Akeno: "Oh my, such a story. I'm jealous."

Reyna (blushing, awkward laugh): "Haha…"

I feel I've deepened my bond with Reyna, understanding her feelings better. Her sitting on my lap, skin against skin in her bikini, her feminine scent—it's irresistible!

Issei: "Plenty of challenges ahead, but let's tackle them together."

As family, we'll support each other.

Reyna (flustered): "Challenges…?"

Why's she so embarrassed? Misunderstanding something?

Issei: "Reyna?"

Reyna: "N-Nothing! Just… need the bathroom!" She hops off and scurries away.

Was she holding it in that badly?

Akeno (smirking): "Oh, Reyna-chan."

What's with that knowing look?

Then, entering the underground pool area—

Kuroka: "Nyaa, I'm beat."

Kuroka, the sultry kimono-clad catgirl, saunters in wearily, followed by Le Fay, who bows politely. "H-Hello."

Sona and Akeno tense—probably still wary of Kuroka.

Kuroka (hugging me): "I'm back, nyaa!" Her massive chest presses against me, her loose kimono revealing smooth, white skin. "Red Dragon Emperor-chin♪ I'm exhausted. Heal me~"

She nuzzles my cheek. Damn, Kuroka, what a blessing! Since freeloading at my place, she's gotten way clingier. Keep it up!

Akeno looks uneasy—cute how she gets jealous when other women get close.

Issei: "Weren't you with Vali?"

Kuroka was called back by Vali during Ravel's kidnapping and our fight with stray mages. Something big must've happened.

Kuroka (sighing): "Yup. Aži Dahāka attacked. Total mess, nyaa."

Everyone freezes. Aži Dahāka—the legendary evil dragon, master of a thousand magics, defeated by hero Thraetaona. Another revived dragon, like Grendel?

Sona: "It challenged Zoroastrian gods' armies. Sealed, nearly destroyed. Now it's back, like Grendel…"

Ddraig (grimly): "This is a turning point, Red Dragon Emperor."

Kuroka's eyes sharpen. "That dragon… I punched, kicked, slashed—it laughed, bleeding everywhere, and didn't fall. It's not normal. I'd say avoid fighting it, nyaa."

If Kuroka's team couldn't take it down, it's worse than Grendel.

Issei: "You said it bled everywhere?"

Kuroka: "Nyaa, yeah?"

Issei: "Did its blood spawn anything? Like small monsters?"

Kuroka: "You know something?"

Just like Grendel. Something's off—my gut's screaming.

Issei (shaking head): "No clue yet. Grendel did the same, so I wondered."

Kuroka: "Vali was thrilled to fight it. Idiot, nyaa."

Vali's a battle maniac. He needs other hobbies, rival or not.

Kuroka: "Don't become like that dragon, Red Dragon Emperor-chin."

Issei: "Got it. I'm me—Oppai Dragon, not Vali or some evil dragon."

Ddraig: "That's its own tragedy…"

Kuroka: "Good boy, nyaa."

Ddraig: "Ignoring me?"

Sorry, Ddraig. And sorry for the Oppai Dragon thing.

Le Fay: "Red Dragon Emperor-sama, you've evolved your Balance Breaker to another dimension, right?"

Issei: "Yeah. Tenbu, Tenkoku for power, and Ten'yoku for tapping Ignis's strength. Why?"

Le Fay: "Vali refined his Juggernaut Drive into his own. I wondered what you'd do."

Vali's new power—Silver Juggernaut Drive—killed top-tier reaper Pluto instantly, matching Azazel in armor. Its output dwarfs mine, though it drains him fast.

Issei: "Juggernaut Drive's not for me. I want to enhance my current power."

My Balance Breaker's an anomaly with room to grow. I'll push it further.

Le Fay (smiling): "Vali would love to hear that."

Issei: "Haha, probably."

Le Fay: "But the past Red Dragon Emperors' grudges in your Sacred Gear… you should deal with them. They're dangerous."

She's right. Even if I skip Juggernaut Drive, those grudges could drag me down.

Issei (distant look): "Actually… that's already handled."

Ddraig: "Ugh…"

Everyone looks confused as Ddraig sobs. I don't want to relive this…

After my Rating Game with Sairaorg, I dove into the white space within my Sacred Gear, where past Red Dragon Emperors linger.

Issei (sighing): "New possibilities out there, but this place is the same."

The past Emperors sit around a table, expressionless, eyes vacant.

Ddraig: "Their grudges are too strong. They don't change easily."

Issei: "But that girl Ignis groped in Kyoto—she changed a bit, right?"

On the train to Kyoto, I entered this space to face the grudges. Ignis appeared, groping the female Emperors' chests. Elsha climaxed lightly, and another went from blank to blissful. Ddraig was stunned.

Ddraig: "That… ugh…"

Issei: "Don't cry, Ddraig. I know it's rough. But… could Ignis's ridiculous act be the key to breaking their grudges?"

Ignis (appearing with fanfare): "Exactly!"

She strikes a dramatic pose. "All problems solved! The ultimate big sister arrives!"

