Chapter 4: Let the Church say Amen Pt 1

"So what brings you to this dump of a town," Issei asked while taking a spoon full of his ice cream sundae. So far his impromptu lunch with the girl named Asia, who he just met ten minutes ago was going well. She was a little weird about certain things, like who the hell doesn't know what a burger is?

" First off this town isn't the worst place I've seen." She said while picking onions off her burger. " Secondly I'm here on a mission from my...church." She trailed off the last part while her eyes went to her feet. Issei's eyebrow rose for a second, because the only church that's around had not been open in years.

They continued to eat with bits of small talk in between. They were interrupted when Asia's cell phone started to ring. "Sorry I have to take this." She left the table to answer. That left Issei the much needed time to think. " Okay, let's break this down. Judging by the cross pendant she affiliated with the church in some way. She has a sacred gear that I can assume to be either Blessed hands, or more importantly Twilight Healing. It's strange that shes with the Church when I know they travel in twos when on mission...why am I thinking deeply into this? I really don't care either way." His train of thought stops when she came back to the table.

" Sorry that was one of the ministers, he asked me to come back to the Church." She looked at him and paused for a second, then walked over to Issei. He was puzzled till she took her finger and ran it on the side of his mouth. "Sorry, that was bothering me." She said with her finger holding a bit of ice cream. Embarrassed he furiously wiped his mouth with a napkin from the table.

" Well till next time Issei." She said while suggestively sticking her finger in her mouth. Issei waves goodbye while he watched her walk away. " She is definitely not a traditional Nun, maybe it's a new type of...wait did she pay for her food?" He got his answer when the waitress came back with the bill. Issei couldn't do anything but shake his head at the strangeness of today.

He paid for the food and headed over to the martial arts gym that he's a member of. It was called the Monkey's Furry MMA, it was founded by this old man that his father met at a grocery store when he was five. Ever since then he studied under him, even helped the gym gain recognition by winning a few tournaments. It's one of his few hangout spots where he won't be bothered because the supernatural for some reason stays away from here. He walks in and sees a man working behind the desk.

" Hey, Pigsy how's it going?" Issei greeted. Pigsy, as his name applies, was a chubby middle-aged man, his brown hair is balding in a few spots, his brown eyes would shine if it wasn't hidden behind thick glasses. He had a messy goatee that had bits of corn chips in there.

" Oh, hey kid. The old man is out still, back in his old country. He said if you ever stopped by to tell you to complete lesson four on your own for now. Whatever that means." Pigsy said while nonchalantly while he whips out a magazine with a swimwear model in the front. Issei said nothing but nod to himself. He knew what lesson five means so he went to the back of the gym passing a number of people on the way. He went to this spacious back room that was separated by glass doors and sat in the lotus position in the middle of it. As he sat he closed his eyes and thought back to through the lessons.

" Lesson one mastery of the body." He had achieved perfect mastery of his body. He had reached the peak performance of what his body can handle without drugs. Hell at age 15 he was benching over 300 lbs. His mastery extends to total control of his body functions. He can stop his heart at will. His control over his body helps him, learn various unarmed and armed martial arts forms quickly.

" Lesson two mastery of the mind." At age twelve his mind became a steel trap. He knows that it infuriates Rias to know that her allure that all high-class devils have don't work on him. That how he was able to cope with the combat stress he and his uncle been through. There was no way kids his age could see what he has and be stable enough to cope. Let alone continue, plus he learned to ignore the subtle influence of Draig presence in his body. Being the host of the Dragon of Domination slowly enhances the seven deadly sins all humans have. Almost all the previous hosts of the sacred gear had succumbed to the temptation of power, greed and in his case uncontrolled wraith. It was only a matter of time that each user became uncontrollable and rampaged. Then they were put down by ether gods, high angles, high devils or even fellow humans.

