4 Strength and Knowledge (1/2)
W̨̧̖̱̓̄͆͊͟͝a̲̲̣̟̽̈̾̀̕͟͠ͅk̡̪͈̟̞̜̰̤̐̍̇̊̿̎̎̀̆̓̀͜͜͟è̳̖̭̀͌͐͟ ̡̦͇̜̐͐̓͂͘͝ͅͅup̰̪͕͙̻̥̦̳̍̀̆̊͋͊̃̊͢͝.̛̛̹̟͈̝͔̘̻̻̹̬̬͚̬̯͎̪̝̩̋̃͐̃̓͋̂͊̇̅̇͌͆̇̚͝.̨̪̲̬͖̹̎͋͆̈̔̚̕͟.̹̻̟͇̥̥̪̑̾̎́́̀͊͜͡.̪̤̼͓̬̻͚̳̹̮͎̔̾̂̏͑̊̽̂̕̚̕Ŵ̯͍̬̗̜͔̰̝͎͎͕̏̋̄̓̽͒̿͗͘͝ą̨̨̼̹̩͙͖́̓̉̓̀̉͛̾͟͠k̫̈ę̡̛̗̯̖͇̮͇̤̜̹̥͕͉̲͎͎̇̍͂̄̒͆͗̍͑̋́́̕̚͝͞ ̧͇͙̳̥̤̣̟̰̞̟̿̏̏͋͑̇̈̿̔̉͝up̧̤͙̠͚͚͕̳̫̹͂̔̎̄͆̂̃͊̀͘͢͠!̨̛̱̠̤̠͚̥͉̖̗͒͑̋͂̾̀̃̉̔͒͜͠ͅ ̢̡̤͔͓̭͔͌͊̐̎͐͛͋Ẅ̫̬̣͚͚̲͖̺̝̰́̉̽͋̓̉͊̈̚͡a̙̖̫̤̳̗̩̩̓͑̐͒̂̋̇͗̉͠ͅͅk̢̢̛̯͙̟̣͎̼͔̄̽͐̍͆͊͒͛͝ͅe̺͎͕͍̾͆͘̕ ̥̋u̜̞͕̦͖̰̣͙̲͖̭̣̟͗̏̇͋̆̑̊̌̄̎̓̀͘ṕ̢̹͕̯̅͊͒!̧̛͔̹̗̹̜̦͔̼̱͙͚͔̝͓̒̀̆̈́͂̈́̉̑͐̇͘͢͞͝͠͞ ̟̖̭͖͓̀̐́̂͘Wa̡̤͓͍̤͙͙̳̻͍̅̎̉̌́́̓̃̀͋k̨̡̪̝̖̦̻̣͖̰̳̬̽̍͗̏̾́̂̄͗̍͐̚͟͝ĕ̩̱̣͇̇̄̊͜͞ ̡̺͖͚͔̯̱̬͂̽̀͒͒̀̂͑͂͑̃́͜͢͢ͅu̘̫͇̻̻̤̫̘̍̉̂́̎̽̀̈́͟͡p̣̗̳̖̲̤̤̱͔͍̘̞̦͇̳͓̖͕̅̈̀͑̑̈́͂͌́͋͌̑̀́̎͒̃̚͢͡
̡̢̖̟̖̩̬̼̝̙͕̻̮̞̈͐̀́͐̉̔̃̇͊̍̌̑͝Ẅ̫̻͠a̧̛̜̩͙̪͔̲͙͑̅́̈̑̋̕ke̡̲̗͓̤̩̪̲͙͙̹͇̯̯͐͗͌̀̓͊͋̈̄̿̀̒͊͠ ̨͓̦̟͓̬̱̍̀̌͐̐̇̄͒͐͢͢͡ͅư̛̹̪̰̫̖͔̳̩̯͖̝͎̘͍̗̘̲̣͚̿̈͗̌͋̀́̽̑̈́́̍͊͂͞͝͡p̮͙̱̯̠̪̐̍̃̒̓̉̆͜.̨̟͙̞̬̦̫̻̦̞̜̪̔̈̈̀̓̾͒͆̇̊͋̀͢͡͞ͅ.̧̝̣̽̈̐.͍̓̇͘͟͜.̧̧̛̟̫̜͙̹̩̤̥̱̻͔̮̤̺̮̂̽̎͗̾̀͋̑́̅̂̈̀͊͆̓̾͘͜͢W͍̻͓̺̻̤̦̠̒͗͛͆͌́͘͠ā̡̠̺̠͕̿̃̀̕k̨̧̛͓̣̭͎̮͚̳̻̹̬͔̳̖̗͌̀̄̄̌̈́͌̆̓͐̆̚͢͡͝͝͝ȩ̛̦̻̼͓̲̤̙̺͊̑̉̿͌͛͊̓͘͘̕͟͜͟͟͡ ̢̼͓͑̈͞ŭ͍̓͟p̹͈̪͉͓̘̿̆̓̓͌͘!̟̪͕̳̽̄͌̃ ͚̺̘̪̖̠͙̩͔̰̝̎͐̄͒̃̓͛̊̐̆͡Ẇ̻̘̙̯͙̦̥͔̻̞̜̊́̔̀̑̅̒́̑̄̍͘͘͢ͅͅa̖̠̻̱̗̻͉̱͈̥͕̽̾̑̒̎̾̊͗̃̾̽͜͟͝͝ķ̬̼͋͒͌e̛̻̼͇̊̊̿͜ ̟̈́ư̛̖̠̦̘͉͉͈̗̩̤̥̺͖̗̺͕͊́̄̌̀̓̓̉̏̀͒̓̀̽͠ͅp̫̫̘̗̭̥͍͓̮̝̊̄̒̀͂̏̑̚̚͜͝͞!̥̩̺̫͔̥̦͙̬̯̯̫̟̲͙͇̯̮̀͋̈́͑̀̇̌̉͑̾͌̃̃̋̈́͆͘͟͞͠ ̧̡̗̰̬̻̭̰͖̈̂̿̍̓̈́̌̏̑͘͜Ẇ̱̙̠̪̩͕̭͋͒̏͘͘̕a̳̟͎̱̠̞͒͐̓͒̀̏k̡̤̝̳̬̜͚̯̼͉̼̼͎̜̠͑̏̾̋̐͗̈́͋͒͆̊͂̏͘͡é̞̠͍̼̓̀̍ ̮͕̭̹̥̘͉̬͉̪͎͔̞͉͕̎̑̎͂̄̓͂̊̔̐̃̿̚͜͞͞͝ṻ̲̞͎̦̗̣̟͙͖̭͕̟̣̲̟̞̦́̓̾̅́̀̂̄͑̇̈́͛̈́̕͡͞͠ͅp̨̧̮̰̠̗̠̯̰̘͍̩̫͎͎͗̄̔̐̓̀̄̄́̓̿̂̂̐̈́̕̕͟͜͡͝ͅͅ
\”Uuuuuuuu....where am I?\”
-Little Issei spoke, rubbing his eyes, with drool over his chin.
\”Mama wakes me up every day, why didn't-\”
Issei stopped in between his thoughts, at first he wanted to reject the thought that his parents are no more.
He kept on rejecting, he is a kid after all...he expected his mother to wake him up.
He expected his father to take him to school...or if it's a weekend he would be taken to the arcade.
His mother would have taken him to the park as well.
Or they could have gone to a picnic under the sakura blossoming trees.
He wanted to enjoy his days.
However, a grim reminder...that he lost everything.
-He was the last of his small and lovely family.
With heavy eyes, he looked around...the place; rather the room was unfamiliar to him.
A monochrome coloured room, everything was white, except for his bed of course, which was unnaturally black in colour.
CREAK~
