The Aura of a Broken Dragon

Death, it is enough to change a person. Issei, from loving women to the point of being blinded by the chance of being with one, not being able to see her true intentions of her from the beginning, changed into someone that was afraid of women. Ever since that hole in his heart, the passion for having a woman by his side was gone, and he was left seeing the world from more perspectives. Finally, not being blinded, he could see the way that he was being treated by others, seeing that he was nothing but garbage in the eyes of many. The world tried to get rid of him. However, he was back, and he was going to make the world submit to him.

Standing in the middle of a large forest, he couldn't help but look at the view. The majestic forest was pretty far from his house, but he didn't mind. He wasn't planning on going back home for a while. Training for such a long period of time, weeks going by, and nothing but training was what he went through. Ddraig had used his magic to make sure that Issei wouldn't need sleep. That was an additional third of the day needed turning into more time being used for training.

Ddraig continued making sure that Issei would recover, using his own magic to restore the damaged muscles Issei would have. Time wasn't on their side, Ddraig was going to make sure that Issei would be prepared for all sides, devils, angels, fallen, and even Gods... It didn't matter, he was going to be built for war. He will become a machine built for war.

"Why did you want me to be here?" Issei questioned.

"I want you to be able to apply your newfound powers in the real world."

"Where am I going to do that? This forest is filled with normal animals."

"Issei, something that I hope you would learn would be to always be wary of your surroundings because..." The moment that Ddraig stopped speaking was when the sounds of something large approaching Issei began getting louder. Turning to where he heard the sound, Issei could only watch as a monstrous-sized bear appeared through the forest.

"What?"

"Just like how supernatural beings are able to blend in with humans, so can the supernatural beasts blend in with the animals. This is one of the larger and more powerful beasts, I wonder how you would fair against such a thing. Make sure not to use your aura."

"What? But why? Isn't that my ultimate card."

"It's your ultimate card and your ultimate death. You could die from your own power, and you could also win the fight. Your aura is still unpredictable. I'll keep it down for now. I want to see how you far as a dragon without the aura for now."

The moon hung high in the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the desolate clearing where Issei stood. His heart raced in his chest, adrenaline surging through his veins as he faced off against the colossal magical bear beast. Towering over him at sixteen-feet tall, its matted fur bristled with raw power, and its eyes glowed with an unholy light. Circling around him, they continued to stare at each other.

"This is going to be different than fighting against people." Issei couldn't go with his regular stance; he would need to be more open to being defensive. He didn't know the movement of this bear in combat.

Issei clenched his fists, determination etched on his face. He knew this battle would be one of the roughest he had ever faced. The bear beast let out a bone-chilling roar, shaking the ground beneath Issei's feet. With lightning speed, it lunged forward, massive claws slashing through the air. Issei, boosting a few times beforehand, watched, and saw the movement.

Issei's reflexes kicked in, and he narrowly dodged the aggressive attack, feeling the gust of wind as the claws swiped past him. He retaliated swiftly, launching a series of lightning-fast strikes towards the beast's vulnerable spots. His fists collided with the creature's thick hide, but the impact barely registered, as if striking a wall of steel. Issei's immediate reaction was fear in seeing the impact doing nothing, but he quickly began thinking with his instincts. Quickly, growing confident and undeterred, Issei focused on his opponent's movements, his mind working at lightning speed.

He studied the bear beast's patterns, searching for weaknesses, and exploiting any opportunity that presented itself. He ducked and weaved, narrowly avoiding each swipe and pounce, his body moving with the grace of a dancer.

The battle raged on, both combatants locked in a deadly dance. Issei's agility and adaptability kept him one step ahead of the beast's onslaught. He utilized his surroundings, leaping off fallen logs and boulders, gaining the advantage of higher ground.

With each encounter, he learned the bear beast's habits, anticipating its next move. With the last few boosts, he had asked Ddraig to transfer the power into his eyes, and only his eyes alone. This allowed Issei to see the bear's movement even clearer and more precisely. He was able to adjust accordingly and land critical blows.

As the fight progressed, Issei's blows began to land with greater force. He unleashed a barrage of strikes, fists colliding with the bear beast's jaw and ribs. The creature staggered, momentarily stunned by the sheer power of Issei's assault. Seizing the opportunity, Issei channeled his energy, summoning his inner strength.

His body radiated with a bloody-red glow as he unleashed a devastating attack. The air crackled with electricity as Issei's fists surged with energy, and he delivered a thunderous blow to the bear beast's chest. The impact sent shockwaves through the clearing, shattering trees and creating a large crater.

But the bear beast refused to yield. Roaring with renewed fury, it swung its massive paw, its claws tearing through the air. Issei narrowly evaded the attack, feeling the sharp breeze as the claws grazed his cheek, leaving a shallow cut. Blood trickled down his face, but he pushed through the pain, fueled by his determination to survive.

With every strike, Issei's resolve grew stronger. He continued fighting, never allowing fatigue to take hold. He could see the end of this battle. His punches became more precise, his kicks faster and more powerful.

Time seemed to stretch as the battle wore on, the minutes blending into eternity. Both combatants were battered and bruised, but Issei's spirit remained unbroken when seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. He channeled his pain into strength, pressing forward with every ounce of his being.

This was when Issei finally was able to break through, watching the bear, seeing a perfect opening, enough for him to land a devastating blow straight into the side of the bear. Momentarily stunning the bear, Issei instantly, placed all his energy, faith, and hopes into this last attack, Issei, with his lightning-fast speed, landed another devastating blow straight into the bear's side. Ripping straight through the side of the bear, landing straight into the heart of the bear, Issei could only watch as the bear dropped dead on the floor.

