The warehouse district of Kuoh lay silent under the moon. Rows of rusted metal buildings loomed like forgotten giants.
Issei's nose wrinkled as the scent hit him sharp, metallic, wrong. His dragon blood stirred uneasily, scales prickling under his skin even though none had formed yet.
"This place gives me the creeps," he muttered.
Rias didn't answer. Her eyes were already scanning the rooftops. Her crimson hair glowed faintly under the moonlight.
Rias led her peerage through the narrow streets. Her crimson hair caught faint glimmers from distant streetlights. Her expression was calm, but her Power of Destruction simmered just beneath the surface, ready to ignite at the slightest provocation.
Issei walked at the rear, still sore from the morning's grind. The wyrm meat's lingering heat in his veins had faded. The black tracksuit clung to his sweat from earlier, and every step reminded him how far he had to go. The air felt heavy, stale, metallic, with a faint undercurrent of rotten fish.
Koneko's nose twitched. "Something smells wrong. Old blood. Decay."
Kiba's hand rested on his sword hilt. "The Stray devil is close."
Akeno smiled sweetly, lightning already crackling softly between her fingers. "Ara ara, a midnight snack? How thoughtful."
Rias raised a hand, silencing them. "Spread out. Check every warehouse. Issei, stay close."
They moved methodically, opening rusted doors one by one. Empty crates. Broken machinery. Dust thick enough to choke on.
Issei's skin prickled as he glanced over his shoulder for the third time. "Hey… does anyone else feel like we're being watched?"
Koneko paused mid-step. Akeno tilted her head, listening. Kiba's eyes narrowed, scanning rooftops.
Before anyone could answer, the shadows in the farthest warehouse shifted.
A low, guttural growl rolled out from the darkness.
Then Viser slithered into the light.
The stray devil was massive, easily eight feet tall, skin stretched tight over bulging muscle, horns curling from a malformed skull. Its eyes glowed sickly yellow, claws dripping black ichor. The air around it shimmered with demonic heat.
Rias stood commandingly, her Power of Destruction gathering like a storm. Crimson-black energy swirled in her palm, the air warping around her.
"Akeno, soften it up. Kiba, flank. Koneko, crush."
Akeno smiled sadistically, lightning arcing from her fingers in holy-infused bolts that seared Viser's hide, making it roar in agony. "Ara ara, such a naughty beast~" Her power was precise and devastating, with a flair that left the stray reeling. Each bolt struck like judgment, carving smoking furrows across its chest.
Kiba dashed in like a shadow, Sword Birth conjuring twin blades that sliced through Viser's defenses with elegant speed. "Too slow," he quipped, his knightly grace making the fight look like a dance, effortless compared to Issei's raw struggles. The swords danced, carving gashes that oozed black blood.
Koneko leaped, her rook strength amplifying as she delivered a punch that cratered the ground, shattering Viser's arm. The beast swung wildly, but she tanked it, her small frame unyielding, pure power that dwarfed Issei's endurance. She followed with a knee to the gut that folded the stray in half.
Rias smiled faintly as Issei stepped forward. "Finish it."
Issei's gauntlet flared. "Ddraig Boost!"
"Boost!"
Dragon Claw manifested as crimson scales formed around his arm. His claws extended like razor flames. The same technique that had torn Dohnaseek's wing. He lunged, the boosted strike connecting with Viser's throat in a brutal arc. Black ichor sprayed. The stray collapsed, dissolving into demonic ash.
As the ash scattered across the concrete, something deep in Issei's chest stirred.
Not triumph.
Recognition.
The peerage stood victorious, their synergy flawless, highlighting how far Issei had to go.
Akeno giggled, covering her mouth. "Our new pawn meshes rather nicely with the rest of us." She smiled to herself, eyes gleaming. Maybe he'll be able to free Rias from her unwanted fate.
Rias nodded, pride flickering in her eyes. "Well done, everyone. Especially you, Issei. That claw strike was cleaner than last time."
Issei panted, grinning despite the ache. "Thanks… I think the wyrm meat helped."
Akeno giggled, stepping closer, her chest brushing his arm "accidentally."
