Third Person POV

August 7th, 7:11 am.

Issei couldn't believe it.

He honestly couldn't believe it whatsoever; he thought that this day would never come. The day he had been eagerly waiting for, the words to hear entering his ear and filling him with a sense of joy... he was going home.

After a total of two months in this new universe, he was finally able to return back to where he truly belonged, the place where he had dreamt of returning to for so long. He craved the embrace of his parents, the warmth of his nice cozy bed, the time with his two best friends, and so much more.

Issei wouldn't lie, staying in this universe was definitely fun, to say the least, but it wasn't his home. It didn't have the most important things that he required; it made the brown-haired boy feel like he was all alone, like it was just him against the whole entire world.

Sure, he made some good friends here like Dante, Lady, Trish, Nico, Kyrie, Deadweight, and even Vergil of all people, but they weren't like his old friends. He and those two had been friends ever since he attended Kuoh Academy, the only ones who would hang out with him since Issei was never really good at making them.

He did have a childhood best friend; he can't remember their name, but he does know that he and they used to be inseparable. They did everything together: go to the beach, play at the arcade, have sleepovers, and a ton of other stuff. However, that all changed when they had to move away because their dad got offered a job, and they couldn't stay in Kuoh.

Even to this day, Issei still wonders what his life would've been if his childhood best friend had stayed in Kuoh with him. Would he be the same as he is now? Would he still be in this situation? If yes, then what and how would things be different?

Currently, Issei was running through the streets of Red Grave as he passed numerous people, pulling off some impressive maneuvers to get around them. He could feel his heart beating very quickly, almost like it was trying to force itself out of his chest, as he could feel his blood boiling, but not out of anger... out of excitement.

No words could explain the amount of excitement that he was feeling at the current moment; he wanted to get to the Devil May Cry shop as quickly as possible. This was his one and only chance to return to his home, and he wasn't gonna let it slip through his hands. Nothing would stand in his way of returning home.

Ddraig: ['Partner, slow down']

Issei: 'No can do, Ddraig. I gotta get there! its finally time!'

Ddraig: ['I know partner, but didn't you he-']

Issei: 'Jesus, why are there so many streets! Why did the Yamato in the damn trial had to be only part of my imagination!'

Ddraig let out a small sigh at his partner ignoring him, he understood the position that the boy was in but it was very clear that this was getting to him. He wasn't thinking clearly because he toned out the ending of Dante's words, Ddraig on the othet hand didn't and knew that it wasn't gonna be a happy moment.

His tone, Dante's tone gave it all away to Ddraig. The welsh dragon guesses that he's upset that he won't be able to see Issei again or... opening the portal will come at a coast and a huge one at that. But Ddraig wasnt gonna bother with trying to explain it to Issei because the boy won't listen, he's too focused with going back that he isn't seeing the bigger picture right in front of him.

So the dragon shall simply watch the events play out before him, that's all he could do anyway since he was trapped within the Sacred Gear which contained his soul.

It sucked because Ddraig was once one of the most feared and respected dragons to have ever existed, his power knew almost no bounds as he was strong enough to go toe to toe with deities and even defeat or kill them if he wanted to. Sure, there were other dragons but they werent at his level of power such as the Dragon Kings. They were strong, but still far below Ddraig and his rival.

Then there were Evil Dragons but they were a special case and not the good kind at that, as in the name they are pure evil and have absolutely no regards to anyones safety which includes their own. But still even the strongest among them weren't able to do significant harm to Ddraig, but he has tangled with one or maybe a few in the past.

Within his domain, or rather his prison, Ddraig rested his head on the ground, feeling a sense of boredom permeate the air around the dragon. There was nothing particularly remarkable about his current location; it was just a typical volcanic region where dragons like him would usually reside. The atmosphere was filled with searing heat, billowing steam, and thick black smoke that obscured any trace of light from above, not that there was much to begin with.

Ddraig could still vividly recall the moment he was cast into this prison, the excruciating pain he had to endure as his soul was forcefully torn from his body. It was a torturous experience, akin to being skinned alive repeatedly, as if his bones were shattering into dust and his blood were simultaneously boiling and freezing.

The intensity of the pain was so overwhelming that Ddraig often found it nearly impossible to stifle his cries. It was unlike anything he had ever endured throughout his entire existence, and he would never forget the one responsible for his torment-the being who had trapped him inside the Sacred Gear that now contained him: God.

God, the leader of Heaven, the entity credited with creating everything and everyone in the universe. That wretched being had held the top spot on Ddraig's list of most despised individuals for centuries, although their history extended far beyond what one could fathom.

However, that is a story for another time and for a different place.

Ddraig let out a sigh of annoyance.

