"Ingvild, hey! Can I talk to you for a second?"
Issei called, waving his hand to Ingvild while standing at the door of the study room at Gremory Residence. The lavender haired young woman appeared to have wrapped up her study session for the day and was currently talking to both Venelana and the female instructor whom the lady of the Gremory household had hired to tutor both her and Millicas on history and high-society etiquette, something Ingvild had been being praised for, despite spending most of her life in the human world.
Issei knew he might have been asked to join them if he weren't about to head out for his own training with Tannin. And besides, he had already covered most of those lessons anyway while studying for his own Middle Class Promotion Exam thanks to Ravel. Those lessons were far from everything, but they were still enough for Venelana to decide that he was 'decently educated'. It also kept the woman from breathing down his neck about the educations he needed to properly present himself as someone acceptable standing beside her daughter.
In all honesty, though, Issei couldn't have cared less about all that. The standard lessons were fine, he would need to learn them anyway for his eventual High Class Promotion exam anyway, but he'd much rather spend his morning raiding a Red Gate than wasting it learning how to dance, or how to use a fork properly to eat like a noble.
Speaking of Raiding, Issei had been finding himself wondering when he'd finally get enlisted in a Raid. He was okay with waiting for the time being since it's summer vacation and he needed to prepare for the match against the Sitri next week. Not that he was too worried about it; in fact, he felt pretty confident they'd win without too much trouble, but he wouldn't mind getting started now either.
Ingvild turned to Issei, surprised by the sudden interruption but smiled nonetheless when she saw that it was him. "Oh, sure." She replied, excusing herself politely from the conversation before making her way over to him while holding a large book to her chest.
Issei waited until they were a few steps away before speaking again with a grin. "Sorry for pulling you away like that. I just needed a quick word. In private." He said, beckoning for Ingvild to follow him with a gesture of his head. Closing the door behind them, Ingvild followed as Issei casually paced down the hallway.
"So," Issei began, glancing over at her, "how've you been holding up? With the lessons, I mean, and everything else."
Ingvild smiled. "They're... a lot, but it's nothing I can't handle. Millicas has been really helpful, and Venelana has also been really kind to me. They make everything feel less overwhelming."
"That's good to hear." Issei grinned, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "I know getting dragged into devil society out of nowhere probably wasn't part of your dream life… especially after being kept away from it for so long."
"It really wasn't." Ingvild shook her head, a faint laugh escaping her. "But… I don't hate it. I actually kind of like it here."
"Well, can't say my home is up to par with this place, but… I'm sure you will like it even more, if you want to come live with me, that is." Issei added, making Ingvild beam at him. He did promise Zekram he would watch over Ingvild, so her moving in to live with him and the others was something he had been considering for a while now.
"I'd love to, Ise." Ingvild said, making Issei grin at her before looking around, doublechecking to make sure that no one was within the hearing range before turning back to the lavender haired Leviathan, who was looking at him curiously.
"So, um… Ingvild, there's something I've been meaning to ask you."
"Is it if I want to make the Dragon Pact with you?" Ingvild asked with a playful smile, making Issei blink at her in surprise.
"How did you know?"
"It's not that hard to figure out, since you're heading out to train today." Ingvild explained with a shrug. "Plus, I already had a feeling you would want to see if you and I could make a Dragon Pact after you've explained how it worked and how your System regarded me as a Pseudo-Dragon. If anything, I was more surprised it took you this long to ask. I thought you'd do it eventually while we were in the Demon's Castle. I wanted to ask if you'd want to try too, but it slipped my mind with all the fighting we did while we were there."
"Ah, well… I don't want to overwhelm you or anything, that's all. I mean... you just woke up, and I already dragged you into a journey through a castle full of demons." Issei chuckled softly, scratching the back of his head while nodding in understanding.
Ingvild smiled warmly. "You're really sweet, Ise, but you don't have to worry about that. I already made up my mind about it, just in case you wanted to ask."
Issei blinked. "So... that's a yes, then?"
"Yes" Ingvild beamed, making Issei grin broadly at her in response. Smiling, he then opened the System Main Menu and navigated to the Dragonsworn Tab, which caused a window to be displayed over Ingvild, just as he had expected.
However, to his surprise, the notification texts themselves were not the same as what he had seen before.
[!] Confirm your Pact with Ingvild Leviathan (Water)?
Y/N?
"Well, that's strange," Issei mused thoughtfully as he stared at the notification.
"What's wrong, Ise?" Ingvild asked curiously. Since she could see the System and all of its functions, she noticed the notification displayed above her head and wondered if something was off.
Issei nodded slowly, then explained, "All the Pacts I made before, the System asked if I wanted to 'Make the Pact' with the dragons. But this one with you says 'Confirm your Pact. It's like the Pact already exists, and now I'm just confirming or activating it…"
He trailed off, as the realization slowly hit him.
