half-eaten cake. Koneko-chan.

"Have a seat please. The president will meet you soon." Yumi said, gesturing towards the seats.

When their eyes met as he approached her, Issei got a bit nervous. She was small, but cute nonetheless. Supposedly the 'mascot' or some sort of this exclusive club of hot ladies. Koneko was the odd one out in more than two ways.

"Hey there," Issei started. "How's it going…?"

To which she replied with a small nod as she moved her cake slightly to her side as if to hide it from him.

"I'm not gonna ask for your cake, if that's what you're worried about."

That was what Koneko worried about. Thus, the girl continued to eat in peace. A very small trust was gained that day.

As Issei took a seat across from the tiny girl, his head wandered through the room, glancing around and being awed and questioning how on earth everything looked so expensive and what kind of bribe did their parents give.

'Can this room still be considered a school? This whole room looks high-end. Aside from that magic sigil thingy over there... That one's freaky. I'm not in a cult am I.'

{They are devils. Of course they use magic circles,} Balthazar scoffed. {You best not chat with me at the moment. You'll look dumb. First impressions boy, first impressions.}

Issei mentally nodded. "O-oh! Right… I'm Hyoudou Issei, nice to meet you."

"Toujou Koneko." The girl spared a quick bat of her eyes and a small nod before returning to her food.

Not a talkative one. Issei could appreciate that. Sometimes, he wanted to be left alone too with his thoughts of assess and tiddies.

The sound of a clicking door took his attention as Issei turned his head, just at the exact moment Rias Gremory stepped out from what appeared to be a bathroom; steams were rolling out of it- but that wasn't the thing that mattered. Rias being wrapped only in a pink towel was the only thing that mattered.

Naturally, his jaw dropped. His eyes remained bolted on her figure, ensuring every nook, every curve, the cleavage, her skin definition, all the important bits were recorded and stored in his memory for 'other usage'.

"Hm? Ah, you've arrived. Pardon me," Rias coolly said as she stepped towards a wardrobe, unbothered by his leering gaze. "Yumi, can you help me out?"

"Yes Senpai." And Yumi walked to her, taking another towel from the wardrobe and held it up as a makeshift curtain, hiding Rias from his sight.

'Darn.' It was good while it lasted.

{She knows you are ogling her and using it to raise her ability to bargain; crafty. As should be expected.}

'…Hehe… tits.'

Balthazar hit him mentally. {Don't walk too early into their hands' boy. Your decision here would either make or break your dreams.}

'R-right… yes… lap dance.' With that, Issei wiped his drool. Meanwhile, Koneko had decided she didn't like this guy, as shown by her eyes now filled with disgust and slight disappointment.

"So the rumors were true."

"Hm? What rumors?"

"Nothing." And Koneko said nothing else, avoiding his stare purposely.

But that was not the end of the surprises. As soon as the bathroom door swung open, out stepped another devil: Akeno Himejima. She wore a towel draped precariously over her neck, performing a high-wire act that could put any circus performer to shame. It covered just enough to leave Issei in agonizing anticipation. He silently prayed for a sudden gust of wind to come to his rescue.

But that was not the end of the surprises. As soon after, another devil emerged from the steaming bathroom; Akeno Himejima. She wore a towel draped precariously over her neck, dangling over her breasts, covering only mere portions and leaving much to be seen. It covered just enough to leave Issei in agonizing anticipation, and the boy silently prayed for a sudden gust of wind to come to his rescue.

She wore black laced panties that were certainly not on the school uniform checklist. Issei couldn't help but wonder if there was a secret "Lingerie Thursdays" section in the student handbook that he'd somehow overlooked.

"Ara? Hyoudou-kun, you came early," Akeno purred in a voice as smooth as molten chocolate.

He might come early alright.

Naturally, Issei dropped his jaw. Again. But this time, he stood up, clapped his hands, bowed three times, and said in earnest; "Thank you very much for the feast. Today, I have been blessed. Amen."

"Oh my, ufufufu~ you're an honest one, aren't you? How cute," Akeno cooed, emitting a vibe that screamed 'Onee-san™.' "Himejima Akeno, pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Yes boobs— I mean ma'am. True to my feeling I am. Hyoudou Issei, very much pleased to meet you."

Akeno tittered quaintly when her towel 'slipped' and fell to the ground, revealing her delightful, perky nipples. "Ara~" she gasped, quickly using her hands to hide her modesty. "Oh dear, please excuse me."

Issei couldn't believe his luck. It was as if the universe had decided to align the stars in his favor today. Although, one thing did bother him. Why wasn't she fully naked—wait, no.

'Weird…normally I'd be gushing nosebleeds and passing out by now.' Then the realization hit him like an overenthusiastic truck-kun preluding all isekai misadventures. 'N-no way… C-could this be?!'