"Ara ara~ That strike was so fierce. I almost felt jealous of the stray." She leaned in, whispering, "Keep growing like that and you might be able to protect all of us… or carry us off somewhere private."
Issei's face went nuclear. "A-Akeno-senpai!"
Rias cleared her throat, though her lips twitched. "That's enough, you two. We're not done."
Issei swallowed hard. Harem king training… is this part of it?
Rias opened a portal back to his room. "Come, Issei. I need my beauty sleep, and you need to eat some more wyrm meat." She took his wrist, pulling him through.
Akeno covered her mouth as she let out a low laugh. "Ara ara, Rias, make sure he grows into a big, strong dragon."
The portal closed behind them.
In the quiet of Issei's room, Rias watched him eat another portion of the wyrm meat, slower this time, savoring the power surging through his veins. Dragon Essence ticked up again: 3% → 4%.
She sat on the edge of the bed, voice soft. "You felt it tonight, didn't you? How wide is the gap still?
Issei swallowed, nodding. "Yeah. Everyone's so… effortless. I'm still flailing."
"You're growing faster than any of us expected," Rias said. "But growth without control is dangerous. We'll train harder tomorrow."
Issei met her eyes. "Rias… thanks. For saving me. For everything."
She smiled gently, genuinely. "You're my pawn, Issei. But you're not just a piece on a board."
He blushed. "Yeah… friend."
Rias looked away first, fingers tracing the edge of the sheet. "You know… I didn't expect to care this much about a pawn so quickly."
Issei blinked. "You mean…?"
"You're reckless. Perverted. Loud." She smiled softly. "But you're also kind. Brave. And you keep getting back up."
She met his eyes again.
"That's rare."
Issei's throat tightened. "Rias… I—"
She pressed a finger to his lips. "Sleep. We'll talk more tomorrow."
But her hand lingered on his cheek a second longer than necessary.
As Rias slipped beneath the covers beside him, she asked about his day.
She teased him, "Oh? Is the big dragon planning to claim territory and carry me off like some storybook maiden?"
He smiled faintly, "I'm trying to be a good dragon."
They talked for a little while longer before they fell to sleep.
The next morning came swiftly. Rias prepared the wyrm meat into a few breakfast sandwiches.
Issei ate in silence, the warmth of the wyrm meat grounding him.
Asia's smile.
Rias' words about fate.
The image of a lair that didn't yet exist.
And somewhere in the distance… knights.
"Issei, what's bothering you?" Rias called his name to bring him out of silence.
He looked up, "Huh… It's nothing, Rias, I was just thinking."
Rias gave him a look, caring skepticism. "I believe you. Remember to meet us in the Occult Research Club after school."
"I will," Issei replied as he made his way to start his Daily Dragon Trials.
He called softly, "Scarlet, is there a way I can help my friends Matsuda and Motohama remain close?"
Scarlet floated closer.
"There are two paths. When you reach the wyrmling stage, you may offer them a drop of your dragon blood. Only those who accept willingly can survive the transformation. It binds them to you… permanently."
She twirled in the air.
"Or… when you establish a true lair, your dragon veins will spread. The land itself will change. Over time, those who dwell within your territory will awaken draconic traits naturally."
"But both require power. And both will draw attention."
"Dragons do not grow quietly. When a lair awakens, the world feels it."
Issei jogged along the sidewalk, breath steady.
"So, Scarlet… if Rias keeps staying over when I establish a lair… will the dragon veins affect her?"
Scarlet drifted beside him, hands behind her back.
"Yes."
He blinked. "That was fast."
"The veins will amplify what already exists. They can't rewrite a being's nature. A devil exposed long enough would grow more resilient. Stronger. More attuned to your aura."
He swallowed. "Attuned how?"
Scarlet's crimson eyes gleamed.
"She would feel your presence more clearly. Your emotions. Your territorial pulse. And you would feel hers."
"…That sounds intense." Issei let out a tired sigh.
"It is. A dragon's territory is not just land. It is an extension of its heart."
She tilted her head slightly.
