Chapter 2 - Awakening of the Hero

Akeno was watching her King, who was sitting in her office, with a calm look on her face. She was staring at the chessboard in front of her while playing with the pieces on it, but instead of black or white, the pieces were crimson red.

It had been almost full fifteen minutes since her King had started to play with those pieces and done nothing else. The way she stared at the pieces was also strange Deciding to express her concern that was gnawing at her, she addressed her King.

"Buchou? You look troubled..." She said.

Rias, who was still staring at her pieces, turned to Akeno with half-opened eyes, her expression still stoic. "I'm okay Akeno... It's just... Kiba and Koneko have not contacted me yet..."

When she heard this, Akeno blinked a few times before a look of understanding appeared on her face. "They haven't?" Akeno asked with a slight surprise.

It had been a few hours since Issei had gone home and taken the leaflet that her familiar had given to him. They were very sure that Fallen Angels would make another move on him since he had just rejected one of them to go on a date, which had amused Rias. She was sure that the Fallen Angels would not be happy and would try to kill him today.

However, Rias knew that something could still go wrong, so she had sent Koneko and Kiba to monitor Issei. They did find him and saw a Fallen Angel created a barrier to isolate Ise with her.

That was 30 minutes ago, and until now there was still no report from Kiba and Koneko. That clearly worried Rias. Did something happen to them? Was the Fallen Angel not a normal one? What was going on?

As if to answer Rias questions, a small magic circle with Gremory symbol suddenly appeared in front of her much to her relief.. From it, a small hologram of the Prince of Kuoh appeared

"Yuuto. What's the situation?" She asked. "Why didn't I receive any response from Hyoudou-san's flyer?"

Kiba had a troubled face at the question, as if he was having a hard time to speak. "Buchou... We've lost Hyoudou-san..." Kiba said and Rias seemed to freeze for a moment "I don't mean lost him like he died and can't be reincarnated, but just lost."

"You've lost him?" Rias repeated what he had said almost like a child who was being told that their favorite movie was canceled. "Explain!"

"Well... It's like you said. We were waiting outside the barrier that Fallen Angel created. However, the barrier was a strange one, for some reason it even hindered Koneko's sensory ability. We tried our best to find a way to detect the inside of the barrier, but nothing worked and we couldn't just move in without a plan. So we were forced to wait and when the barrier was down, we immediately searched for Hyoudou-san, but we have found nothing." Kiba reported with a solemn tone "And I mean it Buchou, there's nothing there. There's no sign of any fight or even magical energy, it's as if the barrier was just caging an empty place."

The King and Queen noted that it was clearly troubling and confusing Kiba at same time. "Perhaps it was decoy? Maybe Hyoudou-san wasn't there in first place?" Rias suggested and Kiba shook his head.

"We followed Hyoudou-san until he entered the barrier that the Fallen Angel created, there's no way we were mistaken. Koneko here even sensed that it was indeed Hyoudou-san..." Kiba said before he held out the leaflet with the Gremory symbol on it, indicating it was one that belonged to them. "This is the leaflet we gave to Hyoudou-san too. This is the only thing we found there and other than that, nothing. Not even a trace of magical power."

Rian scrunched her lips into a thin line after hearing that. What did this mean? What did actually happen? Did the Fallen Angel ambush Issei, capture him, and then threw away the leaflet? But Yuuto said there was no sign of any presence, it was as if nothing had been there in the first place. And it was Koneko who had checked it. Koneko, even if she was not using Senjutsu, was still a Nekoshou. That was a trait of her and even if she didn't wish to use it, her sensory detection was always sharp, it was like a bloodline ability that couldn't be deactivated.

"Buchou, what should we do now?" Kiba asked.

"For now?" Rias took a breath and stared at her Knight with steel-like eyes "Come back here, we will investigate this matter tomorrow. If Hyoudou-san has not come to school tomorrow we will visit the Church." She ordered and Kiba nodded.

"Hai."

Rias let out a breath that she was holding when Kiba disappeared, her shoulders slumped and she leaned back into the sofa.

"Rias? Are you okay?" Akeno asked, a worried expression on her face when she noticed her friend's own troubled one.

"No, Akeno... I'm not..." Rias answered with her closed eyes "There's something I don't like about this. I don't know what, but somehow I have a bad feeling..." She said quietly.

"Rias..." Akeno didn't know what to say actually. She herself was also quite confused at what was happening.

"After they come back, we will be done for today. I have so much to think about and I'm tired..." Rias said with a heavy tone and Akeno nodded.

Earlier

"Hyoudou Issei..." I grunted with a smile. "So what do you need?"

"Oh right! I almost forgot!" She let out her tongue cutely. Then she opened her eyes and grinned at me. "Onii-chan, I need you to die for me!"

Eh?

SQUEEELCH

A crimson pool of blood immediately splattered onto the ground.

The night was quiet... very quiet... It was normal for a night to be quiet in Kuoh City, because it was this city actually was not very large and only had few places that stayed open for 24 hours straight.

The wind was cold like any wind at night, and it flew strong, weak and normal sometimes. Tonight, the wind's touch was normal, gentle and yet so cold as well.

