The Greedy Frog
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DxD: DO System Chapter 19
🕑 Added 2024-12-31 14:45:37 +0000 UTCChapter 19: Chaos
“Don’t wait!” Kalawarner’s voice cut through the chaos, commanding attention. As Raynare’s right hand, she was the only one in the crowd who could rival Akeno and Rias in sheer ‘presence’. “Rush them!”
Right on cue, the sky darkened. Dozens of Fallen swooped down, weapons of magic—swords, spears, and maces—gleaming in their hands.
“Issei,” Akeno said with her usual calm smile, “we’ve got this. You don’t need to worry.”
Before he could respond, the dark sky was torn apart. Two figures burst through, taking down several Fallen mid-air. One was a white-haired girl, the other a blonde boy.
“He should probably worry about putting some clothes on,” the white-haired girl muttered, clearly unimpressed. “The idiot’s still naked.”
“Now, now, Koneko,” Akeno teased, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. “Don’t be so harsh. He was just… caught off-guard.”
“Enough talking!” a Fallen screamed. “Attack them!”
Koneko, Kiba, and Akeno wasted no time, unleashing a barrage of attacks that lit up the battlefield. Fallen were engulfed in cuts, electricity, and raw power.
Kalawarner and Mittelt darted into the sky, trying to regroup, while Raynare disappeared into the shadows, furious with her own allies and the devils alike. Dohnaseek wasn’t as lucky—he lay on the ground, clutching a burnt hand and writhing in pain.
“Don’t get too close!” Rias commanded, obliterating a group of Fallen with a single, powerful blast. She wanted to reach Issei, but Kalawarner and Mittelt had created a barrier of Fallen minions.
“Die, you bitch!” Mittelt snarled, unleashing a massive ray of light.
Rias met the attack head-on, raising a glowing red shield that absorbed and dissipated the energy without effort.
Meanwhile, Akeno and Kalawarner exchanged chains of lightning in the air, the clash of power illuminating the battlefield.
“Not bad,” Akeno said, her tone calm as ever, barely exerting herself.
“Shut up!” Kalawarner snapped, frustration evident in her voice.
On the ground, Koneko focused on thinning the numbers, each attack swift and deadly. Raynare, nursing an injured arm, seemed preoccupied, which gave the devils a moment’s reassurance.
“Kiba!” Rias shouted. “Help Issei!”
Without hesitation, Kiba bolted toward Issei. But to Issei, Kiba’s interference was anything but welcome.
‘If Kiba finishes Dohnaseek, I can’t complete my mission,’ Issei thought bitterly.
Before the situation could escalate further, a chilling laugh echoed through the battlefield.
“Gahaha! What a pathetic sight!”
All eyes turned to the source—a pale-haired man strolling casually onto the scene, ripping apart any Fallen foolish enough to get in his way.
“Losing to a bunch of bat-fuckers? How embarrassing…”
Issei immediately recognized the newcomer.
‘That guy…’ Issei’s expression darkened. ‘Freed.’
“Freed!” Dohnaseek called out desperately, dragging himself toward the priest. “Kill these damn devils!”
Freed sneered. “Don’t boss me around, fuckface! I’m only here because Raynare promised me a dozen Fallen babes. Is that deal still good, or what?”
“It’s still on!” Mittelt shouted, panicked. “Just help us!”
Freed’s eyes lit up at the promise, and his sword gleamed with a hint of holy energy.
“That sword…” Kiba’s voice was low, his gaze fixed on the weapon in Freed’s hand. “A holy essence sword…”
Kiba’s expression hardened. He shot a glance at Issei, who was still stuck, unarmed and very much naked.
“Hold them off,” Kiba said quietly before taking off toward Freed.
“Gahaha! Look who decided to play!” Freed laughed, deflecting Kiba’s first attack with ease. “A pretty toy to break!”
“Where did you get that sword?” Kiba demanded, his strikes growing fiercer.
“Not like it matters!” Freed sneered, lunging at Kiba. “You’re not going to live long enough to care, Mr. Vomit-Hair!”
Above them, the sky flashed with explosions and screams, as attacks collided and the battle raged on. Amid the chaos, Issei sighed, his gaze shifting to the dragon within him.
‘I just wanted to test myself a little,’ he thought. ‘See how I’d do against a few Fallen.’
But it seemed fate had other plans.
‘Unlucky,’ the dragon muttered in Issei’s mind. ‘At least you didn’t reveal all your cards.’
That made Issei pause, a smirk forming on his face. ‘You know what? That’s actually a solid point.’
