Issei: L-Lets...gah...s-see you..grit those teeth.

Standing in front of Y/N was Issei, whos scale mail was torn to shreds. His helmet was gone, along with most of the armor around his arms and lower body. His skin had gashes that allowed blood to seep out of it. Though panting and bleeding, the light his crimson wings gave off was dazzling.

(A few minutes earlier)

(Issei POV)

I failed him, again. I promised to protect her, and I failed.

Rias: N-Nothing good will come from staying here. I'm sure Y/N will handle that man. Let's regroup with Azazel...

It was obvious Prez was trying to stay strong for all of us. She was on the brink of tears, just like the rest of us.

Akeno: Rias...

I don't know what to do. All I could do was stand here. Everyone was quiet, and saying anything just wouldn't seem right. 

Issei: GAHH!!!!!

A sharp pain erupted from my chest, bringing me to my knees.

Rias: I-Issei! Ah!

[Ddraig: Something is wrong with your brother, partner. The power he left inside you is going crazy.]

The ground suddenly started shaking. The temple, due to being old, started crumbling. 

Issei: AGH!!!!!!!

I black out from the pain, not before hearing Prez calling my name.

...

...

...

(Nobody POV)

Issei: What the hell!?

Issei awoke in a black space. It reminded him of when he would talk to Ddraig in my dreams, yet the air was much more...tense.

???: Hello, failure.

Issei: Hm?

A voice. A rather familiar voice echoed throughout the void. 

???: Tell me, how does it feel to be weak?

Issei turned around to see a person coated in a black mist. The beings dark pink eyes glowed, becoming the only source of light in the endless void.

Issei: Shut up...

???: The Red Dragon Emperor? Your just a liability. You should've stayed dead on the pavement those months ago.

Issei didn't want to listen to the beings words any longer. He charged at the figure, holding his arm out ready to punch it.

Issei: Boosted Gear!

Nothing happened, and the being merely sidestepped, tripping Issei in the process. As if the ground was water, a splash echoed throughout the void. The "floor" rippled, reflecting the beings bright eyes even more so than before.

???: Please, you wouldn't be able to use that toy in here. This is where the mind and soul cross, a space that very few escape from with their spirits intact. 

Issei propped himself back up, his clothes seemingly unwet. 

Issei: The hell you want with me anyway?

???: What I want, huh? That's an answer with a long story. But right now, I find your toy quite useful. So I'll be taking it.

Issei stood up, getting in a fighting stance.

Issei: What makes you think Id let you?

The voice let out a wicked laugh. He was visibly hunched over, his eyes glowing even brighter.

???: It wouldn't be any fun if you didn't, mortal!!

Issei felt himself sink into the ground. Before he could let out a useless cry for help, he fell deep into what seemed to be a sea of darkness.

(Issei POV)

My body...I can't feel it. I can't move a muscle...

I can't hear anything. I can't see anything. How long has it been like this?

???: Issei.

What?

???: Issei, dude.

The hell...

???: ISSEI!!!

I snap out of my trance, looking around I see Motohama and Matsuma starting at me.

What was I thinking about again? Don't remember.

Issei: What?

Motohama: What do you mean what? We're going to be late if you keep daydreaming about God knows what?

Matsuda: Yeah, usually it takes one good shake to get you out of your usual delusions.

Issei: Ah, sorry. Let's go!

I grab my bag and head off towards the Kendo Club. Matsuda and Motohama behind me, staring at girls as we speed walked. We got some dirty looks from them, and a few rude comments, but I've gotten used to them.

Kendo Club oppai here I come!

As usual, we took turns peeping through the small hole in the wall. As usual, my two comrades abandoned me, leaving me to get beaten by the kendo club. It was kinda weird. While I was getting beaten to a pulp, I felt like someone should have saved me. I look and see Y/N walking, a group of girls behind him, as the kendo girls continue to beat me.

He just stared for a moment, before walking away.

He...just walked away. My own blood.

I'm used to it, Y/N has never cared about me. Y/N will never see me as an equal, just someone always behind him, not even good enough to be in his shadow.

As I lay on the ground beaten, I feel a sharp pain in my stomach. I feel it, and see a small hole in my gut. Blood seeped from my wound, blood that was a deep crimson.

Just like her hair...

Y/N: I held my end of the bargain, fallen.