"But remember this, Host. The veins strengthen existing bonds. They cannot create loyalty. They cannot force love."
He exhaled slowly.
"And if someone resists it?"
"Then the veins reject them."
The Occult Research Clubroom was too quiet.
Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting long amber lines across the polished floor. The air smelled faintly of old books and tea leaves. Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Issei stepped inside and paused.
To see only Rias sat at her desk.
Her posture was elegant as always, crimson hair spilling over her shoulders like liquid silk. But something in her gaze was distant, calculating.
"Where is everyone?" he asked.
"They've already left to fulfill their contracts," she replied smoothly. "Akeno and Kiba are handling a merchant request. Koneko took a simple errand."
She watched him carefully.
"You'll be starting soon."
Issei moved closer to the desk. Papers were stacked neatly in front of her, each marked with a crimson sigil.
"These are Devil Contracts," she said, sliding one forward. "Modern devils no longer conquer through war. We grant wishes."
Her Emerald green eyes met his.
"In exchange for compensation."
He picked up the paper. The words blurred for a moment.
"What kind of compensation?"
Rias leaned back slightly.
"Money. Influence. Lifespan. Information. Sometimes future service. It depends on the wish." Her tone was calm. Controlled. "Humans rarely understand the weight of what they ask for."
He swallowed.
"So completing these helps me… what? Gain reputation?"
"Yes." A faint smile curved her lips. "Every completed contract earns points within the devil society. Enough points, and you rise in rank. Recognition. Authority. Territory."
Territory, that word settled deeper than it should have.
Lair.
Dragon veins.
Knights.
Power attracts opposition.
Rias studied him closely.
"You hesitated."
Issei looked down at the paper again. "It just feels… different than fighting strays."
"It is," she said quietly.
Her fingers tightened slightly against the edge of the desk.
"Strays are lost causes. Contracts are diplomacy. They are how we survive in a world that would rather see us erased."
There was something heavier in her voice now.
Expectation.
Pressure.
Fate.
She slid another paper toward him.
"This was assigned to Koneko. I want you to cover it."
He blinked. "Me?"
"You handled yourself well last night," she said. "But field experience is not only combat. You need to understand what it means to be part of my peerage."
My peerage.
Not devil society.
Not the underworld.
Her world.
He straightened.
"So this is my first official job."
A flicker of that old grin returned. "Guess this is step one toward becoming a famous devil… and future harem king."
Rias gave him a look.
Half amused.
Half something else.
"Try to survive step one first."
He laughed awkwardly and turned toward the door.
Just before he left, she spoke again.
"Issei."
He paused.
"Devil contracts aren't games," she said softly. "You represent my name when you go."
Her gaze sharpened.
"And my name carries consequences."
For a moment, he saw it clearly.
The weight on her shoulders.
The expectations.
The unseen chains.
He nodded more seriously this time.
"I won't mess it up."
As he left, Rias remained seated.
Her smile faded once the door shut.
"He's growing too fast…" she murmured.
A faint pulse of crimson magic flickered at her fingertips before she suppressed it.
"Please don't let the world force you to choose before you're ready."
The room fell silent again.
Issei rode his bike to the address. "I wonder what type of weirdo contract Koneko?"
The smell hit him first.
Blood. Thick. Metallic. Fresh.
The house was too quiet.
Issei stepped inside slowly.
The body was pinned to the wall like a grotesque display. Blood streaked downward in uneven lines. Written beneath in dark red:
I am a sinner who made deals with devils.
The letters were careful.
Deliberate.
Not rushed.
A voice echoed behind him.
"Well, well… another one crawls in."
Issei turned.
Freed Sellen stepped from the shadows,
boots tapping lazily against the wooden floor. His smile was wide. Too wide. His eyes glittered with manic delight.
"You devils really are predictable," Freed said cheerfully. "Like flies to rot."
Issei's jaw tightened. "Did you do this?"
Freed placed a hand over his heart, mock offended. "Of course I did. The man consorted with demons. Sold his soul for petty desires. I simply… expedited judgment."
His golden blade flickered into existence with a hiss of holy light.
"God's work isn't always clean."
The air shifted.