And there was something special for me, too.

Tonight, the wind was sharp and hurt, damnit!

"You dodged it..." Mittelt stated with wide eyes and surprise but the smile was still adorning her face. "You dodged it..." She repeated and the smile turned into a grin.

It had been close... Very close...

I almost got my kidneys and liver skewered out of my body and I wasn't kidding when I said that, I really meant it.

The last few seconds had been very close to a blur for me. It had been when she had asked that last question. After those words left her mouth, either it was my instinct or sixth sense, my body immediately twisted into right direction and avoided a burst of... of... of light that appeared from her hands.

That light should have pierced through both of my kidneys and liver, destroying them instantly, but due to me being able to twist my body, it slashed part of my stomach and back instead of skewering out my internal organs, destroying a large part of my clothes in the process.

After that, I immediately leaped back while taking the sword on the ground to guard myself and God! It hurt! When the cold wind breezes through your bleeding stomach and exposed back it hurt very damn much!

What was happening to me and what I was currently seeing was utterly unbelievable.

One second I just saved this girl from bad guys and the next one, she tried to skewer my organs by summoning a burst of light from both of her palms! A LIGHT! PINK EVEN! Like the beam in the Ironman movie where Tony Stark shot lasers from his palms or something like that!

And not just that, the sweet blonde girl who was smiling at me now had grown two black wings like those of a crow from her back! I repeat! WINGS! As in the WINGS that birds used to fly!

In the name of the God from the Bible or whatever Shinto Deity was listening, just what the hell was happening?!

"That was very magnificent for a human! I never thought that you'd be able to move that fast! Even a high-class devil would have gotten hit if they were close enough like our position before, especially if unprepared!" Mittelt praised me with an awed expression and a big grin "Wait! Wait! You're a human, aren't you?"

"Of course I am!" I snapped at her, no seriously, this girl's behavior was not funny. She just almost killed me and now she was laughing! Not just that, but she was asking such a strange question! "And what about you? An angel that fell from the Heaven?" I asked with sarcasm.

"Wow! You're also quite smart!" Mittelt praised me again with an impressed expression, and the tone she used was sincere, making me blink.

"You mean, you really are a fallen angel?!" I asked with disbelief and wide eyes.

"Yep! I'm a fallen angel, Mittelt! Nice to meet you, Hyoudou Issei!" She said with a sing-song tone of voice.

"Fallen angel, as in the ones from the Bible? Angels who fell because of sin?"

"Yep! The same one!"

This time I couldn't hide my shock any further. Fallen angels... A real fallen angel, not like the ones from movies or anime! A REAL ONE! Holy Fuck! What the hell did I get myself into?!

"That thing... It contains a devil symbol!"

Mittelt said that while her eyes fell on one certain thing and I couldn't help but follow her gaze. As I saw what the thing was, I immediately recognized it as the leaflet that had been given to me today when I was buying food for Shizune.

"I see... So the devils in this city want to play like that huh? They wish to resurrect you as their slave when we killed you..." Mittelt murmured with a frown, gone her jovial face from before.

"Slave?!"

I didn't know why and this was clearly stupid. Rather than attacking when she was talking to herself, I asked questions. However, while it was stupid, come on! I was having a big puzzle here! I dare you to trade your position with mine!

Mittelt also seemed not to bother attacking me, instead she turned to me and made a lecturing pose "Yup! Slave! You see, devils can resurrect a being and turn them into a devil too, but of course, those who are not original devils are treated like slaves by the ones that resurrected them." She explained to me as if she was lecturing some children.

I really wanted to ask 'Devils are real too?' But that was clearly a stupid question. If fallen angels existed that meant devils were also real, and probably the same also applied to most if not all supernatural creatures that I had seen or heard about in bed-time stories or other sources.

But right now I couldn't be shocked and thinking about everything, that would have to come later! Right now I needed to survive! I had to beat this girl!

Part of my brain immediately began working at high speed as I analyzed my situation. This fallen angel, she could shoot something like a beam, and judging by the damage to the ground that struck was by it (and my body), its power level could be compared to a mini grenade or small explosives with a cutting power.

Facing her with this weapon was stupid. If hers contained such destructive levels of energy, then this normal and mundane sword would shatter the moment she blasted it.

That meant I only needed to slice her arms before she would be able to shoot me.

Swiftly, my legs moved, my sword was raised and I dashed towards the girl with a clear intent to cut her arms before she was able to strike me. Mittelt appeared to be surprised at my actions as I saw a glimpse of her eyes widening, but too late! I got her!

SWOOSH! BREAK!

This time, it was my eyes that widened in shock. I had been close, I had almost got her! She was clearly not prepared! But when my sword was about to touch her, another pink light appeared and it did not explode, instead it turned into a solid spear! And the moment my sword touched it, my weapon broke like a glass that met steel!

"Tsk!"

I immediately jumped back again and skidded on the ground while landing, creating a distance and avoiding the swing that was intended to slice my head off without problem.

