Co-Written with Demons Anarchy of Pride, the author of many BRILLIANT stories such as Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R-eset, Code Geass: Miraculous Birthday, Code Geass: Lucian of the Paradox, Infinite Stratos: For Answer, Devil Survivor: Destiny Rewind, Code Geass: Suzaku of the Counterattack, RWBY's Reaper, TOKYO GHOUL: Requiem for a Demon, Tokyo Ghoul: Black Dove, Fractured Reality, Those that Defy Fate, Tokyo Ghoul DxD, Other Self Online, Code SURVIVOR, Tokyo Ghoul:reBIRTH, Tatsumi ga Kill!, and many, many more!

He is a good friend of mine, and I highly recommend all his stories!

I am truly grateful for his help in making this story possible! You are the best man!

This story was started off from the idea from Stray Red Dragon Emperor by IllusionDrawer and A Fragile Heart by Gunmare, with Issei's friends not choosing to go back to comfort him after their condescending remarks.

We also added the dark twist of Tokyo Ghoul to it.

This takes place around volume 10 of the Light Novel, yet before :re of Tokyo Ghoul.

XXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 1: A Devil's End of Life

Issei Hyoudou sighed heavily as he walked about the school grounds, the only source of illumination being the street lamps lit all around the campus. Normally, around this time, he would be hanging out with his friends and celebrating their victory over the Khaos Brigade after they had tried to disturb the peace process.

However, that was not the case. He was just confused by the events that happened earlier in the clubroom. Just what on Earth had he said that ticked Rias and the others off? Sure, he could be an idiot at times, but he spoke how he felt: Rias was beautiful, and he couldn't have her any other way... so why was she so pissed?

He let out another sigh. Was this what his mom meant by the fact that he would never understand women?

'Partner...you okay?' The voice of his comrade in arms, Ddraig, asked.

"...I'm not so sure Ddraig. Just what did I do wrong back there? Why was everyone so scathing towards me? Was it because I didn't understand Buchou's feelings?" He asked back.

'Unfortunately, kid, that is something you have to solve on your own.' the Great Welsh answered. 'Trust me, I am the last person you should be asking about a woman's feelings...' Issei heard him shudder. 'Believe me when I say this, women hold grudges for a long time... and a female dragon holds one for eternity.'

"Wow..." the teen sweat-dropped. "What did you do?"

'Partner, I didn't earn the title 'The Crimson Emperor' for nothing.' Ddraig said solemnly. 'I have done a lot of things I am not proud of... among them was leaving a comrade to die on the battlefield... especially one I courted in the past.'

"Guess we both suck with women, huh?" Issei chuckled sarcastically, a slight smile appearing on his face. However, it vanished just as soon as it had appeared. "I like Buchou, I really do... But..."

'Is this about what happened with that Fallen woman?'

The brown haired teen stopped walking. His voice silent, yet his mind was racing. Racing to the past...the time when he was asked out on a date for the first time in his life. It was the happiest day of his life...but it ended bitterly. His date turned out to be only playing with him for her own amusement before killing him. His emotions were toyed with, his trust broken, his fear and anxiety grew.

"...Huh...I just can't hide it from you, partner." Issei responded with a bitter smile.

'You forget, I've been with you for a long time.' Ddraig answered. 'Since the day you were conceived, actually... I am sorry, Issei. If it weren't for me, that woman wouldn't have...'

"Hey, what are you apologizing for, Ddraig?" Issei asked, trying to put on a carefree smile as usual. "I mean, how was I supposed to know I was going to become the Red Dragon Emperor?"

'Still though...!' The dragon argued back. 'If only I had awakened and contacted you sooner! Then maybe you wouldn't have had to die like that! I could've warned you and avoided her, and saved you from all that grief! I could have-!'

"Ddraig!" Issei interrupted him. "...It's no big deal. It's not your fault, it never was. I was just an idiot for falling for such an obvious tactic. I didn't even know her, and I still agreed on a date with her...Heh...I'm just a hopeless idiot, aren't I?"

'Issei...'

"And besides...I still would've been pitifully weak at that point. I would've died regardless."

