DxD: DO System Chapter 21

Chapter 21: The Devils of Kuoh (2/2)

The air felt heavy, like it was crushing them. Breaths were shallow, hearts unsettled, and hands trembled.

“T-That—” Rias tried to speak but couldn’t.

The sheer presence, the suffocating pressure, the raw fury—it was unbearable.

Except for Issei.

‘I didn’t know you had it in you, Ddraig.’ The boy stated in amusement.

‘Who do you think I am, kid?’

“Y Ddraig Goch…” Kiba murmured, swallowing hard. 

“The Red Dragon Emperor…” Akeno froze like she’d turned to stone.

Koneko’s ears twitched, her body tense. The overwhelming stench of dragon in the air set her on edge.

And Rias?

She didn’t know what to do or say. She was terrified—and exhilarated. The Red Dragon Emperor’s awakening meant trouble, sure, but it was also the chance of a lifetime. With him on her side, she could win. Finally.

The dragon’s voice boomed, cutting through the tension. “What can you possibly offer me that I don’t already have? Women? They’ve thrown themselves at every Red Dragon Emperor before him. Wealth? I’ve been buried in gold. Lifespan? Any dragon’s blood can make him outlive your kind by centuries. Power? Heh.”

Silence. No one had a rebuttal.

But Rias wasn’t done.

“Lord Ddraig,” she started, her tone carefully respectful, “you’re right. There’s nothing I can give that you don’t already have. But… Issei hasn’t fully mastered your power yet. There are people who’d take advantage of that. He needs us to protect him while he grows stronger.”

Ddraig’s laugh was deafening. “Ridiculous! You think you can protect him from my enemies? Beings who can level continents with a flick of their fingers? Children like you?”

“I—”

Issei stepped in, his smile cutting through the tension. “Alright, that’s enough. We already know you can’t give me what Ddraig can.”

“That—”

“It’s a fact,” Ddraig interrupted.

“So,” Issei continued, crossing his arms, “the real question is, how fast and how easily can you give me what I need? Wealth, status, longevity—what’s your pitch?”

“And humans…” Ddraig chimed in, “they may be fragile, but they evolve. Lose that, and you lose something irreplaceable.”

Issei nodded. “Exactly. If I turn into a devil, I give that up. So, what are you offering?”

Rias clenched her fists, frustrated but determined. “Lifespan. You’d immediately gain thousands of years. The stronger you become, the longer you live.”

‘Not bad,’ Issei admitted.

‘I can live as long as existence itself,’ Ddraig boasted.

‘But you are not exactly alive-alive, now are you?’

‘You’re lucky I like you, kid.’ The dragon grumbled.

“Tempting,” Issei said aloud. “What else?”

“As a devil,” Akeno explained, “you’d gain demonic power—energy with limitless potential. Wings, heightened healing, and…” She hesitated, realizing the Boosted Gear already covered most of it. “Well, more abilities as you grow.”

Rias jumped in. “And resources. The Gremory family’s wealth, influence, and connections. My position as heiress guarantees it.”

‘Plus, her brother’s Lucifer,’ Issei thought to Ddraig.

‘That does simplify politics.’

“So,” Issei tilted his head, “let’s say I join you. Become part of your peerage. What’s the catch? Because Ddraig and I? We’re not willing to become servants of anyone.”

“I wouldn’t dare!” Rias was quick to defend herself. But Issei wasn’t naive.

Some devils were kind, sure. But most saw their peerage as nothing more than tools or slaves. And if they treated others like that, what would stop them from treating him the same?

“You’re kind,” Issei said bluntly. “But not everyone’s like you. Neither my pride nor Ddraig’s would let anyone think otherwise. That could be… problematic for you.”

Rias stayed quiet, her frustration evident. But she wasn’t giving up. Not yet.

“I’ll make sure that never happens,” Rias promised. “You’ll be treated with respect, no matter where you go.”

‘And I can use this as leverage to climb the ranks,’ Issei thought to Ddraig. ‘Once I’m strong enough, I’ll aim to have my own peerage. That’s the real prize.’