"Yuma": I know, as soon as he dies we can head to the church and have a great time.

Issei: Y-Y/N...

He turns at the sound of my voice. Is he here to help me...no. The look on his face says it all.

Y/N: Hear that? I can't tap that until you head to hell.

He helped Yuma kill me...

My vision starts to fade. My eyelids start to get heavier and heavier. As I start to drift off, my hand suddenly feels lighter.

I lift to my face, and see it glowing a bright pink. It glows, then fades. Glows, then fades.

Why is it so familiar? This feeling in my hand...

???: You still haven't given up yet?

I turn my head to the side, allowing me to see Y/N. But, he wore a different hoodie from before.

I turn my head, and see Y/N talking to Yuma.

There's two of them.

Y/N: You can tell, right? That feeling that things aren't like they should be- no. That feeling that things could be different.

Issei: How..what...

I can barely say anything.

Y/N: I don't expect you to speak with a hole in your gut. Bet you're confused on why there's two of me.

I nod my head weakly.

Y/N: Pick. You can either die on that brink pavement, or you can get up and do what I always believed you can do. Something only you can do.

Pick? Believed in me? Nobody believes in me. I'm just some pervert who everyone hates.

If that's true. If that's really how I feel...

Then why do I feel like I shouldn't die here?

Suddenly, blurred visions enter my mind. Y/N on his knees, screaming.

This..isn't real.

I clench my teeth as I try to get up. Blood oozed from my wound, and it hurt like hell.

Y/N, the fake one, notice me getting up.

Y/N: The waste still struggles to live? How cute.

He steps closer to me, watching me as I get to my feet.

Y/N: Get back on the fucking ground and die fucker-

I don't let him finish.

Issei: SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!!

I give him a right hook, sending him flying into the fountain.

The Y/N who I definitely favored was nowhere in sight. Yet, I heard his voice.

"When you're ready, come save me."

The area around me fades to black. I'm back in that void.

???: Seems that seeping my power through your soul and taking that toy didn't work. Guess that seal left by that foolish Y/N that connects you two stopped me from breaking the connection between your soul and your gear. Time for an alternative method-

Issei: Boosted Gear.

I don't have time to waste on this thing...

???: Remember? That won't work-

Issei: Boosted Gear!

Y/N. The one who always believed in me...asked me to save him.

???: Stop. STOP IT NOW DAMMIT!!

Issei: BOOSTED GEAR!!!!!!!

My hand is surrounded in its familiar red light. The usual gauntlet appears, and I feel power rushing through me.

[Ddraig: EXPLOSION!]

Geez, I missed that.

???: Even with your little toy, you won't escape! Y/N will die! So will you!

Issei: I REFUSE TO LET THAT HAPPEN!!!

[Ddraig: WELSH DRAGON: BALANCE BREAKER!]

???: You dare struggle? In this realm, I am beyond that of a god!

Issei: IM THE FUCKIN RED DRAGON EMPEROR! IF YOUR LIMIT IS BEYOND EVEN A GOD, THEN ILL SUCCEED IT!!! 

[Ddraig: BOOSTA!]

[Ddraig: BOOSTA!]

[Ddraig: BOOSTA!]

[Ddraig: BOOSTA!]

[Ddraig: BOOSTA!]

[Ddraig: BOOSTA!]

[Ddraig: BOOSTA!]

[Ddraig: BOOSTA!]

[Ddraig: BOOSTA!]

[Ddraig: BOOSTA!]

Issei: But I don't have time for the likes of you, so I'll be on my way. I'll use my new technique and blow you and this place away. Ddraig!

[Ddraig: I understand, partner. Go wild.]

I channel all of my boosted power into my new technique. I hold my hand in the air, and before this guy could stop me, I snap my fingers.

Issei: Dress Break: Boosted Version!!!!!

The void turned a bright crimson as it started to crack.

???: Issei Hyoudou, the Red Dragon Emperor. I shall certainly remember it, so you'll be one of the first I destroy when I am truly free...

(Nobody POV)

Akeno: Rias! We need to leave now!

Rias: But Y/N...

Vali: I won't be able to contain this forever Gremory!

The ORC currently stood at the base of the temple. Koneko had Issei in a fireman's carry, and Kiba held Asia, who was saved by Team Vali.