Unexpectedly, what Issei didn't notice that, the room's door was white in colour too, opening it up an old figure stepped in.
-Subconsciously, Issei took his steps back and stood behind the bed and due to unknown reason activated his gear and looked deep into those grey eyes of the old man.
\”Ohohohohoho...kid, is this how you treat someone who saved you?\”
\”Saved me...?\”
[Boy, just stand still will you, if the old man wanted, you would have been dead before you realize it, you know?]
-The voice in his gauntlet, the Red Dragon Emperor, Ddraig spoke.
\”Wh-who are you? Where am I?\” Issei blatantly ignored Ddraig's warning and still kept his intense look or rather the gaze over the old man.
\”Hmhmhmhmhmhmhmhm....would you look at that, instead of shaking in fear, you asked a question...brave but mostly a fool, definitely a fool in this case.\”
Little Issei kept quiet, he still didn't have any grasp in the situation, and can he do something? Can he escape? Where will he go? Does he has any place to hide?
Geyrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrro~
-Issei's stomach grumbled, the little boy was hungry and at that moment, given the childish antics he held his tummy and was genuinely embarrassed.
\”Hohohohohoho....I thought you would go full avenger on me? But no~ it would seem, you are a child after all don't worry though, I won't harm you. Let's get you to eat something first, eh?\”
CLAP
-The old man. Vergil claps his hand and from his entry point, a tray came floating by.
It was filled with a balanced diet, which actually is suitable for a kid such as Issei himself.
Vergil held on to the tray and passed it on to Issei.
The latter was still wary of the old man in front of him, looking at him Issei continues,
\”Mama, said if a stranger gives me something, I should avoid it at all cost...they might try to do something bad to me\”
\”Hahahahahahaha...\”
Listening to little Issei, Vergil just laughed...however, soon his expression became grim, his eyes became emotionless as he stared through the very soul of the little kid.
\”I will be very honest with you, Issei Hyoudou...your mother and father, have died.\”
Vergil was not at all warm and comforting, he was rather cold and decisive, which killed the reaming light in the little boy's eyes, the grim reminder of the reality.
