"Tell me, Issei, would you rather live and be a virgin forever, or die?"
Issei's eyes widened, and he looked deep into mine. That was when he realized I was serious.
He took a deep breath, sat down on the floor, and put his hand on his chin to think.
"By 'forever,' do you mean I would be immortal?" he asked, his serious expression making me doubt his cognitive abilities.
I shook my head. "It's just a figure of speech. I'm saying you'll be a virgin for the rest of your life—until you die of old age or in a car accident. That also includes never touching a woman's breasts."
"Hmmm..." He leaned back and closed his eyes, thinking hard.
"No!" he exclaimed when he opened his eyes again.
"No what?"
"No, I wouldn't want to live the rest of my life without at least finding out what it feels like to touch a beautiful, voluptuous pair of breasts. For me, that would be hellish penance."
He said, gesturing with his arms as dramatically as only a protagonist could.
I smiled out of the corner of my mouth. That was exactly the answer I was waiting for.
"Even if it meant you would have the power of a dragon?" I asked.
"Even so! What's the point of having power if I can't use it to get girls?!"
Despite his twisted logic, it perfectly matched the Issei Hyoudou I knew.
As I said, most of his motivation stemmed from his lust, which was the foundation for him growing stronger in the anime.
If I burned away that sin of his, I would gain an ally with immense potential. However, Boosted Gear, like any other Sacred Gear, would only be useful if its user was strong enough to control it.
"Hmm. I admire your conviction," I said, offering him my right hand to help him up.
Confused, he looked at my right hand and accepted my help. "Thanks, but what does this have to do wit— Hey, wait!" Issei exclaimed, his eyes darting to my left hand, which began glowing incandescently as he stood up.
Without giving him time to scream, I pressed my glowing hand against his chest, unleashing the Stygian Flame at full power. The orange light enveloped our surroundings at the edge of the forest, its brilliance outshining even the sunlight.
My left hand, engulfed in flames, pierced through his red T-shirt and scorched his skin.
The smell of burning flesh was more revolting than anything I had encountered in Tartarus. Not even the stench of the stray devils I had incinerated was this putrid.It felt like God's way of warning those who dared to burn a human of the gravity of their actions.
Issei tried to scream in pain, but I let go of his hand and threw myself on top of him as he fell backward.
My right hand clamped over his mouth, silencing his cries.
The glow of the Stygian Flame lasted only a few seconds before a second, even more intense light appeared.
This new light was green, like an emerald, and it did not come from me — it emanated from Issei's left hand.
Despite the pang of guilt in my chest for doing this to someone so inherently good, I smiled at the sight of the emerald glow radiating from his hand. It meant my actions were not in vain.
"Hang in there, Issei! Feel the power coursing through your veins!" I shouted, urging him not to succumb to the pain.
Suddenly, Issei's left hand shot up, grabbing my arm where it pressed against his chest.I immediately felt his strength increasing — his grip was crushing my godly physique as if it were paper.
'The power of Ddraig truly is terrifying.' I thought, a wide smile spreading across my face.
Issei was clearly in agony, but I knew pain was an essential part of this transformation.His eyes suddenly snapped open, glowing green.
"Arghhhh!!! Why are you doing this to me?!" he growled through clenched teeth, his voice muffled.
I leaned in close, my voice steady despite the chaos. "I'm awakening the power that lies dormant within you, Issei Hyoudou. Stop resisting and accept it."
The emerald light intensified as the Boosted Gear finally began to take form.A dragon's roar echoed, deep and deafening, not from Issei but from the very core of his Sacred Gear.
Issei's left hand now bore the iconic armor, gleaming in metallic red with golden accents.
The force of his grip grew unbearable, and I had no choice but to let go and step back.I jumped back, clutching my broken fist, which was already beginning to heal.
The bursts of light and energy that had engulfed the area slowly dissipated, leaving the surroundings eerily calm.
Issei staggered to his feet, visibly disoriented and in pain. He pointed a trembling finger at me, his expression a mix of anger and disbelief.
"YOU—!" His voice faltered as he glanced at the hand he was using to point at me.
His left hand was completely different from what he remembered, and he immediately remembered the nightmares he often had.
"What... what the hell is this?" he muttered, his voice filled with both fear and awe.
[Ding! The Owner chose option 3! Reward: 100 fusion points]
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