Reincarnated in DXD(rewrite)

Sirzechs began, "Can we focus on what this meeting is really about?"

"Oh, Sirzechs, you're no fun. But fine, let's get back to business. How about we set aside our earlier discussions and focus on the matter at hand?" Azazel replied, smirking, his usual carefree demeanor on full display despite the tense atmosphere in the room.

"Yes, we should begin," Michael agreed calmly, his serene expression contrasting sharply with the tension radiating from the other leaders present.

Sirzechs turned toward Azazel. "Over the past few decades, you've amassed a considerable number of Sacred Gear users. Why?"

Serafall, dressed in elegant noblewoman attire befitting her role as a Satan during official duties, added with a more serious tone than usual, "When you started gathering humans and building your forces, we assumed you were preparing for war—either with Heaven or with us Devils."

Michael nodded with a composed and thoughtful appearance. "Indeed. Recruiting the Vanishing Dragon heightened our concerns."

Azazel, looking somewhat bored, leaned back in his chair and answered, "I simply enjoy researching Sacred Gears. They fascinate me. As for the rest, I have no interest in war or disrupting the current balance of power. But it seems I'm the least trusted person here."

"You wouldn't be wrong," Sirzechs said bluntly, his crimson hair glinting under the room's light.

"Quite right," Michael agreed.

"True," Serafall added, crossing her arms.

Azazel sighed, running a hand through his spiky hair. "Tch. I didn't think it was possible to be more irritating than God, but here we are. Fine, let's make peace. That's the true purpose of this meeting, isn't it?"

Rias and Sona, along with their entourages, were visibly shocked by this unexpected turn. Only Luna seemed unfazed, distracted by a video game she was playing on a portable console.

Once the initial shock subsided, the three leaders outlined their reasons for peace and agreed on the terms. During this moment, Issei raised a question. "Michael, could you make it so that Xenovia and Asia can pray without experiencing pain?"

Michael hesitated, his expression thoughtful. "It would be difficult, given the current state of Heaven's system after God's death, but… I'll allow it. They can pray without suffering."

Azazel leaned forward, addressing Issei directly. "Red Dragon Emperor, what do you seek from this world?"

"What do you mean?" Issei asked, confused, his brow furrowing.

Azazel shifted his gaze to Vali, who was leaning against the wall with an air of nonchalance. "What about you, Vali? What do you desire from this world?"

"I want to fight the strong. That is all I desire," Vali responded with a confident smirk, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Azazel turned back to Issei. "You possess a hidden power that could shake the world. If you don't make a choice, you'll put every major faction in a precarious position." He added with a grin, "Oh, and if there's a war, you can kiss your fun with the president goodbye. Not a tough decision, right?"

Issei immediately raised his hand. "I'll take peace, please."

"I want to do dirty things with the president," he added, looking at Rias, causing her to blush furiously while everyone else shifted uncomfortably.

Suddenly, a small fist flew through the air and hit Issei square in the face, sending him sprawling. It was Luna, who looked irritated.

"Sorry, I had to swat a bug," she said nonchalantly, her tone completely serious. Everyone, except the student council and the Occult Research Club, who were used to such antics, was taken aback.

Asia quickly healed Issei, who was unharmed thanks to Luna holding back. Moments later, the meeting was interrupted by an attack from the Khaos Brigade, and Vali betrayed Azazel.

During the chaos, it was revealed that Vali was the great-grandson of the original Lucifer and a half-devil, which stunned many present. With an air of arrogance, he stepped forward and boldly challenged Luna to a fight. Luna, however, remained unfazed, barely sparing him a glance before turning her attention elsewhere. "I have no interest in fighting you," she said flatly, her voice laced with boredom. Without missing a beat, she shoved Issei forward. "You can fight this bug," she added nonchalantly, as if it were beneath her to engage Vali directly.

The unexpected gesture caused murmurs among the onlookers, but Luna's indifference remained unwavering. Her calm demeanor contrasted sharply with Vali's rising irritation, setting the stage for what would become a tense confrontation.