Ddraig cringed at his partner's words. He had been with Issei for a long time, as he had spoken earlier, having seen everything he endured. Out of everyone in his life, he was the one who knew Issei the best. Sure, he was a pervert, but his dream of being a harem king was... something more. He didn't want women all around him, wanting him to ravish their bodies.

He just wanted to stop being alone.

"Maybe I should head back and apologize to Buchou now..." Issei said, scratching the back of his head. "I think she's probably let of some steam now... right?"

However, just as he was about to turn around and head back for the club room, he suddenly felt himself freeze on the spot.

Killing intent had washed over him like a tidal wave. 'W-what in the hell is this?!'

The amount of sheer malice was staggering. In fact, it was as if he was drowning in fear and bloodlust. Whoever this person is...they are anything but human. No human, no matter how twisted or murderous, could ever match this feral, hunting instinct.

That fact truly scared him.

He whirled around to face the threat. In front of him were two men, each dressed in bizarre outfits. The first was a man with white hair, his bloody red eyes glaring out with an almost chilling calmness, a crimson mask covering the bottom half of his face. A vast majority of his body was hidden by the white coat he wore. His companion was taller, wearing a mask that hid his entire face, bearing exaggerated lips and oversized teeth, lacking eyes. The figure had long hair, tied back into a long ponytail, and was dressed in a dark red robe.

"W-who the hell are these guys?" Issei wondered, slipping into a battle stance.

'Be careful, partner...' Ddraig advised. 'Whoever they are... they are not Devils, nor Angels or Fallens.'

The white-haired man narrowed his eyes on Issei. "Interesting..." he hummed. "You don't smell like an ordinary human."

"Yet, you don't smell like a Ghoul, either..." The white haired man was now behind him. Issei instinctively whipped around and jumped backwards.

"H-how...?!" Issei stammered, disbelieving anything to be that quick. He didn't even see the man move. Not even Yuuto could move that quickly.

"Hm...Good reaction speed."

The brown haired teen grit his teeth, and felt his demonic power begin to flow through him. Crimson armor began to plate his right arm, the fingers encased in talons, and a glowing green jewel embedded into the back of his hand. His wings sprout forth from his back, uncurling straight and proud. The man was intrigued by this, having never seen anything like it before.

"Who are you?!" Issei demanded as he initiated a boost. "Answer me!"

The man scoffed, amused. "If you want me to tell you... try and make me."

"Grgh! You asked for it!"

BOOST!

The Jewel on his gauntlet glowed brightly, the voice from it resounding throughout the area. Power flowed through his body.

"Take this!" WIth a quick step, Issei launched himself towards the man with a reared fist. Once he was close enough, he delivered a hard straight punch to the man's face.

But his opponent didn't even cringe.

"Hm... not bad." the man said, impressed. "I do believe that actually stung a bit."

Issei's eyes widened. "H-how..."

'Issei, get back!'

Acting on instinct and advice, Issei used his wings to leap back, managing to avoid what looked like a dark red appendage emerge from the man's back and writhe on the ground, obliterating the concrete. 'If I didn't move a second sooner, I'd be a dead man!'

The silent individual took a step forward. "There will be no need for your assistance, Noro..." the man said with finality. "This alone will be sufficient."

"Che...!" the Red Dragon Emperor growled in anger. "Cocky bastard...!"

'I don't get it...' he thought in shock. 'Even after a Boost... my attack did nothing?!'

'Partner! Don't get distracted. This is one opponent you do not want to lose focus of in a fight!' Ddraig warned as Issei jumped away from being pulverized by the red appendage.

"R-right!" He nodded. "If Boost won't work, then how about Balance Breaker?"

WELSH DRAGON OVERBOOSTER!

BALANCE BREAK!

In the next second, the gauntlet's armor then began to encroach his entire body. Bloody red steel shielded his body, steel pinions emerging from his back, a sharp iron tail swirling around wildly, and fierce glowing green eyes glared out at the enemy.

"Scale Mail!"

The man gave a 'hmph' in response. "Am I supposed to be impressed?" he asked, almost bored.