Could it be…
"Hold up..." Issei said quickly, opening his Pact Wheel. It displayed his current active Pacts with Ddraig, Tiamat, and Rassei in the first, third, and fourth slots. The second slot, which was empty, still showed as 'occupied' when he hovered his hand over it. "Could it be that this slot was reserved for you this whole time?"
"Are you saying that I could already have a Pact with you even before we met?" Ingvild asked in bewilderment, though it wasn't an unpleasant surprise for her. "How's that possible?"
"I have no clue, but… if this is indeed my pact with you, then it'd explain how you could see the System," Issei said before confirming the Pact on his side. A similar window then popped up before Ingvild, bearing a similar question but asking if she would like to make a Pact with him. "Just point your finger at the 'Yes' button here. We'll see if this empty slot is indeed your Pact."
"Okay, like this?" Ingvild asked, extending her hand forward and pressing the confirmation button. A soft chime rang out before a water dragon symbol appeared in the empty slot, bearing Ingvild's name while shimmering faintly with a pale blue glow.
"It really is the empty slot." Issei remarked in amazement. Soon enough, the list of benefits that he got from his Pact with Ingvild appeared before Issei, who read it with a sense of excitement that soon turned into awe.
[!] Notice - Pact Confirmed
You have confirmed your Pact with the Scion of the Sea Serpent, Ingvild Leviathan (Water).
Current Pacted Dragons: 4/5
Current Pact Level: 4
[!] New Unique Skills Acquired (Lost when switched to other Pacts):
-Ocean's Authority: Water-based spells and abilities will now scale with 50% of your total MP as bonus damage. Additionally, all water-element skills now apply the [Deep Pressure] effect.
[Deep Pressure: Reduces the affected target's DEF by 5% per stack (max 6 stacks) and their movement speed by 15% for 20 seconds.
- Leviathan's Pulse: Mana now flows with the rhythm of the ocean. After 5 seconds out of combat, restore 1.5% of missing MP every 5 seconds. If there's a water source nearby, this effect is doubled.
- Song of the Deep (MP Cost: 280/Second): Emit a continuous harmonious aura that increases MP regeneration and spell potency by 10% for all allies within 15 meters. If Ingvild Leviathan is present near the Player, both the range and effect of this aura are doubled. Ingvild Leviathan will also become a second beacon of the aura.
- Dragon of the Sea (MP Cost: 180 - 1800): Conjure a spectral Water Dragon that lashes out at a target, dealing [Piercing Magic Water Damage]. If the target is under maximum stack of [Deep Pressure] debuff, it applies [Tidal Lock] , rooting the target in place for 2 seconds. Cooldown: 20 - 200 seconds
If cast near water sources, MP cost and Cooldown is reduced by 50%. For every 180 MP spent, summon an addition dragon, max 10.
[!] Passives Acquire
-Dragon's Resilience: Increases resistance to physical and magical attacks by 13%. This resistance increases by 1% for each additional dragon the Player makes a pact with. This passive won't be lost when Pact Switching.
-Dragon's Might: Your true potential has been unlocked, allowing you to grow stronger with each level. HP now also scales with STR, MP now also scales with CHAR, and dragon-based attacks now deal a percentage of VIT and DEX. This effect increases by 2% for each additional dragon the Player makes a pact with, currently at 10%. This passive won't be lost when Pact Switching.
-Water Mastery: Through the pact with Ingvild Leviathan, a water dragon, the Player gained mastery over water. All water-based skills and spells will have their MP cost reduced by 10% and deal 5% more damage, increased by 5% for each additional water dragon the Player makes a pact with. This passive will be lost when Pact Switching to dragons of other elements.
-Water Resistance: Through the pact with Ingvild Leviathan, a water dragon, the Player has gained water resistance. All water-based skills and spells will deal 5% less damage. This resistance increases by 5% for each additional water dragon the Player makes a pact with. This passive will be lost when Pact Switching to dragons of other elements.
The Player can now breathe underwater when using Water Dragon Pacts.
[!] Skills Acquired (Lost when switched to other Pacts of different Elements)
-Water Imbue: Imbue attacks and weapons with the water element, dealing water damage equal to 5% of total ATK and applying a 10% [Slow] for 1.5 seconds, limiting movements of affected enemies by 10%.
While the Water Dragon Pact with Ingvild Leviathan is active, [Slow] will be replaced by [Deep Pressure] instead.
-Dragon Blaster (MP Cost: 200): Summon a dragon-shaped blaster that fires high-pressure bursts of water, dealing 100% INT as Water Damage. Can alternate between rapid-fire shots and a concentrated jet that deals [Piercing Water Damage, ignoring 10% of the target's defense. Cooldown: None.
While the Water Dragon Pact with Ingvild Leviathan is active, each burst applies a stack of [Deep Pressure]. The concentrated jet applies maximum stacks instantly.
-Tidal Step (MP Cost: 100 MP/second): Flow with the tide, generating water beneath your feet to surf in any direction. Increases mobility, maneuverability, and movement speed by 30% for as long as the skill remains active. Grants the ability to move on water surfaces. Cooldown: None.