"You're pretty strong..." Mittelt praised with a grin "Had you used a weapon with the same level, it would've cut through mine and hit me." She admitted and I could tell it was true, I was also aware of that actually.

When my sword had hit her, my weapon might have broken, but the force and strength proved to be more than what she had expected as I saw that she had stumbled back for a moment and thus allowed me to avoid her counter easily.

This was bad, very bad. She had a very big advantage over me, she had already watched me fight before and probably could tell my skills, but I had yet to see all of her skills. And who knew what else she could do! Not to mention I had lost too much damn blood! Shit... If this kept going...

I want to live... I want to live damn it! There are still many things I wish to do! I can't die like an idiot! I still have not become a hero!

[Use me...]

Huh? Are my ears fooling me? I'm pretty sure I-

[You want to survive? Then use me...]

Wow! Wow! Wow! Hold on! What do you mean with "use you"?! For all I know you could be another strange thing that is after my life or turn me into a freaking chimera!

[Idiot, we don't have time! Just use me if you want to live! I assure you, I don't want any payment!]

Isn't that kinda cliché? I mean, when I am in a bad situation someone just-

[IF YOU'RE DEAD THEN I WILL BE GONE AS WELL, YOU IDIOT! SO JUST USE ME!]

Ouch! Oi! Don't need to yell damn it! Fine! But I'll expect an explanation after this!

[Good! Now! Call my name! Shout out my title and show this puny crow who's the Boss!]

Name... Your name... What is your...

It was like when I was in that dream... Out of nowhere, suddenly a force of foreign knowledge that I never knew I possessed flooded my brain. The feeling was strange and really couldn't be described by words... It was like something entered into my brain and my brain worked like a computer to process it

Your title and power... So that's it...

"W-What is this pressure?" Mittelt voice was filled with panic, I could hear it despite not focusing on her "I-It even surpasses a high-class angel!"

I know who you are... You've always been there with me ever since the moment I was born... Sleeping inside me and waiting when I would need you...

[Humph! Great you know it, brat. Now shout my name! You have fifteen minutes to show this weakling my power!]

"Here we go! Ddraig!"

[Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!]

I felt it... I felt it... An enormous power that exploded from my whole body. The sensation that felt very unnatural... It was as if my body was being refreshed just like a computer and then there was a glob of adrenaline that pushed into my whole body, increasing my power, endurance and speed!

The ground beneath me sunk and was reshaped into crater from the pressure I emitted. Red scaly armor formed around me and wrapped around my whole body, encasing me within it and protecting me as a red and green aura started swirling around my body like a burst of water that flowed from a pipe.

This feeling... I can beat her now!

"W-Welsh D-Dragon?! B-Balance Breaker!" Mittelt stared at me with wide eyes and shock, her whole body was shaking and trembling "L-L-Longinus?! Boosted Gear Longinus! You possess that power!?"

"What's the matter?" I asked with a smirk under my helmet. I could beat her! I could feel it! "Not so confidence anymore now, aren't you?"

Mittelt only let out a squeak before she jumped away and her wings flapped "Screw this! I didn't come to fight a Longinus user who has achieved Balance Breaker! I'm out of here!" She shrieked as she flew away.

"Oh no, you don't!" I yelled, there was no way in hell I was going to let this girl escape just like that! I kicked the ground and jumped at her, and holy shit! I was fast! No! It was more like I had kicked the ground too strongly!

BANG!

"Guhagh!"

In an instant I reached Mittelt and tackled her body, making her cough out blood. However, I was not stopped and kept going upward for a moment! Uwaaaa! This was too much! Too much! Too much power! Damn! I still couldn't control it!

I could think about that later! For now I had to act! I grabbed Mittelt's leg, making her let out another squeak as I spun my body before throwing her to the ground and-

SWOOSH! BOOM!

Wow! It was more like an 100KG iron dropped from the ground rather than a 14 year-old looking girl. It even shook the surrounding area.

As I was thinking of this I let the gravitation control my body and I soared down to the ground with my legs first and I hit the ground with small 'boom'.

Holy shit! I was super strong! My landing was like one of Superman! I flexed my arms and took time to observe my armor. Wow, it was so cool! Almost like Gundam! Damn!

[As much as I'm happy that you're basking in the awesomeness of my power, but don't you have something to do?]

Ddraig said that with chiding tone and I blinked. He was right! In an instant I walked towards the place where Mittelt had crashed. I waved my hand and the smokes and dust that had been created from the impact blew away, revealing Mittelt's bloodied form that was lying weakly on the ground.

I kneeled and checked her pulse, to my relief she was still alive. What? I never intended to kill her! True, she tried to kill me but-

"You damn brat! Releasing Balance Breaker like that! Don't you know how hard it is to block your power so no one noticed that power outburst?!"

I was immediately on guard. I spun around towards the source of the voice and took a battle stance. As my eyes fell to the source of the voice I couldn't help but be shocked further.

That black formal suit and robe, that cane, that gray hair and beard, and lastly, those red, crimson eyes! That man!

"Kichur Zeref Schneider!" I shouted while pointing my armored finger at him.