He glanced down, noticing the Fallen groaning in pain from his earlier attack.
“Man, seriously?” Issei sighed, finding the situation almost funny. “If you can’t handle a single hit, why on earth did you think fighting me was a good idea?”
“Shut up,” the Fallen spat, his voice strained but still defiant. “What the hell did you do? Twice Critical shouldn’t have that kind of power!”
Issei shook his head, crouching down slightly.
“Oi, back off!” the man shouted, glaring. “I don’t need your junk in my face!”
“Relax, I’ll move in a sec,” Issei replied flatly. “But first, why did you assume I had Twice Critical?”
The Fallen squirmed, trying to push himself up.
“Wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Issei warned, his tone casual but firm. “Next time, I won’t aim for your arm. It’ll be your face.”
The man hesitated, teeth clenched in frustration. “You’ve got a dragon’s scent,” he growled. “It’s faint—barely noticeable—but only a weak gear like Twice Critical would have something like that.”
‘Amateurs,’ Ddraig scoffed in Issei’s head. ‘That’s because I’ve been suppressing my power. These fools only sense it when they’re up close.’
“And you’ve been getting stronger,” the Fallen continued, his glare sharp. “Your physical abilities… they’ve doubled recently. That’s also a sign of Twice Critical!”
Issei stared at him like he was the dumbest person alive. “So, let me get this straight—you challenged me based on… assumptions?”
“What are you—”
“Tell me,” Issei cut him off. “Which Sacred Gear fits your little theory? Something dragon-type, that multiplies power, one once but multiple times, and easily smacks down someone like you?”
The Fallen’s face twisted in thought, his brows furrowed. “There isn’t one. Only high-grade gears, like a Lon—” His words stopped dead, his eyes widening as realization dawned.
“Go on,” Issei pressed, his smirk growing.
“The…” The man’s breathing quickened. “No! It can’t be!” Desperation flashed across his face, and he lashed out, summoning a point-blank blast of light aimed straight at Issei.
But Issei was ready.
<<Hokuto Shinketsu Ha>>
In a blur, Issei struck several pressure points on the Fallen’s body, instantly blocking the flow of blood and energy. The man froze, his attack fizzling out.
“Oops,” Issei said, stepping back. “Guess that didn’t work out for you, huh?”
“Y-You!” the man gasped, his body trembling. “What did you do to me?”
“Just a little technique I picked up. Don’t take it personally—you brought this on yourself.”
“Undo this!” he demanded, his voice cracking.
“Oh, I will,” Issei assured him, leaning in closer. “But first, answer my question. Have you figured out what Sacred Gear I’m packing?”
The Fallen’s body trembled, his face pale. “Th-The Boosted Gear… one of the Longinus… capable of killing gods…”
“Bingo!” Issei grinned. “Ddraig, care to say something?”
“Not worth my energy,” the dragon replied with a low growl.
The Fallen’s eyes widened further. “I-I can hear him…”
“Yeah, yeah,” Issei waved him off. “Now, about undoing that paralysis…”
“Wh-What are you waiting for?! Undo it!”
Issei shrugged, turning to leave. “Sorry, can’t do that yet. Haven’t learned how to undo it.”
The man’s scream of frustration echoed behind him as Issei shook his head, completely unbothered.
“W-What do you m-mean?” Dohnaseek stammered, his voice trembling.
Issei sighed, shaking his head. “See, the thing is… I don’t actually know how to undo this. And unfortunately for you, I can’t let you live. I’ve got a quest to finish.”
“A q-quest?!”
“Yeah,” Issei said, his tone cold but resolute. “So, this is where it ends for you.”
“W-Wait! Please—”
Ignoring the plea, Issei raised his hand, pressing his index and middle fingers against the Fallen’s forehead.
“May you find peace.”
<<Hokuto Hyakuretsu Ken>>
In an instant, Issei’s fingers struck Dohnaseek’s forehead repeatedly, faster than the eye could follow. Each blow hit precise points, sealing his fate.
“Amen.”
The Fallen’s body went still, his eyes wide in silent terror. A single tear slid down his cheek. Then, in a grotesque crescendo, his head exploded into a hundred pieces, blood and bone splattering everywhere.
Issei blinked, now drenched in crimson.
<Congratulations! You have completed the quest!>
<Quest Completed: Humiliation of a Lifetime!
Defeat and Kill Dohnaseek without taking even a single hit.>
<Rewards Acquired: {Dragon’s Cleave}>
<Dragon’s Cleave: Cut Through defenses, magical and non-magical, erected by beings of your class or below.
