DXD Issei: The Mind of Games

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Name: Issei Hyoudou

Title: Hero of the Devil Faction

Race: Shadow Colossus

Level: 137

HP: 132560/132560

MP: 792.5/792.5

STR: 282.8 (+112)

AGL: 158.4 (-5)

END: 380.24 (+150)

INT: 166.5 (-8)

Bonus:+140% Damage Reduction

 +20% Pierce Damage

Skills: Crystallized Frame

 Titanic Smash

 Chaotic Manipulation

 Overcharged

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Just a quick little session of grinding little, Issei emerged from the dungeon that he was previously in before the boss rush dungeon and remained within the confines of the dungeon for weeks. Now, right before the meeting with the factions, Issei was properly ready to enter the meeting and he had his weapon ready.

During the time with the dungeons, Issei was farming for a specific material that could be dropped by mini bosses around the dungeon. Opening up his inventory, Issei found what he wanted the most.

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Titanite Chunk x 12

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Now he had enough materials to upgrade his Giant Crusher to +9 which was nearly the max level that he could get. Next, he needed to get a Titanite Slab and he could not find a single slab in the dungeon. The chances of getting a chunk was already slim to none and took him multiple weeks to farm. He didn't even want to think about the time he needed to farm the slab, but that takes into account if he can get one at his level.

Now, standing in the middle of the woods, Issei did let Artemis know that he wouldn't be able to contact her for a couple of weeks. Did check her response... No. Issei had a new problem ever since he became a damage sponge with just doing whatever he thought of at that moment and never thinking of the consequences until it was too late.

Opening up a communication circle, Issei connected it with Artemis and waited for her to pick it up. This was literally just the supernatural phone for people to use and Issei loved it. He didn't need WiFi or data, he just needed his own magic.

An exhausted Artemis picked up the communication circle and answered, "Hello?"

"Arty?"

The moment Issei spoke, Artemis's tired tone quickly turned to a surprised one. "Issei, is that you?"

"Yeah! Where are you right now?"

Just as fast as her tone changed once, it changed again. "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?"

"Didn't I tell you I would be out of reach for 2 weeks."

"DID YOU CHECK MY MESSAGES?"

Oh... Checking her messages on his phone since they also had their phone numbers given to each other, Issei noticed a couple messages of Artemis continuously asking for Issei to respond to her. She had asked him to tell her where he was going , if he was going to be alright, if he was doing something important for school, or if he was doing something reckless again.

Trying to lighten the situation, not knowing how to speak with woman that well, Issei calmly spoke," I just notice them. I was just exploring the underworld."

He was lying, even Artemis could tell that he was lying since Issei never had needed a reason to explore the supernatural world. However, she didn't push this point and rather continued speaking with an angered tone, "ISSEI! YOU! ME! YOUR ROOM, NOW!!!"

Shutting the communication circle with anger, Issei had no chance in speaking with her. Knowing that he was going to get in trouble by Artemis, Issei decided that he would show up and try to justify his actions. Teleporting to his room, Artemis was already there waiting for him.

"Were you-"

Shutting him up by hugging him, Artemis spoke, "Do you know how worried I was?"

Processing the words while hugging her with his muscular arms, Issei simply said, "Why worry? I have shown many times that I can easily go out alone and be safe."

"The last time you came back from going on your own, you were beaten brutally and nearly dead."

Opening his mouth to counter, Issei realized that she was right. "But I do come back alive."

"It doesn't matter!" Artemis resisted the urge to slap some sense into Issei, "Besides my huntresses, you are the only person that I care about! Do you know what could happen if you don't show up for weeks? It's not about you showing back up, it's about not knowing if you will show up for whatever reasons."

Issei knew he was in the wrong, but he didn't want to see her get any more worried than now. Not only that, he needed to deal with her starting to tear up. Lifting her up, even as a Goddess, she was surprisingly light. Yelping in being lifted up, Artemis looked at Issei with a confused expression. "Fine... I won't go out for that long anymore. I promise to only go out for short periods of time and I will let you know of everything that happens during my trips. Not only that, but I will sometimes even let you join in with me during my adventures. Is that better for you?"

Artemis, hearing all of the things that Issei said, nodded brightly and hugged him again. "Just don't do something reckless. You're at the tender age to do stupid stuff and learn from them, but learning from the stuff that you keep on heading into can result into death or permanent damage. The last thing I want is for you to be dead in my arms. I will never forgive myself for any of that happening."

"Speaking of which, how about we take a little journey to the woods and go star gazing?"

Artemis nodded and took his hands, "Just the two of us. Let's go already!"

Being dragged out of his house, Issei was glad that his parents were sleeping. He still had enough time before the huge meeting. He would need to tell Artemis about the meeting. Maybe he could have her as a back up to make sure that

Then, a quick thought came to his mind thinking about his relationship with Artemis. The next step for him would be to meet with Artemis's huntresses. At that point, he would be able to freely visit her without causing any issues with anyone near Artemis, besides Zeus. "Also Artemis, when will you let your huntresses meet me again? I do want to see little Sophia again." Issei didn't mind seeing the other huntresses, but he wouldn't mind surprising little Sophia with his presence.

Artemis stopped in her tracks and thought for a second, "I'll let them know of you and what you have done for the huntresses before. Not only that, but I will tell them that you are my loved one. After that, seeing their reactions and how they respond to what I say, then I will let you know when you can show up." Before continuing, Artemis couldn't help but smile when hearing about the comment about seeing Sophia, "Little Sophia would love to see you again. She said she wants to be thrown into the air again and see the ground beneath her from high up. She calls it the up uppies."

Chuckling, Artemis and Issei continued making their way to the woods.

But a thought came into his mind... Why did he feel so weird about the meeting with the factions again? He had a feeling that he was prepared but at the same time that everything that he has done before would amount to nothing to what will happen. He would still struggle with whatever situation that will happen during the meeting. It's just the thought that bothered Issei.