While the Water Dragon Pact with Ingvild Leviathan is active, the skill costs no MP while surfing/walking on sea water.
-Crashing Wave (MP Cost: 220 - 1500): Unleash a powerful wave of water at your target, dealing 220% - 1500% INT as [Piercing Water Damage]. The size of the wave will increase based on the amount of MP used. Cooldown: 20 - 60 seconds.
While the Water Dragon Pact with Ingvild Leviathan is active, apply 2 stacks of [Deep Pressure] to all targets hit. If cast on or near sea water sources, the damage and range increases by 30%.
-Aqua Lance (MP Cost: 400): Summon and launch a high-pressure water lance at a target, dealing 120% INT as [Piercing Water Damage]. Cooldown: 50 seconds.
While the Water Dragon Pact with Ingvild Leviathan is active, enemies hit receive 2 stack of [Deep Pressure]. If the target is already affected by 4 stacks of [Deep Pressure, the lance explodes, dealing an additional 400% INT in a small radius.
-Aqua Mend (MP Cost: 240): Release a surge of restorative water around you, healing allies within a 10-meter radius for 200 HP 4% of your max MP every few seconds. Cooldown: 5 seconds.
If Ingvild Leviathan is near while the Dragon Pact with her is active, both the range and potency of this aura are doubled. Ingvild Leviathan will also become a second healing beacon.
-Aqua Veil (MP Cost: 450): Envelop yourself or a single ally in an aura of water that absorbs up to 3400 damage for 18 seconds.
[Piercing Damage: Attacks will pass through the primary target, dealing reduced damage to other enemies in their path.
[LV4 Pact] Dragon Harmonious:
The Player's bond with Ingvild Leviathan has reached new heights, giving both a state of magical resonance during battle. While fighting together with Ingvild Leviathan, water-element skills, abilities, and magic used by both of you are empowered, gaining the following enhanced effects:
-Ingvild Leviathan gains access to all of the Player's associated unique Pact skills and abilities
-Water-element abilities, skills, and spells apply additional stacks of [Deep Pressure] on hit, up to a maximum of 12 stacks.
-Support and healing abilities have their effectiveness increased by 10%.
-Casting the same spell with Ingvild Leviathan will increase its potency by 200%, reduces its MP cost by 20% and lowers its cooldown by 2 seconds.
-Waterguard Veil cast on Ingvild Leviathan will grant her the full benefits of Tidal Step, and its damage absorption is further increased by 10% of the Player's maximum HP.
"Level 4?!" couldn't help but blurt out in shock while staring with eyes as wide as dinnerplates as he went through all the skills and abilities that he got from his Pact with Ingvild, having not expected it to be a Level 4 and have so many abilities right off the bat like that. Was this because of the unique situation with the Pact and how it'd come to be? Or maybe it had something to do with Ingvild herself… how she felt about him?
He wasn't clueless, (not anymore, at least). Issei knew Ingvild liked him—honestly, it was kind of hard not to notice. Issei understood how the dragons' feelings and opinions toward him played a huge role in determining their Bond Level. With Ddraig, it was all about their partnership, forged through battles and their shared drive to become stronger. Rassei's bond seemed based on how much that little Sprite Dragon tolerated him. He wasn't too sure about Tiamat just yet, though he'd likely need to track down and return one of her lost treasures to see if that was the facilitator to increase their Bond, if the Treasure Hunting Quest was anything to go by.
But for his Bond Level with Ingvild to already be higher than any of them, even Ddraig, who had been with him since the beginning? The Dragon Harmonious was clearly something tied specifically to Level 4 Pacts, and judging by how it granted those synchronized boosts to not just him but also Ingvild, not counting the extended list of water-element skills and abilities that had become available to him, Issei could only imagine what the other Pacts would be like when he got them to Level 4.
And to think that it wasn't even the max level...
[I have to admit… this is quite impressive.] Ddraig remarked, and Issei couldn't have agreed more.
Though, it seemed like Soul Link really was something unique to his Pact with Ddraig.
"Oh wow, this is… quite a long list." Ingvild gave her own opinion with a soft gasp as she read through the Pact with Issei, who let out a forced chuckle while nodding his head.
"You can say that again." Issei muttered, still scrolling through the menu with wide eyes. "I just got, like... a whole water spellbook dropped on me."
Ingvild giggled, clearly amused. "You're welcome?"
"Thanks, Ingvild. I really appreciate it." Closing the window with a wave of his hand, knowing that he would have the chance to test, and master all of his new skills and abilities really soon, Issei turned over to Ingvild and grinned at her, making the lavender-haired Leviathan smile back at him warmly.
Before either of them could say anything more, the sound of heavy wings flapping filled the air. Issei glanced up briefly, then looked down again as the floor beneath their feet trembled slightly from the landing of a certain giant figure in the front yard just outside the manor.
