47 Daily Lives and Training (2/2)
”Hm?”
”If it is like that, then gives me also to train that Durandal's wielder. I have a suitable teacher for her.”
”You do? Whom though?” Azazel asked surprised.
”Don't you want to know about my own Harem? One of them is a suitable teacher for that Durandal wielder. I will need to persuade her a bit though.” Rafi smirked a bit after seeing Azazel's surprised face.
”Hoho, I can't wait to see it then. I leave her training to you then. I will modify their training plan a bit then. See ya later.”
”En.” Rafi nodded lightly at Azazel as he saw his departure.
”...Koneko-chan and Xenovia eh.” Rafi the smiled lightly at the thought of that two girls.
.....
The days passed quietly as Rafi kept a low profile becoming a 'normal' teacher. With his training, Issei's body became more full of vitality. As magic power related greatly with vitality, or life force, Issei's magic capacity was increased greatly when he continuously broke his body's limit under Rafi's training. And when Issei couldn't handle it, Rafi would heal Issei immediately, thus the endurance training kept continuing despite Issei's tears.
”Good. This end our training for now, Issei. Although you can't reach Balance Breaker state, but your magic power has increased greatly to stand at High-devil level. And your Boosted Gear is at its crossroad point, whether you can awaken Balance Breaker is dependent on yourself.”
”Huft..huft..thank you, Rafi-sensei. But I still don't understand how to reach Balance Breaker form...unlike you and Vali...” Issei said slowly as he was out of breath after the inhuman training he was subjected to.
”Balance Breaker could be called a manifestation of the user's strong desire, or will. I have said it at first, if you infuse your feeling strongly to Boosted Gear, then it will respond your feeling with more power.”
”...I still don't understand that part...” Issei tilted his head helplessly after hearing Rafi. Looking at Issei's confusion, Rafi continued his explanation patiently.
”Depend on the user, every Sacred Gears could evolve its self to be more than its usual function. Balance Breaker is one of it, as its existence break the balance of world's defined law. It is usually affected by its user's Desires and Emotions.
When, in a particular moment, the user feels a strong emotion or desires something greatly, and sharing their feelings to Sacred Gear, then it will cause Sacred Gear to respond that feelings with more power. When that feedback power is breaking the limiter placed on Sacred Gear by world's law, that power is called Balance Breaker.
Now then, it all boils down the user in the end. You need to find inside yourself, what you really want. Your problem now isn't your magic capacity, but your feelings, Issei. I know you are still feeling betrayed by Raynare, and hate her, but...”
”.....” Issei was silent as he tried to grasp Rafi's meaning. His feeling to Raynare was a complex one, as she was his first love and the one that left a deep scar of betrayal in his heart.
”...but you need to accept it, the reality that is. I don't say you must forgive what she did to you and Asia. However, thinks of it as a part of your life that shapes the current you. Without meeting Raynare, The events would have revolve differently, and you may not meet with Rias, Asia or the others they way it were.
Although you may be contacted by Rias in the end because of the Sacred Gear lodges inside you, but your path may be different than now. Do you regret your path up until now, Issei?” Rafi then looked at Issei seriously as he asked him.
”...no, but, she...” Issei dared not to face Rafi, as he replied Rafi with complicated feeling.
”I know that first love is one that leave a deep mark in our heart, and unfortunately for you, in the end she even betrayed your sincere feeling to her. But don't make it a shackle to your current self, Issei. Don't you understand the feelings of the girls around you? I bet you understand it, but you keep it as it is because of that scar right.” Rafi kept lecturing Issei as he saw Issei was still trying to escape the reality of his first love.
”...yes, I know their feelings for me, or else they will not let me to see those things that they usually hid. But,..I am also afraid of knowing their feelings. If, if it will be like Raynare, then I...” Issei answered weakly after a brief silence. As even if he was a bit dumb, but he also noticed the girls's feeling for him.
”Man, shapes up, Issei. You are a man who lodging in yourself one of the Heavenly Dragon who can kill Gods and Devil Kings alike. And you get yourself that many women's sincere feelings, but you are still haunted by your ex that betrayed you??”
”...but, Rafi-sensei...” Issei looked at Rafi weakly as his eyes was a bit moist with the hanging tears.
”Don't be ridiculous! If you are still hanging on Raynare, then you will only hurt the girls's sincere feelings for you. At that time, you will only be engulfed by your dark feelings and rampage the world, hurting the ones you should protect, the ones that really care about you. In the end, you will only be left with nothing! Do you want that hah?!” Rafi stared angrily at Issei after seeing Issei was still stubborn on his feeling.
