9 Occult Research Club

It had been about a week since Issei dealt with Sona and her little peerage and life has gone as normal. With training, pretending he was paying attention in school, and occasionally spending time with his family.

But on the week exactly since it had been since he talked with Sona, one of the drop dead beauties in the school entered his classroom after school was finishing.

Akeno herself walked up to him.

''Hyoudou-San? Would you please follow me to the occult research club? Our President Rias would like to speak to you.''

~A week is all it took them? They must be desperate.~

'Well if the information we got is legit, then she is most likely hoping I can win the rating game for her, which is fine since I'm aiming to use that as a reason to take her hand in marriage anyway.'

"Right, let me just get my bag." Issei stood, reaching over his table to grab his bag. Once he got everything put away he began to follow her to the club, fighting every bit of his body not to watch her too close. He wanted to make good impressions, and if he bid his time properly. He'd be able to get all he wants for eye candy.

Soon they made it outside and to the old school house, once they were there it was like the Anime portrayed with minor details left out, there was a lot more life to the room. Rias' was showering and instead of gawking at her he moved to sit down with his shoulder faced away from the opened door and set his bag down.

''The President should be out soon, I'll get some tea and snacks prepared.'' Akeno gave a soft bow before she turned and walked away.

''Thank you.''

He felt the hint use of magic and raised a brow.

~feels like communication magic~

He noted how right after, the shower stopped, and unlike the show, there was no long drawn out scene, she seemed to use magic to change her clothing instantly as she opened the door wider and smiled.

''Hello Issei Hyoudou, it's a pleasure to meet you, I am Rias Gremory, Heiress to the Gremory Clan."

"Issei Hyoudou, the current vessel of the Red Dragon Emperor of Domination Ddraig."

"Vessel? So you do not consider it a Sacred Gear?''

( ~" and "~ Will be used when Ddraig is speaking out loud.)

~"Issei is the first ever user to deepen his bond to this level, it would be rude to claim him just a gear holder... It feels almost as if I was meant to be Issei's Partner."~

'Aw, shucks. Goin' make me blush like a russian school girl.'

~Shut up Partner~

"Sacred gears can deepen their bond?" Rias moved to sit across from him, sitting like an actual noble lady would, it seems she was told flirting wouldn't get her anywhere, which is wrong because it would. Into his bed, or across that fancy desk.

That or, Sona had warned her I was aware of how people should act to someone of my standing, even if I don't have backing as of yet.

~"Only with ones with Sentiance like me, granted. Issei has already given a part of himself in exchange for higher baseline power."~

"A part of himself?" Rias spoke, her brows raised in interest, it seemed she was getting far more than she had planned to get right away.

Akeno soon joined them, setting out tea and snacks.

Issei took a sip of tea, giving a silent nod to Akeno as a sign of respect for the one who made the tea before he spoke.

''Users of sacred gears at a level of Ddraig can give a part of themselves in exchange for a 'Boost' in power. I have worked with Ddraig to streamline the process, instead of giving an arm or leg. I have traded my veins first, allowing me to increase the oxygen and amount of cells in my bloodstream, better circulation comes with many benefits, but I've also begun to slowly train my heart to give over as well. So instead of 'Sacrificing' anything, I instead am slowly given it, piece by piece, until I become something... New, so to speak.''

"You're using your gear to... Change yourself... to change your race?"

Issei gave a nod. "So to speak, yes. It'll make me a half-devil once I change of course, but in exchange, I get far more benefits with little to no risks, even the benefit of being more resistant to 'Light' damage."

Issei took another sip, slowly smiling. ''After all, it's a teenage boy's dream to be able to sprout dragon wings from his back and be able to suddenly equip a suit of armor.''

''A suit of armor? I thought it appeared as only a single piece.''

~"Too weak users? Yes. Issei however was capable of full equipment from the start since he was properly trained to be able to handle the strain. This does not mean he can't summon pieces of it."~

"Summoning the armor gives the most benefits to my power, but summoning smaller pieces, such as just gauntlets, pauldrons, or maybe even the chest piece give certain benefits as well."

To demonstrate he summoned only the right gauntlet, unlike the anime counterpart it was much more normal-looking despite its unique coloring. He then summoned the cape alone, it gets hard to focus on him for a few moments before each piece vanished.

''There are also smaller reasons why you'd only equip things one at a time, less energy overall. However, keeping the full armor on is a drain to my mana, and its recovery can't keep up with it so I usually don't use the full set when fighting yet, not until my recovery speed is faster than actually using the armor."

"I'll be honest Hyo-''

''You can call me Issei.''

''Then please, call me Rias."

''And me Akeno." Akeno gave a smile to him when she spoke which he gave a nod towards.

''Then Issei, Sona has spoken to me, of how secretive you seem and how you originally used force to make her submit.''

''It wasn't a forced submission, it was to show that I can be a threat if I am aimed to become enemies with. I may be strong, but my parents are normal humans, with little to no protection themselves.''

Rias nodded a bit, understanding where he was coming from. As the peerage leader, she had thought over something similar.