" Lesson three control over the spirt." That the secret of his enhancements he has mastered the control of the inner energy of himself. Toki is whats it called or ki what his master calls it. Due to him being a sacred gear holder his Ki reserves were magnitudes higher than the average human. It was further boosted by him being host to one of the most powerful beings to ever walked the earth. He controlled it to the point where a small amount was continuing to circulate through him. Adding to an already strong body.

" Finally lesson four. Control of the energy of the Earth." This is his first attempt to channel the Earth's energy into his body. His master told him his strength would skyrocket, he said and I quote " All of the heavens will bow down to your might." Issei slips into the meditative state, struggling to find the link that will connect him to the spirit of nature Gaia. After a few hours go by he finds something. He grasps the connection like a lifeline and wrestles with the energy source. Then when he felt it...everything, it felt like a well of bottomless power came on to him. It was nearly suffocating him, it felt incredible " I feel like I can take on the world right now. Nothing can stop…." This thought was interrupted by the pure malice he was feeling. Images of suffering went through his mind. Rapes, wars, hunger, cruelty on a scale he never seen before.

All of this was hitting him like a tsunami against the shore. It was too much for him but he couldn't stop he tried to fight against it, further strengthening his mind to block out the images but he couldn't, he was beginning to drown in its malice while trying to keep afloat.

" Kid STOP!" Draig forcibly pulls him away from the whirlpool of evil feelings. He opens his eyes in a panic. Sweat dripping off his body, soaking his clothes he scans around the area to make sure he was back into reality.

" What...what the fuck was that?' He asked the dragon in a panic.

" Had I known you were attempting senjutsu I would have advised against it. It's a dangerous art. While you are tapping into the spirit of the world, the world spirt was tapping into yours. All the images you were experiencing is happing across the world. There had existed a race of Yokai that were practitioners of the art, but they had succumbed to the malice of the world spirt. Gaia is as of now corrupted.

" How, I thought Gaia is sleeping? The tomes and scripts had said she hasn't been awake in thousands of years. How can she be so active?"

" She may not be aware, but she is soaking in the hatred and evils across the world. I hate to say it but humanity has driven her into this state. On the upside, I'm proud of you even achieving this much. Had anyone else have tried they would of drove to insanity."

" I'm guessing the hours of meditation has helped huh? Man for a brief second I felt unstoppable."

" The old man speaks the truth, with that power added to mine you would of been a force to be reckoned with. You might have to be able to touch the Crimson Lucifer."

" Realy?'

" I said touch not beat...your still two hundred years too early to punching that high on the food chain." He then cut the connection with Draig and began to pack up. He went out into the main area of the gym when Pigsy stopped him.

" Hey Issei can I asked a favor?"

" Sure."

" Can you check in on Yoshi and Erina for me? They missed a few appointments. I tried calling to check up on them but they are not picking up." Yoshi and Erina were regulars at the gym, they come here to work out, they kept appointments religiously. It was strange for them to miss them.

" Okay, There not far from my house so ill go by and check-in, hopefully, they're not sick. " Issei moved out of the gym to see night has fallen. With a shrug, he goes to Yoshi and Erina's house. He approached the front door when the heavy scent of blood hits him.

'" Something's wrong." He checks the door handle to see it was unlocked. He pushes into the house to see a trail of blood going into the living room. While he was inside the house, he notices a distortion in the air. He checks behind the door to see a barrier seal has been put in place. On high alert, he pushes into the living room. On the coach, he spots the couple seemingly sitting there.

" Hey you two, you okay? Yoshi." Issei called out while slowly moving around to the front of the coach.

" Yoshi, Yoshi, Yo... shit." He discovered the two dead in the sitting position. Erina's throat was cut open to the point Issei can see into it. Yoshi had four bullet holes in his chest and one in his head.