\”They were killed by something and someone they shouldn't have been, and due to which you are standing in a crossroads of destiny.\”
To the confused boy, Vergil continued his explanation,
\”Listen, I will make this shot, but keep in mind that, 'Gods', 'Angles', 'Devils' and the world of 'Supernatural' do exist. Unwittingly, you too have become a part of it. However, the current you is too weak, I mean an infernal insect would be stronger than you, hence, I give you two choices.\”
Lifting index finger Vergil continued, \”First one, simple and easy, I will erase your memories and have you taken in by your other family members who are alive and well, and even permanently seal your [Scared Gear] so that you would never it nor any other being will feel the gear, and you would live your life as a 'normal' human. Make friends, go to school, get a job, be in a relationship and then marry and so on. The simple life of a human.\”
Lifting his middle finger, Vergil spoke, his tone even more grim than the last he spoke, \”You would stay here and train your mind and body. Which, includes your gear as well, you will become strong and smart. You will live on, like on other before and on the way...you can even have your revenge, when your training is done here, you would be strong enough to face many different challenges this world has to offer, which is the 'Realm of the Supernatural.' That is why kid, if you want to see yourself in the bigger picture and become strong and avenge your parents...becoming a [Hero], it's your choice. If the first decision of leaving is what you think is the best, and then do that, I would support you and keep my end of the deal. However, if it's the second choice, if it's the painful one and remember it is, I will support you then as well...because I think, what happen to you should not occur to others.\”
After saying so, Vergil left...leaving the boy, alone in the room...his earlier hunger for some reason has departed his body.
A five year old boy, who didn't have much sense of this world, seems to be pressurized by a simple two choice.
However, it was not that simple, Issei Hyoudou is a child and so is his mind, suddenly leaving such a big decision on him...is wrong.
Vergil and Ddraig both knew that. Vergil more so, because, he too was once a human and he very well knew what a human mind or how much an average human mind is capable of thinking or rather just how far it can go.
That is why, his used his stern gaze and cold tone to explain the situation to the kid, while usually the best route is comfort and helping the kid. The current situation did not call for that.
