The courtyard lay in hushed ruin — scorched earth and shattered stone a testament to the raw, unbridled power of dragons and devils.
Riser Phenex stood by sheer force of will alone, the last flickers of flame sputtering around his battered frame. His once-pristine white suit hung in bloodstained tatters, each ragged breath rattling in his throat.
Ravel, so often poised and proud, clutched his sleeve like a frightened child, her face pale.
"Riser… Brother, stop… please…" Her voice cracked, her eyes wide with a fear she'd never known.
Tears streaked her cheeks as she screamed, the words tearing from her soul.
"I forfeit! I forfeit the match!"
And with that, Riser crumbled to the ground — the final echoes of battle swallowed by the night.
Across the courtyard, Issei Hyoudou stood tall like a broken monument, his Zanpakutō still firm in his bloodied grip. The power that had fueled him was gone, leaving him an empty vessel.
He passed out on his feet.
⸻
Within the Boosted Gear, three ancient dragons rumbled with solemn pride.
[Ddraig:] He spent everything… damn fool.
[Tiamat:] Reckless… and yet… glorious.
[Quetzalcoatl:] He carries our pride… but at what cost?
⸻
Rias Gremory ran to him, her crimson hair streaming behind her like a war banner in the dying light.
She dropped to her knees beside him, cupping his battered face in trembling hands.
"Issei… please… stay with me…"
Her voice broke.
"Why… why would you go that far for me? You idiot… I won't forgive you if you leave me now!"
The rest of the world faded as she pressed her forehead to his, her tears mingling with the dirt and sweat clinging to his skin.
⸻
In the stands, nobles watched in stunned, breathless silence — the memory of that final, blinding surge of light seared into their vision.
Whispers rose like dry leaves on a dead wind.
"…That power… from a mere Pawn…?"
"He… broke Riser's regeneration…"
"Such savagery… is this truly what dragons are?"
The Phenex patriarch sat frozen, lips parted in disbelief. Venelana Gremory's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, a proud, wistful smile ghosting across her lips.
Beside her, Hephaestus narrowed her single, molten-gold eye, her fingers tapping the armrest in thought.
"He forced a Shikai… in a Rating Game…" she murmured, the hint of a smirk touching her lips. "Fascinating."
⸻
[Eden: {System Update: Emergency medical care recommended. Vital signs are critical but stabilizing. Dragon Greed and Will have exceeded a threshold. System override authorized to prevent soul burnout.}]
⸻
Rias carried him herself, refusing to leave his side. His weight pressed against her chest, his skin cold.
Behind them, Kiba limped in silence, his sword arm bandaged and charred.
Koneko's hands trembled around her Nemean Cestus Gauntlets, cat-like ears pinned flat.
Asia wept softly, her healing magic flickering unsteadily around her fingers.
⸻
In the sterile quiet of the med bay, an ancient presence shimmered into being.
Ophis — the Ouroboros Dragon — appeared in a swirl of darkness, her midnight hair falling like silk, her expression unreadable.
She stared down at Issei.
"You did well, youngling," she murmured, voice soft as falling ash, ancient beyond time. "Better than any other young dragon."
The three dragons in the Boosted Gear rumbled in agreement.
[Ddraig:] He fought like one of us.
[Tiamat:] He is one of us.
[Quetzalcoatl:] Let him rise again… or the world will know our wrath.
Ophis turned her gaze to them, cold and eternal.
"He better not die."
As Mio and Sirzaria reached the med bay, their faces stricken with worry, Ophis spoke again — calm, final.
"If he does… the Phenex Clan and their allies will cease to exist."
The words hung in the air like a guillotine.
⸻
Outside the med bay, the nobles' box was thick with tension, speculation, and dread.
"He forced the Phenex to yield… with a blade I've never seen."
"His power… it's monstrous…"
And in the Gremory box, Venelana's smile deepened.
"Our crimson sun," she murmured, "and the dragon who bears it."
⸻
Within the Void of Sleep
Though his body stood tall, Issei's soul drifted in a vast, endless dark.
He looked like a monument to defiance — as still and proud as Whitebeard, as unyielding as Old Man Yamamoto, as radiant as All Might, as resolute as Rock Lee.
A single name echoed through the darkness, over and over like a pulse:
"Ryūjin…"
He clung to it.
And then — he wasn't alone.
A voice rich with ancient laughter filled the void.
"Sing it for me, kid."
A grin flashed in the dark, and a voice sang with cosmic mirth:
"I'm still standing, yeah yeah yeah…"
Before him stood a figure clad in shifting shadows, eyes like galaxies.
The Outer God — the First Quill of endless stories — smiled at him.
"You've done well, Issei Hyoudou," the Outer God said, voice carrying the weight of eternity. "A warrior's name. A blade's soul. You wear them well."
Issei's cracked lips curled into a weak, defiant grin.
"…Who… what are you?"
The Outer God leaned back, voice warm and amused.
"Think of me as an editor of possibilities. A patron of chaos. Here to give you advice… and maybe a laugh."
Issei snorted faintly. "Advice… about what?"
"Waifus, of course."
The Outer God winked. "Listen well — older ladies? Wise, loyal, and… profoundly nurturing. Don't overlook them."
Even in the depths of darkness, Issei chuckled. "Weird god."
"Part of my charm, kid. Now… time to wake up. You've got people waiting."
⸻
The darkness shattered.
Issei gasped, eyes snapping open.
Faces met his gaze — Rias, Mio, Sirzaria, Ophis, Akeno, Kiba, Asia, Koneko, Kuroka, and Byakko.
Rias fell to her knees, hands trembling as she cupped his face.
"You idiot," she choked out, her tears spilling unchecked. "You… you can't leave me like that."
She pressed her forehead against his.
"I need you, Issei… Don't ever scare me like that again."
Kuroka stepped forward, a slow, sultry grin curling her lips. Her claw traced down his jawline.
"Nyahaha~ you sure know how to keep a girl worried, nya. But… seeing you fight like that… fierce, wild… Mmm. You're dangerous, little dragon."
Sirzaria crossed her arms, red eyes smoldering with protective fire.
"You reckless fool," she growled. "Pushing yourself to the brink… you're lucky you're not dead, or I'd kill you myself."
Yet her gloved hand found his shoulder, and she squeezed gently.
"You're family now, Issei. Family doesn't abandon family."
Akeno sniffled softly, brushing his hair from his face.
"You really know how to make a girl cry, Issei-kun."
Asia wept openly, clutching his hand, her magic flickering like candlelight.
"Thank you, Issei-san… thank you for everything…"
Koneko's cat ears twitched, and she gave a tiny, rare smile.
"Baka-senpai… Don't do that again."
Byakko loomed behind them, her fierce gaze gentled.
"You fought like a true dragon, Issei. Rest now. You've earned it."
Kiba approached, his face pale but resolute.
"You terrified us," he admitted. "But you reminded me what it means to stand for something. I'll fight even harder, partner."
Ophis knelt by him, her midnight gaze steady.
"You did well, young Dragon. You stayed true to the second requirement I gave you… never forsake those who choose you."
To everyone's shock, she leaned down and kissed his forehead, a warm glow of power sinking into him.
"For making me feel… 'worried'… you owe me extra sweets."
And then — she was gone.
The med bay door swung open.
Azazel entered with a grin, eyes crinkling.
"Look at you, kid. Raising hell already. We need to talk."
And through it all, Rias clung to him — her tears, her anger, her relief mingling as she whispered:
"You're not allowed to leave me, Issei… not ever."