" What happened here?" Issei asked himself. Not really expecting an answer from anywhere

" The same thing that's going to happen to you.'" A cold metallic voicespoke from behind Issei. The sound of a hammer of a gun cocking back caused Issei to dive over the couch. The shots following him impacted where he last was. Poor Yoshi had five more bullet holes in his body. Realizing he can't stay there Issei front flipped behind the divider that separated the kitchen from the living room. The intruder continued to shoot at him bullets easily penetrating the wooden divider. While that was happening Issei pulled out cabinet drawers looking for something to counter-attack with. He pulled out the knife drawers spotting a butcher knife he tucked in the back of his pants.

He opens the lower cabinets and pulls out a saucepan and cast iron skillet. With a plan in mind, he stood up with the skillet covering his face letting a shot ricochet off the skillet and threw the saucepan as hard as he could. He was rewarded with the sound of a thud as the pan hit the intruder right between the eyes. He leaps up and rushes the attacker before they can get their barrings. The intruder regains their senses and quickly points a silver and black handgun towards Issei. Only for a swipe to the hand from the skillet disarms them, with the gun out of their hand Issei quickly takes the initiative and jabs the cooking utensil into their sternum.

Knocking the wind out his opponent he follows up with a swing to the head. The intruder ducks under it and send a right hook straight into his jaw. Issei staggers back as he looks towards the intruder fully taking in their appearance. With the intruder was a head shorter than him, with a slender build. Dressed down in black robe that reached mid-thigh, which covered a white button-up that had matching white gloves. They were also wearing a pair of black slacks that were being held up by a utility belt that had an arrangement of pouches and what seems to be a sword hilt hanging of side. To finish the look they had on black ankle-high boots. The curious part of this is that they were wearing a storm cloud grey helmet that covered their entire head. The eyelids gave a faint blue glow behind them.

" Who are you?" Issei questioned.

" If I wanted that known I wouldn't be wearing a mask." The intruder said in a metallic voice. Issei quickly realized that it's a voice modulator behind that mask. The unknown figure throws themself to the dropped gun. Forcing Issei to throw the skillet to knock the weapon further out of reach. Not breaking stride the mask wear person rolled and quickly brought out the sword hilt from their belt. With a flick of a switch, a two feet short sword of light sprouted forward. The mask-wearing intruder rushed forward as Issei whipped out his hidden butcher's knife. The two bladed weapons clashed with each other. The two exchanged blows rapidly, one blow became five, then ten, then twenty. They kept striking at each other as gashes appeared across the floor and cuts appeared in the walls from all the missed swings.

Having enough Issei step forward into the other combatants longer reach to bring them into a deadlock. He quickly press the other person into a table that was against the wall, knocking the pictures off them. He bears down against them slowly sinking their own blade against them. That's when Issei realized that this person was different. He should be totally overpowering a normal person, not slowly bearing down on them. By they're arura alone he can say in confidence whoever he was fighting was human. With a twist of his blade, Issei disarmed his attacker. Bringing the nicked knife back down towards the face as he looked to finish the fight. Only for the masked stranger moved his head out of the way. The butcher's knife buried itself inside of the wall. The black-clad assailant leap back first on the small table grabs Issei outstretched arm and used their legs to trap his arm and head into a triangle choke. Issei immediately felt his airways constrict.

Using his back and biceps he heaved and lifted the masked stranger off the table, only to bring them straight back down hard enough to shatter the table. With the wind knocked out of them their hold on Issei was cut loose. Issei quickly took advantage and mounted his opponent. Punches rained down to the storm cloud colored mask of his attacker. After taking five punches to the face and the latest one snapping the head to the side. The masked person saw one of the broken table legs, grasped it to hit Issei in the temple hard enough to cause him to roll off them. It took a few seconds for Issei's vison to stop swimming, another few seconds to roll to his feet. Blood now leaking from the side of his head, he saw that his opponent regain their position on their feet.

