31 Chapter 31 The duel...

The next day at night the king gathered noble people and heroes after the first wave to celebrate and give rewards. Everyone were enjoying the night except for Issei as he just sat by the window far from anyone in the corner alone.

"I wouldn't even be here if not for the reward" Said Issei to himself.

"Heroes did a really great job"

"Yeah and there were minimal casualties too"

"We are so grateful to them"

"Hey as a royal knight I held on my own pretty well too"

"Yeah right" Said Issei to himself.

Out of the crowd Raphtalia with a plate of snacks and drinks came to Issei while Motoyasu tried to stop her to talk or something but got stopped by Myne.

"Ise the food here is really good are you sure you don't want any?" Asked Raphtalia.

"Nah I'll pass" Said Issei as he looked out the window.

As Issei was looking out the window he didn't realize that Raphtalia left and returned after a little.

"You sure you don't wanna? just try for me" Said Raphtalia as she tried to feed Issei a bite of cake.

"Ugh alright I'll do it for you" Said Issei as he took a bite.

"See? it's delicious" Said Raphtalia.

But out of nowhere someone called out to Issei.

"Issei" Said Motoyasu as he threw his glove on the ground gaining the attention of everyone.

"Time to fight" Said Motoyasu. Raphtalia's eyes widened.

"I heard that poor Raphtalia is your slave and she obeys your every command" Said Motoyasu.

"Huh?" Raphtalia let out a confused sound

"None of your business" Said Issei calmly.

"Watch your tongue" Said Motoyasu.

"Yeah Raphtalia is my loyal slave didn't you hear that it's legal to enslave people in this country?" Answered Issei.

"Ghh that's it let's fight if I win you'll have to set Raphtalia free" Said irritated Motoyasu.

"Alright but what will happen if I win this fight?" Asked Issei.

"That won't happen of course without her you are just a shield" Said Motoyasu mockingly

'Sure keep dreaming about it you weakling' Thought Issei as Ddraig started to laugh.

"But if you win everything will stay the same" Said Motoyasu.

"Yeah I rather not play these stupid games of yours I gain nothing from it" Said Issei as he started to walk off.

"Does he really have a slave in his party?" Asked Itsuki.

"Man how low can this guy go?" Asked Ren.

Suddenly guards stopped Issei.

"I see that you used a demi-human as a slave in your party and that breaks our customs I order you to accept the duel" Ordered the king.

"Who are you to me so you could order me around?" Asked Issei.

"Such disrespect I'm your king and-" Said the king as he was interrupted by Issei.

"I bow down to no one, you ain't my king, and no one will be" Said Issei as he looked at the king with a cold glare that sent shivers to everyone who saw it.

"Wait but I'm with Issei on my own free will they don't have t-" Raphtalia tried to stand up for Issei but the Knights behind her covered her mouth with a cloth so she couldn't speak anymore.

"Hmpff hmmmm mhhmmm!!" Raphtalia tried to talk and struggled to get out of their grasp.

"Oh you poor thing he placed a curse on you that makes you defend him" Said the king.

"Don't worry soon Sir Motoyasu will win the duel and you will be set free" Said the king as the knights started to drag her away.

"Stop this nonsense now! you are hurting her!" Shouted Issei as he was about to run up to Raphtalia.

"Draw your swords!" Shouted one of the knights and Issei was surrounded and Raphtalia was taken away.

"Heed my order and duel or I shall take her away by force" Said the king.

"Let's battle you coward" Said Motoyasu.

"You scumbag! I shall win and get Raphtalia back!" Shouted Issei.

"Hahah and how will you do that without her SHIELD hero?" Mocked Myne.

Everyone started to laugh at Issei.

He just clenched his fists and gritted his teeth in anger.

....FIVE MINUTES LATER IN ARENA...

The duel between the Spear hero and the Shield hero will begin!"

Everyone cheered.

"The duel will end if one of them gets knocked out or admits his defeat!"

The doors started to open on the opposite sides of the arena and Issei and Motoyasu walked In the arena.