Ddraig grunted in agreement, though he didn’t love the idea of Issei following a devil. Still, as long as it didn’t look like he was serving her, he could live with it.

“I’m not going to blindly follow your commands,” Issei said firmly, making Rias tense.

“That…”

“My issues are mine. Yours are yours,” he continued. “If you need my help, you’ll have to convince me. You can’t just order me around because I’m part of your peerage.”

Rias clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms. Everyone in the room knew that he was asking for too much. Without a master’s control, a peerage meant nothing.

“However,” Issei added, “I’ll give you one free pass—one time where you can ask me for anything, and I’ll follow unconditionally.”

‘Kid, that’s dumb!’ Ddraig snapped.

‘Relax,’ Issei reassured him. ‘I know when she’ll use it. And if she doesn’t, well, I’ll make sure she does.’

Rias hesitated, her instincts warning her against it, but Issei’s confidence was contagious.

“That… works,” she finally said.

“Good,” Issei smiled. “If you agree to that, I’m in.”

Her eyes lit up, ready to seal the deal, but Issei held up a hand.

“But… I want these terms in writing. Legally binding.”

“That’s overkill, Issei,” Kiba frowned. “You can trust us.”

“Trust?” Issei chuckled.

“Fools,” Ddraig muttered.

“We’ve only spoken once before today, Kiba,” Issei said. “I don’t distrust you, but this isn’t about trust. It’s about clarity.”

Rias shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the others, who shared her unease.

“I—” she started, but she knew she couldn’t pass this up. “Fine. I agree.”

“Rias, are you sure?” Akeno asked.

Rias nodded, forcing a smile. “I’ve thought it through, Akeno. This is the only way.”

Issei grinned. “Perfect. Let’s finalize it, then.”

Rias sighed and turned to Akeno. “You’ll be a witness.”

“Ddraig will too,” Issei added with a smirk.

The dragon grunted but didn’t argue.

As they worked, the terms were laid out on a magical parchment, the Gremory crest glowing at the top. The conditions were crystal clear:

1. Rias Gremory cannot force Issei Hyoudou to obey her under any circumstances without his consent.

2. Rias Gremory will not have master rights over Issei Hyoudou but will treat him as an equal.

3. Rias Gremory will support Issei Hyoudou’s promotions when he deems himself ready.

4. Rias Gremory is granted one unconditional request, which must be explicitly stated at the time.

5. Rias Gremory will protect Issei Hyoudou from insults and mockery from other devils.

Rias read the conditions carefully, her lips pressed in a thin line. She’d never had to work so hard for a peerage member before.

‘But none of them were the Red Dragon Emperor,’ she reminded herself. Her pen hovered over the parchment. ‘Why is he so different from what people say? Even Koneko called him a pervert, but this… this is something else.’

She exhaled deeply, steeling herself.

“I, Rias Gremory, Heiress of the Gremory Clan, sister of Lucifer, and possessor of the Power of Destruction, agree to these terms as long as Issei Hyoudou remains part of my peerage,” she declared, signing her name.

With a calm smile, Issei followed suit, signing beneath hers without a word.

"That… that settles it," Akeno said. "Rias has agreed to the conditions, so Issei Hyoudou has to join her peerage now."

Technically, he could still back out. But truth be told, he wanted to become a devil. The perks far outweighed the downsides.

"Alright, let’s do this," Issei said with a confident smirk.

Rias gestured to Koneko, who brought over a small, ornate case. It held a red, glass-like seal with the Gremory crest etched into it, glowing faintly in a deeper crimson.

Rias opened the case and pulled out a beautiful, polished piece from inside.

"You’re not a knight—you don’t use weapons," she said, holding up the knight piece before setting it aside. "And you’re not a bishop either."

She examined the bishop piece, but it joined the knight in being dismissed.

"You’re not a rook—you’ve got way too much magic for that role," she continued. Her gaze moved to Akeno. "The queen piece would’ve been ideal, but it’s already taken." She smiled. "And honestly, Akeno’s the best queen anyone could hope for."

