Third Person POV

Confusion.

Confusion overwhelmed Issei as he fixated on the figure standing before him. His mind struggled to comprehend what he was seeing, as if his head needed time to recover from the impact he had just experienced. It was unthinkable—was he really staring at himself?

The mere existence of another Issei Hyoudou was perplexing. It defied all logic, for he knew he was the one and only Issei Hyoudou. Unless the person in front of him was either an illusion or a clone crafted by some enigmatic scientists, this bewildering situation should not be happening. Moreover, what was that name he just called him? "DMC"? Was it a nickname or perhaps the title of something significant?

The name sounded peculiar, yet there was an inexplicable allure to it that resonated with the brown-haired boy. He couldn't quite put his finger on why it felt that way. Nevertheless, he had to focus on the matter at hand—unraveling the identity of this person and understanding why they seemed to anticipate his arrival.

Issei remained vigilant, cautiously rising to his feet while keeping his eyes fixed on the individual who had introduced himself as "Ultima." The word itself, a shortened form of "Ultimate," unsettled Issei. It implied a level of power and capability that surpassed his comprehension. While vanquishing demons was one thing, he had no inkling whether this individual was a demon or something entirely different, an enigma waiting to be deciphered.

Ultima let out an amused chuckle.

Ultima: "No need to be on edge, DMC. I'm not gonna do anything"

Issei merely narrowed his eyes at the white-haired being.

Issei: "Who are you, why do you look like me...."

Hearing this made Ultima sigh a little as he rubbed the bridge of his nose, sounding very annoyed for some reason. This was a surprisingly unexpected shift in attitude which took the boy by surprise because one minute he was chill, the next he sounds like a disappointed father.

Ultima: "Didn't you hear me? I'm Issei Hyoudou but you can call me Ultim-"

Issei: "No! your not! there's no way that there is a second me, esspecially one so.... monstrous"

Ultima only deadpanned at the boy.

Ultima: "You just insulted yourself, dumbass"

Issei: "No, I insulted some demon trying to be me!"

Ultima let out a small sigh, shaking his head before the duo soon heard a laugh which gained their attention. They turned their heads to the source and saw a red carpet rolling up to them which confused Issei and made Ultima growl in annoyance.

Ultima: "Great...."

Issei was confused, but all of that was soon replaced by complete and utter shock as he soon realized something.... he wasn't in his universe. He was actually in space, or rather what looked like space which shocked him because he should be dead right now if he were in outer space.

???: "Don't worry too much about that, Kid. The Author isn't good with explanations"

Issei grew more confused as from the red carpet came another Issei Hyoudou, this one looked like his regular self with a few adjustments such as his hair was a little more messy, he was wearing what appeared to be royal clothes and.... he looked like a cartoon character.

The newcomer smiled at Issei, taking out a carrot from his pocket and proceeding to bite into it.

Issei?: "Eh, what's up Doc?"

Issei: "W-who are you-"

Ultima: "Why are you here, Toon...."

The newcomer named Toon, looked at Ultima and smiled as he somehow appeared next to the white-haired boy and rested on his shoulder.

Toon: "What? am I not invited? I'm a Issei as well"

Ultima: "Your an annoyance more like it"

Toon reared back and gasp very loudly, much to Ultima annoyance as a blue glow begsn to appear in his mouth.

Ultima: "Will you....."

Issei's eyes widened as he observed multiple ethereal blue rings materializing in front of Ultima. The sight alone prompted the brown-haired boy to instinctively take a significant step backward, anticipating danger. His intuition proved accurate as Ultima unleashed a powerful beam of peculiar blue energy, aimed directly at Toon. Panic consumed Toon, his eyes widening in terror as he began to scream.

However, the terror-stricken screams were short-lived, as Toon abruptly halted and coughed, his throat feeling sore from the previous outburst. He swiftly retrieved an item from his pocket and sprayed it into his mouth. Locking eyes with the readers, he displayed a mischievous smile before resuming his screams, this time donning a different expression.

Issei watched in awe as the attack surged forward, propelling itself through the vast expanse of space. Its trajectory led it towards a black hole located millions of light years away from their current position. Issei assumed that the beam would be absorbed by the black hole, as that was the nature of these celestial entities—they swallowed everything, allowing nothing to escape their gravitational grasp.