Vergil knew it, and that was the precise reason he acted the way he did, if the boy is special, if the boy does has the convection and the strength to keep up, to become something different...then all his efforts to rescue the kid, has not gone to waste.
However, he even kept the worst choice possible, if somehow the kid is too weak to accept all of this, then he would do as he promised and will proceed to send Issei back to the human world.
This was a gamble, what most would think, however, Vergil was sure of his answer or rather, the answer which would belong to the kid.
....
This kind of dilemma for a child at this age is very...very difficult to find the correct answer for. A part of his brain states to return and lead the peaceful life...the other part of his brain...wanted to stay and take up the chance to exact vengeance upon those who were responsible for the death of his parents.
İ̢̛̛͍̞̪̞͕̳͎͖̪̪̜̼̰͔̪̔̈̿̽̍́́̇͑͋̋̔̽͌̕͟͟ş̛̣̰̘̝̖̻̝̓̆̒̆̓̍͠ȩ̛̯̪̹̹̮͚̗̥͈̙̻͎͓̦͙͒̽͋̄̔̉͊͊͒́́̾̚͢͠͝͞͞ͅ!̢̢̛̮̝̼͈̹̘̮̙̼̖̻̺̼̼͛͒̈͒̈́̐͑̀̍̃̄̃͘͠͞͠ͅ ͔̫̆͝m̰̝͈͖̠̟̎͆͂͆͑́y̹͉͖̮̱̹̳̭̝̣̼͔̫̮͕͋̈̆͐̓̉͑̾̾̄̈́͐͋͘͡ ̢̨͍̲̳͉͎̲̹̺̣͉̗̯̜̪̲̯̓̃͊̆͗͗̐̐͒̅̀̕̕̕̕͢͞͞͞͠d̲̻̦͉͂̿̒͘e̫̜̦͔̙̦̲̣̬̠̭̰̱͇̹̼͎̦̒̀̓͂͊̉̏͆̋̾̓͌͒͌̏̀̀̚͟͜͡͞a̭̻͆͋̏͟r͉̻͉̼̦̠̤͖͍̋́̒̃̇͑̀̊̒̓̆͢͢͞ͅ ̨͙̳͚̝̬̤̦͈͉̥͚̘͖̼͔̥̪̈́̊̒̀͊̆͆͒͊̆́̏̃̚̚̕͢͠͠͠c̗̙̮͖̫̯͈̘̱̯͈͚͔͉̪̬̥̬̋̈́̌̽͛͗̐̄̉̊̑͐̒́̑̕͞͡h̡̝̳̺͚̟̭͈͈̤̩͉͈̟͋̎̉̐̾̈̐̏̓̾̓͛͆͘͢͝͡ͅi̢̛̙͇̣͖͉̰̼̳͕̹̜̲͓̔͆͗̋̊͌̏̓̃͑͑̆͘͜͠l̖̼͚̮̫̗̬̍̑͗͆́̇̚͜͝d̨̬̮͕̹͚̥̭͈̹̰̬̖̔́̀́͑̈̒͋̎̍̋͘͘͜͞.̙̹̝̳͇̞͔̭̙͎͓̙͙̿̀̆̊̊́̈́͌̄̒͂̑̑͞ͅ.̨̫̜͙́̌̉̇̀̇͢ͅ.̦͉͍͖̬̳̓͑̀̌͝͝
̨͍̳̬̫̞͍͉̣͖̮̪̹̩̐͐̃̃̍͂̎͊̌́̂͘̚͝m̥̬̪͕͊̾̂̕̕ͅy̛̥̤̳̣͔͍̗̳͓̝͙͙̣̼͊̌̇̽̀́̆͌̑͊͐̒͋͊͟͡ͅ ̛̤͓̉̔ͅḇ̨̢̢̤͎͍̺͎̜̠̞̜̹̖͍̬̟̠̅̽̄̔̑̽̀́̈̍͊́̉̀͑͘̕͡͡͝ͅr͈̟̤̝̜̽̎̒́͑ḁ̧̢̧̛̹̣͔̯̣͔͖͍̟̞̤̬͉͚͎͔́̔͋͛̓̄̽̃̅͂̊́̓̍̃̀͐̕͞v̗͂ę̧̩͎̯̠͈̖̲̍̒̂̉̽̈̓͊͢͞͠ ̗͉̣̭̬̝͇̞͚̗͛̎̌̉̊͛̋̐̋̉̇͒͟͢ḷ̢͙̙͓̫̩̲̝͓̰͙̯̟͎̣͆̈̄̀́͑͊̊̎͒̄̅̒͛͆̊͟͟͠͝i̢̡̨͔̙̹͈̣̱͔͕͕͆̀̓̀̽͑̓̓̎̇͒͡t̡̧̡̘̹̩̤̥͖̭̙̱͔̻̼̭̲̗͒͒̋͒̏̈̎͗͂̓̈͐̃̀͊̕̚͘͟͝t̡͔̪͊̋͗l͖̞̩̙̿́̋̐e̥̳͙̩̊͌̒̋̑͢ ͕̱̯̽͗̊b̩̓ô͉ỵ̑̐͜ ̨̺͇͍͎̦̤̘̯̩̭͎̥͂̏̏͛͐̀̈́̃̄̽̌̂̚͟͞͝ͅI̘̎s̲̹͔̓̐͡e̠͠.̡̠͇̞̩͙͖̺̽̌̅͗̿̒̔̕̚͢͟͞.̧̦̯̝̋̈̅͞.̨̩͓̺̯̩̺̘̑͛̋̉̊͌̾͝
̯̗̤̦͇̣̊̐͗̀̓̌̂̾͛̕͢͟͟ͅḬ̳͇̺̼̗̾͒̈̈́͐͛͋̇̚͢͢͜͜͞s̞͛e̡̳͇̮̳̫̰͕̩̳̜͎͔͎͎͋̔͂̈́̒̇̓͆̊̐͌͌͊̍̕͜͜͝͝,̢̙̭͚̲̫͍͔͚̰̗͓̤͑̔͂̆͋̅͒̑̋́̐̏͌͢͜͝͞͠ͅ ̛̹̘̳̼̝̩̣̰̠̼͚̞̫͇̼͉͎͒͆͗̍̈̂̂̆̿̀͋̌̐̍̄̚͟͜͝͝w̧̨̢̼̣̪̜̱̜̥̼͍̉͂̐͊͛̊͐̑̉̈́̚͟͞͞e̞͖̮̱̺̘̯̣̦͕̼̤̋̏͛̽̾̄̄̌͒̊̍͊̕͢͢͝ ̰̗̼̦̻̤͙̣̙̝̟̑̓͂̈́̍̊̈́͊̑̌́͘͢à̡̛̪̹̩͉͈̤͔̟̣̃͑̾̽̃͌͊̽͘͟͢͞re̟͇̬̤͖͙̹̗̙̦͊͊͑̃̀̍̀͒͞͡ ̡̬̪̙͙̝̱͇̖͙͒͊͛͊͂͑̚͠͝͠ḁ̢̛̲̳̠͖̻͉̹͈͈̰̝͙̔͌̔̀̈́̑̋͛͐͗̈́̾̓̊̚͘͟͟͟͟͟͠͠l̢̢̡̩̙̬̪̱͇͕̤͌̐̈̉͊̔̐̀̀̿̕̚͟w̭͖̝̘̑́̽̀ạ̢̨̭͎͕͇̻̹͇̬̒̑͒͐͐̑̀͒̋͊̃͟͡y̯͇̠̝̺͕̠͑̒̐̑̆̆̀s̢̳̯̩̹͕̝̲̻̰̀̽̊̐̀̾̇́͛͑͘͜ ̨̩̤̘̖͔̰̬̭͖̯͍͙̮͇̝̰̏̏͗̋̏͑̊͂̑͐͒͐͑̅͊̚͢͝͞t̡̫̺͓͍̞̒͗̽̌̍̋̃͟h̨̧̨̛̦̼̹̎͗̀̿͟͟͞͝͝ë̻̹̬͚̬́͗̑͌͑r̛̰̭̹͖̦͍͎̳̬͔̥̲̰̂͗̑̂̈̾͌͐͊̃̓̍̕͜͢͠e̢̗̰̖̬̓͌̃̀̿͟͞ ̫̼̲͙̭̼͓̼͉̦̰̬͓̥͎̗̉̔̃͒̀͒̋̇̃̌̿̚͘͘͠͠f̱͙́̇̉͟o̬̚ṟ̨̨̹̰̟͎̣̝̲͉̥͒́̌̒͛́̂̀̊̾͐͡ ̗̻̞̣͚̓̐̾̏̚y̨̛̦͕͔̙̻̣̮͚̯̖̤̞͚̻̐͑̋̋̿̏̑̏̃͑͊̈́̄̐̌ͅo͓̞͔͗́̕ụ̹̮̽̀́̕͜͡ͅ
Issei's head was hurting, his mind was at a turmoil...his heart, his heart was the worst...it still held on to the very little hope that maybe...maybe his parents are alive and well somewhere, that maybe he might be able to see them again.