{You guessed correctly. I've erased that cumbersome curse off you.} Balthazar smugly explained.

'Holy shit, can't you ever be more awesome?!'

{Hmph. 'Tis but the beginning.} He had always wanted to try and say that line. {I always wanted to say that line.}

Staring at a lady's bare chest without getting knocked out because of a sudden blood eruption from his nose? That must have been the greatest gift of all. An ability so overpowered that every harem protagonist must be rolling in their graves right now, bawling tears of envy.

"Why are you looking at your fist?" Rias asked, now fully dressed in her school uniform as she had taken a seat next to Koneko. Her tone was genuinely puzzled. "Does something trouble you?"

Issei's gaze snapped back from his clenched fists to Rias. "Huh?" He blinked, momentarily lost in thought. "Oh, no! I was just so... fistpumpingly excited about being invited to this exclusive clubroom."

Koneko chimed in with her characteristic deadpan delivery. "You're just happy you get to see Senpai's chest."

"Goddamn right I am," Issei declared proudly, as if he had just unlocked a prestigious achievement. He didn't care who knew it – he was a devoted pervert and a loyal follower of the God of Tits and Wine. Well, if such a deity existed, that is.

{There is none.}

'Damn. Way to knock the wind out of my sails bro.'

{Better that than allow your delusions to steer you away.}

"Leech," Koneko casually tossed into the mix, her tone dripping with sarcasm. The rest of the group had their own reactions to Issei's unabashed enthusiasm. Yumi offered a sheepish smile, her cheeks lightly flushed in embarrassment – a cute and innocent response. Akeno, on the other hand, was thoroughly amused, giggling as she busied herself preparing drinks. Rias, the responsible leader, appeared slightly troubled but made a concerted effort to understand. After all, Issei was a teenage boy.

Rias launched into the discussion with a straightforward question. "Let me begin our discussion with this: how do you feel, Hyoudou Issei?"

Issei blinked, feeling a bit like he was undergoing a pop quiz on his emotional state. "I feel fine," he replied matter-of-factly. It was the second time today someone had asked him if he was feeling okay, and he couldn't help but wonder if there was something he was supposed to feel. Besides the boner that was currently wilting since Rias had put her clothes back on, he felt pretty normal.

"Should I be worried...? Am I expecting anything? I'm not gonna just drop dead all of a sudden, am I...?" Issei rambled, a hint of paranoia creeping in.

"The world would probably be a better place if you did," Koneko muttered, her words laced with a sharp sting.

"Ouch." Issei winced, her retort hitting a nerve. "Alas, I am but a misunderstood pervert."

Koneko went on for the hook, "There's nothing to be misunderstood about you, Senpai."

"True, true. I am nothing if not a pervert," Issei proclaimed, wearing his perversion like a badge of honor. This only seemed to irk Koneko further, as Issei's self-assured smile implied he thought he was pretty cool.

Rias cleared her throat, steering the conversation back on track. She maintained her composed and dignified demeanor. "To return to our discussion, it's a relief to know you're unharmed. You might be wondering why Raynare targeted you, correct?"

Issei played along, acting as if he didn't know jack shit, even though Balthazar had already spilled the beans. Rias went on to explain the situation, reiterating what he had already learned from the dragon. She also enlightened him about Kuoh being her territory, along with another high-class devil.

As Akeno served tea, Issei expressed his gratitude and continued his mental conversation with Balthazar. He decided to inquire about the hierarchy of devils, which led to an intriguing revelation.

'What's the deal with this high-class and low-class thing?'

Balthazar's response was as detached as ever. {Does the concept of segregating groups surprise you? It's not so different from human society.}

'…Actually yeah… now that I think about it.'

Meanwhile, Rias interjected his thoughts, "I've known that the Fallen Angels were keeping an eye on you, Hyoudou-kun, although I'm not sure why they would want to get rid of you."

"Me neither," Issei fibbed, hiding his true knowledge of the situation. He had a good idea of why Raynare wanted him gone – his so-called "horrible powers," sacred gears, and other supernatural stuff that had thrust him into this mess.

Balthazar, always keen to provide a fresh perspective, suggested, {Why don't you ask her how they could lose sight of a Fallen Angel with clear intent to harm you within her own territory? Casually, of course.}

'Okay, I'll try.' Issei attempted to follow Balthazar's advice, though his execution left much to be desired. "Uhh... so, not to point fingers or anything, but, uh... she nearly killed me," he stammered awkwardly, his nervous laughter punctuating his words. "I guess I'm just lucky you were around, huh? Ahahaha..."

{…Real smooth, boy.}

'I'm sorry I sucked.'

"Y-yeah… I suppose you were." Rias took a sip of her tea; a subconscious act that confirmed Balthazar's suspicion.