To his astonishment, upon contact with the black hole, the beam triggered a cataclysmic explosion, engulfing the cosmic abyss in a blaze of immense brilliance. The explosion was so colossal that it appeared as if a second sun had been born, instilling a sense of dread within Issei. He remained fixed in place, his gaze unwavering, as he witnessed the gradual dissipation of the conflagration, unveiling the annihilation of the black hole. Countless stars, either being devoured by its voracious pull or destined to be, were consumed in the process.

Issei's gaze shifted slowly towards Ultima, who stood with his arms crossed. The remnants of his earlier display dissipated into the air, vanishing or dispersing into whatever inexplicable force kept them grounded to the concrete beneath their feet.

Issei: "Y-You just....."

Ultima: "Nah, he's fine"

Issei blinked.

Issei: "Huh?"

Ultima: "He's not dead, unfortunately.... plus there's no way he could die to one of my weakest attacks in this form"

???: "Awww, Ultima! You care!"

Issei perked up as he turned and saw Toon coming toward them, riding in the pouch of a Kangaroo with the end of a speed boat.

Issei was dumbfounded as he watched his doppelganger jump out of the Kangaroo, waving bye to it as the creature sped off into thr depths of space before disappearing from view. Issei was now full of even more questions than he originally had, for example what the absolute hell was going on? how was Toon even still alive?

Toon: "Oh, that's simple!"

Issei: "Huh?"

Toon: "As my name says, I'm a Toon. Something like that won't harm me"

Issei blinked in surprise, does he have sort of strange power or something because the boy didnt say anything nor did he think of it either.

Toon: "Nah, I can just see what the Author is doing"

He then turned his attention to the readers, his expression changing as it zoomed close to his face.

Issei blinked in confusion as he looked at Ultima for context on what Toon was talking about.

Ultima: "Don't ask, its best if you don't know"

Issei: "Um, okay then?"

Toon soon stopped what he was doing and looked st Issei and Ultima, smiling at the two as he still had the carrot from before in his hand.

Toon: "So Doc, how about we introduce him to the others?"

Ultima: "Forst, never call me that and second fine"

Toon somehow appeared next to Ultima again, patting his back.

Toon: "Oh, don't be like that. You gotta learn to smile"

Ultima growled.

Ultima: "I rather die again...."

Toon nerely shrugged his shoulders as he looked at Issei who looked like he was going through some sort of extrastenchal crisis, his expression full of confusion and disbelief by what was happening before him at the moment. Toon couldn't really blame the boy, this certainly was a lot to take in and no one would just get the hang of it in a matter of seconds.

Toon: "Don't worry too much, Kid. We got ya back, lets head off"

With that, Toon firmly grasped the wrist of the brown-haired boy and effortlessly pulled him along with impressive strength. Ultima trailed behind the two, rolling his eyes at Toon's overbearing personality as they approached a structure a few feet away from their location.

The structure before them bore a striking resemblance to a bar or a large club-like building. The front was adorned with an array of Neo lights, illuminating the surroundings. At the top of the structure, a sign proudly displayed the words "Hangout Area, Open 24/7." Issei deduced that this was the preferred gathering spot for his two doppelgangers, where they enjoyed spending leisurely time. Interestingly enough, Issei found it amusing, as he could envision himself doing the same.

As the trio stepped through the front entrance, Issei's eyes widened in astonishment. It was as if reality had undergone a remarkable transformation. The interior exceeded all expectations in terms of size. Countless objects were scattered throughout the space, including a gaming room, a fully stocked bar, a training area, a well-equipped kitchen, a cozy living room, and even a therapy room, if Issei's eyes did not deceive him. The room seemed to contain an endless array of unique features and amenities.

However, this was merely the tip of the iceberg. Issei's gaze wandered and locked onto an astonishing sight: numerous doppelgangers, stretching as far as the eye could see. There were countless replicas, possibly numbering in the thousands, millions, or even trillions. Each doppelganger possessed distinct physical attributes and traits, yet they all bore his face.

It felt like a surreal fever dream brought to life. Issei fervently hoped that he had not stumbled upon some kind of cult or fanboy club, as the thought alone was enough to give him nightmares.

Toon: "So DMC, what ya think?"

