Issei remembered that event perfectly. In his past life, Freed Sellzen's appearance had been the beginning of a nightmare for Asia. This time, however, he wouldn't let the mad priest get away with it.
Following Koneko's energy trail, Issei headed toward the client's house. Upon arriving, the sound of clanging metal and maniacal laughter confirmed his suspicions. In the backyard, Koneko moved with agility, throwing powerful punches, but she was struggling against a white-haired man with wild eyes who wielded a light sword and a pistol with erratic speed.
"Die, die, die, you disgusting demon!" Freed shouted, firing bursts of light as he dodged a projectile Koneko threw at him. "How fun it is to watch Rias Gremory's little pieces try to survive!"
Koneko landed heavily, her uniform slightly torn and her breathing ragged. Freed prepared to pounce on her, his light sword raised high, his face contorted in a grimace of pure madness.
"Goodbye, kitty!" Freed howled.
But before he could lower his weapon, a hand closed around his wrist with the force of a hydraulic press. Freed's laughter was abruptly cut short.
"It's rude to attack a lady from behind," Issei said in an icy voice that made even Koneko shudder.
Issei stood there, holding Freed's arm with terrifying calm. He didn't even seem to be exerting himself, but the cracking of the priest's wrist bones began to be heard in the silence of the courtyard.
"Who the hell are you?!" Freed shrieked, trying to break free. "Let me go, you stupid human! I am an executioner of God!"
Issei didn't respond with words. With a swift movement, he twisted Freed's arm, forcing him to drop the light sword, and then delivered a kick to his stomach that sent him flying into the garden fence.
Koneko looked at Issei, her golden eyes wide with surprise.
—Senpai... what are you doing here?
"I felt you needed a hand, Koneko-chan," Issei replied, returning to his gentle tone as he extended his hand to help her up. "Are you alright?"
—Yes... thank you —she murmured, accepting the help.
Freed rose from the rubble of the fence, spitting blood and with his face distorted by fury.
—Damn you! I don't know who you are, but you'll regret interfering with Freed Sellzen's sacred work!
"I highly doubt what you're doing is sacred," Issei said, taking a step forward and letting a tiny spark of Ddraig's pressure flow into the air. "Leave now, while I still have the patience to let you walk. If you go near Koneko or Asia Argento again, I'll make sure not even the dust of your bones remains."
Freed, despite his madness, felt a primal survival instinct unlike anything he'd ever experienced before. The aura emanating from that boy was neither human nor demonic... it was something far older and more voracious.
"This isn't over! We'll meet again!" Freed shouted before throwing a flashbang and disappearing in the smoke, fleeing in terror.
Issei sighed and released his energy. He turned to Koneko and gently brushed some dust off her shoulder.
"We'd better head back, Koneko-chan. We don't want Rias to worry too much."
Koneko looked at him silently for a moment and nodded slightly.
Upon returning to the old school building, the atmosphere was peaceful, but that calm was shattered as soon as they crossed the threshold of the club. Rias was reviewing some documents, but she immediately stood up upon noticing the state of Koneko's uniform.
"Koneko! What happened? Are you hurt?" Rias asked with clear concern, quickly approaching.
Koneko shook her head, maintaining her usual expression, although her eyes were searching for Issei, who stayed a little further back, leaning against the door frame with his classic serenity.
"A rogue exorcist tried to disrupt the contract," Koneko explained in her monotone voice. "He was fast. He used light weapons."
Rias frowned, clenching her fists.
—An executioner... He should have come with you. Were you able to scare him off on your own?
Koneko paused and then pointed at Issei with a subtle nod.
"No. Issei-senpai did it," Koneko said, leaving Rias and Akeno in complete silence. "He stopped him with one hand. He didn't even need to use magic or weapons. Just... physical strength. The exorcist fled in terror as soon as he sensed her presence."
Rias turned her head towards Issei; her blue eyes shone with a mixture of shock and a curiosity she could no longer contain.
"With one hand, Issei?" Rias asked, walking toward him. "Rogue exorcists of that level are trained assassins. Koneko is one of my strongest assets in terms of physical power, and if she says you handled it with that ease..."
Issei shrugged modestly, giving the redhead a calm smile.
"It was just a small attitude adjustment, Rias. That man had no respect for anyone, and someone had to teach him some manners," he replied gently. "Koneko did most of the work; I only arrived at the end."
"Don't be modest, senpai," Koneko interrupted, staring at him. "You were... terrifying. The air felt heavy around you."
Akeno let out a giggle, although her gaze was analytical.
—Well, it seems our "normal student" is actually a knight errant with a fascinating hidden power.
Rias stopped in front of Issei, standing just inches away from him. She could feel the heat emanating from his body and that absolute, unwavering confidence.
"Issei... every day you prove to me that you're not the boy everyone thinks you are," she said softly, almost in a whisper. "Thank you for protecting my family. But I'm afraid this only confirms that the Fallen Angels and the Church are making their move in Kuoh."