"That must be Tannin." Issei said, making Ingvild nod her head in understanding as t headed outside and spotted Tannin standing there, waiting for him with his arms crossing over his chest. "I'll see you later then, Ingvild. Thanks again for the Pact… and for everything."
Ingvild stayed by the door, returning his smile and waving her hand. "Good luck, Issei. I'll be here when you get back."
"I'll hold you to that." With a grin and a final wave of his hand, Issei turned around to look at Tannin, who was watching him with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"What?" Issei asked, with the smile continued to stay on his face.
"Nothing… I just hope you're ready for your training, boy." Tannin said, the corner of his mouth curling into a smirk as he extended his hand downward, palm up, inviting Issei to hop on, which he did without a moment of hesitation. "Ready to see the Dragon Valley here in the Underworld?"
"You bet I am!" Issei answered with a wide grin as Tannin brought him toward his shoulder. Once Issei settled in, the former Dragon King spread his massive wings and, with a powerful beat, took off into the sky. Strong gusts of winds rushed past them as they ascended higher, leaving the Gremory Manor behind to become just a speck among the rolling mountains and forests.
After several minutes of flying, with Issei spending his time typing away at his phone, the terrain below began to change. Soon enough, a lush and vibrant valley, with rivers of crystal-clear water cutting through the land like shimmering threads, came into view. Dragons of all sizes and colors filled the land, with a few perching along the cliffs with their wings folded, while several glided above the huge gardens of towering trees that dominated the valley, which was an immediate standout to Issei as he took in the breathtaking sight around him.
"Tannin, are those…?"
"That's right. Those are Dragon Trees and their apples."
Tannin confirmed, banking slightly as he flew over a massive, forest-like grove, where dozens of dragons were tending to the trees and their oversized fruit, each apple easily the size of a dragon's head. The trees, though shaped like normal apple trees, stood nearly twenty meters tall, their bark a dark, rich brown streaked with glowing lines of deep orange and red. The apples hung low on thick, sturdy branches, pulsing faintly with magical energy. Some dragons moved gently around them, clipping ripe fruits and placing them into large woven baskets, while others seemed to be carefully checking their conditions using monitors and scanning devices, all of which looked rather unusual in the hands of tall, towering dragons.
"You're quite lucky. It's harvesting season." Tannin continued as the dragons below greeted him with waves and respectful bows of their heads. "Due to the recent climate changes in the human world, the only Dragon Trees left growing are here in the Underworld."
"Is that why you became a Devil?" Issei asked.
"Yes. Ultimate Class Devils are granted lands here in the Underworld. By becoming one, I secured this valley for my dragons." Tanni nodded slowly "Without these trees, the species of dragons relying on them will disappear. They were actually on the verge of complete extinction, actually, and it's not like the devils would simply hand over the fruits willingly either… so I decided to trade my service for them. We dragons are proud, but pride doesn't fill your stomach."
"I guess you weren't a dragon king for nothing." Issei said with a small grin "You're really an admirable dragon."
"An admirable dragon, eh? HAHAHAHA, that's the first time anyone has called me that."
Tannin said, his booming laughter echoing through the valley before he veered away from the orchards and headed toward a vast canyon carved deep into the land. Jagged cliffs rose high on either side, while the open space stretched wide and far below, offering more than enough room for Issei and Tannin to train without having to hold back.
"Here we are."
Tannin said while lowering himself onto the wide open ground inside the canyon, his massive form and the strong gusts of wind generated by the beats of his massive wings swept through the rocky terrain, kicking up dust and loose gravel while strong gusts of wind generated by the beats of his massive wings swept through the rocky walls. The moment that the Blaze Meteor Dragon had settled with his wings folded, Issei hopped off his shoulder and landed firmly on the ground with a small thud.
"The Gremory did offer the mountain behind their manor for us to train, but I figured that you and I would level the place in a single morning if we were serious." Tannin said with a knowing smirk, making Issei chuckle in response. "Alright then, let's see what you've got."
"Hold on, I've got something I want to try first."
Tannin raised an eyebrow in curiosity but nodded regardless.
[Pact Switch]
Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) - Ingvild Leviathan (Water)
Switching to his new Pact, causing a blue aura to flare around him, Issei raised his hand and activated the Dragon Blaster skill. Water then surged up from his shoulder, wrapping around his entire arm and taking the shape of a serpentine dragon with long, spike-like fins running along its back while its head hovered just above his hand, snout wide open.
"Okay, this is pretty cool." Issei remarked, looking at this arm with the water dragon around it while Tannin observed silently, his interest clearly piqued. Without wasting another moment, Issei then took aim, directing the dragon at a nearby boulder. Focusing, Issei then willed his energy to flow, and the dragon responded by spitting rapid bursts of water toward his target. The bursts slammed against the boulder in quick succession, chipping away at the stone with every impact before ending with a quick blast that left the boulder cracked.
