part 16. freedom

Issei, Kuroka and Evelyn are still alive and thus they couldn't stay in heaven for too long, they could visit those who passed away every once in a while. The 3 now had to return.

Issei: well looks like our time for today in up, I really don't want to leave.

Miki: but you have to, you and your family are the saviours, you still have a lot to do back in the world of the living.

Issei: but my family is right here. We all did our part.

Gorou: Issei listen, Evelyn has school coming up since summer is coming to an end. You just came back to life and accomplished great feats. Don't stop there kiddo.

Evelyn: ugh school again......

Kuroka: you're going back there once summer vacation ends. That's final.

Evelyn: but mmmooooommmmm...

Issei: listen to your mother. I went to school and met some amazing people.

Evelyn: didn't you and your old team get attacked there multiple times?

Issei: yes but you won't have that problem because we eliminated all threats.

Evelyn: fine....I do miss my friends.

Gorou: I would have gotten you a puppy when you graduated.

Evelyn: uncle Vali let's me play with Fenrir.

Everyone:...................

Kuroka: I hate dogs.

Issei: okay so I'm going to talk to Vali about letting you play with a wolf that can kill gods.

Evelyn: aw man.

Irina: guys times up, you can visit again next week.

Issei: sigh.. mom, dad...I'm sorry to ask this of you but will you look after these 5 for us? They can't exactly come back to life you know?

Miki: Issei we always wanted grand kids and now we get to spend all eternity in bliss. We'll be just fine. You, Kuroka and Evelyn should live your lives.

Kuroka: then we'll see you next week mother and father.

Gorou: of course my dear. Tell everyone that we said hello.

Evelyn: sure grandpa. Bye for now.

Miki: bye Eve.

The 3 teleported back to the underworld.

Miki: so Irina, what were you thinking about earlier?

Irina: I was thinking about what Lord Michael said, he said that the kids can't be brought back to life but what about being reincarnated?

Gorou: you mean to give them a new life instead of the old one?

Irina: exactly. It happens every now and then. The souls of the past heros is an example.

Miki: that means that these kids will get the chance to grow up, see everything the universe has to offer, fall in love, meet their soul mates. Yes these 5 deserve that.

Irina: but if that the case then you would not be able to spend time with them like you can now....

Gorou: no need to be sad my dear. We can watch from above, we'll get to see them grow up, also is it possible to control the lives they get reborn into?

Irina: you want Issei and Kuroka to have their full family don't you?

The 5 kids who were asleep woke up and looked around for their parents and big sister.

Kid 4: mama? Papa? Where?

Irina: they'll be back soon little one. Don't worry.

(Back with Issei in the underworld.)

Kuroka:......

Issei: I miss those kids already.

Evelyn: as do I dad.

Kuroka: I'm just happy they are safe.

Issei: you want to see them grow up, you want to be their mother and I want to be their father.

Evelyn: so much happened in such a short time.

Issei: yeah....... Hey Eve why don't you go and spend some time with everyone before school starts?

Evelyn: umm...okay.

Evelyn flies towards the Gremory household.

Kuroka: so what's up?

Issei: it feels wrong...not having those kids here and we didn't even decide on their names.

Kuroka: I know what you mean, that was the longest time I held them in my arms.

Issei: wait didn't you get to hold them or bond with them back when they were born?

Kuroka: hardly and I didn't give birth to them, that bastard just took our DNA and used advanced technology to create them, I didn't let him use me as a breeding tool. As if I would willingly bring kids into this world for him to kill.

Issei: yet they knew who we are. Even if you didn't give birth to them, they are definitely our kids....

Kuroka: .........

Issei: tell me, how badly did he hurt you?

Kuroka: you know I won't tell you. That silver haired bastard bragged about it.

Issei: Kuroka please I need to know, we promised to share everything good and the bad.

Kuroka: hm....... Issei you suffered too. I fear that if you saw what he did you might lose yourself from guilt, you already told me earlier about how you changed.

Issei:........ I'm not proud of what I became. You were alive this whole time and I......just drank, trained and fucked. When I found out you were alive I....felt like I cheated on you. I broke my promise to you about being with only you.

Kuroka:.....

Issei: you went through the worst pain and I was out there..... doing...sniff...why don't you hate me for it? Why not slap me? Insult me, anything.

Kuroka also started to cry and shut him up by kissing him.