Issei: What's with the hero act? Lame villain vibes!

Issei (pointing at Emperors): "Can you fix this?"

Ignis: "Already got a solution."

Issei: Since when!? Was all that groping not just pervy nonsense?

Her smug V-sign and grin—damn, she's reliable!

Ignis (serious): "But I need your help, Issei. They're your predecessors—you have to resolve this. Plus, it's your step to a new path."

Issei: New possibilities, huh? "Fine. I'm in. I don't want to hear their grudges anymore. They didn't want this either."

They sought power to protect but were consumed, destroying what they loved. That's too sad.

Ignis (smiling): "Good. Let's start."

She snaps her fingers. Crosses appear in the space.

Ddraig: "What are those!?"

Ignis: "Crucifixion platforms, duh."

Issei & Ddraig: "WHAAAT!?"

Issei: "Why crucifixion!?"

Ignis (grabbing a male Emperor): "Like this!" She hurls him onto a cross, binding him.

She tosses the men onto crosses one by one.

Issei: "Why only the guys!?"

Ignis: "Girls go here." A massive bed appears, big enough for a dozen.

Issei: Where'd that come from!? I carry the female Emperors to the bed, feeling like a creep. "What's the plan?"

Ignis (excited): "You'll free their grudges and unlock your inner beast with special training!"

Issei: "Huh!?"

A giant plate descends with a mechanical whir, reading: "Hyoudou Issei Beastification Project! ~Making All Girls Swoon~"

Issei: "What's this stupid title!? No one's watching this trash show!"

Ignis: "It's a plan to make you a beast."

Issei: "That's not an explanation!"

Ignis: "Miu, Alice, Rias, the others—they all like you, right?"

Issei: "Y-Yeah…" They're pretty forward.

Ignis: "Post-Kyoto, they got bolder after you and Miu… you know. They'll keep coming, and you'll respond. But can you satisfy them all? 3P, 4P, maybe 10P?"

Issei: "You're a goddess! Stop saying crazy stuff!"

Ignis: "With Tiamat and me, it's more."

Issei: You're not listening! "Could I handle that? Miu alone was intense…"

Ignis (slamming plate): "That's why the Beastification Project! Unleash your inner beast, remove your limits, and become invincible in bed!"

Issei: Inner beast!? What!?

Ignis (gentle): "You have potential. The Rating Game proved it. You can be a true beast."

Issei: "You made me do that!"

Ignis: "Open the door to new possibilities—now!"

Issei: "You're not listening! Ddraig, help!"

Ddraig: "I'm… escaping."

Issei: Traitor! I'll shove an ero mag in the gauntlet instead of Ascalon!

Someone stop this useless goddess!

Issei: "Fine, but how does this help the grudges?"

Ignis: "Make the girls feel good to erase their grudges. I'll handle the guys."

Flames engulf her, and she's in a military uniform, cape and whip in hand.

CRACK! She lashes a male Emperor.

Issei: "What are you doing!?"

Ignis: "Waking their consciousness."

Issei: That's insane! You think whipping wakes them!?

Male Emperor: "…Good."

Issei: Huh? A voice?

Ignis (smirking): "One more push. Wake up, Private!" CRACK!

Male Emperor: "What a strike! This… this is GOOD!"

Issei: He's awake—and saying that!?

Ignis (lifting his chin): "Finally up. Why'd you let power consume you?"

He woke up!? Her method's nuts, but it might work—wake them, hear their pain, clear the grudge.

Male Emperor (muttering): "I had a best friend. We did everything together—school, grades, hobbies. I trusted him… until he betrayed me."

Issei: Betrayal drove him to lose control? That's rough.

Male Emperor: "That bastard lost his virginity before me! Damn him!"

Issei: THAT'S why!? You used Juggernaut Drive for that!? Lame!

Ignis: "Well said, Sergeant!" WHIP! WHIP!

Issei: Sergeant now? What's the ranking system!?

Male Emperor: "Hit me more, Queen! I'm a bad boy!"

Ignis: "Call me Instructor!"

Male Emperor: "Sorry, Instructor!"

Issei: This is just SM play!

Belzard (appearing): "Look, Issei-kun."

Issei: "Oh, Belzard-san. You're here?"

Belzard: "His grudge is fading."

Issei: What!? The black mist around him is nearly gone. SM play clears grudges!?

Belzard: "Precise strikes create pleasure, dispelling grudges."

Issei: I'm too tired to argue…

Elsha (pulling me): "Issei-kun, over here." She hands me a note. "Ignis's training menu. Free the female Emperors' grudges and awaken your inner beast… supposedly?"

Issei: "Why the question mark?"

Elsha: "I don't get it either. Just… boobs, I guess."

Issei: Boobs!? I'm the Oppai Dragon, but still!

Ignis (in background): "Yes, Instructor!"

Male Emperor: "More, Instructor!"

She's loving this. Fully committed.

I want to free the girls' grudges, but this situation…

I step forward to a new path.

-----------------------------

The battle isn't over... and the truth has yet to be revealed. Read the next chapter now on Patreon! [patreon.com/Greyhounds]