"It's KISCHUR ZELRETCH SCHWEINORG!" Zeref-err Zelretch yelled back at me with an annoyed expression "Seriously, how the hell did you mispronounce my name like that?"

"That's not the point here!" I shouted back, right now I didn't have any patience left. All that had happened in this short time had really triggered my mind into a strained state. I mean, if this guy was real then what did actually happened 10 years ago?! Also, thanks to the senses I had developed over the years I could now tell that the old man wasn't a human. He was like Mittelt, a being that only looked human on the outside. "Just what the hell's going on here?!"

Zelretch only took a breath before rubbing his beard. "If you want to know further... Follow me..."

"And why should I do that? What are the chances that you're not going to stab me in the back like this fallen angel?" I asked while gesturing to the fallen form of Mittelt. "And I can tell you're not even a human, so why should I trust you?"

"You can't, but I'm your only clue and source of information for what's going on right now." Zelretch grinned like a troll and I scowled. "Speaking about the fallen angel, you didn't kill her."

"Of course I didn't." I replied. "True, she tried to kill me but that doesn't give me the right to kill her."

"Hoo? You know it's probably going to bite you back in your ass, right?"

"There is a chance for that to happen, yes. But being a hero means that I have to save people, right?" I asked with grin. "And someone in the past told me that being a hero means that I have to try to understand the villain's motive first before deciding..." I stated.

Zelretch let out a grunt at that while putting a thoughtful face before he let out a grin "Hahahaa! Very well, if you say so! Bring her with you!"

I only nodded while standing up and I carrying the little girl's body. I didn't know for sure, either it was my ears playing tricks on me or something, but I swore I heard him muttering about 'background character' and 'taking a troublesome unused character'

What the heck was he talking about?

---------------------------------------

Present

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"*SLURP* Ah! This tea is great! Wouldn't you agree?" Zelretch asked Issei who had his eyes twitching for the whole time.

"I don't care about that!" The Sekiryuutei snapped "Tell me everything now!"

It had been just 15 minutes after Issei had encountered Mittelt. After that, Zelretch had moved them to his house via teleportation so Issei didn't know where he was now. True, he should have been still wary, but Ddraig had told him that this guy could be trusted.

Issei might only have known Ddraig for a very short time, but he was aware that Ddraig had been inside him, and if something were going to happen to Issei, it would happen to the Welsh Dragon too.

"Relax, boy!" Zelretch said with a scowl "This is good tea, why don't you drink it first? It can calm your mind and we can talk more easily then."

Issei almost let out a growl at that. However, he found the vampire's words to be reasonable and slowly he found himself nodding before taking the tea and drinking from it as well.

"Whew, you're right. This is good tea.." Issei agreed as he took a sip of it and Zelretch chuckled "Alright! Now that I'm calmer, would you please tell me everything? Starting from the beginning first, about what happened ten years ago."

"Hmm..." Zelretch hummed as he placed down his tea "I suppose it would be better if I showed you." Zelretch then raised his cane and thrust it in the space on his side before slowly dragging it down, causing the empty air there to rip and split apart, as if he had just cut through reality.

Issei watched everything in awe. True, what he had just done against Mittelt was also awesome, but seeing it directly was something else!

The ripped space had formed into an oval-shaped green thing, before a ripple appeared in the middle of it like someone just dropped a stone into water, and soon an image appeared.

'That was...' Issei's eyes widened as he immediately recognized the image that was being displayed in the green lens.

-------------------------------------- Furashu Backu

"Ah! My name is Hyoudou Issei!" Issei declared proudly and the old man grinned.

"Well, my name is Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg! Nice to meet you! Now pick your cards!"

"Ummm... Very well! I choose..." Issei paused before he grinned "The Archer-card! I want to be like Robin Hood that saved the princess like when I saved Irina!"

Zelretch, who heard that, chuckled. He couldn't help but think how fitting it was. A boy who wanted to be a hero had chosen the card that possessed someone who had also wanted to be a hero.

"Okay then! Now, I will plant this card inside you. Raise both of your arms like 'Banzaaaii'." Zelretch ordered and Issei nodded.

"Banzaiii!" Issei said as he raised both of his hands up.

Zelretch pulled one card and held it up. When Issei saw what it was, he blinked.

"Old man, that was the blank card."

"Don't worry, I've already set it so it will grow into an Archer-class card. This card is special, now be quiet and let me finish." Zelretch said as he placed it in middle of the boy's chest and began to chant words that Issei couldn't understand, and after that he pressed the card into Issei's chest and to the boy's amazement, the card sank in like a solid thing entering water.

"Ueeeeeee!" Issei grunted with an impressed voice "The card sank into my body!" He stated as he began to run his hand over his chest to search the card while Zelretch only laughed.

"Don't worry about that, boy!" Zelretch said with a grin "That card will grow when you need it. Now, I need you to sleep..." He told the boy who only blinked in return.

"Sleep?" Issei asked.

"Yep!" Zelretch grinned. "Now, sleep!"

Then everything went black for Issei. The green oval in the space slowly closed as well.