He wouldn't be after this.

BOOST!BOOST!BOOST!BOOST!BOOST!

"Let's try this again, shall we?!" With even greater speed than before, Issei once again delivered a hard right hook to the man's face. Unlike last time, he visibly recoiled, his feet being lifted off the ground and sent off quite a ways. However, he quickly regained his balance with the appendage as it tore the ground apart, thus slowing them down.

The one called Noro didn't move at all, as if he wasn't concerned at all for his comrade. That unnerved Issei a great deal. Even after one Boost, which was equivalent to three Boosts back when he first became a Devil at this point in time, he didn't deal any damage. Surely, five boosts would be enough to deal some damage!

"I see..." the white-haired man muttered, his hand moving to his cheek. It had a burning red mark where Issei had landed the punch, though it was slowly beginning to heal as red cracks formed around it, shrinking the size. "Neither human nor Ghoul... Ah, I see now." he said in realization. "You are... a Devil." His gaze fell upon Issei's Boosted Gear. "So then... that is a Sacred Gear. I must admit, this is my first time seeing one."

"You...Know about this...?" Issei asked.

"Of course. You didn't really think we wouldn't come across any of the Three factions? How foolish and ignorant you are, boy!" The man spoke condescendingly.

"Sh-shut up!" Issei yelled back and he went in for another punch.

BOOST!BOOST!BOOST!BOOST!BOOST!

"How curious..." the man said, watching Issei with interest as he charged, this time dodging every strike Issei threw at him. "It doubles your power... An impressive power."

He avoided an uppercut, and used his tail to bounce off the ground, avoiding being bashed by Issei's fists as they came together and slammed downward, creating a small creator.

'You have to finish this quickly, Issei!' Ddraig told him.

"Got it! DRAGON SHOT!"

He raised his hand to the air and let loose with a double blast. Two pillars of crimson energy shot forth, intending to eliminate the target. The man, however, easily evaded both attacks with a nearly flawless grace. The action left Issei gaping, making him vulnerable for an attack. With a quick lash, the tail smacked up against Issei, sending him flying. Thanks to Scale Mail, he didn't feel all that much pain, but it still hurt.

His body was thrown back to the ground, but was quick to get back up, slamming his elbows to bring him back up to his feet.

BOOST!BOOST!BOOST!BOOST!BOOST!BOOST!BOOST!BOOST!

"Increase your power all you want..." the man taunted. "It won't matter. You will fall."

"Screw you!" Issei screamed, charging in. Red energy flowed around his hand, intending on bringing the man down with one strike.

However, just as he was within range, the man suddenly vanished. 'What?! Where did he-'

He then felt unimaginable pain erupt all over his arm, causing him to bite back a scream. 'Issei!' Ddraig shouted worry.

"Like I told you, boy..." Issei turned, and to his horror, found that his right arm had been torn off, part of the armor shattered apart. The man's eyes had become red with a black sclera surrounding it. "You will fall."

XXXXXXXXXX

Rias was starting to grow worried.

She had not seen Issei since...what transpired that afternoon. It was already well into the evening, the sun long past the horizon.

Where did he go? And why didn't he inform them where he would be?

"Buchou," Kiba seemed to agree with her thoughts, a pensive look on his face. "Maybe we should go look for Issei... he hasn't returned yet, and it's already night fall."

"Agreed." his master nodded before becoming tense. "Besides, I think I need to... apologize to him."

"You mean about... what happened earlier?" Akeno asked, shaking her head. "In all honesty, I think he could have phrased himself a bit better."

"That isn't the problem, Akeno." Rias disagreed. "Do you recall exactly how Issei died in the first place?"

"Of course. He was killed by..." She trailed off as her mind finally connected the dots. "...You mean that...?"

"I do..." The Gremory Heiress nodded solemnly. "...Even after all this time...the scars on his heart have yet to heal."

"Oh..." Kiba looked away, an ashamed look on his face. "Oh boy... We really screwed this one up, didn't we?"

"Eh?" Asia looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"I'm curious as well." Xenovia spoke up.