Scarlet's voice was tight inside Issei's mind.
Host. Holy energy detected. High purity.
Freed lifted his pistol casually and fired.
The holy round tore past Issei's shoulder, burning the air. Issei rolled forward and countered, his boosted strike cracking against Freed's guard. Sparks of red and gold exploded between them.
Freed laughed.
"Oh, this is refreshing! A devil that fights back!"
Their clash sent splinters across the room. Holy blade met dragon-forged gauntlet. Each impact rang like a bell tolling judgment.
Then the front door creaked open.
Asia stepped inside.
Her eyes widened.
Freed's smile sharpened.
"Ah. There you are."
His tone changed.
Not anger.
Possession.
"Do you see what your kindness brings, Sister?" He asked lightly. "You wander from the flock, and wolves follow."
Asia trembled but stepped forward. "Please… stop this…"
Freed's blade shifted toward her.
"She maintained the barrier," he said conversationally, glancing at Issei. "Kept this place sealed so your kind couldn't interfere. A good little servant."
Issei felt something crack inside his chest.
"Call me a devil," he said quietly. "But leave her out of this."
Freed's eyes gleamed. "Oh? You care?"
He moved suddenly, grabbing Asia and forcing her back against the wall. The blade hovered near her throat, not cutting, just threatening.
"Watch carefully," Freed whispered to Issei. "This is what happens to those who stand beside monsters."
The world went silent.
Issei's breathing slowed.
Then changed.
His gauntlet pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
The Boosted Gear pulsed against his arm, not wild this time, not reckless.
Focused.
Predatory.
Heat slid through his veins, controlled and deliberate. His fingers flexed. Crimson scales crawled over his forearm with a sharp metallic whisper, locking into place. The Dragon Claw formed fully, curved and lethal.
Ddraig's voice rolled through him like distant thunder. "Kill him."
Scarlet followed, softer. "Choose."
Issei stepped forward.
The floor cracked beneath his foot.
Freed blinked.
For the first time, his smile thinned.
Issei moved too fast.
The dragon claw stopped at Freed's throat.
A hair's breadth away.
The air distorted from the heat. The edge of Freed's holy blade began to blacken, metal hissing where dragon fire licked across consecrated steel.
The skin at his neck flushed red from proximity alone.
Freed's pupils tightened.
He understood.
One inch.
That was the distance between judgment and extinction.
Asia's voice trembled behind the blade.
"Issei… please… don't…"
The heat faltered.
Not gone.
Restrained.
Issei's arm trembled, not from fear, but from effort. Every instinct inside him screamed to finish it. To eliminate the threat. To erase the one who dared touch what he deemed as his.
Freed saw the hesitation.
Then smiled.
"There it is," he breathed. "Mercy. That's why your kind falls."
Before he could move a crimson magic circle erupted across the floor.
Koneko crashed through first, the house exploding inward under her strike. Freed was thrown back, slamming through splintered wood.
Kiba's blades flashed in silver arcs. Akeno's lightning split the ceiling in a crack of white and violet.
Rias stepped through last.
Her eyes burned.
"Retreat," she commanded, voice cold enough to freeze flame.
Freed staggered upright, blood at the corner of his mouth, laughter bubbling despite it.
He looked at Issei.
Not at Rias.
Not at the others.
At him.
"I'll see you again, dragon," he said lightly.
His gaze sharpened.
"And next time… don't hesitate."
A flash of light.
He was gone.
Silence collapsed over the ruined house.
Dust drifted slowly through the air.
Issei's claw dissolved, scales retracting with a faint metallic whisper. The heat in his veins lingered, coiled and unsatisfied.
Asia stepped toward him carefully.
"You stopped," she said softly.
He didn't answer right away.
He had stopped because she asked him to.
Not because he couldn't.
That truth sat heavily in his chest.
Later, when sleep finally pulled him under, the moment replayed again and again.
The distance.
The heat.
The instinct.
Beneath his heartbeat, quiet and patient, something ancient stirred.
Freed walked away alive.
But a dragon doesn't forget the hands that reach for its treasure.
It remembers the scent.