Ddraig: "He's such an idiot..."

???: "Wow, hearing you call someone else an idiot is something special"

Ddraig silently growled to himself as his gaze shifted towards the source of the voice, guiding his eyes to a floating orb of pink energy hovering approximately fifteen feet away from his massive form. The Welsh dragon observed with intrigue as the orb emitted a gentle glow and underwent a remarkable transformation, morphing into an entirely different entity. It now presented itself as a stunning woman, adorned with long, wavy blonde hair cascading down her shoulders and captivating light green eyes. She was dressed in an elegant light purple gown, featuring a gracefully low neckline, and adorned with a tiara-like ornamentation in shades of purple and silver.

Ddraig: "You...."

Ddraig cast his gaze upon the woman, feeling a mix of frustration and disdain. Why did it have to be her? Elsha, one of his former hosts, was renowned during her time as the Strongest Female Red Dragon Emperor. On the surface, one might assume that Ddraig would be pleased to see her, considering their past collaboration. However, that assumption would be completely wrong.

In truth, Ddraig harbored a deep-seated animosity towards Elsha and the previous wielders of the Sacred Gear. The reasons for his intense hatred remained a mystery to the world at large. Nevertheless, the mere sight of her stirred within Ddraig an overwhelming desire to shatter the confines of his prison and utterly obliterate her very soul.

Ddraig: "Why are you here..."

Elsha: "I heard there was another user of the Sacred Gear, so I came to meet the kid. Unfortunately, your here..."

Ddraig growled at the woman as he rose up from the ground, causing the very earth beneath their feet to shake and rumble.

Ddraig: "Leave before I extinguish your soul for good..."

Elsha didn't flinch, she wasnt afraid of Ddraig because she knew that he couldn't do anything to her nor the other past users of the Boosted Gear.

Elsha: "Yeah, yeah. Keep saying that, it won't matter"

Ddraig only growled once again, his eyes glowing green as he dug his claws into the ground and causing molten lava to erupt from the cracks. Elsha only smirked st this, crossing her arms as she looked up at the Welsh Dragon with a smug expression on her face.

Elsha: "Give up, your motivate will fail like it did the previous 600 times"

Ddraig only growled at this.

Ddraig: "You won't stop me, I will do what I set out to do when I met Albion all those years ago... crush him for good"

Elsha: "Oh yeah? what makes you think you'll succeed?"

Ddraig fell silent at first, causing Elsha to smirk, but her satisfaction quickly waned when she heard Ddraig emit a faint yet resonant chuckle that sent an unsettling shiver down the woman's spine. The atmosphere grew tense as he towered menacingly over her, his figure cloaked in an impenetrable veil of darkness, leaving only his vivid, luminescent green eyes and sinister grin visible to her trembling gaze.

Ddraig: "Because I am...."

Meanwhile with Issei.

August 7th, 8:00am.

After an exhaustive run, Issei finally arrived at Dante's shop, known as "Devil May Cry." Without wasting a moment, the determined boy swiftly leaped through the front door, executing a nimble roll mid-air before landing gracefully on his feet.

Pausing momentarily, Issei blinked several times, attempting to process the audacious act he had just performed. He had impulsively burst through the front entrance, executing an acrobatic roll, despite not intending to do so. It was an unintentional display of athleticism, leaving him perplexed and questioning his own actions.

Regret quickly washed over him, realizing how cringeworthy and lacking in originality his impromptu entrance had been. He vowed never to repeat such a display, recognizing the absence of any genuine uniqueness in the entire sequence. It seemed as if someone had attempted to prolong the moment unnecessarily, a futile endeavor to artificially extend the scene's duration.

Shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly, Issei began brushing off the dust that had accumulated on his attire, inadvertently dismissing the significance of his recent actions, almost as if they had slipped from his memory within a matter of seconds.

Issei: "I've finally arrived..."

???: "Issei!"

Issei's attention perked up as he discerned the distinct sound of approaching footsteps. Initially, he anticipated the familiar presence of Trish and Lady, but to his surprise, his gaze fell upon the unexpected sight of other well-known faces.

The first individual to catch Issei's eye was a stunning young woman with lustrous auburn hair, elegantly swept back and secured with a beret adorned in gold and white. Her bangs were stylishly short and parted, with the majority gracefully draping over her right eye, while a few strands cascaded over her left. Framing her face were longer wisps of hair originating from her bangs. Her enchanting hazel eyes exhibited a rich brown hue at their core, gradually transitioning into a mesmerizing moss green along the outer rim of her irises.