"This duel will take place in the presence of the king Melromarc and the pope and the battle is official"

The crowd watched how Issei and Motoyasu walked into the arena while Myne was inside the arena just at the sidelines cheering for Motoyasu.

'She is scheming something for sure' Thought Issei.

'I agree brother you should watch out for her' informed Ddraig.

As they both reached the middle of the area Motoyasu started to spin his spear to show off.

"Issei be a man and admit defeat" Said Motoyasu.

"Why should I admit defeat to a weakling?" Asked Issei. That angered Motoyasu.

"Ready?"

Issei and Motoyasu prepared for battle.

"Begin!"

And the battle began with Motoyasu sprinting towards Issei with his spear in front.

Issei easily blocked it.

"Not bad but don't get your hopes up it was just a tiny bit of my power" Said Motoyasu.

'Sure then why are you sweating already?' Asked Issei in his mind.

Motoyasu then lunged at Issei again but used a special move that stabbed Issei in the shoulder.

"Chaos spear!" Shouted Motoyasu and he swung the spear at insane spead.

"Damn that caught me off guard" Said Issei as he chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Asked Motoyasu.

"Oh nothing let's not waste any more time" Said Issei as he blocked another attack from Motoyasu but Issei suddenly changed his shield into a two headed black dog shield. One of the dog heads bit Motoyasu in the shoulder while another held his spear.

"Get off of me!" Shouted Motoyasu.

Suddenly Issei saw Raphtalia disappear from his party.

'The hell did they do!?' Thought Issei furious.

While he was distracted Issei used his airstrike shield to hit him in the guts hard.

As that happened all of the air left Motoyasu's lungs.

"Shield prison!" Shouted Issei as he trapped Motoyasu and inside issei's shadow chains with faint shadow fire whipped Motoyasu full force.

"AAAAH let me out of here!" Shouted Motoyasu from inside.

"I can't believe the Shield hero is actually winning against the Spear hero"

The shield hero may have a chance to win" The crowd talked amongst themselves.

"Issei has his shield at the upper hand even tho Motoyasu is at slightly higher level" Said Itsuki while Ren just nodded.

"Does this lowly Shield hero expect to win against the Spear hero?"

"Have you no respect for the sanctity of a duel?"

The noble people shouted at Issei but of course he couldn't care less his top priority was to get Raphtalia back.

Issei walked towards his shield prison.

"Admit your defeat or you want more embarrassment?" Asked Issei as he removed the shield prison. Out of it came out Motoyasu on his knees with bruises and burn marks while trying to get his air into his lungs.

"And why would..... I surrender now?" Asked Motoyasu looking at the ground holding onto his spear breathing heavily.

Issei was about to hit him in the face but his instincts roared to get out of the way. As he did that a powerful wind magic hit the wall. He looked who did it and saw Myne wide eyed as to how Issei avoided but that distracted Issei from Motoyasu.

"Lighting spear!" Shouted Motoyasu and a lightning hit Issei.

Issei fell on his knee breathing a bit heavily but he was not at his limit yet of course but as he tried to stand up he couldn't he was paralyzed and couldn't move his body.

"I'm surprised that you're still conscious after my special attack"Said Motoyasu.

Motoyasu was about to use another attack as he had a smirk on his face.

'No! I can't let this happen!" Thought Issei.

Suddenly he saw Raphtalia and all the happy times they spent together albeit they knew each other for just two weeks.

His eyes started to glow emerald green with some redness and he slowly stood up.

His face was filled with rage and determination for his success.

*All requirements were met, new series unlocked Dragon series, new shield unlocked 'Dragon's will'*

Suddenly issei's shield changed into a bigger one, black and red carvings with red gems and the biggest gem in the middle burned with Ddraig's flame while the other ones at the shield's edges and black shadow chains wrapped around it into an X and few red spikes from its sides going upwards.

"Chaos lightning spear!" Shouted Motoyasu but as the attack hit issei's shield Motoyasu was sent flying into the wall knocking him out.

Everyone stared bewildered.

"Th-the winner is the Shield hero!" The announcement was made but no one cheered nor spoke they were all frozen in place from all the shock as they just witnessed the battle against Shield and Spear but the Shield somehow won...and it looked like he won with ease too.

