This is part one to Chapter 5. Chapter cut into multiple parts for better viewer retention.
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Upon the command of his sword, the pillar of holy flame dwindled to nothing. What was once a permanent magical fire that could not be put out with the greatest of spells had surged and flashed until it was completely gone.
The smoldering sword thrummed with power waiting to be released as it rested delicately on Issei's shoulder. Once the gleaming lights faded away, the boy looked out at the destruction he caused and nearly fell over.
"Holy-! I really did that?!" Issei exclaimed. He knew from the inherent knowledge of the sword that wielding it blessed him with unmatched power. Witnessing such power firsthand and causing it shook the perv out of his godly-trance and brought him back to reality. Taking a cautious step forward, the tip of his foot scarcely touched the scorching earth chasm below that stretched out into the distance. "F-fuck nuggets..."
Steam flowed endlessly upwards from the heat radiating from the wide crater spanning over a dozen feet deep. With the amount of damage, it was more accurate to call it a ravine. The expansive forest in front of the church had been carved out and turned into hot ash - if it could even be called as such. The unkept street and grass had been eviscerated like it weren't ever there. The destruction carried on for miles; through the hills downward and nearly reaching Kuoh Town itself, only missing by a couple hundred meters.
Standing so close to heat this hot should have melted not only his clothes, but his very body. Not even his higher stats could protect him from the temperature. Despite this, his body temperature remained unaffected, as well as his body and clothes unharmed. It was the special effect of The Flaming Sword that only harmed desired targets. Recoil damage or aftermath of his attacks wouldn't hurt anyone as long as he willed it.
That's why he wasn't afraid of accidently killing Asia with his strike, nor was he scared of her getting hurt among the wreckage. It's also why she wasn't affected by the passive effect of the sword that would instantly melt someone her level. Issei deemed her as good and not evil. Therefore, she was perfectly fine while Diodora's skin had sloughed and clumped into viscous wax.
Picking up a blue outline of a figure through the thick veil of steam deeply within the chasm, Issei slid down the blackened rubble carefully. He used his luminescent sword like a torch lighting his path, waving the burning fog away.
"Asia?!" He called out as he reached the bottom and began making his way towards her. The girl seemed to be in shock of what transpired, coughing through the intense fog. It didn't effect her breathing; her reaction was instinctual.
"I-issei-san?" The girl called out hesitantly. Unlike himself, she was unable to see through the thick steam.
"Stay right there. I'm coming to get you," He told her as he moved closer. His highlighted vision showed that she was sitting on her backside. She had tried getting up, but stopped after he called out.
As she waited, the girl could see flashes of pure light flickering through the steam. It was both incredible and terrifying, filling her heart full of emotion. The light appeared to accumulate into one solid mass as it grew closer to her. She watched in wonder as the figure finally came into view, a shining holy sword radiating warmth in his hand.
"You okay?" Issei asked softly, holding his open right hand out for her. Lost in a trance, the nun's eyes were glued to the angelic weapon by his side. She had never laid eyes on something so enrapturing.
"It's beautiful..." She whispered before her eyes widened. A resounding gasp left her lips as she realized what she lay witness to. "Is this... could it be The Flaming Sword of Eden?" She inquired, a reverent look glossing over her green orbs as she stared up at him. Any doubt she may have had about him having a connection with devils seemed to vanish without a trace. "Issei-san... are you a saint?"
"Saint? Err... no, I don't think so," He answered dubiously. He was granted knowledge of the sword's power, but not anything specific on the religious side of things. Though he knew it was a holy sword from a certain religion, he wasn't sure of its exact origin. It wasn't even called The Flaming Sword of Eden, just The Flaming Sword. He gave her another kind smile. "I'm just a guy with a sword, that's all."
That didn't seem like the right thing to say. Asia frowned after he did, confused by his confession. "But that can't be right... you must be a man of God..." Her eyes met his again, searching with innocent fervor. "Aren't you, Issei-san?"
"Uh... not really?" He laughed nervously.
Another sharp gasp left her as her hands cupped over her mouth in shock. She looked at him incredulously. "I-it can't be... a man as divine as you must be one with God!" She declared, folding her hands together in belief. Her devotion led her to believe no other possibility. Huddling closer with righteous passion, she clasped his free hand into hers and held it up to her bosom. "You're a man chosen by God, Issei-san! I'm sure of it!"