----------------------Furashu Backu Finished

"After that I modified your memories so you only remembered it as dream. I couldn't have you blabbering about it to everyone, right? Who knows what might have happened." Zelretch said as the memory was done and he grinned at me.

I stared at the creature that was hiding under a human skin in front of me with an impassive face. So that really hadn't just a been dream, but a memory. Somehow I was able to accept that more easily after seeing it, but I realized that this world hid such a big thing from majority of humans on this planet.

The most important question now was...

"What did you do to me?" I asked with a grave tone.

That card... Now I was aware that mythical and supernatural creatures actually existed and it made me very wary about this man. He had just tricked me when I was a child and inserted a foreign element into my body! For all I knew it could turn me into a berserker-like monster rather than a hero! I was prepared to call for Ddraig's power and strike down this man, to demand more answers from him, but Zelretch was not bothered by my actions. In fact, he seemed amused.

"Hold your horses, boy. I didn't do anything to you. In fact, I turned you into what you wished to be, a hero..." Zelretch chuckled. "Let me explain what a class-card is. It is an artifact that gives the wielder the power of heroic spirits."

"Heroic spirits?" I asked.

"They are the spirits of heroes who achieved great deeds in their lives, having become objects of worship after their deaths." Zelretch answered. "Take Robin Hood for example. You must've known while what he did sounds simple, in the era in which he lived it was not. During that time, humanity was more ruthless and dangerous. To say that someone could have gotten killed just because he had stolen a small part of nobility's food is not exaggeration but it was reality back then. So what Robin Hood did was a very big crime, but a crime that was intended to save poor people."

I was aware of that already. I mean, becoming a hero wouldn't be easy and I always had my suspicions about things like that. However, hearing it directly like this... I mean, to think that someone would kill another just because his food got stolen was absurd! But that was actually logical if you think about it. I mean, this world was not as peaceful as it was now, and I doubt that the peace we have now is something that was given back then.

"The people who did those amazing and heroic deeds, when they died their spirits ascended to a higher existence as reward for the noble deeds they did when they lived. Their spirits became stronger and could even be considered as divinities or elementals."

"So... The card you've planted in me contains a small part of those spirits and gives me their powers?" I asked about the conclusion that had been created in my mind.

"Exactly!" Zelretch nodded his head. "Well... But this card I gave to you is slightly different than the normal ones." He said with a grin.

"Huh? Different than the normal ones?"

"You see, normally, this card works like those in Kamen Rider movie. Some kind of device that turns you into a superhero or something like that. However, thanks to the help of a certain Dragon and the research of a certain Beelzebub and from the Heaven that I have stolen, I was able to recreate it completely!" Zelretch declared to me proudly and I only blinked.

"Huh?"

"Nevermind!" He waved his hand in a dismissing manner as if he was just talking to himself. I didn't know why, but for some reasons I felt like I was going to yell at him in the future. "This card, whose original function is like the belt in those Masked Rider movies, now has turned into something that is bound to your soul. It turned you into a heroic spirit with a given body."

"Heroic spirit with a given body?" I repeated with bewildered and wide eyes. I understood what he was saying, that was why I was actually very shocked, if what I thought was true then... "Did you just turn me into the junior version of King Arthur or something like that?!"

"Yep!"

"How the hell did you do that?!"

"Third Magic."

"Third Magic...?"

"A magic that is related to souls, with this magic, let's just say that you could resurrect people." He told me and it did nothing but make me more confused.

"Resurrecting people?! Like reviving the dead?! How the hell does that work?!" I asked with a shocked tone.

"I don't know, that's why it is called Magic. Magic is about miracles and mystery, right?" Zelretch grinned at me and I held in the urge to groan at that and only leaned back to my seat. What he said was not wrong, how magic and miracles work wasn't something that could just be explained, but hearing it from his mouth still made me upset for some reason.

"Okay, so... What else should I know?" I asked with a sigh.

"I am from a different world.."

He was from- "Wait, what?!"

"A different world. The one you're from is like, 'King Arthur died in the battle against Mordred', but in my world, it could be 'King Arthur survived in the battle of Camlann', resulting in my world being different from yours." Zelretch told me and his grin clearly said he was enjoying my shocked expression.

"How is that possib-"

"Magic."

This time I was no longer holding my groan as I let it out and pulled my hair in frustration. Really?! Really?! REALLY?! What the fuck was happening here?! One hour ago, I was living like normal and next one I got my mind being blown away like this?! I'm really starting to have a hard time to differentiate which was reality and which was fantasy?!

Okay! Okay! Calm down! This isn't over yet Issei! Hold yourself! If I am going to be shocked and get my mind blown away it would be better to finish it all in one day!

"Those heroic spirits inside you actually came from my world, not yours. There are some heroes that do not exist in your world but exist in mine. For example, the one that you dreamed about is such a hero..."

My eyes widened at that statement. The dream that I always dreamed about in rose from my memories.