It was impossible though, no matter how hard he tried...he was just running away from reality. He was just running away from the fact that the two most important people of his life are no longer here with him.
(Ise...dear, the dinner is ready)
(Ise, my boy, let's go to fishing sometime soon)
Issei never got the chance to apologize to his father for his actions in the past, for breaking his favourite fishing rod, his father just let the matter pass since he was a kid, and however it made Issei very sad.
Since then, he never went fishing. It was punishment, a conviction so that he would never repeat such mistakes.
So then...should he leave? Or should he not...?
'Ddraig...please tell me, what should, I do?'
Not being able to comprehend the situation, he asked the sentient being...the dragon who resided in his left arm.
[You're asking me? Well it's not surprising since...you are a kid and all.]
'Please tell me what should I do...should I go back? I mean...I would be safe if I return, right? I would be happy right... that's what my parents would have wanted too, right?'
[That is correct. I would not have agreed more. Your safety would be the first thing your parents must have thought. That is what they do.]
Issei's face now had a small smile, realizing that...he might make the right choice after all.
However a question still haunted his mind. A question which was about to change his whole rationality,
'Ddraig, if we arrived at my house, a few minutes early, do you think we could have saved my parents?'
[You are nothing but a child, even if you had arrived before the time of their death- you didn't had enough strength to save them, you were weak and to put it simply, with them you would have died as well.]
[In simple words, you are a child, there is simply nothing you can do to change the fate.]
Issei fell on his knees on his partner's comment or rather the true statement.
That was correct; there is nothing he could do. Nor he could have done then.