Next stood another young woman, her shoulder-length hair flowing in wavy black strands, effortlessly restrained by a braided hairband. Adorned with red-framed glasses, she sported several tattoos on her body. Her attire comprised a white tank top, teasing a glimpse of her midriff, concealed under a dark-yellow sleeveless jacket reminiscent of welding cape sleeves. Complementing her outfit were blue denim shorts, a brown worker belt snugly securing a pair of sturdy red heatproof gloves on one side, while a toolbelt with multiple pockets hung from the opposite side, braced by a thigh strap. Completing her ensemble were brown leather cowgirl boots adorned with embossed patterns, accentuated by tongue straps embellished with pistol cartridges.

The final figure in the trio was a strikingly handsome young man, his intense blue eyes piercing through the surroundings. His hair, styled in a daring faux-hawk fashion, boasted a striking shade of white. He exuded an aura of casual punkishness, dressed in a dark blue hooded jacket, a tattered dark crimson shirt, and a small necklace featuring two intricately crafted feathered wings encircling a crimson gemstone. His attire was completed by black pants and military-style combat boots. An intriguing addition to his appearance was a mechanical hand, reminiscent of something out of a science fiction movie.

The unexpected presence of this trio - Kyrie, Nico, and Deadweight - took Issei aback. He hadn't anticipated encountering them at Dante's shop. He pondered whether Dante and Vergil had summoned them or if they had simply dropped by for a visit. Either scenario was a plausible explanation for their unexpected appearance.

Issei: "No way, Kyrie, Nico, Deadweight. What are you three doing here?"

The boy who Issei calls "Deadweight" grew an annoyed expression.

Nero: "My name is Nero, not Deadweight!"

Issei: "Nero? who's that? they sound badass, unlike you Deadweight~"

Nero: "Why you!"

Kyrie giggled while Nico laughed in amusement at Issei's little tease.

Nico: "How's it been, Issei? You been staying out of trouble?"

Issei: "Trouble? what's trouble?"

Nico snickered as she playfully punched the brown-haired boys shoulder, making him chuckle as he rubbed the spot she punched while smiling at her.

Issei: "I didn't expect to see you three here, what beings you over?"

Nero: "We're just arrived, how about you?"

Issei: "Same, but I won't be staying for long"

This gained the Trio's attention, but before they could ask the boy what he meant by that they heard a door open and turn to see Dante, Vergil, Trish, and Kady walk into the room.

Dante: "Wow, you sure got here fast"

Issei: "Of course, my heart is racing like crazy! after so long, I'm finally going home!"

This shocked Nico, Kyrie and Nero.

Nico: "What, your leaving!?"

Issei: "Yeah, Vergil has found my home! Right Vergil"

He looked over at the eldest Sparda brother, but Vergil was looking away with his arms crossed. This confused Issei. Sure, Vergil was known for being cold, but there was something different about him this time. Issei couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he had a strong feeling that he saw a hint of sadness in Vergil's eyes.

Issei: "Vergil?...."

Silence.

Issei began to get worried, very worried now because there was something that the two brothers weren't telling him. The joy and happiness slowly began to dwindle down as concern and worry took over Issei's face, his gaze slowly moved over to Dante who scratched the back of his neck.

Issei: "D-Dante?..."

Dante: "Kid, there's something you should know"

Issei: "W-what?... What is it"

Dante looked over at Vergil who gave his brother a look, it said that he didn't care but in reality he actually did care. Issei must be rubbing off on him because Vergil has never cared about anything except power, yet being with the brown-haired boy has... changed him.

Dante: "Kid.... the thing is, we can send you home but the catch is th-"

Vergil: "That doing so will mean that Dante and I shall die...."

Silence, complete and utter silence, filled the room as Vergil had just dropped the biggest bombshell that anyone would ever hear. The weight of his words hung heavily in the air. Sending Issei home meant certain death for the Sparda brothers, the two most infamous figures in both their world and the underworld.

Trish and Lady remained silent, their reactions less shocked compared to the others. It was evident that they had been informed of the plan beforehand. Nico, on the other hand, was stunned into silence, unable to utter a single word. Kyrie couldn't hide her shock, her hand covering her mouth in disbelief. Nero, however, was a mix of shock and anger. He couldn't accept the fact that both his uncle and father were simply going to sacrifice themselves, especially after he had made it clear that neither of them should die.

Nero had put in tremendous effort to reconcile with his father, to put an end to their bitter sibling rivalry, and to work together to defeat the demon tree that threatened their world. Now, it seemed that fate had other plans, rendering all of Nero's hard work meaningless.

Yet, none of the reactions from the others could compare to the overwhelming emotions that Issei was experiencing. The brown-haired boy stood in silence, unmoved by anything happening around him. His pupils had shrunk, his eyes widened by the sheer impact of the bombshell. He remained motionless, not even blinking. It had reached a point where Nico questioned whether Issei was still breathing.