{So they knew. And they did nothing to prevent your first death.} Balthazar concluded.

That hurt a little. But soon shook it off with Balthazar's encouragement. {Don't be disheartened, lad; this is simply how those who hold power treat those without it. For now. We'll prove them wrong.}

'You're right... yeah. No point in being mopey, huh!' Issei resolved, his spirits lifted by his dragon's unwavering support.

"Nevertheless, the reason I called you here is to prevent such an avoidable occurrence from happening again. To put it simply, I'm offering you a term: your servitude in exchange for our protection," Rias proposed.

{A fancy way of saying they want to keep you under their watchful eyes. To study the "powers" that make you so intriguing. Honestly, they'll probably do it whether you agree or not.} Balthazar interjected.

Issei gathered his courage and posed the inevitable question, "And uh… what if I refuse?"

Rias had an unsettling look in her eyes as she answered, "...Then we'll have to erase your memories."

'Well, at least they're not going to kill me,' Issei thought, his relief tainted by Balthazar's ominous addendum, {Yet}

{Yet.}

'H-hey… don't say that…'

"But still, you will remain in grave danger, Hyoudou-kun," Rias persisted, her expression serious. "At least with us, you won't have to face them on your own."

"…And if I say yes?"

"Then we'll protect you and squash those ravens that tried to hurt you." Rias said with full confidence. She had to show her confidence, otherwise, how would she convince him that her group could protect him?

Issei pondered his options, going for Balthazar for his input, "And if I say yes?"

{Since they'll keep their eye on you even if you refuse, this means they'll try to keep you safe. In summary, they actually have no bargaining power over you. I leave the rest of the considerations to you.}

Issei's mind began to churn, but it quickly settled into its usual groove. He decided to look at the situation from his unique perspective, which mainly focused on two things: redeeming his past failure to grasp Raynare's breasts and hopefully avoiding Yumi's newfound talent for murder.

He weighed the pros and cons as if they were melons at a fruit market. If he agreed, the chances of encountering Raynare would shrink considerably. On the flip side, the devil crew might also eliminate her because she posed a threat. Issei shivered at the thought of Yumi being an unwitting accomplice in a supernatural murder plot.

If he agreed, then the chances of him encountering Raynare would be slimmer. Worse, they might even kill her too since she was their enemy. He shuddered at the thought of Yumi killing someone, but he realized he was in much deeper shit where 'killing' might have become a normalcy to them.

However, despite the tempting offer, Issei remained a man with a mission. He needed to clear up the misunderstanding with Raynare, and yes, perhaps finally grasp those elusive angelic assets. His decision was clear.

"I'm sorry, but I must refuse," Issei declared, his willpower radiating determination. "Thank you for the offer, but I want to face this on my own. I'm willing to bet my life on it, and if I die, then at least I have tried my damndest."

Rias' composed demeanor showed signs of strain, not expecting him to decline. She leaned forward, her voice carrying a touch of desperation. "Think this through, Hyoudou-kun. This is your life you're putting on the line. Without power or skills, there's no telling if you'll survive another encounter with them."

Issei met Rias' gaze with a blazing resolve. "I'll take my chances then. I don't have a great life anyway, but I dream big, and I aim higher! Thank you for your concerns! It was nice to meet you all, and Himejima-senpai, I don't know much about tea, but your tea tastes great!"

"Ara, thank you. Goodbye, Hyoudou-kun~ be safe," Akeno replied with a sweet smile.

Rias let out a sigh, her shoulders sagging slightly. "Very well, Hyoudou-kun. It's your choice, and I respect that. But please, promise me that you'll contact us if you ever find yourself in danger."

Issei nodded, his determination unwavering. "I promise."

As the tension in the room eased, Koneko couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "What an idiot."

"Hey, I heard that!"

Koneko simply shrugged, her expression unimpressed. "I didn't exactly whisper."

As Issei left, his departure left an impression on the room. Even Koneko, who had initially dismissed him, had to admit that he was a little bit cool, albeit a bit foolish.

If only they knew the true motivation behind his determination was, once again, a pair of breasts.

"I… I don't get it." Rias, still perplexed by Issei's decision, sank onto the couch. She massaged her forehead in sheer confusion. "Why would he throw away such a good opportunity like this? Does anyone have any idea?"

The group exchanged puzzled glances. Nobody had a clue.

"…Maybe… maybe he knows more than he lets on?" Koneko suggested, voicing her suspicion.

Her remark had the group considering the possibility that the boy might be hiding something, perhaps orchestrating an elaborate ruse, but they just couldn't wrap their heads around that idea because he was merely a simple pervert in their eyes.

"That's unlikely… but… he might have potential. I can't think of any other reasons why they would hunt him," Rias mused, her fingers tapping rhythmically against her chin.

"What's our next move then, Prez?" Asked Yumi, her curiosity piqued.

