Chapter 8

Issei woke up from his dream, his body covered in sweat, and his heart pounding in his chest. The nightmare had shaken him to the core, bringing back painful memories and fears that he thought he had buried deep within. He took a moment to collect himself, focusing on his breathing and trying to calm his racing thoughts.

"Ddraig, thank you," Issei whispered, his voice filled with gratitude and determination. He knew that his partner had intervened in his dream, protecting him from the torment of his past. Ddraig's presence and support meant everything to him. It was only them against the world. His parents were something that he would need to disconnect from for a little bit. With renewed determination, Issei stood up and looked out the window, gazing at the world outside.

The sun was rising, casting a warm glow on the horizon. It was a new day, a fresh start. Issei knew that he couldn't let his fears and past experiences hold him back. However, he knew that the trauma of that woman will forever be in his mind. He would rather confront the demon. He will become stronger mentally and physically.

"I won't let them break me," Issei said, his voice filled with determination. "I will become stronger, not just for myself, but for all those who have suffered at the hands of the supernatural world. I will create a place where everyone can find solace and acceptance." He remembered the face of the dead woman in the church, the skeleton that she became.

"My emotions are my enemy... Is that what Azazel was saying?" Issei continued staring at the sun, rising into the sky, the birds chirping, the peaceful morning appearing once more, he simply sighed. "Wouldn't it also be my ultimate weapon."

"Issei... Try and leave as early as you can. The training that I will make you go through will be basic, brutal, and boring all at the same time.

Nothing will be entertaining, but this is the way of a dragon. With those magical wristbands, we should be able to speed through the training much faster. Not only that, but the faster you move out of this area, the quicker and less suspicious the others in the area become of your presence." Ddraig was speaking about all the evolutions that Issei would go through. Issei was the definition of a nuclear bomb, ticking off in seconds and unstoppable for most when he goes berserk. It was bound to happen where Rias and the other devils would become wary of his presence and barge into his household to deal with him.

"Alright, I think I have everything that I need. I'll just grab a few fruits and vegetables to snack off on for the journey."

"Don't worry about that... During this time, I will make sure to teach you how to hunt like a proper dragon." Suddenly, Issei didn't feel joy in going on an adventure with his partner anymore. "Oh come on, it won't be that bad. I would love for a new dragon to learn the ways of us ancient dragons."

"Whatever you say, Clifford." Issei casually said while getting ready for his new day.

This was the beginning of the long process. Issei wasn't prepared for the mental pain and exhaustion that he would suffer from the training that Ddraig would put him through. However, on the other side of the spectrum.

"I don't care for whatever reason you had, Raynare." Raynare could only watch as her world began crashing. She had gotten everything that she wanted. Ending a potential threat, dealing with her thirst for power, killing off another potential threat, everything was looking amazing for her. She became more powerful, getting the power of a sacred gear, and now she was being told off by the person that she admired the most. "You killed innocent humans. You killed people that didn't deserve death. Youngsters that would never be able to experience the joy of life, youngsters that will never be able to see their families again, you are not a fallen angel. No, you have become a demon that even the original Lucifer would look in disgust at. You're a true demon."

What! No, what did she do wrong? Where did she go wrong with her plan? Why isn't Azazel happy? She did all this for him, to be recognized by him. Yet here he was yelling at her. "But Azazel, I did this all for the good of the faction."

"Good for the faction... If I wanted to deal with these so-called "threats", wouldn't I have been more serious about dealing with them. Another thing, have I ever killed innocent humans for the good of our faction myself, have I ever given orders of such since the Great War?" Raynare stayed silent. "I asked you a question, I demand for an answer, now!"

"No, sir."

"I hate to do this. However, I won't be the one to end your miserable lives. No, there is someone who will bring pure fear into you. Someone that will bring in the fear of the Great War into you. What you did... Stepping on a dragon's tail, might have caused chaos in the supernatural world."

Raynare couldn't handle this anymore. She ended the communication circle that she created and started to cry. "What did I do wrong? To be the most powerful, we must eliminate the competition. The world runs by the survival of the fittest."

Raynare began thinking, her mind racing, all her achievements were going to be reduced to dust. She knew that she would not be welcomed back to the Grigori's anymore. She would be killed by the higher ups... Then, there were her allies, they were also going to be targeted by Azazel. How was she going to deal with this? Sitting down, she began thinking. Azazel, the man that she admired, the man that she worshipped, simply disregarded her, and insulted her. Everything that she did was to be recognized by him, but he took that and threw it into the ground. The world never appreciated her. She clung onto the hope that Azazel was different. The way that he would treat his subordinates, respecting their decisions and helping them, she thought that if she would be recognized by him, that he would promote her, change her life around from a low-class to someone of greater meaning.

"They all were lies." Raynare looked at the others, the ones that called themselves her allies. What was stopping them from turning on her when getting orders from someone? What if... she took advantage of them? What if she used them? What if she didn't let them know of what happened? What if she continued with the lie?

