Issei slowly followed Rias out of his room; his mind was spinning from the whirlwind of revelations, devils, dragons, systems, and a naked club president in his bed. He still couldn't believe this was real, as he snuck one last fleeting glance at Rias's swaying hips as they headed down the hallway.
Her uniform clung to her figure perfectly, accentuating every curve in a way that made his dragon hormones surge. Issei struggled to keep his eyes forward, nearly tripping over his own feet as fantasies flashed unbidden. Oppai queen leading the way… harem level up!
Scarlet's voice echoed in his head, amused and knowing. "Eyes up, kid. Save the perving for quests."
Issei stiffened. "I'm trying."
"Sure you are," Scarlet replied dryly. "Dragon blood just makes the struggle harder."
Rias glanced back with a teasing smile, her crimson hair catching the light like fire. "Nervous? Don't worry, I believe your family will understand eventually. For now, let's get you some food. Devils need energy too."
As they entered the kitchen, they were hit by the smells of fresh miso soup and fragrant rice. Miki Hyoudou stood at the stove, stirring the pot. "Issei, you're up later than usual. Sit down at the table, breakfast is almost—" She froze mid-sentence as she turned, her eyes widening at the sight of the crimson-haired beauty standing beside her son.
Miki's spoon clattered to the floor, her face shifting from surprise to suspicion. "I-Issei Hyoudou… who's this? And why is she coming from your room so early?"
Issei gulped, his face turned beet red as he saw the dangerous smile on his mother's face. "M-Mom! It's not what it looks like! This is Rias Gremory from school! She's, uh… helping with a project!"
Miki's gaze narrowed slightly, flickering between them. She knew all too well about her son's pervy reputation after all she'd found his collection of videos and magazines. "A project? In your bedroom? At this hour?" Her voice rose, a mix of maternal protectiveness and shock. "Young lady, I hope my pervert of a son hasn't been inappropriate!"
Rias chuckled gracefully, unfazed. "Not at all, Mrs Hyoudou. I'm the president of the Occult Research Club. Issei joined recently, and we had an… overnight study session." She bowed politely, her charm diffusing the tension like magic, though Issei could swear that he caught Rias giving him a subtle wink.
Miki blinked, still skeptical, then softened a bit, though her eyes darted suspiciously. "Well… as long as it's school-related. Sit down, both of you. I'll get you some breakfast." As she turned back to the stove, Rias muttered under her breath, "Pervert tendencies must run in the family…"
Issei slumped into a chair, mortified but relieved. That was a close call. Mom almost went full interrogation mode. As they ate, Rias leaned in. "We'll explain more later. For now, focus on adjusting."
After eating and dodging more of Miki's questions, Issei and Rias headed to school. The walk was awkward at first. Issei kept stealing glances at Rias, his new hormones making her even more irresistible. "So does being a devil mean I get wings or something?"
Rias nodded. "In time. But first, you'll meet the peerage properly after school. I will send someone to escort you to the clubroom."
At the gates of Kuoh, Issei's friends Matsuda and Motohama ambushed him. "Dude! You vanished after that kendo beatdown. What happened?" Matsuda asked.
Motohama grinned. "What are you walking with, Rias Gremory? Spill it!"
Issei puffed up his chest. "I joined the Occult Research club. Had an… intense initiation." He waggled his eyebrows, implying something pervy. The trio laughed uproariously, Matsuda slapping his back. "You lucky bastard! Details, man, did you get a peek at those legendary oppai?" Issei grinned mysteriously, but inside, he felt a pang that his old life was slipping away, replaced by secrets he couldn't share.
The school day passed in a blur. He was shocked when the self-proclaimed prince of Kuoh appeared in his class to escort him to the Occult Research Clubroom.
As Issei entered behind Kiba, Akeno greeted him with a sultry smile. "Ara ara, our new pawn. Let's see what you're made of." She leaned close, her breath warm, triggering Issei's hormones, his charm stat subtly making her blush as she playfully twirled a strand of her black hair. Ara ara… that's gonna haunt my dreams.
Kiba led him to the couch and flashed him a knightly grin. "Welcome. I hope you're ready to train?"
Koneko stared silently, sniffing the air. Her nose twitched, and her hair stood on end, "You smell… draconic."