"This is a high-risk gamble I'm taking… but I want you all to take turns watching over him. No doubt those cowardly Crows will attempt another attack. Yumi, you'll be the first to keep watch. Koneko, you're next. After that, it'll be Akeno and then me."

The servants nodded in agreement, ready to carry out their orders.

As her servants made their preparations, Rias walked to the window to have another look at him, the boy who had made her heart skip a beat twice. Once during their first meeting, and once again during his pinpoint questioning. There was something about him that intrigued her, something beyond his apparent perversions, and she couldn't help but feel that there was more to him than met the eye.

Break

As Issei walked back home under the reddening sky, his thoughts wandered once again to the all-important topic of Raynare's breasts. It seemed that the quest for those evasive orbs was never far from his mind.

Strolling through the dimly-lit streets of Kuoh, Issei found himself deep in thought about how to orchestrate a fateful encounter with Raynare once more. Left to his own thoughts and Balthazar's scarce comments, Issei pondered how to actually encounter her again.

They knew, though, that they were being followed. It was hard to describe it in his own words, but Issei could 'feel' her presence.

{Maybe because you've encountered her once that you are tuned to her presence, lad.}

'You think so? You don't know for sure?'

{How could I be sure? You're my first host. It's my inaugural voyage into the realm of human souls.}

Issei nodded, accepting the explanation. It made sense, after all. He didn't want to act too suspicious by constantly glancing over his shoulder, signaling to their pursuer that he was aware of their presence.

{So? What're your plans?}

'I want Raynare's tits on my face.'

{No, lad, that's your goal.} Balthazar corrected, showing no concern for the lofty nature of Issei's ambition. {A plan involves the steps you take to achieve that goal.}

'I… uh… I dunno.' Issei scratched his head in contemplation. It was the first time Balthazar had a small tinge of doubt. 'Hope for the best and let Death handle the rest?'

{Oh you shouldn't dare to test Him, boy.} Warned the dragon, {He chose you, but He can un-choose you at any time.}

Issei immediately groveled in his mind and pleaded for forgiveness.

Death didn't really care, but forgave him anyway because he asked.

Then, Issei sighed in frustration.

'But anyway, I really have no idea… Even my phone doesn't have her number anymore.' Thought Issei as he browsed his phone with a disheartened expression, unknowingly attracting Yumi's sympathy. She mistook his demeanor for that of a heartbroken boy.

'…I'm drawing blanks here. I'll just go home actually… who knows, maybe she'll ambush me or something.'

And just as he finished that idle thought, he was indeed; ambushed.

And just as he finished that idle thought, Issei was indeed ambushed. A ray of blue light beamed down from the sky, at least according to Yumi's perspective. However, Issei had a front-row seat to the transformation of a living dragon into a human during its breakneck descent. Balthazar had given him ample warning about what was about to happen.

{Hm? A shapeshifting Dragon? Hadn't heard of one for a while. It's unnerving how quickly you attract others, boy. She might be onto you.}

'Holy mother of tits.' Issei thought.

"Holy mother of tits." Issei said.

And the dragon was, for a fact, a she. And she was, for a fact, standing in her full glory, unashamedly naked. Her long, straight hair flowed down to the back of her thighs, and her eyes and hair were as blue as a clear morning sky. Some strands of hair strategically covered just above where her nipples should be, teasingly hiding them from plain sight. Even a ray of sunlight seemed to conspire, preventing him from getting a full view of her lower parts, as if an act of divine intervention to spare Issei from becoming a complete pervert.

Somehow, for reasons unknown, this only made Issei even more furious.

Her skin was as pale as white ivory, and her figure was nothing short of spectacular. With her arms crossed, her dragon breasts were slightly propped up, showcasing their grandeur. At the center of her cleavage lay a black emblem-like tattoo, but Issei was far too distracted by her ample assets to pay attention to inked skin.

Before Issei could even think of bowing or expressing his gratitude for being graced with such wonders, she broke the silence with words that would forever be etched in his memory, spoken in a tone of utmost confidence and straightforwardness.

"I am Tiamat. I demand your seed."

His brain crashed like a marathon runner hitting a brick wall. He stuttered, "My seed? Like... sunflower seeds? Sesame seeds? ...Pumpkin seeds?"

Tiamat's patience seemed to wane as she replied with a chilling tone, "Quit playing the fool."

He mentally reached out to Balthazar for an explanation. With a certain bluntness only a dragon could possess, Balthazar clarified, {Seems to me she wants to make babies with you.}

'Ah I see… that sort of seed is significantly less crunchy…' Issei thought to him and Balthazar, before freezing in shock and realization that this Dragon just showed up out of nowhere and demanded his baby batter like she was a new neighbor asking for sugar.

'Huh?'

To be continued