That was when something dark crept up in her mind. What if she treated them like her subordinates What if she was to become her own leader? Then, she could create her own respect. She could be recognized by her subordinates. They already feared her in terms of power. What if she continued that?

"Yes Azazel, I will make you regret daring to insult me. I looked up to you. Now, I will make you look up to me." Smiling ear to ear, she began walking towards the others. She was going to tell them that she was given orders to continue leading the group for further missions. They were promoted to deal with more powerful missions, more important ones, because of her powers increasing. Yes, that was perfect. Coughing into her hand, making sure to lower that smile that she had currently, she was going to deal with this professionally. She couldn't allow them to know what truly happened.

Raynare wiped away her tears and took a deep breath, composing herself before approaching her allies. The room was filled with tension as she walked towards them, her footsteps echoing in the silence. They all turned to her, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Listen up," Raynare began, her voice steady and commanding. "We have received new orders from Azazel himself. Due to my recent advancements in power, he has chosen me to lead this group for our future missions. We are being promoted to handle more crucial assignments, ones that require our expertise and strength."

Her words sparked a flicker of excitement among her allies. They exchanged glances, their doubt momentarily pushed aside by the prospect of elevated status and greater challenges. Raynare's reputation as a formidable fighter had earned their respect, and now she saw an opportunity to exploit that fear to her advantage.

"As your leader, I expect nothing less than unwavering loyalty and commitment," Raynare continued, her voice resonating with authority. "We will face dangerous foes, but together, we will emerge victorious. Our success will cement our place within the supernatural world."

Raynare carefully omitted the truth of Azazel's disappointment in her actions. She knew revealing his admonishment would shatter any remnants of trust her allies held for her. Instead, she played the role of a confident leader, someone who had been entrusted with an important responsibility.

"You have all proven your worth, but now is the time to prove it even further," Raynare declared, locking eyes with each member of her group. "We will excel in our missions, surpassing any expectations. And when the time comes, Azazel will have no choice but to acknowledge our accomplishments."

Her allies nodded, their expressions transforming from uncertainty to determination. They were hungry for recognition, for power, just like Raynare had been. She had been blinded by her devotion to Azazel, but now she saw an opportunity to forge her own path.

From that moment on, Raynare began strategizing, formulating plans that would solidify her authority and ensure her allies' loyalty. She became more calculating, displaying a newfound ruthlessness in her decision-making. The dark thoughts that had crept into her mind earlier took hold, whispering promises of control and respect.

Time and time again, she thrived. Sinister as they come, she was going to continue. Humans, they were nothing but tools for them to use. She was going to make sure to continue taking their lives.

Weeks had passed, Issei could be seen in the middle of a crater that he created. Looking down at his fists, he growled in frustration, nothing but failure was what he saw in his accomplishments. His emotions were too large! The longer that he continued training, the more of the scenarios of him failing his parents come into his mind. The longer that he went on, the more thoughts of his parents dying came into his mind. His emotional stability worsens the longer that he continued training.

"Again!" He screamed expanding his aura outwards, destroying the entire ground, melting the ground straight into the gas phase. He concentrated; happier thoughts were what he aimed for. Slowly, he began condensing the aura into his body, trying to make it a sheet on top of his body, protection, and a weapon. However, just a single thought of negativity brought him into a chain of negativity. Once more, a huge explosion occurred. Destroying the entire area and its proximity. "Another failure."

"Partner, do you really consider this a failure?"

"I can't control the damn damage of the blast."

"Why do you want to control the damage? Aren't you fighting against the world alone? Why think of others when you should only think of yourself?"

"What about my parents? Innocent people-"

"Stop this hero talk partner. Your parents are safe for now. Leave them be for now. Innocent people... weren't you innocent before being killed. Let me tell you something partner, the world doesn't give any damns of you being heroic or not. They could give less of a shit about it. In truth, the people of this world only care for three things, me, myself, and I. You should be thinking like that as well. Those around you treated you like shit, perverted just from rumors alone. They found someone to target their hatred of perversion to and that was you. Are you really going to save them when they treated you like a villain from the start? Would they even bat an eye at you if you were to be in a near-death situation? Would they save themselves first or you? They care for themselves. You should as well."

Issei stayed silent while listening to his partner. All of the people that Issei had been customed to. His friends were excluded, but the others. He tried making friends with others, yet they all looked at him with disgust because he was perverted. Women going crazy for Kiba and other boys, they did basically the same thing that he would do, yet he was being treated like shit for. It angered him that Yuuma was probably being praised or let off for killing him. He was always the one receiving the insults, taking in the pain, yet there was no one out there for him, besides his parents. This world hated him.

Ddraig began smiling, the mentality that Issei had of being innocent, being humble, being caring to people was slowly beginning to break down because of his emotions taking care of it. His draconic side was causing his negative emotions to begin taking over, his rage was prominent in changing his body. Issei was slowly becoming a heartless, cold person and Ddraig was proud of the changes that were slowly happening. "Remember partner, it's us versus the world. People will forever be your enemy. They will not hesitate in killing you."

"Us against the world, I will make sure that the world will fall. I will achieve my dreams."