Issei: "W-well, it's certainly-"

Toon: "Spectacular? amazing? astronomical? breathtali-"

Ultima cut Toon off by slapping him in the back of the head.

Ultima: "He's going with its something, right DMC?"

Issei nodded his head, again with that word? why does he keep calling him DMC? is it because they all were Issei and it would be too hard to remember who's who?

Toon: "Lets go introduce you to some of the dudes"

With that, Toon firmly grasped Issei's wrist once again and proceeded to drag him away. Meanwhile, Ultima found himself alone, feeling a sense of annoyance. He let out a sigh, shaking his head in exasperation. As he stood there, he reached into his pocket and retrieved an old photograph.

The picture appeared to be weathered and worn, its age evident from its faded appearance. It seemed to have endured the passage of time for a hundred years or more. Dust, tinged with a reddish hue, clung to one corner of the photograph. Upon closer inspection, the image revealed Ultima standing alongside another person. The individual captured in the photo was a strikingly beautiful young woman. She wore spectacles, possessed captivating gold-colored eyes, and her lightly tousled brunette hair was elegantly braided on each side.

Ultima's gaze lingered on the picture, tuning out the clamor caused by the other Issei's surrounding him. A small yet melancholic smile formed on his lips as he reminisced. This person held immense significance to him—someone who could have instigated a profound change within his heart, if only she hadn't been tragically taken away from him all those years ago.

The girl's name was Aika Kiryuu, and she encompassed everything to Ultima... she was his wife.

Ultima: "Aika...."

Meanwhile, Toon was still dragging Issei along with him as the boy was still trying to let everything settle down. Like, he thought there was only two doppelgangers but appearantly there are more of them than he realized.

Issei: "So, who are we gonna meet?"

Toon: "Hmm, how about-"

???: "Toon, why are you dragging him?"

Both Issei and Toon perked up as they turned their heads to see another Issei Hyoudou, this one looked normal except for the fact that the clothes were tight on him. He wore what would be a loose jacket was pressed against his chest almost showing off his muscles. His pants were snug on him. Heck, they looked like they barely fit him, with his forearms more than poking out. That and he was taller, and his hair more styled than normal.

Toon: "Ah, Solo. It has been a while"

The newcomer named "Solo" chuckled a little, smiling at Toon.

Solo: "It has indeed, Toon. But that doesnt answer my question, why are you dragging DMC?"

Toon: "I'm showing him around, I thought it would be nice for him to meet the others before he heads off"

Solo fell silent for a few seconds before shrugging his shoulders, he didnt see anything wrong with Toon's plan.

Solo: "Eh, why not"

He looked at Issei and held his hand out to the brown-haired boy.

Solo: "Nice to meet you, DMC. The names Solo Leveling Issei or Solo for short"

Issei was a little hesitant at first, since he has absolutely no idea who or what these guys were or capable of. But they seem chill, plus if they were actually him but different than he could trust them because he wasn't the type to want to harm others. So, Issei took Solo's hand and shook it.

Issei: "Nice to meet you, Solo"

Solo smiled.

Solo: "Here, Toon and I shall introduce you to a few of the others"

Issei nodded as Toon magically appeared next to Solo, who wasn't surprised at all by the sudden appearance and he gestured to another person.

Solo: "This is Reaper"

Issei looked as he saw that Reaper had a.... interesting appearance to say the least, he was a tall man with a muscular build.

Reaper wore a black, form-fitting tactical suit that emphasizes his menacing presence on the battlefield. The suit looked to be made of a highly durable and flexible material, maybe allowing Reaper to move swiftly and effortlessly. The fabric appeared to have a slight sheen to it, giving it a sleek, polished look.

Starting from the top, Reaper woree a hooded mask that conceals most of his face, leaving only his glowing red eyes visible. The mask had a skull-like design, with elongated features and sharp angles, adding to his ominous persona. The hood was attached to the mask and drapes over his head, shadowing his face and creating an air of mystery.

Moving down, Reaper's suit had several layers and intricate details. Over his suit, he wore a dark, tattered cloak that billows dramatically behind him, adding to his ominous silhouette. The cloak was adorned with frayed edges and has a faded, worn texture, giving it a weathered appearance.