As they waited for Rias, Issei heard the sound of the shower being cut off.
.
Rias swayed in, her skin still glistening with water droplets. "Alright, let's test our new club member. Alright, Issei, show us your power. If you do well, I'll reward you."
They made their way to the club's training room. Arcane sigils flared as Rias activated the defensive wards, sealing the space with a dull hum that pressed against Issei's senses.
"Do not misunderstand," Rias said calmly. "This is not a battle. I want to see how you endure."
Koneko moved first.
There was no warning. One moment, she stood still; the next, her fist shattered the air where Issei's head had been. He barely twisted aside, pain exploding along his ribs as the shockwave clipped him and sent him skidding across the floor.
"Too slow," she said flatly.
Issei coughed, forcing himself upright as Kiba stepped in. Unlike Koneko's raw force, Kiba's movements were precise and merciless. Every strike tested his guard, each blow slipping through just enough to hurt. His arms trembled as he blocked, his body already screaming.
"Focus," Ddraig growled. "You are reacting. Anticipate."
"I'm trying," Issei hissed, teeth clenched.
Akeno circled from behind. Her eyes gleamed with amusement. Lightning crackled softly around her fingers. "Ara ara, you really are fragile."
The bolt struck.
Pain tore through Issei's body, dropping him to one knee as smoke curled from his uniform. He gasped, muscles spasming violently.
And then something strange happened.
The pain dulled. Not gone. Just… restrained. A faint warmth spread beneath his skin, like scales brushing the inside of his flesh before vanishing.
Akeno blinked. "Oh? You'll make a fine toy."
Issei staggered to his feet, heart hammering. His vision swam. He was losing. Badly.
System alert chimed in his mind.
[Trial Active: Survive Peerage Evaluation]
Condition: Endure without collapse
Reward: Latent Skill Fragment
Penalty: Mental Inhibition Loss
"No Boost," Ddraig snapped. "Not yet. Endure."
Issei gritted his teeth and stayed standing.
Another strike from Kiba sent him sliding back. Koneko's punch buried him into the padded wall. His legs nearly gave out.
Rias raised her hand.
"That is enough."
The pressure vanished. The room fell silent except for Issei's ragged breathing as he collapsed to one knee, drenched in sweat, vision blurred.
"You didn't win," Rias said, stepping forward.
"You did not even perform well."
She smiled slightly.
"But you endured."
The system chimed softly.
[Latent Skill Fragment Acquired: Dragon Claw (Dormant)]
Status: Unstable. Unusable without further growth.
Issei barely registered it. His hands trembled as faint red patterns flickered beneath his skin, then faded.
Gasps rippled through the room as the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet fully formed around Issei's arm.
Rias's expression shifted instantly. Calm calculation sharpened into something far more serious.
"One of the thirteen Longinus," she said quietly. "So that is your secret."
Ddraig's voice echoed, heavy and resonant.
"You're correct, Gremory heir. This boy bears my power. And yet…"
There was a pause.
"…his presence is wrong."
The air grew tense.
"There is something layered beneath his soul," Ddraig continued. "Ancient. Vast. Watching. I have felt it before only once, long ago."
Rias's eyes narrowed. "Explain."
"No," Ddraig replied flatly. "Not yet. Some truths invite unwanted attention."
Silence followed.
Akeno was the first to smile again, though her eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Ara ara. Secrets upon secrets. How exciting."
Night had fully settled by the time Issei walked home alone.
The streetlights flickered as he passed beneath them.
The system chimed softly.
[Warning: Residual Fallen Angel Presence Detected]
Threat Level: Unknown
Observation: Organized, disciplined, patient
Scarlet's voice was low now. No teasing. No humor. "That's not a stray."
The air shifted.
Issei slowed, every instinct screaming as pressure settled over the street like a suffocating weight.
A figure stepped from the shadows ahead.
Tall. Calm. Immaculate.
A fedora cast a shadow over cold, amused eyes. A trench coat hung perfectly still despite the breeze.
He smiled.
Not wide. Not cruel.
Measured.
Like a man inspecting prey he already owned.
Issei's breath caught.
Somewhere far beyond his awareness, something vast stirred.
And for the first time since his rebirth, Issei understood one thing with absolute clarity.
He was being hunted.