Speaking of them, Vali was currently in his balance breaker, trying to contain a dark purple energy that was enveloping the area. Albion explained that the power was coming from Y/N and that it would certainly destroying himself and the space around it.

Translation: Y/N was dying and some unknown power he was releasing was destroying everything.

Rias was in a silent panic. She had a responsibility to keep her peerage safe, and while she would never say it to his face, Y/N did have a special place in the club.

So should she leave him to die to save her peerage, or spend time trying to find a way to save him. Time that was running out at an exceeding rate. It would take a few minutes to create a teleportation circle, and space was limited as it was.

Rias sighed. She glanced at Asia and Issei before turning to Akeno.

Rias: Akeno, prepare a circle-

[Ddraig: WELSH DRAGON: BALANCE BREAKER!]

Issei, who was unconscious, suddenly glowed a bright crimson as his body was engulfed in flames.

Rias: Issei!

Issei: Sorry, President. I had to deal with something.

Vali: Hyoudou! I see you woke up from your nap!

Issei: And I see-wait. Asia!

Kiba: Vali found her in the dimensional gap.

Issei turned his head toward to purple energy Vali was trying his best to divide.

Issei: Prez, I'm going to snap Y/N out of it.

Rias: What? We can't touch that energy, you'll be destroyed!

Issei: If I repair my armor faster than that energy can destroy it, then I can reach Y/N. Ddraig?

[Ddraig: It's possible, partner. Though I would suggest you make use of the power you stole from Albion when your in that field.]

Issei: Then it's decided.

Rias: Issei!

Rias, whose opinion wasn't even considered in the current discussion, raised her voice to get Isseis attention.

Rias: I can't...

Issei: Hm?

Rias: I won't allow you to risk your life again! There has to be something else we can do-

Issei, who was on a confidence high, made his helmet disappear. This revealed his face, which had a wide grin spread across it.

Issei: I won't die. I have you as a master supporting me, so I can't lose!

Rias, who was used to Issei's perverted comical side, was at a loss for words at him being so...cool?

Little did she know that he would later think back on this moment and would die of embarrassment at how corny it was.

Rias: Just...come back safe.

Issei made his helmet appear, summoning his wings as he faced the destructive purple mass.

Issei: Right!

In a burst of speed, Issei ran into the purple energy, immediately feeling his armor shatter at its touch.

Issei: Shit!

[Ddraig: Divide!]

[Ddraig: Divide!]

[Ddraig: Divide!]

[Ddraig: Divide!]

Using the power gained through Divine Dividing, his armor was repaired. He dug deeper and deeper into the purple mass, and soon he was gone.

Kiba: Did he...

Vali: He's alive. I can feel it.

Meanwhile, Issei was charging head first in the direction that would lead him to Y/N. It felt like his body was constantly trying to be torn apart, incinerated, and crushed all at the same time.

Yet he kept moving forward.

Issei: Cmon! Ddraig! More power to the wings!

[Ddraig: I'm giving it everything I can while keeping your armor together, partner.]

Issei: Then stop focusing on keeping the armor together! Don't use power on anything unnecessary!

Issei felt himself fly faster, yet immediately felt the effects of his armor being destroyed. Minutes felt like hours, and Issei knew he was running out of time. 

As his skin started to slowly tear away from his body, turning into nothingness, he heard a voice.

???: IT DOSENT MATTER! ILL BRING EVERYTHING TO RUIN!! NOTHINGNESS! ILL DRAG EVERYTHING WITH ME INTO NOTHINGNESS!!!

Issei focused his vision, seeing a figure in the distance. 

Issei: Ddraig. All power to the thrusters.

In a burst of speed, Issei cocked his barely armored fist back. His armor cracking and shattering into nothingness as he got closer and closer to his target. It was getting harder and harder to get close, as if the energy was denser and stronger the closer he got. Regardless, he pressed onward. 

His efforts weren't in vain. His fist made contact with Y/N, who was sent flying.

Issei: Issei: L-Lets...gah...s-see you..grit those teeth.

....

Probably one of my longer chapters. I really didn't know where to stop it when I had the usual 1250 words so I just kept going. A lot of perspectives changing this chapter as well. I just felt that certain parts would be better read from a certain perspective.

Spring Break is almost here! (For me at least. Some of you guys are lucky and have earlier and longer breaks) Praise the Spring Doggo!