The dreamscape stirred with heat and shadow — a realm between thought and instinct, where time unraveled and raw power simmered just beneath the surface. The sky pulsed with starlight, the cracked earth whispered secrets, and the air shimmered as though reality bowed in reverence.
From the depths came the voice of a legend.
["Hmph… you're different, Issei. Different from the fools who bore my soul before you. Greedy, reckless, short-sighted. But you… You are something more. I feel it. The tides of your soul shift with the makings of a true dragon."]
Issei stood tall within that realm of smoke and flame, his body defined by willpower and unshaped potential. Draconic energy swirled around his limbs, coiling like living fire.
"Glad I'm growing on you, old lizard," he said with a cocky grin, hands behind his head.
["I would not call it fondness… yet. But this power—your power—demands balance. A dragon grows mad in isolation. Find me a mate, Issei. A companion who tempers fire with flame."]
Issei blinked. "You matchmaking through my soul now? What's next—Tinder for dragons?"
["Call it insurance. Even gods envy a dragon's wrath. Without bonds, that power turns inward."]
A soft chime echoed in the air:
[System Notification: New Task Generated — Find a Mate for Ddraig.
Reward: Boosted Gear Enhancement | Dragon Soul Stability | Draconic Techniques Unlocked]
["There. The system agrees with me. You're welcome."]
Light pierced the dream. The world began to crack, dissolving into a golden dawn.
⸻
Hyoudou Residence — Morning
Sunlight spilled through the blinds, soft and warm. Issei stirred beneath tangled silk sheets. Beside him, Rias Gremory lay peacefully, her crimson hair a river of fire across the pillow.
He sat up, skin glowing faintly, magic humming beneath it. His black hair now fell in glossy waves past his waist, and his eyes burned with a molten red-gold glow. His frame was broader, muscles sculpted like myth, his aura coiled and potent.
Rias blinked blearily. "Issei… your hair… it wasn't that long last night…"
Her eyes drifted lower and widened. "And is it just me, or did everything get… bigger?"
Issei smirked. "Still growing, apparently."
The bedroom door creaked open.
Miki Hyoudou stepped in holding a breakfast tray — then froze. Her eyes swept the scene with practiced calm, but her jaw twitched.
"…You go from watching porn to having a foreign beauty in your bed?" she muttered.
"Mom!" Issei yelped, scrambling to cover himself as Rias squeaked and ducked under the covers.
Miki sipped her coffee, eyeing them both. "Just saying. You skipped a few stages of puberty."
Then she blinked again. Her nose twitched.
"…Oh, he smells like ozone and cinnamon… That's not a normal teenage boy scent."
A pulse of power rolled through the room.
Suddenly, four wings—two bat-like and devilish, two crimson-scaled and draconic—burst from Issei's back with a crackle of energy. Magic surged, lighting the room in eerie red and gold.
Only Rias reacted. She gasped, eyes wide in wonder.
"Issei… four wings. Devil and Dragon. I can see your aura… it's magnificent."
Miki, however, saw nothing but her flustered son.
"Ehhh… what's with the silence? Who's the redhead?"
"Um…" Issei coughed. "This is Rias Gremory. She's… my girlfriend."
Rias flushed. "Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Hyoudou."
Miki blinked again. "…Gorou! Your son has a girlfriend in his bed!"
A groggy voice shouted from the kitchen, "Wait, WHAT?!"
⸻
Hyoudou Living Room — Later
Issei, now dressed and somewhat less radiant, stood beside Rias as she politely bowed to Miki and Gorou.
"It's lovely to meet you both," Rias said, her formal tone charming. "Thank you for letting me stay over."
Gorou scratched his head. "So, uh, how long has this been a thing?"
"Not long," Issei muttered. "It's… new. But serious."
Rias smiled, cheeks pink. "Very."
Miki raised an eyebrow. "Right. Well… make sure you use protection."
"Mom!" Issei and Rias both turned crimson.
⸻
After Departure — Hyoudou Household
The door clicked shut as Issei and Rias teleported away in a flash of crimson magic.
Gorou sat back on the couch, rubbing his chin. "…So our son has found his way into the supernatural."
Miki nodded, sighing. "Yeah, dear. And with the basic training I got from Touji back in the day… I can tell. Our son somehow got involved with a female devil. That's all I can confirm for now."
Gorou scratched his head. "So what do we do now? Call Touji or talk to Issei?"
Miki let out a long sigh. "We need to call Azazel. He was supposed to be keeping his godson safe. That perverted old fool better have a damn good explanation."
Gorou nodded slowly. "Yes, dear. We need to find out as much as possible before talking to that son of ours."
Issei wouldn't know the ramifications of this conversation until much later.
⸻
Occult Research Club — Training Grounds
Evening painted the sky in molten gold. Issei and Yuuto Kiba stood at the center of the dueling field. A short distance away, Rias, Akeno, and Koneko watched intently, quiet and composed.
Farther off near the school building, members of Sona's peerage paused in their activities, catching glimpses of the energy surging in the distance.
"I'll hold nothing back," Kiba said, gripping his wooden bokken.
"Good," Issei replied, selecting a plain training sword from the rack. "Neither will I."
They charged.
Kiba's strikes were quicksilver—fluid and precise. Each move spoke of mastery. But Issei's instincts sharpened with every clash, his momentum building like a rising tide.
With a twist and sweep, Issei knocked Kiba's legs out from under him. The tip of his bokken rested on the knight's back.
"Yield."
Kiba chuckled, lowering his weapon. "Impressive. You've grown… fast."