"Nice!" Issei grinned before channeling more energy into his arm. The dragon reacted immediately, its snaut opening wider as magic surged through it. Water condensed rapidly at its jaws before a powerful, concentrated jet shot forth, striking the boulder dead center. The blast hit with a sharp, whistling impact, piercing through the rock like a drill and splitting it in two. The broken halves tumbled apart with a thud, steam rising where the water pressure had carved through.
"Whoa." Issei muttered in amazement, lowering his arm as the water dragon slowly dissolved into mist. Using the full capacity of the Dragon Blaster had drained a decent chunk of his MP, but it was definitely worth it. Plus, with the Leviathan's Pulse passive kicking in, his missing MP was already starting to recover slowly.
"Azazel told me you had an ability that let you make Pacts with dragons and use their powers." Tannin spoke with his arms crossing over his chest "But he also told me you only had Fire and Lightning Pacts. Whose pact does that water power come from?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Okay, so that Leviathan girl was just there to see you off then." Tannin said, lazily scratching the side of his head in mock wonder. Issei frowned for a moment before chuckling softly. "Come now, Issei. I've lived long enough to be able to tell that you are using the power of her ancestor, who was considered by us dragons to be a Dragon of the Sea herself. Honestly, I'm more surprised that your power works on her descendant than anything else."
"Yeah, we were too." Issei answered with a nod.
"So, what else can you do with that new Pact of yours?"
"How about I show you?" Issei asked with a small grin before moving back to put some distance between himself and Tannin, who then uncrossed his arms "Ready when you are, you oversized lizard."
"Heh, it seems I'll need to beat some discipline into that attitude of yours first." Tannin smirked as his wings unfolded behind him. A brief silence settled between them as Issei summoned Boosted Gear and drew his weapons before the fearsome Blaze Meteor Dragon, whose strength was said to be on par with even the Four Great Maou themselves. His powerful, tremendous aura pressed down on Issei, who couldn't help but gulp nervously as he stared up at the towering dragon before him.
And then, with a powerful beat of his wings, Tannin shot forward.
But before he could deliver the first blow, Issei shot both of his hands out, waving frantically as if he just remembered something important.
"Wait wait wait wait!" He shouted, forcing Tannin to halt mid-attack with a confused expression. "Uh… this is my first time using this water Pact, so… can you hold back a little? I need to get used to its abilities first."
The mighty Blaze Meteor Dragon, formerly a Dragon King himself, could only sweat drop.
"Good hit, but you are gonna have to try harder than that!"
Tannin barked out with an amused chuckle, his purple eyes glinting as he reared his head back. A deep rumble echoed from his throat before he unleashed a tremendous stream of fire straight toward Issei.
Reacting instantly, the Sekiryuutei activated Tidal Step, causing a surge of water to burst beneath his feet and allowing him to literally surf backward, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the blast. With a sharp swipe of his arm, he summoned a wall of water before him. The scorching flames clashed against the barrier with a hiss, steam billowing into the air as the water held firm—but only for a moment before the meteor-strike-like torrent of flame completely vaporized it and pushed through, scorching the canyon floor as it continued to carve a path of destruction toward Issei.
He was, however, no longer there. Using Tidal Step, he swiftly circled around to Tannin's side, dragging one of his daggers through the mist and drawing forth a thin arc of slicing water, aiming for the dragon's wing joints. Tannin shifted, letting the blow glance off his hardened scales before throwing his fist down. With another burst of speed, Issei took a sharp turn and avoided the attack, feeling the ground beneath him tremble under the overwhelming strength of the Blaze Meteor Dragon before he darted in close and struck upward, sending Tannin stumble back as he reeled from the force of the blow. Before he could recover, Issei leaped into the air and raised his hand over his head to summon a massive water spear that was at least nearly thrice his height.
"Hey, old man! Try blocking this!" Issei shouted and hurled the water spear straight at Tannin, the air distorting around it as it tore forward in a spiraling burst of pressure. Smirking, the purple dragon decided to do just that, raising his hand with the full intention to swat the spear out of the air with a single punch.
What he did not expect, however, was for it to explode into a violent shockwave of compressed water, knocking Tannin off his balance. That brief moment was all Issei needed to flare out his own wings and launch himself down toward Tannin.
[Pact Switch]
Ingvild Leviathan (Water) - Y Ddraig Goch (Fire)
[Skill Activated] – Penetrate
[Skill Activated] – Phoenix Shift
[Boost!]
[Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker]
[BOOSTED GEAR: CRIMSON ARMAMENTS]
In a flash of crimson fire after donning himself in his LV1 Balance Breaker, Issei vanished from sight, reappearing an instant later in front of the Blaze Meteor Dragon. His form surged forward with an explosive force, allowing him to strike Tannin square in the jaw with a thunderous Phoenix Strike. Flames erupted on impact, scattering embers through the air as the blast knocked Tannin back several steps, his head snapping to the side before the dragon king managed to catch himself. Smoke curled from the scorched scale on his jaw. Though more surprised than injured, the hit had clearly rattled him.