It was a sad dream actually... I was dreaming about someone who walked alone and worked alone. The man I dreamed about wanted to be a Hero of Justice, to save people and to see them be happy. I saw him working to save humanity, to save people's lives, to make people smile without caring about himself. He was infatuated with making people happy to the point that he did not even care about himself, he didn't have any pride or feel any happiness other than saving people and had discarded his friends and allies in the name of justice, to the point that even his friends had chosen to betray him out of their fears toward him, who was so infatuated with the symbol of 'justice'.

"EMIYA... That hero's name is EMIYA..." I murmured and I heard Zelretch chuckled.

"Shirou Emiya. That's his full name. EMIYA is just the title he received when he became the embodiment of Shirou Emiya's ideal of justice." Zelretch told me and I closed my eyes to make sure that I would remember that name forever. "The power you possess is actually the embodiment of his power."

"My power..." I uttered the word with a soft tone "Then how am I going to access his power? As far as I know, I only possess a Sacred Gear." I asked.

I was already aware what my Sacred Gear was and how they were created. When I was facing Mittelt and awakened my Balance Breaker, Ddraig had transferred to me the knowledge about it, about how he was sealed and everything else.

I had seen the creatures that were called Devils, the ones that were called Angels and the Fallen Angels. That meant Rias Gremory and Souna Shitori were something that was called "Devil". I was going to ask them questions later, but for now I had to deal with this.

"About that... Let's open the restriction."

Zelretch then raised his cane and without a warning, stabbed me with it. Fast! He was too fast! Before I was able to dodge or do anything else, the cane slammed to my chest and...

FLAAAAASHHH!

Bright light and magical power engulfed the whole room the moment the tip of Zelretch's cane touched my chest.

I felt it.

It was the same sensation when I unleashed the Boosted Gear's power for the first time. I felt a foreign power was entering my mind and body. However, there is a strange feeling that made it different with the Boosted Gear.

When I used Boosted Gear, it was as if I was wielding a weapon. As if I was holding some swords or spears, but this feeling... It was as if the power as myself. As if the power was mine and only mine. As if I was born with this power. As if I had achieved this power through hard work and nothing else. How to wield and use this power was complete as if I had trained my body to achieve this power.

This feeling...

Slowly, I opened my eyes and stared at Zelretch who was grinning at me. I merely furrowed my eyebrows to him before-

"Trace On."

In a flash, two swords formed in my hands and I lunged. My hands blurred along with the swords that formed and I placed it both on his neck.

The swords I created... These are...

"Kanshou and Byakuya..." Zelretch said with a grunt, he did not even show any sign of nervousness or being intimidated even if his neck was now threatened to be sliced open by me. "So how does it feel, Hyoudou Issei? To have your body has fully awakened?"

"It feels good." I said with a small smirk. "But answer this question, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg. You said that you came from a different world, and I believe that. But what I don't get it is why? Why did you come and pick me to wield this power?" I asked with narrowed eyes

"You've finally gotten my name right." Zelretch chuckled before he rose one hand and pushed away my swords, I let him did this but my eyes were still glued on him "Let me tell you, I'm a magician that possesses the Second Magic 'Kaleidoscope'."

"Kaleidoscope?" I asked, rising one of my eyebrows.

"Simply said, my Magic allows me to walk and see parallel universe, parallel worlds or things like that. This world is also one of them." He stated while shrugging and poured down the tea to his cup, this old man seemed never panic or afraid didn't he? Even if I have threaten to cut his throat, he's still acting like he owns the world. "The reason why I've decided to help you because I'm interested in you and I was also bored."

"Bored? Interested in me?" I repeated with bewilderment "You expect me to believe that? You gave me a free power and messed with my mind just because you're bored and interested in me?" I asked with narrowed eyes.

"I don't expect you to believe me, however, I'm actually telling you the truth. Let me tell you, boy... My magic allows me to watch your whole life like a movie. I was able to see your life with my magic."

"That was absurd!" I said to him with a scowl. "Are you telling me that you're watching me like I am some kind of a character?! You dare to treat me like a fictional character?! I'm a living being!" I yelled, anger was rising from my stomach as I gripped the Kanshou and Byakuya more tightly, ready to lash out.

"Even if you don't like it, that is still the truth." Zelretch stated bluntly and even with nonchalant tone "It was Magic, can't be explained neither can be predicted.". He then took a breath and sighed "Don't be mad, now. I simply said the truth. Rather than being mad, wouldn't it better if you allow me to continue my explanation?"

I was really tempted to slice this man's head now. I mean, sure he didn't do anything wrong and instead he gave me a new strength and power, but the way he said it was like I'm just a character that made by a perverted author who writes Ero-Manga!

But I held back, I took a deep breath and calmed myself. The swords I was holding slowly dispersed into blue light and I went back to my seat and crossed my legs.

This isn't over...

"You're looking good, boy. Take a look at the mirror." Zelretch said that while making a gesture with his cane to other side and I followed it. After I saw my own reflection, I held down the urge to smirk.

My hair had now turned to even more spiky, almost like EMIYA's but more tamed, and while it was still brown, there were a few white strands in it. My eyes had also turned to steel grey, and my body had become more buffed than before. Slim, but also firm and strong, this was better than fully muscular. Gone were the tattered clothes that I wore during the battle against Mittelt and her group, having been replaced by black armor and gloves like what EMIYA used to wear under his red cape.