A chime echoed in Issei's mind.
[System Notification: Duel Victory — Opponent: Yuuto Kiba
+150 XP
New Skill: Swordsmanship Affinity (Intermediate)
New Trait: Adaptive Combat Instinct (Passive)]
[Bonus Rewards:
– Blacksmithing Knowledge (Basic)
– Hakuro Swordsmanship Style (Foundational): A swift, flowing sword style focused on redirection, precise footwork, and clean kill-strikes.
— Training Efficiency Increased by 25%]
Issei blinked. "Nice."
Then the sky cracked.
A bolt of black lightning split the air. Dohnaseek descended, spear glowing with infernal light.
"Time to clip your wings, dragon boy."
Issei didn't hesitate. From the shadows behind the rack, three weapons appeared in spectral light, each hovering above a glowing pedestal.
[System Notification: Quest Reward — Choose a Weapon Soulbound to Your Growth]
Option 1: Shusui — Black Blade of the Wano War God
Option 2: Aether Sword — Willmade Weapon of the Asuran Lineage
Option 3: Elemental Soulblade (Zanpakutō) — Adaptive, Soulbound Blade
Issei studied them. The Zanpakutō whispered to him.
"You're mine," he said, reaching for the third blade.
The blade pulsed in response, glowing faintly red.
[System Log: Weapon Acquired — Elemental Soulblade (Zanpakutō)]
Traits: Adaptive Elemental Channeling | Soul Resonance | Blood Memory
Visual Trait: Dragon-Engraved Hilt | Crimson Core Edge
Dohnaseek lunged.
Issei's blade flared — fire and molten fury surged along its edge.
One strike.
Dohnaseek's body erupted in ash and screams.
[System Notification: Stray Eliminated
+350 XP
Loot: Fallen Angel Core
Elemental Soul Synced with Fire Element
New Affinity Gained: Lava
Stat Boosts — Strength +20 | Agility +15 | Magic Power +25]
[Boosted Gear Evolution Path Activated
New Passive: Dragon's Wrath — Power increases against stronger enemies]
Power surged through Issei like magma breaking through stone. Fire and lava danced through his blood, lighting his aura in molten reds and burning golds.
⸻
Dreamscape — The Domain of Ddraig
The infernal dream world shimmered again. Issei stood before the silhouette of the red dragon, his mind clear, his soul awakened.
"…So, what can I do for you, Ddraig?"
["I have been watching you since you were a child. Until now, I didn't think much of you. Especially after you got yourself killed by that pigeon, Raynare."]
Issei flinched. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
["What changed to make you talk to me now?"] he asked. "Were you asleep? Or was I just entertainment?"
Ddraig rumbled with draconic amusement.
["Neither. I needed to be sure. Now… I want you to grow. I want you to defeat Albion—my eternal rival. But we'll get to that later, host."]
A system chime rang out.
[System Task Completed — Form Pact with Ddraig
Rewards: Fire Affinity (Awakened) | Lava Affinity (Unlocked)
Sunlight Fusion Bonus: Fire & Lava Affinities boosted
New Title: Crimson-Blooded Flamebearer]
⸻
Issei's Bedroom — Nightfall
Issei sat at his desk, watching the system update.
[System Panel: Current Status]
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Race: Devil/Dragon Hybrid
Level: 12
Class: Crimson Successor
Titles: Rookie Dragon | One Who Bears the Flame | Ddraig's Vessel
Affinities: Fire (Awakened) | Lava (Unlocked)
Stats:
• Strength: 48 [+20]
• Agility: 39 [+15]
• Endurance: 41
• Magic Power: 60 [+25]
• Charisma: 22
• Luck: 17
• Draconic Will: 35
Skills:
• Boosted Gear [Evolution Path: 2%]
• Dragon's Wrath (Passive)
• Escanor Sunshine (Passive)
• Adaptive Combat Instinct (Passive)
• Draconic Aura (Suppressed)
• Swordsmanship Affinity (Intermediate)
• Blacksmithing Knowledge (Basic)
• Hakuro Swordsmanship Style (Foundational)
• Elemental Channeling (Basic)
Inventory Highlights:
• Elemental Soulblade [Zanpakutō – Unnamed]
• Fallen Angel Core x1
• Devil Energy Crystal (Minor)
• High-Class Devil Energy Ratio
• Sleepwear Set
A crimson teleport circle lit the floor. Rias stepped through.
"Issei," she said softly, "are you alright? After fighting that fallen angel?"
He tilted his head. "Wait—how do you know I fought a fallen?"
"I had my familiar keep tabs on my dear pawn," she replied with a smile. "Didn't want my dragon getting hurt."
He blinked. "Right. That's… that's weirdly sweet."
Her gaze flickered to his aura, visible only to her. "This energy… Issei, your Crimson Sun ability—does it work like the stories of Escanor? From The Seven Deadly Sins?"
He nodded, stretching his hand. Flames danced across his palm.
"My ability fused with my elemental dragon bloodline. I'm constantly absorbing sunlight. It enhances my fire and lava affinities and lets me deal extra damage to creatures of the night."
Rias pondered for a moment before a knowing smile crossed her lips.
"…So it's like Akeno's lightning—deadly to our kind."
She stepped closer and embraced him. "I have two members of my peerage now who can harm devils with their powers. Good. We'll need that strength."
He blinked, heart pounding as he held her.
"…Thanks, Rias."
"Don't thank me yet," she whispered. "I still haven't claimed you properly."
As they cuddled together to bring the night to a close, the fire within Issei's dragon soul continued to burn.