Suddenly Raphtalia came running towards Issei with tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Ise!" Shouted Raphtalia as she hugged Issei.

"Are you hurt anywhere!" Asked Issei.

"I'm the one who should ask you that" Said Raphtalia.

Suddenly all of the people who were watching started to leave as well as the king and the pope.

Soon after Motoyasu woke up.

"What happened everything hurts" Said Motoyasu as he slowly got up.

"You were defeated in a duel by Issei" Said Ren.

"What!? that's impossible" Shouted Motoyasu.

"Well I don't know about that" Said Itsuki.

"He....he cheated yeah that's right he must've cheated!" Said Motoyasu.

"No he didn't cheat in fact Myne was the one cheating" Said Itsuki.

"What?" Asked confused Motoyasu.

"That's right she used powerful wind magic but Issei somehow managed to evade it but got distracted by it and you were able to hit him with a lightning spear. If not for Myne you wouldn't have been able to hit him with that attack" Said Ren.

Then suddenly he looked at Issei and Raphtalia hugging.

"Maybe she's still in some kind of curse" Said Motoyasu.

"C'mon Motoyasu does this look like a slave and master relationship to you?" Asked Ren.

Motoyasu stayed silent and then they left the arena too.

Issei and Raphtalia stayed like that for ten more minutes and Raphtalia fell asleep as it was really comfortable for her and warm and all the stress was tiring for her.

Issei just chuckled and lifted her in a princess carry and stretched his wings.

It was night time so no one saw Issei fly with Raphtalia in his hands.

The next morning Raphtalia woke up in a soft and warm bed. As she remembered what happened yesterday she sat up quickly and looked around the bed and the room to find Issei and she found him Sitting against the bed but he was asleep.

She got out of the bed and sat on issei's lap and hugged him.

After five minutes Issei woke up but felt something warm and heavy. As he opened his eyes he saw Raphtalia sitting on his lap looking straight into his eyes.

"Woah what are ya doing?" Asked Issei with a blush.

"You slept on the ground the whole night while I slept in a warm and soft bed, it's not fair for you, so I sat here to warm you up because the ground is cold. You know we could share a bed" Said Raphtalia and she blushed as she said the last part. Issei blushed too not expecting anything like this.

'But I'm a dragon I can't get cold!' Thought Issei.

'Brother your harem keeps expanding' Said Ddraig mentally as he laughed his ass off.

'Shut it you bastard' Shot Issei back.

"Alright we should go now I'll go do my morning training" Said Issei.

"Alright while you do that I'll make us breakfast" Said Raphtalia with a smile.

"Alright sure" Said Issei.

Raphtalia hugged Issei really tight before running up to the door.

"Oh and don't forget the whole reason we are here is because we want to collect the reward" Said Raphtalia as she left with a bright smile.

"Oh that's right. Because of all this nonsense and the duel I completely forgot about the rewards we came for" Said Issei out loud.

"Brother I can't stand it anymore those weaklings looking down on a mighty dragon" Said Ddraig irritated.

"Yeah same here Ddraig the fact that I got distracted means I need more training with you at night. I should not let my guard down like that anymore that was a stupid mistake of mine" Said issei.

Ddraig with a grunt agreed.

'By the way I unlocked a new shield yesterday called Dragon's will, I think it's the most powerful shield I have right now you saw yourself how Motoyasu flew into that wall when he hit my shield while I just stood in place' Said Issei mentally.

'I agree that shield is truly impressive what's more astonishing is that it somehow it has my flames on its gem well actually I can't really say my flame as it is ours now' Said Ddraig.

'Wait really I didn't notice that yesterday' Said Issei as he summoned his new shield.

'Huh you are right it has your I mean our flames...maybe I can figure something out and use it somehow' Said Issei.

'Well someday later I'll look what I can do now let's start our morning training' Said Issei as he walked down the castle corridors.

After an hour Issei was back to the room after his morning training and a cold shower. He felt refreshed.

Then Issei heard a knock on the door and Raphtalia came in with two juicy delicious looking sandwiches.

"I'm back Issei" Said Raphtalia as she sat beside Issei on the bed.

