[1] The Future, and the Past
Chapter 1:
---
For him, it was unsurprising.
The image of a river of blood and mountain of corpses. Raven-like creatures wandering through the ashen lands - biting, chewing, ripping the flesh of the deceased thoroughly, whilst the victims' eyes were wide open. Blood pouring from every corner. Hands twisted and toyed into different directions. Parts of limbs ripped and turned to be rearranged.
Calling the remnants of the world that was once filled with life: Hell, wouldn't be enough to describe this horror.
No form or entity resembling humans or animals remained from the cataclysmic grounds. The traces of life that may have been there were now extinguished. All that lingered was the figure of a dragon.
No, it was an abomination. Posessing seven heads, seven necks, ten horns. Its body parts resembled different animals to shape something utterly horrendous. A sin that should have never been created.
Such was the being in front of the last remaining survivor within this ruined world.
His shaggy brunette hair fluttered harshly from the talons of the beast. Lifeless eyes gazing chillingly upon it, whilst his battered lips opened to coarsefully reveal the name of the disaster that had destroyed his world.
"...Trihexa."
A roar of glee responded to his hateful spouted words. As if to mock him. Howl at his puny voice saying its name.
The show of terrifying power didn't phase Issei the slightest, which only served the Apocalyptic Beast amusement.
[Hyoudou Issei, tell me - how does it feel to lose everything precious to you, to see your beloveds ripped into pieces while you watched?]
The Dragon of Apocalypse released a rough chortle of pure euphoria. Its voice violently tearing the space around it. Seven heads, slowly beginning to encircle the tattered man.
[I have already destroyed Earth, Heaven, and Hell. My purpose of absolute destruction has been fulfilled! Thanks to that bastard Rizevim bringing me out of my seal from God, I have finally accomplished what I've longed for all this time.]
The dragon slowly began to grin. A smile so disgusting and grotesque, that even the emotionless man had no other choice but to instinctively grimace.
[However...after I collapsed everything that God had created, the short feeling of pleasure I had completely dissapeared. All that remains is total emptiness that slowly encroaches my mind to insanity - I'm sure you understand what I mean, don't you my good friend?]
The beast let out a howl, crumbling the remaining pieces of land that surrounded them. Its fierce eyes of madness looked upon Issei with jubilation, as if he was its only salvation.
[That is why I decided to spare your insignificant life. I will let you live here in this accursed world, carrying the burden of the lives you were meant to protect! I will watch as you suffer from guilt, the nightmares haunting you when you sleep! After all...]
The beast rose to the shattered sky, its wings spreading as it released a beam of fire. Thoroughly destroying the Dimensional Gap after absorbing the power from Ophis and Great Red.
Soon after the Apocalypse Beast left, leaving behind words of ridicule whilst promising to come back.
[...nothing is better than seeing a hero fail, fall, and crumble. Trying to avenge his comrades.]
Those immeasurably haunting words echoed within the space of nothingness. Reminding Issei continuously of his loss. That he had nothing left.
The broken man stood there for a while, in complete silence - and it remained so.
No noise was made. No step was taken. Not a breath of air was inhaled. It was as if time had come to a complete stop, both to him and reality itself.
This total stillness remained so until Issei finally let out a breathe. His cold expression crumbling, as he let out self-decepricating words. A speech to himself to desperately cling onto his last remaining strand of sanity.
To not lose who he was.
"...Hey Ddraig. I know its been a while since I've talked to you..."
He smiled, weakly. Legs giving out, wanting rest from holding him up for too long. Knees buckling as he fell onto the ground.
"Its been a long time since you died...and I still can't help but blame myself..."
The crimson gauntlet that encircled his arm had long been chipped and shattered. Its claws were broken, the shiny gloss it had at its prime had long been dulled.
"I always think of you Ddraig. Whilst I was out there looking for help, desperately looking for clues to defeat Trihexa, or shouldering the hatred of those I tried to save..."
The man let out a low chuckle as he gazed upwards. His long hair draping his neck as his voice began to slowly crack.
"It was all for nothing. In the end all that remains is me, with the memories of a torn tragedy."
His eyes lost focus, droning out. All that he had left was his gauntlet, and that too was soon going to be lost as it slowly started to turn into dust.
"I can't do this anymore Ddraig. I don't think I can keep our promise..."
With the last remaining pieces of the gauntlet vanishing into the void, Hyoudou Issei let out his last words with a shaking breath.
"...It's hard. Being a hero..."
With that the man decided to crush his heart with his mana. He knew Trihexa didn't expect him to commit suicide before trying to kill it first, especially with how headstrong he was all this time.
However, Issei couldn't take it anymore. The pain, the guilt that gnawed away at his mind, making him a machine with no emotion.
A chuckle escaped his lips as he thought about his anticlimactic death.
'In the end, even the mighty Red Dragon Emperor couldn't survive...'
The ruptured man let out his last breath as he finally shut his eyes. Covering those glazed hazel eyes, which have seen enough pain and sorrow.
'If I was given the chance to steer the fate of this world, even if it meant becoming something not human, I would definitely take it...'
With his last thoughts imprinted in Issei's mind, the tragic hero was finally put into rest.
...or so it was meant to be.
[Your wish has been granted, my dear child. I hope you can change our fate...even if it means not becoming human.]