"Impressive!" Tannin boomed, a wide grin spreading across his face as he turned back to Issei, who had a smirk on his face himself. "That one actually had some bite to it."
"You haven't seen anything yet!" Issei grinned while cracking his knuckles. Tannin let out a booming laugh before [ ] forward, moving with terrifying speed and agility for something his size. Closing the distance between him and Issei in a heartbeat, the Blaze Meteor Dragon reeled back his fist, wreathed in his trademark flame, and threw a punch aimed squarely at Issei.
Reacting fast, Issei kicked off the ground, using a quick Phoenix Shift to warp to the side in a burst of crimson fire, narrowly avoiding the flaming blow as it slammed into the earth with explosive force, molten rock erupting outward as shockwaves cracked the canyon floor.
For hours, Issei trained with Tannin, who amped up his fighting prowess every time Issei seemed to have him cornered. It didn't take it long for Issei to realize just how much stronger Tannin was compare to him. And while he refrained from using his most devastating moves as they would be overkilled for a friendly spar, he could tell Tannin was doing the exact same thing..
For the rest of the day, Issei focused on getting used to his new Pact, spending his time working out his usage of the water abilities with Tannin, who gave him tons of useful advices. The System made it easy for him to activate the skills—names, costs, effects, all laid out clearly—but it was how to use them, when to switch Pacts, and how to chain them together mid-battle that made the difference. That was the hard part.
While it did have a few offensive options, his Pact with Ingvild clearly favored defensive and supportive strategies. The list of abilities was long, thanks to the current level of the Pact, but the actual damage scaling wasn't particularly high compare to the other elements. Moreover, most of the heavy-hitting skills costed a chunk of mana, and using them at full power just to deal moderate damage wasn't worth it, especially in a real combat situation where he'd need that mana to sustain his Shadows.
The [Piercing Damage] was useful, and definitely a solid addition to his arsenal, but against a single opponent like Tannin, it wasn't making much of a different compare to the better options like Rassei's Spirit Lightning – which he used mainly for crowd control, or the explosive power of Ddraig's flame and the heat of Tiamat's fire – which was more suited for direct clashes.
Additionally, when used with Ingvild's Pact, the uncharged versions of those abilities, which costed only a small amount of mana, clearly weren't meant for dealing damage, but were there to apply the [Deep Pressure] debuff that would let him set up control over the fight. He'd likely need to form another water Pact to explore the element's full potential, but it was already clear to Issei that this one didn't grant a style built for crushing opponents head-on in a direct confrontation, but rather one that leaned into pacing, attrition, and battlefield control.
Thus, using it to assist his allies or his Shadow Army would be the most ideal approach.
And speaking of them…
"Tomorrow, we'll work on your other ability, the one that let you summon those undead shadows."
Tannin said while munching on a Dragon Apple. He sat beside Issei in front of the the crackling campfire they had set up in the center of the canyon. Night had long since fallen upon the Dragon Valley and was halfway through a warm meal Rias had prepared for him before his departure – still fresh thanks to a preservation enchantment on the meal box.
"I have a few subordinates who have been eager to meet you." Tannin continued with a finger gesturing to Issei "We can have them joined us so we can work on your coordination with your shadows."
Issei took another bite of his meal and nodded. "That would be great, Tannin!" The Blaze Meteor Dragon just let out a rumbling chuckle at his enthusiasm before carrying on with his own meal. Issei just watched him ate in silence for a moment before he asked "Like… can you only eat those apples, or?"
"I can eat other food as well, but for the dragon species that rely on these apples, normal food provides no nutrients and is completely tasteless." Tannin answered with a shake of his head, lifting the half-eaten Dragon Apple for emphasis before casually plucking off a small piece to toss it to Issei, who used both hands to catch it. "Here, try it. It actually tase quite good. Only dragons can eat it though."
"What happens if other species eat it?" Issei asked as he took a large bite from the chunk in his hand. It was just as Tannin had said. The apple was quite delicious. It was quite sweet, but not overly so, filling him with a refreshing sensation.
"Well, I've seen devils who threw up blood and their own organs after a single bite." Tannin replied casually, scratching the side of his head with an absentminded look. Issei just froze mid-chew, staring up at him in disbelief, his face already turning a shade greener "I'm joking. The Ministry of Health use these apples to make medicines, you know."
"But I'm eating, you oversized lizard!" Issei barked up in displeasure, but Tannin just snorted, clearly pleased with himself.
"Anyway, about that dragon pact making power of yours… can you really make as many pacts as you want?" Tannin then asked, with Issei nodding his head in confirmation.
"I think so." Issei admitted "But I'd rather make sure that my body can handle it first."