Akeno returned the smile, while Issei waited patiently, already knowing where this was going.

Finally, Rias pulled out a pawn piece. "The pawn—seemingly the weakest, but also the most versatile. Played right, it can be promoted to any piece: a queen, a knight, a rook, or a bishop. It suits you. You’ve got qualities of all the roles, but the ability to grow from weak to strong is what defines you."

"Fits perfectly," Ddraig rumbled with approval.

Rias held the piece up, watching Issei closely. "The real question is… how many pieces will it take?" She hesitated, then asked, "Issei Hyoudou, do you agree to join my peerage as a pawn?"

Issei smiled. "I do."

With his agreement, Rias extended the pawn piece toward him. It floated into the air, glowing red as it approached him—but then stopped, hovering just out of reach.

"One isn’t enough," Rias said, her tone amused but unsurprised. "Of course."

She pulled out another pawn and sent it his way. It joined the first, spinning around him in the same glowing red orbit.

"You’re the Red Dragon Emperor, of course," she muttered, grabbing a third piece. Then a fourth. Then a fifth.

By now, even Rias was starting to look impressed.

"Your potential is insane," she murmured, pulling out a sixth piece. It, too, joined the others.

But still, it wasn’t enough.

She hesitated, a nervous flutter rising in her chest. ‘What if I run out of pieces?’ The thought crept in, but she quickly shook it off. ‘No, that’s impossible,’ she murmured to herself. ‘Even Grayfia was recruited into a peerage, and Issei isn’t anywhere near her level.’

What Rias hadn’t considered, though, was that the Evil Pieces measured not just current strength but potential. And Issei’s potential—bolstered by the Red Dragon Emperor—was off the charts.

When the seventh piece hovered but refused to enter him, her confidence faltered. With trembling hands, she reached for the eighth and final pawn, hoping it would be enough.

The eighth piece joined the others, circling him like a miniature solar system. Yet, like the rest, it stubbornly refused to assimilate right away.

‘Shit…’ Issei cursed internally, a knot forming in his stomach. ‘Is it because I’m already stronger than I’m supposed to be?’

If this didn’t work, his plans would take a serious hit.

‘Relax, kid,’ Ddraig rumbled. ‘Look again.’

Issei refocused. The eight pawns, now glowing fiercely, started to tremble as if they were about to crack—but they didn’t.

Suddenly, they shot toward him, pausing mid-air for just a split second before slamming into his chest one by one.

"They went in!" Akeno gasped. "All eight pieces!"

"Unbelievable…" Rias whispered, staring at Issei in awe.

As for Issei, something flashed before his eyes:

<Race Change Option Available!>

<Do you want to change your race to Devil? Yes / No>

<Declining will eject the Evil Pieces without any damages.>

Yes! Issei made his choice without hesitation. The moment the system registered his decision, it went quiet for a moment.

But even with the silence, Issei felt the changes kicking in.

His breathing quickened, his chest tightened—then grew stronger.

<Changing physical and metaphysical conditions of host to match that of a devil.>

His vision sharpened, his body grew colder—but also more flexible, more powerful. His blood felt like ice coursing through him, but his mind was surprisingly calm. And the energy… it was something entirely different.

<Demonic Magic Acquired!>

<Demonic Magic: The unique magic of devils, fueled by imagination and capable of creating spells and phenomena. Magical output depends on the host's current storage capacity.

Storage capacity increases with rank.>

<Current Demonic Magic Storage Capacity: Core-Middle Class>

<Demonic Magic output can be directly boosted by Boost.>

<Ability Acquired: {Contract Making}>

<Contract Making: Enables the formation of contracts with magical and non-magical beings. Contracts can be conditional or unconditional, depending on the host's requirements.>

Issei exhaled sharply, his body colder than ever, but his senses were sharper—stronger.

He stood there for a moment, processing the rush of power, before laughing breathlessly.

“I… yeah,” he said, grinning. “I guess I’m a devil now.”