It was then that Rias realized something. Asia and Xenovia had never been told what exactly had happened that caused Issei to become a member of her peerage. "I forgot, you weren't made aware. Before Issei became a Devil, he was killed by a Fallen Angel, the same one who tried to extract your Sacred Gear from you. She pretended to be on a date with him before killing him."

"R-really?!" Asia squeaked in horror. "That's...That's just too cruel...!"

"….How….could we have not have known this….?! Such heartlessness….!" Xenovia was equally perturbed.

"It is..." Rias nodded. "...He was hurt...but none of us were aware of this. We just assumed he had healed a long time ago, and misinterpreted his feelings."

"...He might be a pervert," Koneko added her to cents. "But he's the good kind of pervert. No one deserves what he got."

"Y-yeah…!" Gasper agreed. "Issei-senpai shouldn't have deserved that!"

"Indeed." the red-haired beauty smiled. "Well, time to go find us a little adorable Red Dragon."

XXXXXXXXXX

"Haa... Haa..."

"How impressive..." the man clapped his hands, fully impressed. "Even though you lost an arm, you can still fight..." His gaze went down to his arm, which was bent at an odd angle. "You even managed to break one of my own arms."

"S...screw you...bastard...!" Issei panted painfully. His gauntlet-clad arm was clutching the bloody stump on his opposite soldier. His Scale Mail was broken apart by the man's red appendage a short while ago. To make matters worse, the same limb tore off his right arm. Pain was erupting constantly throughout his body. But he had to endure it. His opponent was nowhere near defeated.

He had to keep fighting.

He had to win!

He had to go...back...to...them...

...

...Did...they really want him back...anymore...?

'What if I... really hurt Buchou's...'

"Don't get so distracted, boy." the man scolded as his tail lashed forward. Issei leaped back, avoiding it narrowly before using his remaining arm to grab it and pull the man towards him.

That was an unfortunate mistake on his part. The moment the man was close, he delivered a hard strike to his skull. The metal banged against his head, causing him to be dazed. This provided another opportunity. The man grabbed Issei by the helm, and then rammed is knee straight into his stomach.

The armor was bent and obliterated.

"Guh-Guagh!" Issei vomited blood inside his helmet, which soon broke apart as well. The man lifted his leg until it was above Issei, and brought it back down.

The Sekiriyuutei was slammed down to the earth again, forming a miniature crater where he landed. His body was creaking in agony from the sudden force.

'Dammit, partner, hang on!' Ddraig begged, cursing his own weakness. If only he could be free from this damn place so he could tear that man within his jaws!

"I see that Devils are quite fragile..." the man said, giving the barely conscious Issei a condescending gaze. "Even still... This Sacred Gear... This could prove useful." If the facial features meant anything, the man was smirking. "It appears that Kanou will have a rather peculiar specimen this time around..."

The man turned to his silent companion. "Noro."

The man nodded. Almost immediately, a dark purple tail emerged from his back, much like the man earlier, except this one bore sharp fangs.

The man then grabbed Issei by the collar and lifted him up. "...I wonder...If you are a Devil...then you must belong to someone if you aren't a stray. So tell me, boy. Who is your master?"

"Guh!" Issei coughed up the blood in his lungs and spat the glob in the face of the man before glaring at him.

However, they failed to notice the group of people that came to the scene.

"So... You won't answer..." the man chuckled. "I rather admire strong-willed people such as yourselves... After all, it's rather fun to see them break..." Dark amusement flickered in his eyes. "Just as he did."

The man threw him in the air.

The clawed appendage attached to Noro shot forward as if it were a dog fetching a treat. It clamped its claws around the airborne body, effectively taking a huge bite out of it.

Issei's expression shifted from one of pain to one of shock, as if he couldn't comprehend what just happened.

His body dripped blood onto the broken earth. Right in front of the group that just arrived.

At last, the man finally took notice of them. "Ah, the boy's masters..." he said in amusement, taking notice of one of the women's beautiful red hair. "A Gremory... That would explain his tenacity."