Can be enhanced with Boost.>
‘That’s… disgusting.’ Even Ddraig’s voice wavered, filled with revulsion.
‘Yeah, tell me about it,’ Issei thought, his own stomach turning.
Above him, the crowd of devils and fallen angels froze, their collective gasp echoing in the air.
“Issei!” someone shouted, horrified.
“I’m fine!” Issei called back, brushing off the gore as best he could.
Kalawarner, still hovering, stared down in shock. “D-Dohnaseek…” she muttered, her voice shaking as the grisly scene replayed in her mind.
“Don’t lose focus!” Akeno’s voice cut through the chaos, a bolt of lightning streaking from her hand and piercing Kalawarner’s leg.
“Argh!” Kalawarner cried, spiraling down in pain.
“Stay safe, Issei!” Rias yelled from above, her tone firm. “We’ll finish this soon!”
Issei nodded, stepping back. “Got it. I’ll let you handle the rest.”
He turned, leaving the devils to clean up the remaining Fallen, his steps quiet but deliberate. For now, his part in the fight was done—and the rewards were well worth it.
…
…
Her heart pounded in her chest like a drum.
Raynare hadn’t planned for this. None of this.
“Damn it…” she muttered, clutching the bleeding wound on her arm.
Initially, killing Issei seemed logical, even necessary. But as time passed, he had become an afterthought, a non-threat. She already had someone else in mind for fulfilling the Sacred Gear requirements.
But then the Fallen had acted without her approval. Their reckless attack had infuriated her, and now the devils had joined the fray. To make matters worse, Issei somehow knew about the Fallen's plans and had even killed Dohnaseek. Everything was spiraling out of control.
Her options were gone. The only thing left was to escape.
Even if it meant leaving behind her favorite clothes. Survival came first.
She began moving, careful and silent. But her hope shattered at the sound of a voice behind her.
“There you are.”
Her breath caught, her face turning pale. Slowly, she turned, praying it wasn’t her end. She half-expected one of the green energy blasts that Issei had used earlier to greet her face.
To her relief, he wasn’t that cruel.
“Are you alright?” Issei asked, walking toward her, his tone calm but carrying a weight she couldn’t quite place.
Her mind raced, unsure of his intentions. After witnessing what he’d done just moments ago, she couldn’t predict his next move.
“I—”
“Don’t move,” he said firmly, stepping closer.
She froze as he crouched beside her, completely unfazed by his state of undress. For a moment, her cheeks burned with embarrassment, but her focus quickly shifted as he reached toward her wound.
<<Hokuto Shinketsu Ha>>
With precise movements, he struck several points near her shoulder. The bleeding stopped almost immediately, the blood clotting as though commanded by some invisible force.
Her eyes widened in shock. “W-What…?”
“You’re not healed,” Issei explained, offering her an awkward smile. “I just jammed one of your pressure points to stop the bleeding. But it might cause some pain in the future.”
“F-Future?” she echoed, confused. He wasn’t here to kill her.
“I already know who you are, Raynare,” he said, his words hitting her like a thunderbolt.
Her jaw dropped. “How do you… know my real name?”
“Dohnaseek,” he lied smoothly. “You’d be amazed at how much someone can spill when they’re scared enough.”
Her throat tightened, fear creeping into her every thought.
“But don’t worry,” he continued, his voice softening. “I know your intentions weren’t good, but… you haven’t given me a reason to hate you.”
She stared at him like he’d lost his mind.
“And trust me,” he added, summoning the gauntlet to his arm, the crimson aura radiating power. “If I wanted to kill you, you’d already be dead.”
The sight of the Boosted Gear—the true form of a Longinus—made her heart sink. The dragon’s presence was overwhelming, far beyond anything Twice Critical could muster.
“But I don’t want to kill you,” Issei said, his tone almost gentle. “In fact, I want you to escape. And if you can, I want you to help me find a way to get those two out of here as well.”
He pointed toward Kalawarner and Mittelt, the latter clutching the stump where her arm had been severed.
“H-How? Why?” Raynare stammered.
“How… you’ll have to figure out,” he said. “But I’ll help. As for why… well, you’ll learn that later.”
His reasoning was clear to him, though he doubted she’d fully grasp it. She was part of a larger plan, one that required all three Fallen alive. He was already one short, having killed Dohnaseek, but three should suffice—he hoped.
“Can you do it?” he asked, noticing her hesitation. “Don’t worry, I don’t plan to hurt you.”
Her lips quivered as she looked around at the battlefield. Fallen angels were being slaughtered left and right. Could she really make it happen?