"Fair. No one knows what would happen if you hold that much power inside you." Tannin said, nodding a few times. He leaned back slightly, bringing a clawed hand up to his chin in thought as he gazed at the purple-tinted sky overhead. "There's something that's been on my mind since I learnt about this ability of yours. What if you can make an unlimited number of Pacts without having to worry about the strains on your body? I mean, you probably can only use a set number of them at a time, right? But if we only take into account how many Pacts you can make… Do you know there are a total of 1,012 dragons, including me, in this valley alone? What if you make Pacts with all of us and get access to each and every one of our powers? It's a terrifying, but exciting thought to entertain, no?"
Issei blinked, caught off guard.
But it was just as Tannin had said. It was an exciting thought to entertain.
Not to mention it was a thought that had crossed his mind more than once.
"That was completely unacceptable!" declared a young man in his twenties, with short silver-white hair and sharp purple eyes. His outfit consisted of a purple beret hat, a matching trench coat over a black vest, white pants, and black boots. His name was Shemhazai, the current Vice Governor General of Grigori. At the moment, he was attending the meeting in light of the upcoming first match of the Youth Devil Rating Game Tournament and the recent incident at the party for the young devils participating in it, representing his faction alongside Azazel, while Sirzechs and Serafall, as usual, stood in for the Devil Faction.
"Even though the Sekiryuutei boy managed to get the situation under control, it's still completely unacceptable that two terrorists got that close to the party the other night." Shemhazai continued, his tone sharp with disapproval. Azazel let out a soft sigh, resting his cheek on one hand and giving Sirzechs and Serafall an apologetic glance. He knew Shemhazai wouldn't stop once he got going.
"Moreover, these weren't just any Khaos Brigade terrorists—we're talking about individuals tied directly to Vali Lucifer. Each one if said group represents a significant threat on their own. This calls into question your faction's ability to ensure safety during the upcoming tournament."
Serafall's usual cheerful demeanor had faded, her expression unusually serious as she folded her arms with a light huff. "We're already reviewing the security protocols. Frankly, I'm just as furious about the breach as you are."
Sirzechs nodded his head and voiced his opinion calmly. "You can rest assured that we're not taking this lightly, Shemhazai. We have reasons to believe that this is an individual decision from the wanted criminal Kuroka, and not that of Khaos Brigade itself. Still, we agree—complacency is not an option."
"I guess this kind of conversation will happen whn you let youngsters handle matters of war."
Before anyone could reply to Sirzechs, a figure emerged from the long hallway leading to the center meeting room, revealing himself to be an elderly man with long, grey hair, and a matching beard. His outfit consisted of a gold and white monocle over his left eye, a blue robe with gold linings on the top and bottom of the collar, and matching shoes. Odin also wore a golden and black hat, which he took off and handed over to the young woman walking closely behind him.
Unlike the man, she was abeautiful young woman with long, straight silver hair and aqua-colored eyes appearing to be in her late was dressed in a battle attire of a short, consisting of a white breastplate with gold and pale blue accents and matching, fingerless gauntlets, boots, hip guards, and wing-shaped hair clips. She also wore a black leotard underneath her breastplate, black thigh-high stockings, and a pale blue cloth wrapped underneath her hip guards, all of which were clad with pink lacing along with her hair clips.
"Lord Odin." Sirzechs acknowledged the elderly man as he rose from his seat with a hand extending toward the chief God of the North, the Norse God of War, Odin himself. "Thank you for coming on such short notice."
"Sirzechs, I received your invitation to watch the game." Odin greeted, clasping the offered hand with a firm shake while giving the crimson-haired Maou a knowing smile. "Plus, Aphrodite filled me in on the details. From what she's told me, this first match isn't something I'll want to miss."
"Trust me, old man, we all do." Azazel said with a small smirk, which Odin replied to with one of his own. It was quite clear that the two had a history with each other.
"Of course, it'll be my So-tan's first official match! It's a must-see!" Serafall chimed in brightly, clasping her hands together with a wide, glittering smile, making Odin chuckle as he turned his glance to her.
"It's nice to meet you too, Serafall." He greeted, before casting his gaze a bit lower "Nice outfit, by the way."
"Ahem, Lord Odin…" His assistant scolded lightly while coughing into her hand, making Odin click his tongue in annoyance while casting her a sideways glance.
Odin clicked his tongue with mild annoyance, casting her a sideways glance. "Apologies. This is my personal assistant, Rossweisse."
The silver-haired Valkyrie gave a polite bow to the group. "It's an honor to meet you all. I'll be ensuring Lord Odin doesn't… get too carried away with his usual antics."
"Good luck with that," Azazel chuckled in amusement while Odin just huffed, earning a laugh from Serafall.
With that, the Norse God of War turned his gaze back to Sirzechs and Serafall and spoke. "So, it's going to be your relatives fight each other, Sirzechs? Serafall? Pitting friends against friends… just the sort I'd expect from devils."
"There's no hope for the future of our Faction, if my sister and her family can't claim this victory against their friends and rivals, Lord Odin." Sirzechs declared with a confident smile that Serafall returned with one of her own.
"Well, too bad for you, Sirzechs-chan, but my adorable So-tan will win this match."