Rias Gremory said nothing. Her eyes were hidden beneath her bangs. The blonde girl bearing a cross looked horrified, her hands at her mouth as if she couldn't just believe what had happened before her very eyes. The blonde male had a deep, writhing hatred filled scowl smeared across his face, his eyes feral, and twin blades gripped tightly in his hands. The smallest of the group had an impassive face, but fury was clear, as blood dripped from her knuckles. The black-haired woman had clear signs of fury, electricity dancing all around her like a raging tempest.

"...Answer me." The Power of Destruction began to dance around Rias' body. "Were you the ones who did this to my adorable servants?"

"Oh?" the man raised an eyebrow. "Angry, are we? Well, by all means..." He spread his arms, almost invitingly. "Try to kill me... if you can."

"With PLEASURE!"

With that, the entire area around her exploded.

Smoke kicked up from the burst of energy, concealing all members of the group and the area around them. Once this happened, all the members scattered and aimed to strike down the man in white.

Issei lifelessly gazed at them from Noro's clutches, the man taking another small bite from him, just missing his vitals.

"B...u...ch...ou..." he gasped out weakly. "R...u...n..."

Rias did not hear her servant's words as she unleashed her power upon the man in white. "You will pay for this transgression!" she declared, her beautiful blue eyes becoming a darkened bloody red. The man evaded the Power of Destruction, allowing it to obliterate everything in sight.

'So, this is the power of the House of Gremory...' he mused before turning his attention to Kiba and Xenovia, their blades at the ready. The blue-haired woman looked especially furious as she swung Durandeel with Kiba's twin Holy-Demon Swords. His tail blocked Kiba's blades, and halted the woman's assault. "That blade..." he noted, glancing down at the Excalibur fragment. "I never imagined I would see an Exorcist become a Devil..." his gaze then turned to Kiba. "Nor one who could create blades of demonic and holy tint. Such interesting servants the Gremory's have."

"Damn you!" Kiba roared. He summoned a third Holy-Demonic Sword and grasped it between his teeth. He swung his head to slice the monster who hurt his best friend!

But the moment it made contact with the man's head, it shattered.

"Hmph...who knew that these blades were so brittle?" He used his tail to smash the blades away and flung the blue haired girl away.

Xenovia was quick to regain her footing, using her sword to slow down her rapid retreat. Koneko charged at the man, her fist reared back. "...You'll pay!" she hissed and thrusted her hand fist forward. The man dodged it easily, but that did not stop the Nekomata's assault as she continued to deliver a flurry of attack. He evaded each attack effortlessly like they were nothing. When her punches failed, Koneko lowered herself and swung her leg, hoping to knock the man off balance.

He used the tail to bounce off the ground. His eyes widened when he suddenly felt himself frozen in place for only a few seconds. "What?"

"Xenovia!" Gasper shouted. "NOW!"

The woman leaped, and swung her blade with all of her might. It sliced through the man's arm, causing him to groan in pain before glaring at her. Taking a hold of Durandal, he tore it out of his arm and twirled around, slamming his leg into her stomach, and sent her back down to the ground.

"Guagh!" The force of the impact felt as if her internal organs had ruptured. Blood spewed from her mouth as she was driven into the concrete ground, breaking it apart as she skidded across it. Durandal Flew out of her grasp and stabbed into the ground next to where she landed, a visible crack on the blade.

Once the man saw he was done with her, he shifted his focus to the one who froze him: Gasper.

"You..." he growled. "Are annoying." He swung his tail at the boy. He grew bewildered when he suddenly vanished. 'This sensation...' he noticed his warped senses immediately, turning his head just in time to see dozens of sparks of electricity heading straight toward him.

"Usually, I take my time when torturing my prey..." Akeno said with a merciless tone, her usual playful smile nowhere to be seen. "But, you hurt my precious kouhai... So I'll obliterate you completely!"

She extended her hand, causing bolts of lightning to burst forth from her palm. Anything that got in its way was instantly vaporized. The man noticed this, but didn't even so much as twitch. Once the attack got in close, he jumped away using his tail. The bolt struck the ground, melting it into a crater that was as smooth as glass.