H̛̻̗̗̱͈͍̓̄͌̋̚e̢̥̞̳̻̽͂̅̆͂ļ̡͖̻̘̦̩̩͖̺̝̝̃̅̅̀́̓͆̍̌̚͡͝ṗ̢̢̛̩̼̪̱̜̟͍̬͚̦̬̺͕̖̮̟̩̺̭͓̦͋̍̂̉̃͋̐̒̐̀̓̆̌̆̌͊̈̀͘͠͝͠ͅ ̡̤͚̞͚̝͚̲̞͚̮̪́̊̋̀͒̍́̑̃̆̊͘̕͢p̣͡l̨͓͇̱͇̝̯̗̲̝̲͉̜̒̊͛̒̔̊͐̆͒̾̂̓̚͢͠e̡̮͔̱̩͍̤͓̜͖͚̼̐͒̃̄̑́͌̀̃̊͒͠a̢̨̛̫̮̻̟̼̫̗͇̟̠̹̯̤͖̗͔̫̭͆͑̒̍͊̄͗̉̑̾̃́́̈̎̓̊̕̕͘͟͢͞s̢̛̛͉̻̮̤̱̭̤̻̮͓͕̙͎̦̜͙͑̆̿̒̀́̏̓͗̔̉͊̋́̔̕͢ę̘̩̞̬̟̤͚͚̜̞̺͈̒̏̓̉̈́͗̈́̒̆̅̚̚͡ ̛̼̫͎̼̜̟̰̬̀̃̅̽͋̎̕ḥ̪͙̍̈́͂e̡̫̒̕l̢̥̘̫̏̄̅̄p̧̧̛̙̲͍͉̺͓̺̳̦̪͈̫̪̊́̔̿̓̉͗̀̊̀̚̚͢͜͠͠͠͝ ̩̤͆̒p̻̺̠͓̺̲̫͖̱̜̖͉̥̘̪̪̮͍͈̯̍̃̀̆̀̋̌͑̄́́́̌͐̑̀̌̄̋͌̽̚͜͟͜͡l̢̡̳͈̞͖̫̺͎̗̜̗̼̘̟̼̻̼̮̬̏̑̓̌̈́̈́̎̏̃̾̃̂̃͊̿͛͑͠͡͠e̡̫̼̞͖̬̭̘̭̖̪̰̪̥̮̹͓̯͍̤͎̓̇̽͑̋̓̎̏̀̏̀̏̅̆͑͐̅̅̒̇̓͘͟a̧̧̛͎̺̪͔̺̯̳̫̬̼̤̘̝̭̝͓̖̘̞̐̾̋͑̂̌̄̐̉̉̍̽́͗̅͌́̄͘͘͟͞͠ͅs̨̡̝͙̫͍̼̙͍͚̮̝͕̹̹̘̯̙̞̋͑̎̎̽͋̊̅́͊͑̊̋̀̒̂́́̈́͢͜͞͞e̛̛̫̥͖͚̫̻͉̪̼͍̞̍͋͆̉̌̅̿͘͞!̨̡̨̨̛͔͉̳͈͕͚̯̬͓̹̭̲̰̤̲͚̮̎̊̆̒̿͆̊̍̄͌͌̑̇̌̀̄̽̚͢͟͝͞͞͠͡ͅ
̺̫̠̫͈̳͍̹̜͈̺̬̲̪̽̈͋̍́̾͒̽̀̔̅͘̚̕͟͢͡͞N̼̜͔̝̰̙͈̖̩̊͆̑̃̆̏͑͠͡ǒ̩͓̭̽̈́.̧̧̢̧̦͇̺̼͚̖̗̼̳͚̩͎̤̰̤̭̳̹̈̌̌̂͋͐͗̊̾̃͊̂̿̔̑͑͋̈̎̕͞͡.͙̬̺̙̣̘̗̻̃̉̍͋̽̚͡͠.̡̧̦͓̪͖̞̹̗̮̩̟̮̗̟̄͛̾͌̐̌̈͌͗̋͌̈́̆̿͒͜͜͞͠N̢̢̡̞̟͚͕̭̮̺͓͇̻̯̪̻̞͔̲̺̱̍̏̔͑̊̐̀̅̇͋̃̓̉̓̿̇̓̓͐̀̕̚͢͜͡ó̧̡̡̡̦̤͇̫̮͔̲̪̙̰̬͉͚̭̄̆͗̽̋̓̑̏̐̈́̊͂͗͗̕͢͜͡͡͞͡.̛̹̹͙̟̟͖͎̺̟͔̩̺̘̥̘̬͓͕̀͑̒͋̑̊͛́̌̒̄̒̏͐̂̇̕͟͟͡͝͝ͅ.̞̙̟̗͇̮̯̬͓͔̱̘̞̟̾͑̋̇̄̌͊̿̉̍̏̔̀͆͌͐͜͟͢͢͡͠.̜̫̖̖̆̑͆̚N̥͇̗̯̻̳̩̦̲̤̬̓̾͊͋̂́͛́̇͘͠ö̧͉͍̺̞̘͚͈̰͎̤̮̻͚̤͚̙̹̫̜͚̩̪̍̃̃͛͊̔̋̎͐͋͑̃̆̿̽͂̄̚̕͡͠͝.̜̭̑̔.̧̨̢̛̠͉͓̦͖̻̹̪͛̉͛̃̊̋̊̀̾̅̕͟.̢̢̧̬͎͕͍͕̮̀̋͐̊͒̍͗͆̚d̘̮͕͓̹̱̺̗͓̺̳͖͉͇̬̞̊͑̑̿̈́̒̒̓̆̏͋͌̿̓̃̆̍̆͜͢͢͡o̖͕̯͉͍̱̻̭̻̻̘̙̲̝̓͑̏̿̌̉̇̇̐̋͛͒̽̒̀͟͢͝ṇ̛̘̬̤͕͊̽̽̇'̠̣͉̱̜̙̬̜̠̦͖̬̅͋̿̀͑̓̐̈͑̋̑͘t̡̡̢̡̳͈̤̺̱̟͆̔͂̓̈̕͘͘͡͠ ̖̺̩̤̬͔͇̤̤̪̗̙̟̺̥͉̖͙̥͈͑̍̀̈̈́̅͑̀̌̇̄̾͒̃̔́̀̑͘͢͟͢͡͝͡͞ę̨̧̛̛͕͈̟̱̫̦͈̯̰̮͚̩̰̞̦̲̱̭͉͚́͌̀̈̾́͌̾̌̓̋̓̇̃̿̂͗̕̚̚̚̚͜á̢͖͇͕͙̼͉̀͛͌͒̌̌͗̾͢͟ț̨̛̺̝̪̲̪͕͍̘͉͔̜̍̿̓̀͂͐͗̀̿͘̚͘̚͢͝ͅ ̛̟̮̱̭̗͍̦̝̾̒͑̔̃̆̔m̨̥̙͚̎̋̌̂e͚͇͙̯̞̥̞̟͖̫͔̬͖̪͛̍̃͐͒͗͒͊̇̇̊̎͊̇̕͢͜͞.͔͔̭̞̣̫̓͑̉̊̈́͡.̢͖̦̖͕͉̖͔̦̤̰̤̯̫͈̜̤̻͓̗̮̿̌̍̄̿̈́̑͑̏̾͛͊̈͒̂̈̌́̋̿͋̚͞ͅͅ.̨̢̛̛̹̟̩̬̩̬̌̌͂̓̀̅̇͗̈́͜͢͠ͅͅ
̲̳̳̀̍́͜͠ḭ̢̮̰̯̱̩̠̫̰̳̠̮̪̏͌́̔̉̃̎͛̋͆̿̒̚͡t͉̳̮̯̜͎̤̜̯̤̗̯͉̭̠̼̉͑̄̀̊̔͒͋̔́́̌̅͋̂͘̕͘͢ͅ ̡̡̬̖̗̼͆̃̌̅̔̕h̛̥̜͔̹̗̠̭̺̖̫͓̰̭̒̈̀̔̌̆͛͋̍̄̑͘͘͠ͅͅų̺͓͉̤͖̮͔̹̘̬̬̓͆̋̽͌̆̋͋̈́̕̚̚͟͝r̗͋ṫ͔̘͇͂͝s̛̭̺͔̦̼͓̣̲̱͇̼̟̭͎̳̞̻̽̌͛͂́̌̐̆͐̎̑̐̃́̏̕.̢̩͚̳̞̬̟͔̙̗̦̳͐̽̑͂̐̀̈́̾̋̐̚͞͝ͅ.̧̡̹̺͙͓̫̦̟̜͎̼̥̈̀̈̄̾͌̍͂́̃̽̇͂͟͜͝͠͝ͅ.̢̞̳͎̮̙̟͇͈͈̻̟̜̭̗̬̲̞̠͕̣̮̜͆̍̊̂͊̏͛̿͒͆̓̎̿͋̄͌́͗͗͐̉͘͢͞͠.