DxD: The Truth of the World

CHAPTER 8

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Before he even realized it, his legs were already moving.

The moment Rias uttered the words that Issei was dying, his instincts took over. His chair clattered to the floor as he launched himself straight out of the window without a second thought.

His body twisted mid-air, landing on the ground in a crouch before he started to sprint towards the school gate. Embers of blue flickered before colors of orange, green, and purple flashed around him as a Heat Riser activated, flooding his limbs with power.

The wind howled past his ears as he sped through the street, with his senses peeled, trying to figure out where Issei was.

The feeling of Light in his senses erupted in the distance—and his destination changed to the fountain area of the park. Getting closer to the source of Light, he turned the corner and went past the bushes to the clearing, and he froze.

A collapsed body at the base of the fountain, clutching the torn open wound on his chest, his school uniform soaked in blood as it seeped on the floor. Above him, flying, stood a man with black wings with a Light-infused spear aiming at his heart.

The sight caused the restraint inside him to snap loose.

SLICE!

Ren threw himself between Issei and the Fallen Angel, the ground erupting beneath his feet from the sheer force of his launch. In a blink, he closed the distance.

With a single swing of his now-materialized sword, he cleaved through the air. Metal met flesh as the blade severed the Fallen Angel’s arm off, sending the Light Spear clattering to the ground in a burst of flickering energy.

A cry sounded from the Fallen as he staggered back, clutching the bleeding stump, eyes wide with pain and shock, but Ren's attention was solely fixed on Issei, who was bleeding profusely from his wounds.

"Diarama."

The green hue around Issei worked instantly, knitting flesh, slowing the bleeding, and pulling the boy from the brink of death. Seeing that Issei was now out of immediate danger made his anger simmer down slightly, but the threat that started the problem was still not dealt with yet.

He turned his head to meet the problem head-on.

"W-Who dares?!"

The Fallen roared before manifesting another Light Spear from his remaining arm and screamed in pain as he used it to cauterize the stump of his missing arm to stop the bleeding.

"N-Nii..."

Issei choked out a cry behind him, which caused his simmered rage to light up into flames as hot as an Inferno.

"You... You filthy humans! You don’t know your place!"

He spat out, saliva flying from his mouth as his voice cracked, filled with rage. His wings flared behind him furiously, kicking up wind and loose debris around the fountain.

Looking at the unsightly scene in front of him, Ren briefly tilted his head, his eyes glancing over his shoulder as he looked at his little brother, who was barely conscious due to the excessive loss of blood.

A bright flash of crimson caught his attention before dissipating, revealing the entirety of the ORC (Occult Research Club) standing on the Gremory Clan's teleportation circle, ready for combat.

They took their sweet time.

Issei would have passed out when they arrived, but it seems that Issei will be in good hands from how panicked Gremory-san looked after noticing Issei.

"He's fine. I've already healed him, but he’s lost a lot of blood."

He gave a short nod as Rias jogged past him, dropping to her knees beside Issei.

His gaze shifted briefly to the rest that followed their King.

Kiba stood with a hand resting on a sword's hilt. Akeno’s usual smile was present, but sharper in a sinister sense. Even Koneko narrowed her eyes slightly, her stance tense with her fists clenched.

None of them moved forward.

It looks like they were not entering the fight, presumably to evaluate him with the intention of helping if needed.

Fine, he actually would like to handle this on his own.

Adjusting his right hand's grip on his sword, he tightens his hold on it before walking forward.

"Ise, take a nap. Your big brother will handle everything."

With a deep breath, he delved into the depths of the universe, linked through his psyche to where the Sea of Souls resided.

A plea for help rang across the Collective Unconscious to defeat the foe in front of him.

His other self answered his call.

Power filled his whole body as he raised his left arm, palm open toward the skies. In response, an ethereal card with the image of The Fool shimmered into existence, floating on his palm.

He plucked the card from the air, his gaze flicked toward the Fallen before giving him a small smirk.

"Per—so—na."

With a sharp motion, he crushed the card in his fist.

SHATTER!

The sound of shattering glass echoed, and fragments of the card burst outward, engulfed in light blue flames that flared from the gaps between his fingers. Intensifying, the flames spiraled around the grinning Ren before exploding upwards into a pillar of bright light.

A silhouette that mirrored him manifested from behind him.

Glossy ash-gray skin covered the figure, jet-black messy hair, and its face was featureless like a mannequin stripped of identity.

A tattered cloak draped over its shoulders, partially concealing a deep maroon tunic embroidered with the image of a grinning demon, paired with slim-fitting pants and long, pointed boots.