'The Lighting Priestess...' the man recognized such prowess anywhere, his interest growing. 'A shame we can only bring back the boy... Kanou would enjoy having such projects to work with.'

"You won't get away!" Rias screamed, as she unleashed more of her power. The man's eyes widened when he saw wave after wave after wave of dark, crimson power obliterate everything in it's path, heading straight for him. Once again, he felt his senses becoming distorted. He noticed Gasper's presence beside the red-haired Devil. 'I see now! He can alter one's perception of time and freeze them in place!'

Smirking at this realization, the man figured out how to counter this tactic: Eliminate the boy from the equation. His tail moved more rapidly than before, now poised to strike the boy down.

Unfortunately, the Power of Destruction would not allow him to do that.

The mass of black energy intercepted the encroaching appendage before it could even get close to the boy. The man instinctively pulled his tail away, not wanting it to get obliterated. He jumped away from the destructive force and landed further away, better assessing the battlefield.

"Answer me!" Rias screamed at him. "Why did you hurt Issei?!"

"So, that's the mutt's name..." the man chuckled. "Well, he caught my interest... I must say, that Sacred Gear is something."

"Sacred Gear...You mean you did it for his Boosted Gear?!" Rias barked in demanding.

"Boosted Gear...? Ah! So that's what it was...So this boy possesses the Longinus containing the Welsh Dragon. This makes it even more interesting!" The man clapped in elation.

"Y-you bastard...!" Kiba roared. "I'll kill you!"

"I don't know what your plans are with Issei..." Asia gritted her teeth, glaring at the man with intense hatred. "But... We won't let you get away with this!"

"Yeah!" Gasper nodded in agreement. "No one gets away with hurting our friends!"

The man couldn't help but laugh. "Is that so?" he said with amusement. "Well, by all means..." His eyes changed again, from red and white to red and black. "Give it your best shot."

Everyone flinched from the sudden action. They recognized those eyes anywhere; it was the eyes of a feral, starving predator that preys on Humans, Angels, Devils, and Fallen Angels alike.

The enemy they were facing...was a Ghoul.

"B-bu..chou..." Issei gasped out weakly, watching his friends being destroyed one by one. It was agonizing... it was so pitiful, being able to do nothing. "Fo-forget about me... R-ru...n.."

"No!" Rias barked back. "We are not leaving you! I refuse to allow one of my servants to die, especially when I haven't...!"

"Well, enough pleasantries..." The Ghoul interrupted, his tail flickering. "Shall we?"

He made the first move, charging straight at Rias. Kiba was quick to intercept, his blades meeting the tail. Koneko charged alongside him, her fists clenched tightly.

"...Go away you pest!" The man swung his arm out, catching Koneko at the stomach. The force of the blow rivaled that of a Rook's strength, thus winding her. She couldn't react in time as the man brought his leg up and kicked her into the air.

He then diverted his attention to Kiba, who was still snarling viciously at him. "How dare you hurt Issei-kun you bastard!"

He didn't respond, instead he brought up his tail to deflect the blades. "Pitiful!" he growled as he rammed his knee into Kiba's stomach, causing several ribs to break. Blood spurt out of his mouth. With a quick launch, he was beside Koneko. That was when the tail slammed them both back to the ground.

They didn't get back up.

"How fragile you all are..." he muttered before coming face to face with the Lightning Priestess

"You...you..." Lightning crackled not only from her hands, but from her entire body. "...I'll erase you from the face of the earth!" Billions of volts of electricity exploded from her and arced toward the man, who only gazed at the attack with disappointment.

"How boorish." he dismissed it as he leaped back, evading each arc of electricity. However, just as the next arc came to pass, he suddenly found himself frozen. He glared at Gasper, who flinched upon being gazed at by such unearthly eyes. 'Annoying little pest!'

"Gasper!" Rias roared, unleashing more bloody devastation upon him. "Keep him there!"

"Let's end this, Rias!" Akeno unleashed powerful volts of electricity, the ground being torn apart.

"Hmph...Useless." From the man's sleeve, two red knives appeared. The hold on him lessened for the smallest fraction of a second after this action. In that short span of time, he flung both knives at the cross-dressing boy.