Armed with a table leg that had four-inch nails exposed they rush Issei who had to skillfully avoid getting hit. After a few more swings Issei decided he had enough and caught the other person's wrist with his opposite hand. He then turned, threw his hips into the other person's and successfully pulled off a shoulder throw. That made the other person gasp for air after being slammed into the ground. Channeling Toki to his fist Issei had nothing but bad intentions for the other guy. Sensing the danger they were in, the grey masked person used their position between Issei's legs and shot a rabbit punch into... " little Issei." Immediately doubling over and took a boot straight into his nose. Breaking it. Having the brunette boy stagger back was enough reprieve for the masked stranger to get up and get away from Issei.

With both of them seemingly winded, they looked at each other with content. Issei poping his nose back into place slide into a balanced fighting stance with his feet shoulder with apart with his hands up. His black-clad foe taking a similar stance only with their hands to the side of the face. Squared up the two move slowly toward one another preparing to go another round; Only for a bright red light to fill up the room. A magic circle with the Gremory family cress to be the indicator of who is coming through. Rias and the rest of her peerage came through the gate, only to recoil in shock of the scene in front of them. Realizing that a bad situation became worst, the masked figure spurred into action leaping into the back up to the corner of the room, by a large black body bag.

Kiba conjured a plain sword and rushed forward, only for the mysterious person to pull out black pellets. Throwing them on the ground causing a blinding light to occur, forcing everyone to cover there eyes. When the light died the remaining occupants of the room recovered their vision. The masked person was gone with the body bag in tow. Kiba was panting in the middle of the room with light burns across his body.

" Kiba-kun are you alright?" Rias asked in concern in voice.\

" Yeah, I'm fine. I don't know how I got burned." Kiba replied. To him, it wasn't debilitating injuries just hurt a little. Issei deduced that it was a flashbang that emitted holy light. Kiba being the closest got the full brunt of it. Looking over the room he saw Akeno rushing to Kiba to look him over. While everyone else gave him questioning looks.

" To answer your questions, I came here to check on some acquaintances. But my question to you is why are you guys here?" Issei asked. Rias turned to him with a raised brow and folded arms.

" Koneko has or rather had a contract with someone in this house. She came over and sense that something was wrong. She felt faint traces of holy energy and contacted us for back up."

" With who?" Issei asked while walking around the damaged house.

" The couple's son. His name is Atsushi. He is in the same year as mine. He was rather lonely so he contracted me to play with him from time to time." Koneko said with a sad look on her face. This caused Issei to frown, he only saw the bodies of Yoshi and Erina, not a third. Whoever that was a professional, they would never leave witness at the scene. Hearing glass crunch at his feet he looked down at a family photo that was knocked down during the fight.

Yoshi was standing to the right with a plain white t-shirt and jeans. His brown hair unkempt to the point it was covering his eyes. He angled face smiling brightly into the camera. Erina was standing to the left. She was wearing a purple dress that was not covering her shoulders. A pearl necklace was around her slender neck. Her black hair was cropped at the shoulders and her blue eyes were radiant in the camera. What caught his a boy who looked like he was fifteen who was standing tall matching Yoshi. He had grey hair that was cut a little uneven, hazel eyes that was vibrant in the light. He had an angular face that proudly house perfect teeth He was wearing the Kouh junior high uniform san the jacket. Showing a white button-up with the sleeves rolled up, he was wearing black pants that were accompanied by suspenders.

"I could of sworn Erina was barren." Issei thought. He didn't have a deep connection with the two, from what he knew that couldn't have kids.

" He was adopted by Yoshi and Erina a few years ago. He didn't really fit in with the rest of the kids in school." Koneko mentioned.

" So why check in on him?" Issei trying to connect the dots of why the kid was taken. He knew the body bag in the back had to be him.

" He was a potential candidate for my peerage, He had a sacred gear that was of great interest to me. Plus he was a backup plan." Rias explained. She was know growing frustrated a the loss of another potential member.