Kuroka: oh just shut up you idiot. Whatever happened is over now, it's the past. I blocked out most of the pain using my magic, it's true that he did use our children against me, that's the only time he actually hurt me, I saw you get murdered before me. When I tried to see you using my astral form magic I couldn't, your heart, mind and soul were more messed up than I was. Euclid told me about the places where he found your blood, all those battle fields were the places the chaos brigade members showed up.....you tried to force out info on my location didn't you?

Issei: yeah.....they didn't have any so I killed them. They were useless. I wasn't careful so they did manage to do some damage. And because of that he used me to cause so much damage.

Kuroka: even if he didn't create those clones, he had other plans ready like creating hybrids like the one he turned himself into. No body blames you. We survived, the people are free from any threat, everyone is united and the people of earth that died no longer feel pain, Michael and Dulio did the universe a great service.

Issei: that does ease my mind a bit....

Kuroka: Issei...I still love you, even we switched places would we have acted differently? I would have done exactly what you did when I went missing. I would have lost my mind looking For you, I would have asked one of them to protect Evelyn. I would have......

Issei: tried to "cope" like I did?

Kuroka: ....yeah...I'm sorry.

Issei: don't you ever apologize. I wouldn't blame you, it does tell me that you loved me enough to go that far even though I wouldn't want you to.

Kuroka: that's exactly how I feel for you. Back when I was his prisoner I willingly fell into a comatose state, it recovered my magic, healed any injury that he inflicted and I felt no pain. It was only the recent events that hurt but I'm okay now. You're my soulmate and a strong one, that willpower rubbed off on me. It was one of the things that kept me sane.

Issei: seeing Evelyn grow up in your visions was the other.

Kuroka: seeing her smile, even though I wasn't there physically she and I bonded like a mother should.

Issei: Vali asked Azazel to create a dream recording machine, that's what helped us find you.

Kuroka: then we should thank Vali.

Issei: yeah....do you want to go see those recordings? There are 22 of them.

Kuroka: yeah. I would like that. Say Issei, about that proposal..

Issei: oh that, I was just so happy to have you back so in the heat of the moment I just did it hehe.. you don't have to say yes.....

He had a sad expression once again.

Kuroka: Issei?

Issei: it's just......I want to earn your love, even thought we fell for each other, got married, had Eve.....I still felt unworthy of it all. An old perv like me living the good life with the most perfect woman.... Straight out of my imagination.

Kuroka: you're more than worthy for me and back then I was okay with you having a harem like you wanted.

Issei: I finally had you so why would I ever want a harem?

Kuroka: damn..

She blushed.

Issei: hey...did I tell you I love you?

Kuroka: yes..but say it anyway.

Issei: I love you.

Kuroka: yay. I love you too.

She jumped on him, they laughed together like idiots, idiots still very much in love.

Kuroka: come on lover, the world needs to be fixed and you're needed.

Issei: right away.

They start to walk and catch up a bit more.

Kuroka: so what else did I miss?

Issei: well not much really, took out the last few members of the chaos brigade, trained, Kiba told Rias about us after she pressed him for answers and she also kissed me.

Kuroka: excuse me?

She was annoyed by that last part.

Issei: yeah she was trying to help me out in her own way but boy did it back fire.

Kuroka: I need popcorn with that story.

Issei: haha yeah I torn into them, I was so angry at them that I scared them both without raising a single finger...well except I did pin Kiba to the wall and ready to rip his throat out.

Kuroka: what did they say to piss you off so much?

Issei: Kiba broke his one promise to us and Rias thought she could replace you in my heart. No fucking way.

Kuroka: aww, my grabbin dragon missed me that much huh. I love you for that.

Issei: and I love you my hell cat. I thought you would be disappointed in me for doing that to them.

Kuroka: nope, they got off easy. I would have cut out Kiba's tongue and if any of the guys from our group tries to replace you I would done worse to them.

Issei: hahahahahhaaahaaha that's my girl. So....you gonna marry me today?

Kuroka: ask me again tomorrow.

Issei: I sure will but why haven't you said yes to it yet?

Kuroka: because then...I wouldn't get to hear you ask.

Issei: smooth.

Kuroka: you know we got some time alone, we haven't done it in a while so let's make up for the time we lost. I want to feel what that dragon body of yours can do.