People and my friends were still going to recognize me if they were looking at me, but my appearance had truly changed. No doubt that this was going to become a problem in future with fangirls.

Oh well, no matter. I looked like a badass.

"You used a blank-class card instead of the Archer card on me. Why?" I asked.

"Let me tell you how those Class-cards works first. As you can see, there are eight of them including the blank one. That card gives you the abilities of a heroic spirit, but not instantly, unlike the other seven, who can transform you like the Masked Rider and allows you access to all their power. This card works more slowly because it still needs to fuse with your soul and bond with it, but it will turn you into an embodiment of them forever after that, not just temporary."

I hummed while rubbing my chin slightly and taking the information. After a moment, I nodded, indicating that I had understood and told him to continue.

"As for why I have chosen the blank-card... You see, the blank-card is a special card. It acts like a Queen piece."

"Queen piece? Like the one in chess?" I asked and he nodded.

"Correct. Queen pieces give you the balanced status of a Knight, Bishop and Rook. Blank-cards are like that, but the difference is, it can promote into one of seven class-cards. I set the card to turn into Archer-class when were you're at the age of 15. And during that time, the Blank-card gave you the basic of all Cards and their abilities." Zelretch grinned sharply, making me notice that he had quite sharp teeth. What kind of creature is he? "And also, the remaining cards will be useful for you since you're going to need them for your own comrades." Zelretch said and I blinked.

"Comrades?"

"Come on, you don't think you going to be able work alone, right? There are millions of mythical creatures out there or even more. If you're going to be a hero, do you think you alone will be enough? Furthermore, you are only a human." Zelretch said that while rolling his eyes as if talking with an idiotic child and I scowled.

"And what's wrong being a human?" I asked while glaring at him, I felt offended, you know, since I was one and all.

"No offense to you boy, but in the eyes of mythical creatures you humans are mostly viewed as weak beings. I mean, can a human lift a giant boulder with one hand? Obviously no, but a devil with a rook piece can do that with ease."

"Devil with a rook piece?"

"I will tell you later. My point is, you're going to need allies and comrades in future to become a hero and make people to acknowledge you. You might be strong, but you're not invincible, you could be taken down if you're alone." Zelretch told me. "The power of the heroic spirit you have now is an example for that."

At that statement my mind flashed back to the dream I had had. What Zelretch said was true, I couldn't work alone if I was going to become a hero. I might want to become a hero, but not to the point of dying like EMIYA had – alone and betrayed.

Being a hero... I always wished to become one and now I had the power to do it... But for some reason there was a strange feeling inside me... If I became a hero then... What about my normal life and my parents?

[There's no more normal life for you...]

Ddraig?

[The moment I was fused with your soul, there was no chance of a normal life left for you. All people who were born with power are like that, and the bigger the power is, the more enemies you will face in the future...]

But my parents! I know I'm going to become a hero and wish to become one! I can deal with it if another human's target is my parents, but if it was like these fallen angels and devils, then...!

[That's why you're going to need allies. You can't work alone, you can save other people and your parents at same time, but by yourself...

[You can't save everyone.]

I was only silenced after hearing what Ddraig said... I couldn't save everyone... That was the truth, I was aware of that. To believe that I would able to save everyone meant that I was a fool... EMIYA had believed in that and look where it had brought him. Alone and forced to keep fighting for something impossible...

I can't work alone... And I can't save everyone...

I knew about that from the memories of EMIYA when he was still alive. I had been dreaming about his life for two years, the moment my Blank-card turned to an Archer class-card, it immediately affected me and gave me the summary of his life via dream. You could say that I had become what I was now also thanks to those dreams. I had learned from those dreams and studied them, so I would not be mistaken.

I even remembered when he was spending time with his foster father that had become the source of why he wished to be a hero. And his father had said that it was impossible to save everyone.

To save one meant to sacrifice another.

"Those seven Class-cards... Am I going to be the one to pick the candidates or you?" I asked after moment of silence.

"You of course! However, it won't be that easy! After you pick one you have chosen, come to me! I will take a look whether the person is qualified or not!" Zelretch told me and I nodded. "And one more thing, the one you choose must be a human. This card won't work to any other race, even if it was a half-human. It must be a pure human, understand?"

"Full-human, eh? Hmm, got it!" I nodded, I didn't have any problem with that. That meant I was going to assemble my own group. Right now I was an Archer, but I could also fight in close range combat without problem, so that meant that I was going to need a healer first "By the way, old man... I have one or two other questions..."

"What? Is it about another dream you saw?" He asked and I blinked. I opened my mouth to ask how he knew but I remembered that he was the one who had created these things. It was just logical if he could find out. "The Archer-card does not just contain EMIYA... It also contains one of his strongest enemies..."

My eyes widened when I heard that, as an image of a giant temple covered by pure gold and a blonde haired man with crimson eyes flashed through my mind.

"No way..." I murmured with shock.

"Yes... Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes. The origin of all heroes. The demigod that possesses all treasures on the Earth." Zelretch confirmed with a nod and sharp grin.