'I'm not so sure of it...' Issei thought awkwardly, forcing out another laugh. Maybe he was chosen by God or some otherworldly being to become The Gamer, but whatever it was hadn't announced itself. Other than his childhood, he'd never been around many religious things and he'd never considered himself a believer. He always thought that stuff was weird. His own ideologies were much more secular than his parents.
Disregarding religious beliefs, what caught his interest more was the fact his hand was right next to her tits. Just another inch and the back of his hand would be rubbing some cleave!
'Maybe I can work with this?' He thought, barely managing to keep his perversion leaking out onto his grin. Remaining cool, Issei tenderly removed his hand from her grasp and instead smoothly wrapped his arm around her waist. Asia gasped once again as she was pulled closer to the man, her abdomen pushing against his.
"I'm no saint... that title just isn't good enough for me," Wearing his best 'hero' face, Issei stares down at her confidently. "And maybe you're right. I had a feeling I had to come rescue you... maybe that feeling came from God?"
Asia melted into his chest, her palms resting on his pectorals. She fell for his charade completely, her eyes glistening with pure hope and adulation.
...Yeah, he couldn't keep this up. It felt good to have Asia pressed into him so close, but watching her naively put her full faith in him after deceiving her made him feel like complete shit.
Shaking his head, he pulled it back slightly. "Don't worry about that for now. We need to get out of here." The heavy amounts of steam around them was slowly beginning to disperse. With his vision altered by the system and his sword, it was getting easier to see. "Hold on tight."
Scooping Asia up into his arm, Issei cradled her close as she yelped in surprise. Her arms immediately latched onto his neck for support and he had to fight off a blissful groan. Measuring the distance between himself and the sides of the small canyon, he began sprinting his way up. The curve was a bit unnatural and he nearly felt himself slip, but he held out the entire way up, jumping out and landing safely on the burnt grass.
It would have been really embarrassing to fall down and drop her after all that. He let out a thankful sigh.
Setting her down gently, he brushed the habit that had fallen over her face back. "Here let me help you."
A small blush was revealed on Asia's face as she began smoothing out the rest of her habit. "T-thank you."
He gave her some space, looking back at the deep ravine he made with a frown. "That guy was crazy. Do you know who he was?" He asked.
"Nuh-uh, I didn't recognize him at all," She shook her head, a small glimmer of fear returning. That ordeal had effected her psyche a lot. She likely hadn't been in such a deadly situation before.
It didn't seem like she was lying, but her response didn't add up. Diodora seemed to recognize her and that's why he interfered. The devil was so serious about taking her that Issei had to kill him to back down.
Kill. It was his first kill.
It was... odd. Before he'd pulled The Flaming Sword from the Gacha System, he'd dreaded doing such a thing. But after wielding it and smiting a person... it didn't bother him as much. The sword had given him comfort. One of its special powers was to judge good and evil, meaning his action couldn't be seen as wrong.
Objectively, Issei had made the right decision. Whoever he chose to slay, that would be the correct decision.
Putting it like that felt morbid and scary, but the sword's aura soothed any worry he had. It truly was like wielding the power of Gods.
"We're safe now. I don't think anyone else is coming for you," Issei said assured, giving the burning blade another glance. If anyone else did want a fight, he'd be more than ready. "I'll take you back to my house."
"O-okay..." Another blush creeped up her pale face. She smiled kindly and bowed her head. "Thank you very much for saving me, Issei-san."
Quest Complete!
Rewards Received:
5,000 Experience Points
Cupid's Arrow
1x Rare Gacha Token
Bonus!
1x Epic Gacha Token
Level Up!
Level 15 - Level 18
The quest was already completed? But didn't he have to take her home and make sure everything was alright first?
He didn't have much time to mull it over before a group of people ran out from the other half of the woods behind the church. "Rias-senpai?!"
The red-headed devil practically sprinted over towards him. Behind her was the rest of the Occult Research Club he'd come to know. Asia timidly hid behind him as Rias looked frantic. Her eyes bounced between his own brown orbs and the holy sword in his hands. "What happened here?!"
A weak grin fell on his face. So that's why the quest was complete. They were no longer in anymore danger.
...But he did have a lot of explaining to do.