Issei was aroused like never before. He teleported them out if there and into their personal getaway location. They went buck wild, Issei was bigger in every way that mattered, stronger body, bigger...you know.., seemingly infinite stamina. Thank Ophis and great red for that. They were in bliss that rivals heaven itself. The bond between a dragon and it's soul mate is truly amazing. They were at it for quite a while. It was only until she begged him to stop before she lost her mind in the explosive orgasms she had one after the other. 15 years of not being with your lover was just one reason behind it.

Kuroka: that..ha...ha..ha..was...the best...time...ha...yet.

Issei: each time was the best for me. Wow.

Kuroka: I haven't been this out of breath since....ha...ha...the time we conceived Eve.

Issei: yeah...we really wanted a kid.

Issei heard his phone buzz. He checks it.

Issei: oh shit, everyone has been calling me.

Kuroka slowly moved, clearly sore as hell.

Kuroka: what do they want?

Issei: the dragons want to talk.

Kuroka: tell them to wait, we'll be there soon.

Issei: we can talk to them later, you need to rest first.

He said with a hint of pride in his voice.

Kuroka: I missed out a lot okay, I'm going with you.

Issei: looks like I get to carry you bridal style once more and once you get rested up, round 2.

He licks his lips with his now long dragon tongue. Kuroka was getting erotic ideas as she bit her lips.

Kuroka: sounds perfect. Let's get dressed first.

They start getting dressed, he got dressed quicker and saw her putting on her signature kimono. He saw her exposed shoulders as she was setting her obi. He walked up behind her and put his arms around her.

Kuroka: you okay?

Issei: yeah. I am now. I'm happy.

He kissed her soft neck.

Issei: I missed you. I want to make you happy again.

Kuroka: I missed you too lover. I'm already happy.

They teleported to the dragons.

Ddraig: there you are Issei, I see you and your mate have reconnected. Haha

Issei: looks who's the pervert now.

Yu-long: HAHAHAHAHHAAAHAAHA

Crom: haha

Tiamat: come on everyone..haha..let's take it seriously...hahaha

Tannin: sigh.

Ddraig: okay okay you all got a good laugh. Back to business. Issei there's something I want to talk about.

Issei: I know Ddraig. It's about what happened during the battle.

Ddraig: yes... I'm free from the sacred gear but do you wish to be partners like before?

Issei: honestly Ddraig, I think you should be free like every other dragon. You were forced into a sacred gear because of the rivalry with Albion during the war, but both are no longer a problem and you should be free.

Tiamat: Albion and Viritra should be set free as well.

Crom: I agree. Ddraig, even your past hosts are dragons now, they will grow to become powerful dragons in the future, since you have similar powers as them you can train them better than you could in the gear.

Tannin: there's so risk of the juggernaut drive any more.

Great red: Issei Hyoudo, are you okay with this decision?

Issei: I am, there are no longer any threats. We are free to live without worry.

Yu-long: what about that unique balance breaker you have?

Ddraig: combined powers of great red, Ophis, myself and Issei's promotion ability created that. Issei has my powers too, he may no longer have the sacred gear but he doesn't need it anymore. He use the armour without it.

Crom: then Issei Hyoudo, care to spar with me one day?

Issei: once I train of course.

Ddraig: don't leave the rest of us out of it.

Kuroka: you sure do love fighting.

Issei: for the right reasons.

Kuroka: such as?

Issei: being strong enough to fight by your side.

Kuroka: aww.

Tiamat: alright now that we have a full alliance, what now?

Great red: the 2nd beast had the unique signature that only the mother of all devils has. Lilith.

Ophis: we must make sure it's never used like that again. She may not be alive in a way but isn't dead either.

Crom: we should look for her together.

Ddraig: you sure you're not evil Crom?

Crom: only when I want to be.

Tiamat: let's go talk to the others.

They all leave, Kuroka chose to ride in Issei's back. Once they all meet up, the forces of heaven admit that sealing the dragons was a mistake that needed to be rectified. They asked Albion and Viritra about being free again.

Albion: then Vali can't use my powers, we aren't connected as Issei, Ddraig, Ophis and great red are.

Vali: the wars are over, you should be free and I know you long for that.

Albion: the past hosts also wish to pass on into the after life.

Viritra: Saji...I..

Saji: be free Viritra, you earned it.

Viritra: thank you Saji.

Azazel: there goes all my sacred gear research on your gears.

Issei: not exactly. Use my old gear and create an artificial longinus. The sacred gear system will not be affected and no dragons are robbed of their freedom.