"Holy shit..." I muttered aloud with disbelief. I just had the epic Gilgamesh stored inside me along with all his treasures! Dear God that was a big SHIT and so fucking COOL!

"Such language!" Zelretch barked. "Do you kiss your mom with that dirty mouth of yours?!"

"Oh, shut up." I retorted with a glare, not having noticed I had said that out loud. He only laughed. "But if the card was unleashed, why is EMIYA my main strength?"

"That's because Gilgamesh is too hard to control." Zelretch grunted. "Even if the original card were to house it, it is also dangerous. I don't know how that man can possess a pride that even surpasses Angra Mainyu himself." He grumbled and I only gave him a strange look. "Anyway! That card is locked inside you, it gives you great strength and power, but it will corrupt your mind."

Corrupt my mind... That certainly sounded bad. If I had EMIYA's ability, why would I need this one? And also-

"If it's about power, I already have the Boosted Gear, so I don't think I will really need that card... Can you remove it?" I asked and it was true. For the strength and endurance I had from Boosted Gear, not to mention that I had achieved the Balance Breaker already, I wouldn't need this card if it really was that dangerous.

Ddraig, how long can I maintain the Balance Breaker now after my true power was unleashed?

[If you don't do anything and only stay silent, you can maintain it for two weeks straight. Well, given your nature, it isn't surprising, that is already pretty good for a human.]

I see, that's great, huh? It seems my power really has exploded.

"And what about Boosted Gear? Can you control its power? If I recall, you jumped straight for 30 meters in one go." Zelretch pointed out with a snort and I glowered at him, but I stayed silent. I had to agree with him, I still couldn't control the Boosted Gear in its Balance Breaker state. It was too explosive and also too big, my muscle's memory and how I moved were still uncontrolled, and if I were to make a mistake I could have been smashed towards a building due to a single dash using my jet.

It was going to be like learning how to walk and move again.

Damn! It is going to be hard and boring, isn't it?

[Great power needs great control. You can't just expect to be given a big power and how to control it at same time. You have to train in the end...] Ddraig told me wisely and I sighed internally.

You're right. Thanks, Ddraig.

"Before you learn to control that Balance Breaker of yours, it's better if you master EMIYA's skills and techniques first. You maybe have his memories and how to use it planted inside your brain and muscles, but you need to be accustomed with it." Zelretch stated and I grunted in response.

"I understand. But can't you remove Gilgamesh? I don't think I will need it..." I said and Zelretch only gave me a disapproving look.

"Trust me, boy... You're going to need it. In a Balance Breaker you can't control your own power, but when you wield Gilgamesh you'll be able to. You can control his full power, but the only drawback is that Gilgamesh's power is going to change your personality, and it will be better to have that power rather than the one you can't control right?" He asked me and I sighed in resignation. If he put it that way...

"Fine, I get it! Now are we done already? I really need a good sleep after what I have gone through! I also haven't contacted my parents!" I said with tired tone. Really, I needed some rest after what I had gone through today. Mom and Dad must have been worrying about me to death! I mean, it was 12:00AM already!

"Don't worry about your parents, I gave them a message with your name saying that you're staying in a friend's place." Zelretch replied while waving his hand, making my eyes widen.

"You did what?! Are there any more things you're going to tell me?" I asked with a tone that said 'please no more'. Seriously, my brain had already been damaged enough today!

"Of course! This is an important matter, boy! Sleeping and resting can wait for later! You said that you're going to be a hero?! You've already started complaining with this small amount of work! What kind of hero are you?!" He barked at me and I really was taken aback by his sudden change of tones.

"You're right." I said grimly and nodded. "I can't start complaining, so what are you going to tell me now?" I asked and Zelretch grinned at me.

"First! Since you are now staying in the devils' territory, I need to educate you about them! And what they're planning for you in the first place."

I narrowed my eyes and clenched my fist after hearing that. Anger slowly appeared on my face. "You mean turning me into their slave?" I hissed and Zelretch nodded in agreement, making me hold in the urge to growl.

I remembered what Mittelt had said before in our battle. Turning me into a slave, it must have been because these devils had felt my power and wished to recruit me!

Wait!

"If there's such a big power inside me then how did no one notice it?" I asked in curiosity. Zelretch simply grinned at me and I remembered when he said that he had covered the outburst of my Balance Breaker. Which meant... "You're the one who protected my power from being noticed?"

"Yup! Though it was not easy, but hey! I got a help from a very strong guy who is also interested in your life and adventures!" Zelretch laughed and I narrowed my eyes.

"Who is this strong guy?"

"You don't need to know! Now, now, I am not trying to hide it, but it will be better if you don't know about it until you're stronger. When you're strong enough, I will tell you, so be patient." Zelretch reasoned and I scowled, but nodded nonetheless.

This guy until now had not made any negative moves against me so I would listen to him on this matter. Besides, he had also protected me since the past and also was the one that had given me this power, I woud follow him for now.

"Now we're done with all that stuff, let's move to the topic you need to know about this city! First, about devils and Evil Pieces."