Clutched in one hand was a gnarled wooden staff, as tall as the figure itself, crowned with a small, glowing orb that pulsed faintly at its tip.

I am Thou...

Thou art I...

From the Sea of Thy Soul, I Cometh.

May Thine Enemies Burn in the Flames of Inferno...

"Alighieri!"

BOOM!

The air around the Fallen sparked before the very space ignited, erupting in a large explosion that engulfed the being, with a sudden gust of wind howling outwards a moment later, kicking up dirt and debris.

FWOOSH!

The smoke from the explosion was cast aside from a swipe of an arm, revealing a badly scorched Fallen Angel, his clothes burnt with holes while blackened feathers shed with every twitch.

"I—Shit! I, Dohnaseek, am being this damaged by a human—!"

His breath came out in ragged gasps, eyes wide with disbelief and fury as Ren closed the distance, sword raised.

"Damn you! Stay back—!"

Dohnaseek raised a trembling hand as Ren's blade slashed downwards.

SHATTER!

Steel met conjured Light before the hastily made barrier shattered, as his sword cleaved into flesh from his shoulder to the side of his hips.

Blood splashed forth as Dohnaseek screamed in pain, the force of the slash sending him crashing into the ground with a sickening thud.

Cleaning the blood off his blade with a quick flick, he looked at the struggling Fallen Angel before deciding to end its misery.

"Persona."

The sound of shattering glass rang out as Alighieri manifested once more behind him.

"Agilao."

Raising its staff, the orb floating on the tip started glowing a bright red before the Persona swung at the air—

"Wait!"

Alighieri paused midswing before both Ren and his Persona slowly turned their gazes toward the source of the voice.

The Gremory heir sat at the edge of the scene with Issei's head lying on her lap, her expression grim but firm. Surprised that he actually stopped his attack, she took a deep breath to compose herself before continuing.

"We need to interrogate him; there is no explanation for a Fallen to randomly attack in the territory of Devil without a single thought."

His blade hung still in the air for a moment. The tension suddenly grew between him and the ORC as her Peerage started to raise their guard against him, ready to enter the battlefield to obey their King's command to retrieve the Fallen Angel alive.

Looking at them, he gave it a quick thought before deciding to listen to her request.

Slowly exhaling through his nose, the tension eased from his shoulders as he lowered his arm, both the sword in his arm and his Persona mirroring his actions as they faded into motes of blue.

Placing an arm on his hip with the other pinching the bridge of his nose, he massaged it for a second before nodding at Rias.

"Alright. Go ahead."

The tension around them lifted compliance at his as, one by one, the ORC members lowered their guards and moved, passing Ren with wary but composed expressions.

They gathered around half-conscious Dohnaseek, and with enchanted restraints and sealing spells, they began to secure the struggling Fallen Angel.

Looking at Issei, he was not surprised at the lecherous grin of his as the boy snuggled deeper into the lap pillow he was presented.

"Thanks for looking after him during all this, Gremory-san."

He gave her a genuine nod of gratitude, to which Rias simply smiled as she caressed her servant's hair resting on her.

"Of course, Issei is now my Peerage member. This much is nothing."

She gazed from his face, and Ren followed her gaze instinctively to the scorched field where his Persona's Agilao erupted.

He winced at the damages that the park had suffered because of his one attack. Maybe he should have used an Agi instead; the collateral damage wouldn't have been so severe.

"I—uh, about the compensation for all the damages done..."

He trailed off with a somber laugh, hoping that his wallet would be able to bear the amount that would come out of her mouth.

Rias gave him a good look before smiling with amusement in her eyes.

"It's alright, sensei. There will be no compensation needed. You saved a servant of the Gremory Clan, after all. I will make some calls to restore the park to how it was, though I'd like something from sensei."

He contemplated before nodding, curious about her request.

"There are more answers for you to answer, especially after what you've shown. I would like them answered as truthfully as you possibly can, perhaps after school tomorrow in the Student Council room?"

He didn't hesitate on his answer.

"Consider it done. I'll do my best to satisfy your questions."

He didn't hesitate on his answer. He was going to be apparent during the supposed meeting as well, anyways.

"Bucho, we've secured him."

Kiba announced, just as Koneko hauled the unconscious Fallen Angel by his hair toward them. Nearby, Akeno began channeling her Demonic Energy, preparing to activate the Gremory Clan's teleportation circle for transportation.

Satisfied, she looked down at the Issei on her lap before glancing back to Ren.

"He’s lost a considerable amount of blood. Would it be alright if I stayed the night to make sure he heals properly?"