Azazel had stars in his eyes.

Azazel: YOU BRILLIANT BOY. IM SO PROUD OF YOU.

Akeno: that would certainly be interesting.

Baraqiel: I agree. I look forward to it.

Gabriel: then allow me to free Albion and Viritra.

Gabriel puts her hands on both sacred gears and from came a white and purple lights. The sacred gears fell off their back and arms and next to everyone was Albion and Viritra in person.

Albion: it feels so good to breath again.

Vali: welcome back Albion and Viritra.

Viritra: thank you, all of you. I hope our former hosts are not disappointed in us.

Saji: none what so ever. You deserve to be free.

Vali: yes. Now your titles of heavenly dragon and poison dragon belong to only to you.

The past hosts came out of the sacred gears and Gabriel sent them into the after life.

Gabriel: I apologize to all 3 dragons whom we sealed in the gears a millennia ago. It wasn't right for us to do that. We are sorry.

Ddraig: it's quite alright, our battles also caused a great deal of damage and.... lives were lost. We apologize as well.

Milicus: so what should we do about the humans? They know about the supernatural now.

Grafia: we'll figure something out. It's best that they know about it. No more hiding.

Rias: we can help them, all of us can.

Ajuka: just about every religion is right in a way, those whom they worship do exist.

Serafall: except for atheism.

Odin: they are in for a surprise. Haha.

Shiva: indeed they are.

Sona: if they accept us then they might want to join us. All factions will get a great increase in numbers.

Sirzechs: let's solve one problem at a time.

Gasper: speaking of problems, where do we find Lilith?

Loki: I may be able to help with that.

Thor: how so brother?

Loki: Hades had been secretly helping Euclid. I had to dig deep to find that bit of information.

Indra: looks like I get to see the bones of my target break.

Cao Cao: but killing him might cause problems. He's in charge of the under world and keeps the souls in check.

Odin: perhaps we can ask the Roman god of the underworld Orcus to take over.

Yasaka: we have some our own who can guide the dead into the afterlife. Orcus won't be alone if he does accept.

Issei: it's a good plan. Hades can't take us all on. We know his limits, he can't risk fighting back.

Koneko: even his reapers will be too afraid.

Ophis: he's fucked.

Everyone just stared at her.

Great red: in all my years I've never heard you curse.

Ophis: I only curse you.

Albion: okay moving on. Hades will lead us to Lilith. Let's go.

Saji: I may not have a sacred gear but I have a few tricks up my sleeve.

Tsubaki: oh like what?

Saji: you'll see.

Scene change to Hades.

Hades: so Euclid is sealed away for eternity. I can't believe that the damned red dragon emperor fouled my plans again. Now what?

Just then the stone walls around him were destroyed.

Hades: what the?

Loki: hello Hades.

Hades: Loki what is the meaning of this?

Loki: look around you.

Hades looks around him and sees everyone releasing blood lust and his grim reapers flew.

Hades: GET BACK HERE!

Milicus: I'm going to enjoy kicking your ass.

Asia: if only he had one.

Kiba: oh snap.

Vali: just like his bones.

Shiva: you know 206 bones isn't enough for me to break.

Asia: I'll just heal them so you can break them again.

Indra: oh I like her.

Akeno: looks like I'm not the only sadist here. Hehe.

La Fey: right now everyone here is willing to be a sadist. Hahahaha

Arthur: for this I'm okay with not being a knight for a little bit.

Hades: you can't kill me, I'm needed to maintain the souls here.

Odin: we asked Orcus to fill in and he accepted.

Just then a bolt of lightning appears.

Hades: brother?

Zeus: HADES!

He punched Hades right in the jaw, easily dislocating it.

Zeus: you helped cause all this death and destruction, helped create a new beast that nearly wiped us all out.

Olympus had sustained great damage as well during the attack, due to their low numbers the necessary repairs and aid was slow.

Hades: how dare you...

He was punched again right in his nose, cracking it.

Zeus: I tried to help you see the light but you always willingly looked away and embraced the darkness. I couldn't save you or help them during that battle but I can help them now. Farewell brother.