̺̥̬̟͇͛̀͆͊̉i̡͇͆͗t͇̘͕͐̇͐͌͜ ̨̡͉̹̮͇͓͙͕̪͙͍̜͓̱̄͗͌́̍̒̋̄͒̂͗͋̽͝͠ḣ̜̰̤̗͑͑̇̾ͅu̥͚̹̣̥̫̰̤͎̫̭̪̝̝͕͌̒̓́̏͋̓͒̌͑̐͒͆͆͆͆͟͢͢͠͝͡ͅr̡̛͖͉̼̞̭̺̗̤̫̈́̅̓̒̿̋̇̚͝t̟͓͎͕̲̟̊̿̅̆͋̑s̟̬̩̻̽͐̿͗ ̢̧̩̻͚͍̹̲̹͎̻̻̞͇͉̤͈̠̩͕̗̻̬̝̈́́̏͒͆̿͐̈́͒̑̆͛̏̏̒̀̀̋̽͐͘̚͟͝͞͡ş̭͉̹̙͍̱̞̠̮̲̆̏͋̌̍͒̍̍͊̕͢͞͝ơ̪̱̫̖̬̫͐́͋͑̓ ̧̳̜̱̭̗̅̋̒̇̀̽͜͠m̢̢̠̦̣͍͓̖̦̗̻̅̑͌͊̏̔́̄̿͘̚͝ͅü̡̢̘͖͎̫̼̝̻̦̼̽͒͋͊̃͐͆̉̾̕͜͜͡͡c̼̜̦͇͈̹̘̙̗̱̲̆͒̇̽̓̾͐͊̏͋̒̐ͅḣ̡̨̠̺͙͈͇̦̞̋̿̋͌̉̓̀͘̚͜.̧͎̗͎͓͔̤̜̦̯̘̱͚͈͚͕̥̺̬͎͉͓̎̅̿͂͛̋̄̂̈́͗͂̔̓̐̒̋͂̔͆̅̋̈́͜͠͡ͅ.̣͛̒ͅ.̡̢̢̢̫͙̼̘̤̠̹͎̫͓͙̺̬̮̻͈͔͒̾̉̑̾̇͊̃́̒͂̈́̏̈̔̀̂͐̀͆͘̕͟͟͟͝͝h̗̠͔̠͎̟͎͕͉́͛͆̆͋̈̒̍͌͘͜͜͡ę̤͖͇̦͚̉̾͋̚̕͞l̨̛̠͍̩͓͎͉̣̱̦̖͓̻̤͈̜͆̒̍̈̌̐̿͑͂̉̆̉͛̉̈́̀͜p͙͕̜̘̼̯͖͉̮̙̥̥̬͖̘̳̯̼̦͔̮͕̤̮͛̏̏̏̿̓̇̍̋̇̏̿̓̉̅͊͊̆̍̈͡͡͞͝ ̢̛̭̺͍͙̲͕͍̤̱̋̾̅̽͑̂̍͛͡ṁ̧̢̢̛̫̺̯̻͈̟̗̥̰̰̯͔̖̲̣̪͊̄͊̅̍̋͑̏̆̋̌́̆͌̚̕͝ḛ̢̧̢̻̰̭̫̜͕͆̈̽̋̎̃̉́̈̄̕ͅ ̧̧̛͙̙̥̫̀͐̔͒͒p̰̣͇͉̱̗͇͈͙̤̃̎̐̅̀̉̋́̆́͜͟͞͝l͓̦̺̞̝̩͖̖̤̟̼͍̞̱͔̼̮̖͓̳̏̓̂̎̋́̊̿̑̐̎͂̇̀͛̿̾̊̄̂͗̏͜͟͢͠͡ͅe̬̺̹̗̪̪̞͒̽̐̎̌̊͠ā͉̞͙̫̥̱͓̙̯̦̟̥͋̆̾͊̌̂̃̎̿̈̚͢͠s̡̛̩͎͖̲͔̘̮̻͖̞̦̠͇̣̯͔̘̩̦͊̔̃͊̀̈̒͆͋̀̓̅̔̉̇̌̀͐̕ę̡͙̻̩͎͎͕͍̘̭̟̮̲͓͑̌͐̉̅̀̋̊̾͋͛͗͂̓͂̈͜
̼̤̮͓͔͖̮̟̥̪̆͗̇͛̀͗͆̂͂̓̈́̕͘͢͢͜͜͠Ī͚̙̉̐͟s̨̡͚̬̞̭̣̹̤̹̲̹̙͙̳͖̫̓̂͋̄̎̀̌̎̈́͛̏̃͐͗͐̾̅͢͞e̡̨̛͇̮̬̱͇̱̜̝̥̞͊̾͗̔́̿͋̎͘͝͝.̛̖̻̖͍̘̬͙̞͕͓̘̫̝̲͙͇̥͚̫̘̥̓̀͆͑̏̊̑̑͆͒͒̓̽͊̑̀́͘͟͝͡͠.̢̢͍͕̳̠͎̱̹̙̤̱͚͕̬̀̎͑̀̓̑͆̒̓̊̊͛͆̕͜͡͝.̡͍̮̰̟̘͕̖̰͇͕͕̝̳̽̓̀́̑̑̆͂͐̇̂̀͘̚͟͞͠ͅ
It was as if he could hear those horrendous screams, those cries...those words.
What would happen if he returns? What was the guarantee that his other family members won't be in danger? Would he have the strength to protect them? Or would the incident with his parents will occur once again?
([You are but a child, there is nothing, you could have done])
The words were imprinted on his mind.
The seeds of his past, he seeds of failure, the seeds which were destined to grow to reach something else, changed.
'Ddraig, perhaps...I have decided, what I would do...'
[Is that so?]
Thinking no further, Issei gobbled down the edible presented to him, without uttering a single word.
Half an hour or so later, Vergil made his appearance once again.
Even before Vergil spoke, little Issei beat him to it...
\”I have made my decision.\”
With an intrigued expression, the only thing Vergil muttered was,
\”...Ho\”.
.......
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Two Years Later- Issei Hyoudou (7 Years Old)