Vali sneered, his voice dripping with disdain, each word carefully chosen to cut deep. "Fate is cruel, is it not, Issei Hyoudou? The gulf between us is vast, an unbridgeable chasm. Your family is ordinary, insignificant in the grand scheme of things, and you yourself were nothing more than a mundane human before being dragged into this world of devils. Without the Boosted Gear, you are nothing—an unremarkable soul in a sea of mediocrity. Even now, with that power, you can barely stand before me. Do you see the difference between us, Issei? It's not something you can overcome so easily. Perhaps I should make this more interesting…" he paused, his eyes gleaming with malice. "What if I killed your parents? Would that give you the motivation you so desperately need to close this chasm between us?"

Vali's taunt enraged Issei, who activated a bracelet Azazel had given him during the meeting. The bracelet allowed him to enter Balance Breaker Scale Mail, releasing an immense aura that caused the ground beneath him to crack slightly.

Albion, speaking to Vali, remarked, "His rage fuels his strength. The power of a dragon often emerges through pure emotion."

Despite his newfound power, Issei was clearly outmatched by Vali. He struggled to land any significant blows, his attacks being deflected with ease.

Meanwhile, on a nearby rooftop, a man with long blond hair and a muscular build watched the battle unfold. Wearing sunglasses, a white dress shirt, and black pants, he observed with interest, his arms crossed.

"Looks like that weakling Katera got herself killed by the Fallen Angel leader. Now we're witnessing a dragon duel. This should be entertaining," he said, his tone laced with amusement.

"Isn't that right, Christian?" he added, glancing at a figure behind him.

Christian Cross, a man with short red hair and a cold expression, sat on the railing, his gun at the ready. "You might as well just watch. You can't interfere."

"Lucky for you, I'm not in the mood to fight today. Otherwise, this whole area would be rubble by now," the blond man said with a smirk.

As the two watched, Issei fought desperately, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he tried to keep up with Vali's overwhelming speed and strength. Though he managed to land a few hits, they were little more than glancing blows that failed to faze Vali, whose calm expression never wavered. Each of Issei's attacks was met with swift counters that left him visibly strained, his Balance Breaker aura flickering as he pushed himself to his limits.

Vali, on the other hand, appeared to be enjoying the fight, a gleam of excitement in his eyes as he toyed with his opponent. "Come on, Issei! Is this all the Red Dragon Emperor can muster? Show me something worthy of the title!"

Despite the taunts, Issei pressed on, driven by a mix of determination and fury. The clash between their powers caused tremors to ripple through the ground, and sparks of energy crackled in the air. In a daring move fueled by desperation, Issei managed to break through Vali's Scale Mail with a precise, well-timed strike. As fragments of Vali's armor scattered, Issei seized the opportunity and snatched one of the White Dragon's Scale Mail orbs.

"What... how did you...?!" Vali exclaimed, his composure shaken for the first time as he felt the sudden loss of power.

Without hesitation, Issei embedded the stolen orb into his Boosted Gear, feeling an immediate surge of energy coursing through his body. Ddraig's voice echoed, both astonished and concerned. "Partner, you've stolen part of the Divine Dividing's power! This is unprecedented."

Empowered by the newfound energy, Issei's aura flared with a mix of red and white, creating a chaotic yet awe-inspiring spectacle. "Now, let's see if I'm still insignificant," he growled, his voice brimming with newfound confidence as he prepared to face Vali once more.

Just as the tension reached its peak, the battle was abruptly interrupted when Bikou, a descendant of Sun Wukong, descended from above, his staff glowing with a faint aura of magic. "Vali, it's time to go," Bikou said, creating a magical circle with his staff, the swirling energy signaling their departure.

"Wait, you can't leave!" Issei shouted, but his armor vanished as his power reached its limit.

"That's your limit," Azazel noted, stepping forward.

Vali turned to Issei. "Our next fight will be even more brutal. Let's both grow stronger by then." With that, he vanished alongside Bikou.