The upper portion of Reaper's suit featured a padded armor vest that provides protection while maintaining flexibility. The vest was mainly black with dark gray accents, and it had a ribbed texture and angular plates, giving it an edgy and aggressive look. The vest extended to his shoulders, where additional armor plating was present, emphasizing his powerful and imposing stature.

Reaper's gloves are also an integral part of his outfit. They are made of a sturdy, fingerless material, allowing him to maintain dexterity while handling weapons. The gloves had metallic accents and segmented armor on the back of the hand, providing both style and functionality.

Moving to the lower part of his attire, Reaper wore tactical pants that match the rest of his outfit. The pants are form-fitting and black, featuring multiple pockets and reinforced stitching. Completing his ensemble, Reaper wore combat boots that are robust and designed for agility. The boots have a polished black finish and additional armor plating, providing stability and protection during combat.

Overall, Reaper's outfit exudes darkness, power, and a touch of the macabre. The combination of his hooded mask, tattered cloak, armored vest, gloves, tactical pants, and combat boots creates a visually striking appearance that perfectly complements his relentless and fearsome playstyle on the battlefield.

Issei: "Um.... he looks-"

Solo: "Yeah, he gets that a lot. Right, Reaper?"

Reaper grunted in acknowledgment, his red eyes staring into Issei's soul which creeped the boy out. But it was only for a moment as he soon turned and went back to what he was doing, which was leaning against a wall with his head down.

Issei: "Is he.... okay?"

Toon chuckled.

Toon: "Yeah, hes fine! just a little grumpy, like he always is-"

Before Toon could finish his sentence, his head retracted into his body like a turtle going into its shell as Reaper took out a shotgun and tried to shoot Toon's head off. However, Toon popped his head back out and smiled.

Toon: "See?"

Issei: "Uh huh...."

Toon: "Next one!"

Toon reached over and pulled over the next Issei, who like Reaper also had a very interesting appearance.

He was a tall and slender figure, standing at around 7 feet (2.1 meters) in height. Clad in a tattered and worn brown overcoat, his attire gave off a distressed and ragged appearance, as if he has emerged from the shadows of the darkest pits of hell.

His face, the most striking feature, is a horrifying visage designed to instill fear. His head was covered by a burlap sack, crudely stitched together with thick, black threads. The sack is worn and frayed, revealing patches of straw-like stuffing protruding from its seams. Two round, hollow eye holes are cut into the burlap, giving him an eerie and soul-piercing gaze. The eyes themselves were a piercing shade of yellow, glowing with an otherworldly intensity.

The Issei's hands were skeletal and bony, with long, gnarled fingers that end in wickedly sharp and dirty nails. He wore tattered gloves, their fabric worn and torn, further emphasizing his decrepit nature. Around his neck, the Issei sported a thick, black collar with metal spikes, adding an additional element of danger. In summary, he was a haunting figure with a towering presence.

Issei silently gulped to himself as he stared at this new Issei, he was different not normal if he looked like that. What happened to him? what made him turn into the monstrosity before him?

Toon smiled as he pat the newcomers back.

Toon: "This here is Scarecrow, he and I are very good buddies!"

Scarecrow turned his head to Toon and Solo, letting out a noise which sounded like bones were cracking with each muscle movement in his neck.

Scarecrow: "Toon, Solo. Is this DMC?"

Solo nodded his head.

Solo: "Yeah, he just showed up. I think Ultima brought him"

Toon gasped in shock, his mouth stretching very wide as he appeared in front of Solo with an annoyed expression on his face.

Toon: "How dare you! I also brought him!"

He crossed his arms.

Toon: "Give me some credit..."

Solo playfully rolled his eyes as Scarecrow looked at Issei and surprisingly, boeing a little to him.

Scarecrow: "Greeting DMC, I am Issei Hyoudou. But to avoid confusion, call me Scarecrow"

Issei: "Uh, thanks. Nice to meet you too.... I guess"

Scarecrow and Issei watched as Toon began yelling at Solo in a chibi form, the latter shaking his head as he wasnt even gonna bother with the temper tantrum.

Solo: "So DMC, you wanna meet more?"

Issei: "Um, I guess?...."

Solo: "Alright, let's go!"

Toon pouted.

Toon: "HEY!"

He then looked at the readers, crossing his arms.

Toon: "You lot enjoy this way too much"

....

....

....

END OF CHAPTER