They all attacked, Asia enveloped Hades in a healing orb, everyone else just started to punch, kick, elbow, jab, claw, bite, stab, slash and every other physical attacks you could think off. Indra being the Hindu god of destruction was having a blast, Hades kept on healing and they all just kept on breaking him. Every bone from his fingers, toes, ribs, spine, skull teeth etc completely shattered repeatedly. Any pieces broken off were regenerated. The pieces littered the ground, after a while there was more bone fragments then stone. Hades screams were louder than the wailing souls. Saji had created poison magic inspired by Viritra, they poisoned Hades and made him more susceptible to pain, Albion divided his powers, Ddraig boosted Asia's healing power so the fun could continue. All lightning users shocked him, fire users burned his bones only to be regenerated just so he could be destroyed again. The angels choose not to join. Rossweisse would use her magic to hang him upside down, Hades was used as a punching bag.

Loki: glad I'm not on the receiving end of that.

He said as Thor swung Mjolnir and hit Hades on the head. Xenovia, Arthur, Kiba and Issei used their blades to slash him, Hades didn't stand a chance. Gasper froze Hades, Bikou and Koneko unleashed a barrage of attacks, once Gasper unfroze him Hades experienced the entire barrage in an instant. He crashed into the rubble of bones and stone.

Hades: please...no more...I surrender.

Issei: tell us where Lilith is.

Hades: in an underground lab, right below us. Just don't hurt me anymore.

Tannin punched a hole in the ground and they saw it. A giant tank surrounded by advanced equipment and in that tank was a giant blob of flesh.

Kuroka: that's Lilith?

Ravel: we should check for traps first.

Riser: good idea sis. Hey bone head, are there any traps?

Bikou: ha. Traps.

They all look at Bikou.

Koneko hits him on the head.

Hades: no...there are no traps. We never thought you would find this place.

Azazel: you're coming with us.

Grayfia: everyone use him as a shield in case there are traps.

Hades: no please I beg of you.

Irina: so there are traps down there? Undo them.

Hades nods and all the traps are gone with a wave of his broken hand.

Hades: it is done.

Kuroka slaps him.

Kuroka: that's for lying to us.

They all go down the hole and into the lab. That tank is as big as tannin.They look around and Kuroka sees something familiar, an adjacent room, she enters it. She recognized it, it was the same room she was held captive in for 15 years. Her skin went pale, Issei noticed her distress and ran to her.

Issei: you okay?

Kuroka: this place.... This is where I was...for years.

Issei: this is where he kept you?

He looks around and sees the blood stains, a lot of them. Clearly this is where their kids were created and murdered, the table Euclid used to experiment on her, Issei could smell the blood and with it he could picture the inhumane things Euclid had done. Issei instantly released a fire breath attack that burned and melted everything in seconds. He focused all the heat at one point so Kuroka who was right next to him wouldn't feel the intense heat. After he stopped he hugged her and saw her shed a few tears.

Issei: it's okay. It's over now.

Kuroka: ...thank you Issei.

Issei: anything for you.

Sirzechs: we should destroy this place and Lilith along with it.

Zeus: tell us Hades? What else were you planning? Releasing Kronos and the Titans perhaps.

Hades:....

Zeus: I'll take that as a yes.

Fafnir: let's kill him.

Hades: no, don't.

Kuroka: SHUT IT. You bastards held me down here for 15 fucking years, I will make sure you go down with it.

Hades: no you said that you'll let me live.

Serafall: we lied.

Rias: divide his power and bind him to the tank.

Kuroka looked at the burning room.

Kuroka: this is for me and my children.

She transformed into her 2 tailed beast state and started charging up a beast bomb. Issei used his new balance breaker and boosted a powerful dragon shot, everyone else prepared a powerful attack ready to fire, all that would easily kill Hades and Lilith. Ophis created a large portal into the dimensional gap, big enough for Lilith to be pushed through it if needed but this was to make sure that the powerful attack would not kill them too. They all unleashed their single attack.

Hades who was bound to the tank screamed until the blast hit him. Hades was silenced, dead and so was Lilith as they were blasted into the dimensional gap then erased from existence. Ophis closed the portal.

Zeus: sigh.... I'll check on the Titans, we can not let them be released.

Thor: Lord Zeus....we are sorry about Hades. We had to do it.

Zeus: as am I. My brother has caused you all so much, no apology or anything can atone for it, I can only hope you bare no ill will towards us. Take care everyone.

With that he left. They all flew up the hole they used to enter.

Issei: my love, I believe you have earned this.

Kuroka: thank you.

She used her blue flames and burned down what was left of the room. After that they all went home.