Fortunately, Issei was still breathing, which was a relief to everyone in the room. Dante, observing his brother's expression with a mix of annoyance and concern, scratched the back of his head and let out a small chuckle, unable to fully grasp the gravity of the situation.

Dante: "Yeah, that shall happen. But its alri-"

Issei: "Forget it..."

Dante: "Huh?"

Issei had snapped out of his shock and grew a serious expression.

Issei: "If I'm not going home, I don't care. I won't let you and Vergil give up your lives!"

Everyone was shocked by this sudden change in attitude, one minute Issei was ready to go home and now he simply doesn't care about it anymore. Ever since both Dante and Vergil met the boy, all he has ever spoke about was going back to his world and now he has the opportunity to do so and he's not taking it.

Dante: "But kid, this is your chance to go ho-"

Issei: "I DON'T CARE!!"

Issei's hair covered his eyes as he clenched his hand into a fist. Slowly, tears began to stream down his face, visible to everyone around him. No one dared to speak, observing as Issei looked up at both Vergil and Dante, his tears flowing like little rivers.

Issei himself didn't want to cry; he was making every effort to control his tears, but he couldn't seem to do so. What was happening to him? Why couldn't he seize this opportunity? After all, this wasn't his home; he needed to return.

His parents and friends were anxiously awaiting his return, and though he was unsure of the time difference, they were likely worried sick about his whereabouts. Yet, here he stood, presented with the perfect chance, and he found himself declining it.

Issei: "Back there, I was a NOBODY! I was nothing but a JOKE! I became a pervert not because I wanted to...."

Issei fell down as he began to full on sulk, having a breakdown in front of everyone as they could see the sadness within the boys eyes. There was more to him that they knew, secrets that he had kept hidden from everyone.

Issei: "I became a pervert because I wanted to FIT IN! but I've only made myself a FUCKING JOKE!"

Issei continued to cry as he gritted his teeth, slowly he started to punch the ground.

Issei: "A PART OF ME WAS GLAD I GOT SENT HERE BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS ME....."

Punch.

Issei: "they don't know what I used to be..."

Punch...

Punch....

Issei: "Weak..."

Punch...

Punch....

Punch...!

Issei: "Worthless..."

Punch!

Punch!

Punch!!

Punch!!!

Issei: "A fucking Joke!"

Punch!!!

Punch!!!

Punch!!!

Punch!!!

Punch!!

Issei: "I'M NOTHING BUT A JOKE!"

PUNCH!!!!

Issei had punched the wooden floor with such force that he actually broke through it and the concrete below, but this action didn't come without consequences. His hand now bled with splinters and broken fingers. Kyrie, Trish, Nico, and Lady became deeply concerned for Issei's well-being. However, Kyrie's worry was surpassed by the other three-there's were on a whole other level.

Dante and Vergil exchanged a silent glance, communicating their thoughts. They approached the brown-haired boy, who seemed indifferent to his injured hand. The two brothers lowered themselves to Issei's eye level and unexpectedly embraced him, leaving him shocked by their gesture.

Dante: "Heh, your not a joke Kid. Your one crazy son of a bitch"

Vergil: "If you were than I wouldn't have given you my power"

Issei remained silent, refraining from uttering a single word. Instead, he embraced the two brothers, holding them tightly in his arms. This heartfelt moment stirred a range of emotions among the girls present, evoking a sense of tenderness and poignancy. However, it seemed to have little effect on Nero, who maintained a stoic expression, seemingly unaffected by such displays of affection. Ironically, despite his apparent indifference, Nero had shed tears on a few occasions before, making his aloofness somewhat paradoxical.

The trio continued to embrace one another, their connection unbroken, until both Dante and Vergil mutually decided that it was time to part ways. Slowly, they released themselves from Issei's embrace, their departure leaving a lasting imprint upon his face. Tears had cascaded down his cheeks, causing his visage to be stained a deep shade of crimson. The intensity of their reunion had moved Issei deeply, and the evidence of his emotional release was now visible for all to see.

Dante: "It's time Kid...."

Vergil: "time for you to leave"

Issei: "B-but, I don't wanna lose you both...."

Dante smirked and ruffled the boys hair.

Dante: "Think of it as a Goodbye for now, we'll see each other again"

He looked at Vergil.

Dante: "Right bro?"

Vergil merely sighed and rolled his eyes, much to his younger siblings amusement.

Vergil: "Whatever, Dante..."

Dante Chuckled as he looked at Issei with a smile, the latter couldn't help but smile.

....

....

....

END OF CHAPTER