As Issei stood over the lifeless body of the bear, a surge of regret washed over him. The adrenaline of the battle began slowly dissipating, decreasing as the more he began thinking. He had initially thought that he would show no mercy, but applying this, it was going to be harder than he thought. Doubt and guilt clawed at his conscience, causing his heart to ache. He questioned whether he had made the right choice, whether he had taken a life unnecessarily.

The pressure of what he had done weighed heavily on him. The bear had been a majestic creature, fierce and powerful. It had attacked him out of instinct, defending its territory and seeking its own survival. Issei couldn't help but wonder if there had been another way to resolve the conflict, a way that didn't end in death.

His gaze shifted from the bear to his own bloodied hands. The image before him filled him with a profound sadness. The once-mighty beast, now motionless, represented a loss-an irreversible consequence of his actions.

But as the moments passed, a flicker of realization began to ignite within Issei. He remembered the intensity of the battle, the raw power and determination in the bear's eyes. He had fought with every ounce of his being, matching the beast's ferocity blow for blow. It had been a clash of titans, a battle where only the strongest would survive.

With each passing second, Issei's regret transformed into understanding. In this cruel and unforgiving world, survival was not guaranteed. It was a constant struggle, a competition where only the fittest prevailed. The bear, for all its might, had been just another player in this ruthless game of existence.

Issei's own survival had been at stake, and he had fought with all his might to come out on top. In the face of danger, he had adapted, honed his skills, and ultimately triumphed. The regret that had consumed him slowly gave way to acceptance-the acceptance that what he had done was not out of malice, but out of necessity.

He realized that his actions were rooted in the primal instinct for self-preservation. The regret he had felt was a testament to his compassion and empathy, but it was also a reminder that he lived in a world that demanded toughness and resilience.

With a newfound resolve, Issei acknowledged that he had made the right choice. The survival of the fittest wasn't just a concept, but a reality he had embraced. He would honor the bear's memory by continuing to adapt, to grow stronger, and to navigate this harsh world with the conviction that his actions were necessary for his own survival.

As he turned away from the fallen bear, Issei carried the weight of his experiences, now tempered with the understanding that regret alone could not shape his path. He would strive to find a balance between his humanity and the demands of a ruthless world, knowing that his actions, no matter how difficult, were driven by the primal need to survive.

Ddraig had been watching, seeing his partner start off strictly from being defensive, making sure that he would dodge and observe his opponent, to being able to land blows without taking much damage. 'He's growing... Albion, you better be wishing for your partner to be as ruthless as my partner will become because at any moment of hesitation, and your partner will fall. I will build my partner to be as ruthless as we were during the Great War. I failed him and caused his death; I will make sure I make him get his revenge against the world.'

That was when a presence that sent chills through Ddraig's body appeared. "What the hell is she doing here for? Issei, listen, I will mask your presence. I will make sure you avoid this being."

Issei wasn't dumb either, he was able to sense the sudden presence of this powerful power. "What the hell? This power... It's overwhelming."

However, it was too late. Standing on top of the dead bear stood a beautiful woman with blue-diamond hair that flowed down to her knees. She stared at Issei's eyes. However, there was something different. The top woman in the supernatural world, most of them are beautiful women, powerful women that showcased their beauty and would often see only the looks of lust amongst many men. It was an often, frequent look that they would receive. However, staring at Issei, she received a look of disgust, rage, and anger. All three at once. It was overwhelming, to say the least.

"Ddraig, I sensed your host from a mile away, I had to show up and ruin the fun." The woman said while coming down from the bear's corpse.

Expecting Ddraig to try and talk her out of killing her host again, she was shocked beyond belief when hearing Ddraig. "Time and time again, I have told you to lay off my hosts. Time and time again, you've grown from frustrating to being someone I despise. Over time, I have seen my mistakes, becoming soft to the world. But seeing through what my partner has gone through, seeing the many mistakes the supernatural world has made, yet showing no care in the world for my hosts, throwing away the fear, and respect that I have earned into the dirt because I was sealed. Only treating me as a tool and I'm done."

Ddraig moved Issei's hand and smashed it to the back of Issei's head, effectively knocking him out. "Sorry partner, but my issue will not become your issue."

This was when Ddraig began taking control of Issei's body in a fit of rage. Slowly, Issei's body began illuminating a dark crimson color that spoke of dominance. Getting up to his feet, Ddraig, who was in possession of Issei's body for the time being, began expelling out a larger portion of his aura which easily exceeded anything that Issei could have produced. Issei's body had become much stronger than it once was. "Tiamat, showing your face here again, I'm glad I can finally deal with you. Killing you off will make sure my partner has one less enemy."

Tiamat began worrying, the power that Ddraig was expelling was monstrous. "Ddraig, I'm not afraid. I will kill your host again for the treasures you lost that belonged to me." Tiamat was a dragon, there was no way that she would fear any battle.

"Are those treasures worth more than countless human lives?"

"You will have to take the blame for their lives."

"As I thought, you don't view the humans. You only view my life because I'm not human." Ddraig's anger began soaring. His partner had reignited the monster that he had suppressed during the Great War. "I don't care how much of my energy will be used during this battle. I will kill you off. Partner, forgive me for what I'm going to do, you'll have to face off against the world alone for a little while after this."

"How are you doing this? This shouldn't happen. How are you taking possession?" Tiamat asked while beginning to back away. Just the presence of Ddraig could bring fear into nearly anyone, and his hatred was only directed at her.

"The supernatural world has had this ability for years. Taking over the soul of someone's body. Do you think humans randomly got that thought of soul possession in movies? It had its origin somewhere..." Ddraig began walking towards Tiamat. "There is a wall between regular dragons and the level that Albion and I had reached, that the wall will be me. Partner, it's my turn to shine."