A beast with the body of a lion with the skin colour being red, the tail of a scorpion, and the head/face of a man with a mouth filled with multiple rows of sharp teeth similar to a shark.
Or the beast should appear like that, the name of the beast was Manticore.
However, currently the beast had lost its scorpion tail and its bat like wings had holes in it.
The beast currently was running...from
\”Hey, who decided you could go? Come back here!\”
A young boy's voice echoed through the broken dimension.
\”Little kitty like you shouldn't run, come on now, gimme those intestine of yours...\”
The boy, Issei Hyoudou, who happens to be topless and even though he's a child a well cut body.
With the Boosted Gear Gauntlet on his left hand, he was chasing the beast.
[It's laughable that just two years ago, you would have run away from this beast.]
His partner, Ddraig spoke whilst Issei continued his chase,
\”Heh\”
Issei just smirked, however didn't stop his hunt and his prey.
[BOOST]
With announcement made through his gauntlet, he jumped in the mid-air, his target was the beast's neck.
However, the Manticore must have realised this and in that very moment turned its head and open its mouth to its maximum, the plan the beast made was very simple.
To chew down- Issei's body.
However, realizing the situation and the plan the Manticore had for him, he just smirked and dived inside the beast, before it got the chance to even clamp down its razor sharp teeth.
[BOOST]
Another announcement was made, however, it was through the Manticore's insides...which the beast thought would soon die down since; he could just devour the kid right now.
Boy was he wrong.
Kraaaaaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
[-!?]
The Manticore felt sudden pain in its belly, looking down it realized what just occurred and even being a beast it realized what it meant.
Issei, split through its stomach and crawled his way to the Manticore's belly.