7 A show of power.

Issei sat down across from the President, Issei took sips from the tea, and played the game. Playing as they conversed with each other.

''Hyoudou, it has come to my attention that over the summer, a few girls have noted you are changing, martial arts training, and when one of my council members had attempted to ask your two friends, they showed hostility towards you.''

''Previous friends President, I stopped hanging out with them at the start of summer and started to focus on my life... I'm a growing adult, and I need to start preparing for my future, I can't have my parents working to much longer now. They've been wanting to be beekeepers for plenty of years now, maybe it's high time I help them accomplish that dream."

"That's an admirable feat Hyoudou, it is good to see a young man starting to officially grow up.''

"My mother said the same thing.''

They continued to play, nothing is said for a while until the President spoke up again.

''Hyoudou, it's become an interest that your change has been a bit more than just... In your personality and maturity, change on the inside perhaps?''

''Ah, you mean my mana.'' There were a few who tenses around him.

''Yes, my mana has recently taken a qualitative change, denser and larger. I have begun to officially train to do so.''

''So... You know this power, and what it's capable of?''

''Of course I do, how else do you think I'd be able to hide it so well? How else would I know your all Devils."

There was further tension in the air, Sona's eyes widening only a moment before she focused again.

''Does the information... Trouble you?''

''None of you would be strong enough to cause direct harm to me... Unless you summon your sister, or any of the high class devil's you have allied to your family, I can fight my way out if it comes down to it.''

There was a laugh from the other side of the room as Haji spoke up. ''I highly doubt you could fight all those here and make it out ali-.''

He was suddenly silenced as Issei released his mana in full, the sudden suffocation in the air weighed heavily on all of them. If it was just his mana it'd be fine, but it was mana that had been directly affected by Ddraig herself.

Being next to a dragon wasn't the easiest thing to do, even Sona who was used to being around the intense pressure her sister released by simply being near her was faltering. Saji himself was grasping at his throat as he fell to his knees.

Others caught themselves while some fell, gasping for air before Issei moved to stand, which wasn't that threatening in by itself, other than the fact he was releasing enough pressure to pressure the entire group of devils around him to a state that made it so they can't defend themselves

He walked around the desk towards Sona, the pressure didn't shift as he did, meaning that he had even control over the entire area. He set a hand onto Sona's shoulder, a few of her members attempted to move forward only to crumble to the ground as they got closer.

''I do not mind you checking in on me, I understand your position as one of the two heir's who watch over Kouh... This is me simply letting you know, if I wanted to harm anyone, they'd be gone. Erased from existence. But please, when you are meeting with a potential threat, keep ALL of your peerage in line."

He began to lessen the pressure on all of them slowly, the first was Saji so the boy wouldn't end up choking out.

"If I was anyone else at a level of threat that I am, it would be in my right to kill the boy. Lunch is almost over and I would like to eat before class so I will leave it at this, we can please come together later and talk further about what you need of me, and the possibility of recruiting me... For now, goodbye to you all, and Checkmate.''

Issei reached to the chessboard and did his final move, which caused Sona's brows to raise and her eyes to widen a bit before Issei walked out, he didn't wait until he was out of the barrier to release the pressure entirely.

The moment Saji got to his feet he began to rush out.

''Saji sit down!''

''But Presd-''

''But nothing, he is right! Not only would you be no match for him, but if you were to attempt to attack him now he could kill you and it would be OUR fault!"

As everyone picked themselves up, Sona straightened herself, fixing her appearance as she smoothed out her clothes, her eyes staring at the board in front of her.

''After all, didn't you hear? Not only did he beat me in a game of chess, making him a Marriage candidate. But, he also said 'Possibility of recruiting me'. Meaning that if we play our cards right, the devils might gain an incredibly strong ally.''

''But how you can think he'll be strong?''

''Saji, you may not understand now because you're still quite new... But Issei was a normal human... No, was below the average of a human when it came to strength before this summer started. He now has the strength to pressure the entirety of my peerage. His mana didn't fluctuate as he moved, and he was able to move with ease, and... Whatever sacred gear he has is NOT twice critical as we thought... He might be wielding something far stronger.