“I…” She bit her lip. “I think I can do it,” she said finally, her eyes flicking to the thinning ranks of her kind. “But… there will be sacrifices.”
“Your kind, your choice,” Issei said with a grin. “I only care about you and the other two.”
Her breathing quickened as she scanned her surroundings. Her cardigan lay a few meters away, along with her dress.
“I… need that,” she muttered.
Issei nodded, quickly retrieving the black cardigan and dress, keeping her hidden from the prying eyes of the devils above.
Quickly rushing back, Issei tossed the clothes to her. “There you go.”
Raynare caught them and instinctively touched her shoulder. The bleeding had stopped, much to her surprise.
With a hesitant nod, she began to dress herself, her movements slow and deliberate.
“We don’t have all day, Raynare,” Issei said, his tone firm but not unkind.
Startled, she hurried to put on the cardigan. “I’m sorry…” she muttered under her breath as she finished dressing.
From the pocket of her cardigan, she retrieved a small intercom. Her fingers trembled as she held it, but she took a deep breath, steeling herself.
Her gaze locked with Issei’s, searching for reassurance, but his expression remained unreadable. Determined, she pressed the intercom and issued the order.
“Fallens… fall for victory.”
With that, she tossed the device aside, the gesture drawing a faint smirk from Issei.
The chaos began immediately.
“Everyone, dodge!”
The devils’ voices rang out in alarm as the remaining Fallen minions dove toward them in kamikaze-like attacks. Explosions of light erupted across the battlefield, forcing the devils to scatter. The blasts created the perfect diversion for Kalawarner, her thigh bleeding profusely, and Mittelt, missing her left hand, to escape unnoticed.
“No!” Rias roared, her crimson hair whipping around as she watched the two Fallen vanish into the distance. “They’re getting away!”
“I—”
“You nothing!” Freed cackled, hurling a blade at Kiba.
Kiba deflected it, but the distraction was enough to halt any pursuit of the fleeing Fallen.
As the dust settled and the last of the Fallen minions fell, Issei turned his attention back to Raynare.
“You should escape too,” he said. “They’ll kill you if you stay.”
Raynare stared at him, her eyes filled with a mix of confusion and suspicion. “What do you want?” she asked again, her voice shaky.
Issei’s reply was the same as before. “You’ll figure it out soon enough. Just not now.”
His gaze hardened as he added, “But don’t go back to that church. The devils are already heading there as we speak.”
It was a lie. He had no intention of letting her or anyone else return to the church. Asia was there—someone he hadn’t met yet, and the timeline felt off.
‘By now, I should have met her. Why haven’t I?’
Raynare hesitated. “Where should we go, then?”
“Anywhere,” Issei said with a shrug, “just not the church.”
Her hesitation lingered, but finally, she nodded. “Thank you…” she said, her voice soft. She wanted to apologize for everything but couldn’t find the words. Her pride wouldn’t let her.
“Go,” Issei urged, his tone gentler now. “And we’ll meet again soon.”
Raynare glanced at him one last time, uncertain of how he’d find her. But his confidence was unsettlingly reassuring.
“Thank you,” she repeated, her gratitude genuine as she turned and spread her wings.
They were black and feathered like a crow’s, elegant and beautiful, a stark contrast to the chaos she’d left behind. Issei couldn’t help but admire them.
As she soared into the night sky, her gaze flickered back toward him several times.
A faint smile played on his lips.
‘Don’t tell me you’re falling for her, kid,’ Ddraig grumbled.
“More like… falling for how useful she’s going to be,” Issei replied, his tone laced with calculated intent.
Ddraig huffed, clearly displeased with the cryptic answer, though he could already piece together Issei’s plans.
“Kiba!”
“Ugh!”
Issei’s attention snapped back to the battlefield. As Raynare disappeared into the darkness, his eyes landed on the deranged priest clashing with the handsome devil.
It wasn’t over yet.
“Should we help him?” Issei asked, his gaze shifting to the chaotic scene unfolding before him.
Ddraig didn’t respond immediately, but for the second time that day, the system’s voice echoed in his mind, interrupting the silence.
<Quest Alert!>
<Quest: Eliminate the Cockroach Priest!
Assist in the defeat of Freed Sellzen!>
<Rewards: {Dragon Scales}>
The message lingered in the air for a brief moment, and Issei’s lips curled into a determined smile.
And just like that, his answer was clear.
____________________________________________________________________________________
[A/N: The Fallens know that Issei has Ddraig, rest doesn’t]