"I know," Issei agreed, looking her in the eyes with certainty. "But as long as we're on our guard, they don't stand a chance. Now, how about we stop talking about fighting and relax a little? Koneko-chan had a rough afternoon."
Rias sighed, relaxing her shoulders and smiling at Issei's chivalry. She knew he was hiding the source of his strength from her, but for the first time, she felt she didn't need to pressure him. She trusted him.
A couple of days later, the peaceful atmosphere Issei had been trying to maintain shattered. As he walked near the church district at dusk, he felt a violent surge of holy energy and the unmistakable trail of despair emanating from Asia.
It wasn't an open fight, but an ongoing kidnapping. Issei ran to a secluded plaza and saw Asia being surrounded by Raynare, who displayed her black wings with wicked pride, alongside a figure that Issei...
Issei instantly recognized the figure: it was Freed Sellzen, who still had his wrist bandaged from their previous encounter.
"Let me go, please!" Asia pleaded with tears in her eyes, as Freed roughly grabbed her arm.
"Shut up, you little traitor!" Freed roared, yanking her. "Your Twilight Healing belongs to someone who really knows how to use it. And this time, that brat isn't here to save you!"
Raynare let out a cold laugh, observing Asia as if she were an object.
—Poor Asia... so naive. Did you really think an ordinary human could protect you from us?
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," said a deep, serene voice that seemed to freeze the air around it.
Issei emerged from the shadows of the trees. He wasn't running or frantic; he walked with a slowness that inspired more fear than any scream. His usually gentle eyes now held an emerald gleam reminiscent of an ancient predator.
"You!" Freed shouted, instinctively backing away and using Asia as a shield. "Don't come any closer! I swear I'll kill her right here!"
Issei stopped a few meters away, maintaining absolute calm.
"Freed, I already warned you what would happen if you touched her again. And Raynare... it seems you learned nothing from our last encounter."
Raynare gritted her teeth, feeling her wings tremble from the trauma of the previous blow.
"Brute force won't do you any good this time!" she shouted, summoning a spear of light. "Catch him, Freed!"
—Asia, close your eyes—Issei ordered in a soft but commanding voice.
The moment Asia obeyed, Issei vanished. It wasn't a human movement; it was an explosion of pure speed. In the blink of an eye, Issei was standing in front of Freed. Before the priest could pull the trigger or draw his sword, Issei delivered a backhand strike to Freed's temple that knocked him unconscious instantly.
He caught Asia with one arm, pressing her protectively against his chest, while with his other hand he pointed directly at Raynare.
"I'm giving you one last chance," Issei said, and this time Ddraig's voice echoed faintly in the background of his words. "Let us through and disappear from this city. If you don't, not even Azazel will be able to recognize what's left of you."
Raynare stepped back, terrified by the pressure emanating from Issei. She knew that, even without summoning any armor, she was facing something that could erase her from existence with a single decisive move.
However, Issei didn't allow Raynare to escape this time. With a swift movement, he extended his free hand, and a chain of crimson energy erupted from his palm, encircling the fallen angel's neck before she could take flight.
"I said I'd give you a chance, but I didn't say it would be free," Issei stated coldly, a stark contrast to the warm embrace he held with Asia.
Issei gently placed Asia on the ground, making sure she was safely behind him. Then, he closed his eyes for a moment and visualized a complex magic circle he himself had perfected during the war years of the future: the Seal of the Dragon's Servitude.
It was an ancient pact, redesigned by him to subdue even divine beings, binding their souls together in such a way that the servant could not even think of betrayal without feeling the dragon's fire in his veins.
A circle of blood red and gold appeared beneath Raynare's feet. She tried to struggle, but the weight of Issei's aura kept her on her knees, pinned to the pavement.
"What is this? A human can't use these kinds of seals!" Raynare shrieked, feeling the magic circle begin to burn away her essence.
"This isn't a demon contract, Raynare. It's something much deeper," Issei explained, walking toward her. The emerald gleam in his eyes was now blinding. "You're going to sign this pact. You will become my shadow, my informant, and my shield. If you refuse, I'll erase you right here. If you accept, you'll live, but your will will belong to mine until I choose to release you."
Raynare looked into Issei's eyes and saw the immensity of death reflected there. There was no escape. With a cry of agony and humiliation, she reached out toward the magic circle. The seal glowed brightly, and a mark in the shape of a dragon's eye appeared on the woman's chest, directly above her heart.
The connection was complete. Raynare collapsed to the ground, gasping, feeling her own energy now anchored to Issei's. She was no longer a free agent of the fallen angels; she was an extension of the Sekiryuutei's will.
"Now, stand up," Issei ordered.
Raynare stood up mechanically, head down and eyes lacking their usual evil gleam.
—Yes... Master —she murmured in a broken voice.
Issei turned towards Asia, who was observing everything with confusion but without fear, trusting him completely.
"I'm sorry you had to see this, Asia. But she's no longer a threat. In fact, she'll make sure no one else like her bothers you."
"A masterstroke, mate," Ddraig chuckled to himself. "Having a fallen angel as a spy under an absolute contract will give us a massive advantage over Kokabiel and the rest."