" He's alive, there is no other blood splatters that indicated a third person was killed. From what I gather that it was a combat priest that hit this place. Your best bet is to look at the church on the other side of town." Issei said while getting up to leave. Once he's out the area he going to contact the authorities for Yoshi and Erina's bodies.

" Good guess, I didn't know you have that hight enough intuition Issei-Kun," Rias said. Issei said nothing because he knew this was going to lead to a line of questioning that he was too tired to provide answers for. One question was burning through his mind was the potential identity of who attacked this place, and why.

Back at the church in a room in the cellar, the masked person from earlier dropped the large body bag on the floor. Rayner stepped out of the shadows to open the bag, revealing the grey-haired boy. He was bruised up and still knocked out. Rayner nodded to herself and snapped her fingers. In response two black and white roped priest dragged the boy out by his arms to a platform in the middle of the room.

" Took you longer than expected, we were worried that you had gotten killed by the devils. It would be a shame if your reputation was just rumors after all." Rayner said with a smirk to the mystery person.

" The boy put up a fight, he flew into a rage that almost activated his gear. If I had put him down I could have failed the mission. Then I had an unexpected guess arrive a stalled me for a while. The Gremory peerage showed up and I was forced to retreat." The black-clad individual debriefed in a monotone altered voice.

" We might have to speed up the time table, for now, we have to lay low till its time. If our reports were correct his gear can boost my power to new heights." Pleased with herself Rayner turned back to make the preparations for the ritual for her plan. The masked person turns to walk out from the basement to their quarters. Just as the person was to walk in, they spotted a man stood a head above them approach. It was a grey-hair man that was flowing around his face. He was wearing standard priest ropes that had a red sash around his waist. His beady red eyes were looking through black rim glasses. He was carrying a notebook that was a little worn.

"You're late. I was beginning that you ran off." The priest said with a slight smile. The masked individual sucked their teeth and turned to the other man.

" Father, I thought you were off following leads."

" I found something truly interesting here, its good information to give to an associate of mine. With our personal arrangement, I have found a potential lead for our cause."

" As long as we got what we came for. I'm tired good night Father Freed." The masked individual said as they go into there private quarters. Freed said nothing but nodded and went to meet with Rayner and the other fallen. Freed was currently supporting a smile at the progress he was making for his own plans.

The masked individual was standing in there room in front of a full of a full-length mirror. They was stripping down starting with the boots and pants. Once the garments were off they reveal once flawless cream-colored legs know covered in bruises that began to darken. Sighing the grey masked person took off the jacket and undid the button-up. They took in the numerous bruises and clogged up cuts around the abdomen up the chest bind bindings. Taking off the gloves to undo the buckles of the helmet slowly.

Once the last buckle was undone, the individual peeled off the helmet to stare cropped blond hair and cold green eyes.

" Why did it have to be you. Issei.' Asia thought to herself.

Back with Issei as he walks into his house. He opens the door to see the Governor of the Fallen on his couch. Causally eating potato chips. Unsurprised Issei walked toward his kitchen he opens the fridge to retrieve a bottle of water and grabbing a bag of ice.

" Azazel, what do I owe the pleasure?" Issei asked while applying the Ice to the side of his head.

" Hey, kid. You down for a job?" Azazel asked while he picks the tv remote as he flicks through the channels.

" What's the payout?"

" Fifty big ones. A quick job in and out." Azazel nonchalantly answers. " Come over here we will go over the details."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: BET YOU GUYS DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING. I TOLD YOU ALL THAT I WILL HAVE A SLIGHT TWIST TO THIS. I HAVE PLANS FOR THIS STORY SO IT'S NOT DEAD. I ALSO HAVE A RWBY SLASH MODERN WARFARE SLASH METAL GEAR STORY IN THE WORK. PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW. ALSO WITH THIS QUARANTINE THING GOING ON IM GOING TO GRIND OUT CHAPTER THIS BEST I CAN.