"Hmm, this should be entertaining then." Odin said with a small grin. After that, due to having another meeting he needed to attend, Azazel excused himself and made his way out of the room, leaving Shemhazai behind to continue with the meeting.
Though before he could fully leave the building, Sirzechs quickly caught up to him and asked.
"Azazel, can I ask you something?"
"What is it, Sirzechs?" The Governor General asked with a small nod as he turned fully around to face Sirzechs.
"If you're up against Rias and her Peerage, who would you target first?"
"Issei, obviously." Azazel answered without so much as wasting a second to think "I think everyone can understand why. Not only is he the strongest one there is, but he's also the glue keeping the entire Peerage together. I do believe the rest have the potential to win without him, but that in itself is a problem of its own… it's hard to say how the others would react if he's ever taken out of the game. I guess you can say that the entire flow of the game will depend on his presence on the board."
"But don't worry, I have run a few simulations with my boys back at Grigori…" Saying that, Azazel turned around and began walking his way, his tone remaining serious despite the smile on his face "It's become quite clear to all of us that… no matter what strategy Sona and her Peerage put together, even if you decide to stack the odds against him, Issei is just too big of a mountain right now for any member of the Sitri to overcome."
Sirzechs nodded in understanding. It was clear he'd already arrived at the same conclusion himself. "So, it really is that difficult…"
"Except for the Bael Peerage, even if you put every other peerage together against Issei and his shadow army, he'd likely be the one to come out on top. You've seen what he could do… with time, he and his shadows will only get even stronger." Azazel said, glancing back over his shoulder. "And whether it's fair or not, that's just the nature of the battlefield."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "Sona's smart. She already knows that. "The real question, the only thing we should be looking forward to in this match, is just how far she and her servants are willing to go to prove their dedication to their dream through their effort to overcome such adversary."
"Honestly, the fact that Issei is as strong as he is might actually work in their favor… if what they want is to prove themselves, not just to others, but to themselves as well."
And with that, he disappeared around the corner, leaving Sirzechs behind to linger for a moment before returning to the meeting room.
It's clear that the upcoming match between Rias and Sona would be a sight for all to see.
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Race: Reincarnated Devil / Dragon
Class: Level 50 Dragonsworn / Level 36 Shadow Monarch
HP: 24,245/24,245
MP [Current Attribute: Draconic/Demonic] : 7250/7250
Link Gauge: 120/120
Title: Champion of the Dragons
Strength: 271 (27)
Vitality: 215 (22)
Intelligence: 238 (24)
Dexterity: 220 (22)
Perception: 200 (20)
Charisma: 190 (19)
Unique Class Skills: Fire Imbue (LV3), Shadow Extraction (LV1), Shadow Storage (LV1), Karma (LV1), Shadow Exchange (LV1).
Active skills: Doubling (LV4), Transfer (LV4), Penetrate (LV4), Sprint (Max Level), Vital Slash (LV1), Jump (Max Level – Equipment Ability), Observe (LV2), Ruler's Hands (LV1), Phoenix Shift (LV2).
Active spells: Fire balls (LV4 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Firewall (LV4 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Lightning Strike (LV2 – Lightning Dragon Pact Affected), Water Blast (LV2 - Water Dragon Pact Affected), Earth Shield (LV1), ...
Current Pacts: Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) – Pact LV3, Chaos Karma Dragon Tiamat (Fire) – Pact LV1, Rassei (Lightning) – Pact LV1, Ingvild Leviathan (Water)
Current Active Pact [3/5] : Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) – Pact LV3
Current Shadows: 281 / 490 (Wolves 29. Panthers 18. Shadow Troop 118. Shadow Elementals 27. Magicians 34. Shadow Elves 42. Fallen Angels 13.)
Elite Shadows: Asterius (Knight), Vulcan (Knight), Tempest (Knight), Lycaon (Elite Knight), Tora (Elite Knight), Blade (Elite Knight), Gladio (Elite Knight), Glacia (Elite Knight), Katerea (Elite Knight).
Items: Boosted Gear (LV5), Razan's Blade (LVMAX), Magitek General's Helmet (LVMAX), 1.[High-ranking Demon] Armor Set (LV1), [Obsidian] Jewelry Set (LV1), Kamish's Awaken (LV?), Key to the Demon's Castle, Ascalon R1 (LV40), Orb of Avarice, Yarn of Ariadne.
Potions: Healing Potions x15, Mana Potions x15, Greater Healing Potions x10, Greater Mana Potions x10, Miracle Potions x3...
Gold: 15.251.720 (G)
Ultimate: Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker – Boosted Gear Crimson Scale Mail (LV.2 – Pact Affected), Soul Link (LV1).
Finisher: Rage of the Fire Dragon (Crimson Scale Mail), Twinflare (Soul Link), Hammer and Anvil (Soul Link)
Sigils: Sigil of the Shadow Commander - Igirs, Sigil of the Shadow Ice Bear -Tank.
End of Chapter 31