Back on the rooftop, the blond man commented, "Well, that was underwhelming. The Red Dragon Emperor is weak. He wouldn't last three seconds against either of us."

Christian responded, "He's a newly reincarnated devil. He'll grow stronger."

The blond man chuckled. "Maybe next time we meet, we'll have another fight. I still owe you for our last battle." He disappeared through a magical circle.

Christian sighed, pulling out a card and tossing it into the air. A portal opened before him. Glancing back at the school one last time, he leapt into the portal and vanished.

After the fight, in the Occult Research Club room, Sirzechs and Grayfia found themselves being interrogated by Rias.

"Brother, why didn't you tell me about Stardust Island or the lineage fruits? And who are these Eight Paragons? This all seems related to Maxius. Is he part of this group?"

Sirzechs sighed deeply, feeling the weight of the conversation. "Fine, Rias. I'll tell you what I know. The Grand Auction happens every three years and is only accessible to the higher-ups of various mythologies. It's kept secret from the public. As for the Eight Paragons, they are powerful young individuals, each an irregular of their generation. From what I've gathered, they include humans who have broken their limits, yokai, dragons, and devils. I believe Maxius is among them. Reports describe the Paragon of Creation and Destruction as a masked individual with crimson red hair, often accompanied by a woman with long gray hair."

"That must be Katsumi," Rias deduced, her eyes narrowing in thought.

"Yes, I believe so," Sirzechs confirmed.

"Then all we need to do is find one of these Paragons. If we can locate even one, we might learn where Maxius is."

"Easier said than done. Our only lead is Rikuo Nura, the grandson of Nurarihyon from the Eastern Yokai Faction. He left home long ago with a group of young yokai and hasn't been seen since."

Disappointed but determined, Rias decided to wait until summer vacation for a reunion with Maxius.

"Oh, and Rias, don't tell Mother about this. If she found out, she'd likely cause trouble we don't need."

"Understood."

A woman with a chilling smile appeared in both their minds as they imagined the potential chaos that could ensue.

Meanwhile, in the Middle East, concealed by powerful ancient magic, lay a secret dimension housing the legendary kingdom of Babylon. This ancient realm, shimmering under a perpetual golden sky, was a place of unmatched splendor. Its towering palaces, constructed of gleaming gold and rare gemstones, stood as a testament to the unparalleled wealth and power of its ruler. At its heart resided the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, a figure of awe and reverence across countless mythologies, and the Paragon of Heroes, whose very presence commanded respect from gods and mortals alike.

In a lavishly decorated room adorned with gold and fine tapestries, illuminated by the soft glow of enchanted chandeliers, Sakata knelt before a grand throne. The air was heavy with an aura of power, each corner of the chamber reflecting the wealth and prestige of its ruler. The walls were lined with ancient texts and relics of bygone eras, while golden statues of legendary figures stood watch. Sakata's head remained bowed respectfully, his voice steady despite the palpable tension in the room, as he prepared to deliver his report to the King of Heroes.

"My lord, the Old Satan Faction stands no chance against the newly formed Three Faction Alliance. Their power is simply unmatched, and they have managed to stabilize relations in ways that seemed impossible before. It seems you were right about the Paragon of Creation and Destruction—he is fiercely protective of his family. Upon my arrival in Kuoh Town, I was met with immediate resistance, and Christian Cross himself appeared, as though he had been expecting me. His presence alone was enough to send a clear message: they are aware of any moves made toward them and are prepared to respond accordingly."

A striking young man with short golden-blond hair and piercing red eyes, exuding self-confidence, leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp and calculating as he looked at Sakata. "Those old fools cling to the past and refuse to embrace the future, blinded by their outdated ideals. They lack the vision to see what lies ahead. As for the Paragon of Creation and Destruction, it appears he holds his family dear—a rare weakness in one so powerful. Perhaps I should remind him of the cost of such attachments." His lips curled into a faint, dangerous smile. "I may need to pay them a visit soon. After all, I owe him a debt for the scars he left on my body. Scars are lessons, and I intend to teach him a few of my own."