At that same time, both the arcs of electricity and the devastation of the Power of Destruction collided with him. Gasper gasped out in shock when he felt the knives pierce into his stomach and shoulder, causing him to cry out in pain.

"Gasper!" Rias cried in worry.

"D-don't worry about me, Buchou!" the half-Vampire tried to assure her, falling to the ground. "It's... it's okay..." He gazed out at the rising smoke. "We've... we've won..."

"...Oh? Really now?"

All Three heads whipped toward the plume of smoke. With one flick of his tail, the man dispersed the dust that concealed him. His clothing was scorched and tattered, and his flesh was just as destroyed. However, before their eyes, the burned and damaged skin and muscle tissue repaired themselves.

"B-but...how?!"

"I do believe we have played around long enough..." the man said, growing annoyed. "Noro."

In one gesture, he flung Issei's body into the air. In a single swift moment, the demonic appendage shot forward, its teeth clamping down on his body. Slowly, as if swallowing him whole, the teen was dragged down inside.

Rias' eyes widened in horror, her body suddenly becoming rigid. This action was mirrored by Akeno.

Then, all of hell broke loose. "YOU BASTARDS!" the Destruction Queen screamed, tears running down her face as she unleashed all of her power upon him.

Akeno had tears in her eyes as she called upon all of her power, bringing down several arks of lighting, all far more powerful than the last.

The white-haired man smiled. "Good."

Then, in all but mere moments... everything had reached an end.

The very last thing Issei had seen before he had lost all sense was watching all of his friends fall...

One.

By.

One.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Welcome back, Tatara-san."

A young girl wrapped from head to toe in bandages, wearing a red, rabbit eared hoodie, greeted.

"Hello, Eto." The man, now known as Tatara, acknowledged.

"Ara ara?" the bandaged girl tilted her head when saw his current state. His mask was cracked, his clothes were singed, and he had a cut along his arm. "What happened? Did you run into trouble?" she asked curiously.

"A bit." he shrugged. "But, it was all worth it... Where can I find Kanou?"

"You called?" a male voice asked, stepping out into the light. He was a man close to fifty, wearing a doctor's coat with slicked back dark hair. "Oh? Who's the young man on Noro's shoulder?"

"You're newest project." Tatara informed him when Noro tossed the boy to the ground. "Kanou... I've been very curious about something. Tell me..." the gleam in his eyes told the man everything he needed to know. "Would it be possible to turn a Reincarnated Devil into a Ghoul?"

At the sound of these words... The Doctor's eyes also gleamed in excitement. "...Very Much so. Their anatomy is not unlike that of Humans. The same procedure that I've done to the others should work."

"Excellent. And you may even get a chance to test your artificial Chimera-type theory."

"Is that so...?" Kanou chuckled. "My word, Tatara-san... I had no idea Christmas came so early."

"In that case, you'll find this piece of news to be rather interesting, something I learned from the boy's master." the Executive informed him. "He's the current Red Dragon Emperor."

At this, the bandaged girl's and Kanou's eyes widened. The latter's expression shifted to an elated grin.

"My, my...now that IS intriguing. I am eager to see how this boy will turn out now."

"So, he's the Red Dragon-kun, huh?" Eto said, crouching down and getting a look at the boy's features. "Heehee~ He looks pretty cute..." she giggled, looking at Kanou. "Try not to damage him too much?"

"What's this?" Tatara raised an eyebrow. "Taking an interest in him, are we?"

"Why not?" she shrugged, a smile forming beneath the mask of bandages. "After all..." Her right eye developed the Kakugan.

"He'll be our new Kaneki-kun~"

To Be Continued…

"Ever since I died and became a Devil, I had thought my life would be something like a grand adventure... I always wanted to be a Harem King, to be surrounded by beautiful women that would cater to my every whim... Then reality finally sunk in for me that day. In a way... I had died twice. The first time was when I had my heart pierced and became a Devil... and the second was when I met the girl in bandages. Now, I fully understand what my life is...

My life is a tragedy."