Roxanne's actions were so sudden that everyone was too surprised to react in time. Arthur and Vali wanted to stop Roxanne from killing those two, but to everyone's surprise, when the two daggers came in contact with Asia and Issei, there was no blood.
The daggers went inside the two of them without leaving any wounds or blood.
Holding the now unconscious Asia, Roxanne saw everyone's surprised expressions. She rolled her eyes and commented, "You know, guys, you have too little confidence in me. Why would you think I would even want to kill these two after I went through all that trouble to keep them safe? "
Hearing those words, everyone had an embarrassed face as they looked away. It's not their fault, as they knew how whimsical Roxanne is. Sometimes she may be helping you, and at other times she may be helping the enemy.
Roxanne sighed as she ignored the ungrateful people and turned back to the unconscious Asia and Issei.
What Roxanne did was create a pathway to connect the two of their minds, allowing Asia to come in contact with Issei's mind, which was slowly being eroded by the malice inside the sacred gear.
Roxanne hoped Asia's innocence and positive energy would help Issei regain his clarity. Despite his affection for all the girls, Issei holds a special place in his heart for Asia. His act of immediately going into Juggernaut Drive is proof of that. So Roxanne is pretty sure Asia could help Issei regain his clarity.
Roxanne also had another purpose — letting Asia go inside Issei's mind instead of her or any other girl. She wanted Issei to realize his love for Asia so that he could overcome his trauma.
You know, although Issei doesn't say it, he has some severe mental issues. Otherwise, he wouldn't have run away from all those confessions. After all, his dream is to become a harem king, and which harem king runs away from a girl's confession?
And although Roxanne isn't exactly sure whether this method would work out, she is pretty certain of its success. If by chance this didn't work, Roxanne would have no choice but to throw Issei into an illusion where he would understand what disaster his hesitation to accept his feelings for them would cause.
After all, none of the girls who have feelings for Issei are simple. If Issei only hesitates, he will face an endless cycle of regret.
Roxanne, who had read novels in her previous and present lives, knew that better than anyone. No one is willing to wait for someone for too long. Even Rias may change her feelings if Issei continues to ignore her advances.
Well, Issei, as your friend, I have done all I could. So I hope you will get out of your own darkness and become free of the past that is haunting you, Roxanne thought as she looked at the unconscious Issei and Asia.
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.
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In deep darkness, Issei floated in the void. He didn't know how much time passed by as he was trapped in this place. Maybe it was minutes, hours, days, or even months; he had no idea.
In this dark place, he heard some strange voices. These voices continued to ring in his ears, annoying him greatly.
"Why do you bother resisting? "
"Activate Juggernaut Drive and let the world share the despair you felt."
"Let your dominance destroy the world."
"Accept your fate and activate Juggernaut Drive."
"Burn the world; let the world feel pain. "
"Accept your role as the Red Dragon Emperor. "
"Accept your fate. "
Issei could feel his will slowly eroding as these voices continued to ring in his head. But Issei was too broken to resist the corruption.
"Asia," Issei continued to mumble Asia's name, tears streaming from his eyes. He continued to cry over Asia's death, showing no concern for the current situation. His eyes were lacking any light in them.
"Issei Kun " Suddenly, something familiar rang in the void, startling everyone, including the voices.
"Asia! " Like a fish that was suddenly thrown into the water, Issei shouted as he frantically searched everywhere. But no matter how much he searched, he couldn't find her.
"Stop resisting your fate. "
"Asia is already dead. "
"Didn't you see it yourself? "
"Stop trying to fool yourself. "
The voices began to say again as they bombarded Issei with various statements to break his will. But one would notice their impatience.
But Issei completely ignored their voices as he frantically searched for Asia. "Asia, where are you? Asia, please talk to me! " Issei shouted desperately.
"Asia is already dead."
"Why do you want to run away from the truth?"
"Accept your fate as the Red Dragon Emperor. "
"Shut up, you all! My Asia is not dead!" Issei, having had enough of their voices, shouted as the darkness around him began to disperse with his words.
Issei could finally see his surroundings when the darkness vanished. He was inside a coliseum that existed in a pure white space. In the coliseum, there are numerous hooded figures seated in the audience looking at Issei. All of them were emitting a purple-like aura.
But Issei didn't pay attention to them as his gaze never left the person who was holding him. "Asia! " Issei shouted as he hugged Asia tightly.
"Issei-kun," Asia also sobbed as she gave Issei a hug.
Earlier, as she arrived, Issei lay sprawled on the ground, his entire body radiating a black aura. Asia, concerned about Issei, rushed forward and tried to wake him up.
But no matter how much she tried, she couldn't wake him up. Seeing this, Asia cried, and some teardrops fell on Issei's face.
That's when Issei showed signs of waking up. This excited Asia as she called out to him repeatedly while shaking him hard.
While the two of them were having their touching reunion, some people who didn't know how to read the room interjected.
" Activate Juggernaut Drive."
" It is the only way."
" Don't you wish for strength?"
" What if one day you would have to face another situation and you are too weak to do anything?"
" Say the chant, activate the Juggernaut Drive."
" Become the Red Dragon of Domination."
As the voices got louder and louder, Issei and Asia noticed that the grey-hooded people were like some cultists, as they all had madness filled in their eyes.
Asia trembled as she hid behind Issei, scared of these people who reminded her of the fake father who had some disturbing hobbies.
"Hey, knock it off!" Issei shouted as he felt Asia tremble in fear at their actions.
The hooded people ignored Issei's words as they continued to speak as if they were possessed.
" You " Issei felt anger as he saw how he was being ignored.
Before he could argue, he suddenly heard a familiar voice.
" That's enough. Issei, you should wake up already. This is not something you can deal with for now " In the sky there was a silhouette of a red dragon as Draig's voice reverberated in the whole arena.
"Draig, what is this...?" Issei's words were cut short as he and Asia were ejected out of the mindscape.
There was a period of silence before Draig turned his attention toward the grey-hooded figures. There was a complex look in his eyes.
As his previous hosts, it would be wrong to say that Draig didn't have any feelings towards them. After all, they were once his partners.
But now they are reduced to a bunch of malicious spirits.
' Don't worry, Issei will help you all. Just like how he did the impossible, like always ' Draig thought silently. This is his deepest wish he hoped Issei could fulfill.
Unlike his previous hosts, Issei could be said to be his weakest and strongest host. His ability to make the impossible possible is the reason why Draig is betting on him. If there is someone who could use the boosted gear to its highest potential, then it would be him.
The sacred gear always answers to the wishes of its hosts, and those who are truly strong are the ones who live up to their desires. And in Draig's whole life, there is no one who is more open to his desires than Hyodou Issei.
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