”...no, I don't want it!” Issei looked at Rafi's angry face fearfully as he tried to reply him with spirit, to reduce his fear.
”Then show me your resolve! If you don't, then I will...kill them all.” Now, Rafi slowly exuded an evil, cold and sinister aura as he declared the execution. While he saw Issei was shivering from his aura, he continued his words with his evil intention covered their training place. The room seemed to turn colder and darker as his sinister aura suffocated it.
”Slowly, I will slice their bodies bit by bit, letting their blood to flow quietly. And if their bleeding stops, I will cut it again, and again, until their blood drown them to death. Your parents, Rias, Asia, Koneko, Xenovia, and all your friends will be dying, slowly, in front of you.
Oh, how I will relish the pleasures of killing them slowly as you are laying weakly on the ground, watching them dying, and unable to do anything! Their tears, their hopeful gazes as they hope to be saved by you, and finally only to be in despair as you can't help them at all! HaHaHa!! How wonderful that scene will be?!!” Rafi then laughed madly as he looked at Issei's eyes that was filled with rage and defiance silently.
”!!!” Issei was silent as his rage and desire to protect his family and friends was churning, overflowing inside him.
”Because you are weak, you can't protect them at all! This world, doesn't need a weak, and wimpy Red Dragon Emperor, Issei.” Rafi said coldly to Issei as he saw the rage and determination inside Issei's eyes.
”You!!! HAaaaHH!!!” Finally, Issei's breaking point was reached as his left hand shined brightly, and his magic energy raged inside him.
”Welsh Dragon - Balance Breaker!” Ddraig's ancient voice sounded as Issei's Boosted Gear finally awakened its Balance Breaker form.
”...Good, but looks like your Balance Breaker duration is still short. You still need further training, Issei.” The cold, sinister and evil aura around Rafi dissipated in an instant after he saw Issei in Balance Breaker.
”Congratulation, you finally awaken Balance Breaker, partner. But, your method is rather hard for Issei, Rafi.” Ddraig inside Issei first congratulated Issei before he said helplessly to Rafi.
”Can't be helped, Ddraig. He needs a stimulus after all. Good thing that his feeling to protect them proves to be a catalyst for his awakening. Oh, sorry for that Issei. Hahaha, do I scare you that greatly?” Rafi replied calmly at Ddraig, as he then laughed at Issei after he saw Issei fell for his trick.
”Eh? You are really not going to kill them?” Issei's voice sounded unsure and confused from his head protector.
”Are you stupid?! Rather than killing them, I prefer to make the girls my women. Killing them is a sin, yes, a sin for neglecting the God's grace that is bestowed upon their bodies, hehehe.” Rafi closed one of his eye at Issei, as he said in a matter-of-fact manner.
”Damn, you are still my enemy after all! I will not let you steal my Harem's dream girls.”
”Oho, but if you don't quickly do something about it, I may really steal them you know. I mean, you have been unable to take the last step all this time, and hanging their feelings around. Leaving them to you is wasting their times and natural resources hoho.” Rafi smiled perversely at Issei, reminded him.
”You...?!” Issei stared angrily, and ashamedly at Rafi, after Rafi poked his sore spot. It was one of his regret to not be able taking the last step all that time previously.
”Okay, enough of the jokes. Even if I want to, it may be hard to steal them, considering their feelings for you. Our training session ends here for now, Issei. But, I will still be around. So, watch your girls closely, or else... hehe.”
”I will not let you.” Issei straightened his back as he looked at Rafi firmly.
”Good, that is the spirit. But, I will not admit defeat easily. Then, show the world that you are Hyoudou Issei, the Red Dragon Emperor, that rivals even Gods and Devil Kings alike. However, don't lose yourself in drowning in power. Remember your original dreams and feelings. If you lose yourself in power, then it is also meaningless. The girls around you like the current yourself after all. The Issei they know is a kind and a pervert Red Dragon Emperor. Don't forget it, Issei.” Rafi said as he tapped Issei's shoulder firmly, before he walked away, while laughing hard as he thought silently, 'Maybe I am more suited to be a Demon King after all, hahaha'.
Rafi finally left Issei alone in their training place, as he laughed happily after successfully scaring Issei. While Issei's Balance Breaker was undone slowly as Issei looked at Rafi's departing back.
”Thank you, Rafi-san.” Issei muttered slowly.
.....
Several days later, Rias and her peerage was in Underworld Train as they headed to Gremory's territory for trainings in their summer vacation. In the Underworld Train, Rafi was sitting in first compartment as both Rias and Azazel went to the peerage's compartment. After waiting a bit, a light flashed in the their compartment, as Rafi then also disappeared following the teleportation.