"Wow those look and smell really great" Said Issei.

"Thank you now take one and eat up" Said Raphtalia as she handed him his sandwich.

Raphtalia took a bite and let out a satisfied grunt.

Issei took a bite too and his eyes widened.

"Is something wrong?" Asked Raphtalia as she saw his reaction.

"I can actually taste it" said Issei as he almost inhaled the sandwich.

"Glad you like it" Said Raphtalia with a smile as she was happy.

"From now on you will make our meals" Said Issei as he looked at Raphtalia with a smirk.

Three hours have passed since their breakfast and everyone were called to the throne room by the king to collect their rewards.

"Sir Motoyasu will receive four thousand silver for his efforts during the wave and for fulfilling my request" Said the king as a knight gave him the bag with silver coins.

"And for Sir Itsuki and Sir Ren three thousand eight hundred silver each" Said the king.

"Finally I set aside five hundred silver for Shield hero" Said the king as everyone received their rewards.

"I don't think it's fair he defended that village alone during the wave so he should get more" Said Itsuki, shocking Issei.

"I agree with Itsuki" Said Ren, shocking Issei even more.

"Alright Shield hero will receive a thousand of silver now be gone" Said the king.

Issei grabbed the bag and he was about to lash out on the king but Raphtalia stopped him as she grabbed his arm.

"C'mon Issei let's go already we don't need to waste our precious time here anymore" Said Raphtalia as she saw what Issei was about to do.

Issei just smiled and agreed with her.

"Let's go Raphtalia we have work to do" Said Issei as they both started to walk away.

But suddenly Issei got a feeling like he was missing something exciting.

'Damn I wonder what I'm missing out' Thought Issei.

...Line break...

Dxd world...

In the Gremory mansion Rias and her peerage were lined up and waited for their punishment.

Sirzechs has told his parents how she erased Issei from his parents memories and even replaced themselves to be their children.

"So I guess we were not enough for you as you got yourself new parents Rias, no stole new parents from a teenager" Said furious Vanelena.

"N-no it's not like that!" Said teary Rias.

"Silence when your mother is talking!" Shouted Zeoticus Immediately silencing Rias making her tremble from fear at the same time because she has never been treated like this by her parents that's how she became a spoiled princess.

"I really never have thought that you of all people MY daughter would think it's alright to get new parents and cheat on your fiance with a man who he saved you from marrying the person you hated! what was the point of all that! he wasted his time! his efforts! his left hand! for what!? NOTHING!" Shouted Vanelena.

Zeoticus hugged his wife to calm her down.

While the whole peerage was scared for their lives as Rias cried except do Kiba who now had huge burn scars on his face and arm and Rissweisse who calmly was standing and listening.

"Your punishment is decided" Said Zeoticus getting the attention of Rias and her peerage again.

"You shall be stripped off of your title as the Gremory heir, your powers and peerage and for fifty to two hundred of years you all shall live in the human world with Hyodous as you chose them as your new family" Said Zeoticus.

"No please give me another chance!" Pleaded Rias.

"No my word is final! have you any idea how much pain you brought upon that boy! this is nothing compared to what he had to go through because of you! You will be able to return after fifty or more years" Said Zeoticus.

"Rossweisse and Kiba step forward" Said Vanelena.

Rossweisse and Kina did just that as they took several steps forward and now were facing the furious elderly couple.

"You have been nothing but help, Kiba you prevented a huge disaster from challenging in Kouh town that horrible night, and you Rosswesse always was like a babysitter to my sister and her peerage that is until now, plus you haven't done anything wrong so it would be wrong to punish you too, so I Vanelena Gremory shall make you free devils!" Said Vanelena shocking the duo.

"Now you are free to do anything you want but you shall still obey orders from the devil kings as you still are devils" Said Zeoticus.

"Thank you very much for your kindness" Said both Kiba and Rosswesse as they bowed.

"No need, now you are free to go" Said Zeoticus.

Kiba and Rosseeisse then teleported away not even giving a glance at their former king and perrage.

And with that Rias and her former peerage were stripped of their powers and banished to the human world to live as regular people....