An Awakening DXD Part 2

For a few seconds, there was nothing, no sound, no air, no sensation. Just a warm radiance swallowing everything.

And then… the silence was broken.

A cool breeze brushed against Issei’s skin. The faint scent of grass and morning dew filled his lungs. He groaned, eyes fluttering open to find the sunlight filtering through a clear blue sky above.

“Ugh… what the hell…? Wasn’t I just—”

Before he could finish, he realized he wasn’t lying on a hospital bed anymore. Beneath him was soft grass, and the sound of rustling leaves filled the air. He sat up quickly, eyes scanning his surroundings.

They were in the middle of a vast meadow, green plains stretching as far as the eye could see, dotted with colorful flowers swaying in the gentle wind. Mountains loomed in the distance, and a crystalline river glimmered nearby.

“Where… are we?” Issei turned and found Rias beside him, still unconscious, her red hair fanned across the grass like a flame against emerald silk.

“Rias!” Issei quickly crawled toward her, gently shaking her shoulder. “Hey, come on, wake up!”

Her eyelids trembled before slowly opening. “...Issei?” She whispered softly, her voice dazed but warm. “Are you… alright…?”

Relief flooded his chest as he helped her sit up. “I should be saying that to you! Are you hurt?”

She looked around in confusion, brushing dirt off her uniform. “This isn’t the hospital. What… happened?”

Issei scratched his head. “I was hoping you’d tell me that. Last thing I remember, we were—”

He stopped as a faint red glow flickered on his left arm. The Boosted Gear materialized with a metallic hum, its emerald gem pulsing softly.

[Partner.]

Issei blinked. “Ddraig?”

[It seems we’ve been brought somewhere… This place feels unlike anything I’ve ever felt.]

“Wait, what do you mean by that?”

[This isn’t Earth, nor the Underworld, nor Heaven. It’s… somewhere entirely different.]

Rias frowned deeply, her eyes scanning the horizon. “Is it another world…?”

The weight of those words settled between them. Neither spoke for a moment. The peaceful scenery suddenly felt foreign—like a painting too perfect to be real.

“So, you’re telling me we got isekai’d…?” Issei muttered, half in disbelief.

Rias shot him a look, caught between irritation and bewilderment. “Issei… now isn’t the time for your jokes.”

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, I know. Just trying to lighten the mood.”

She stood, brushing off her skirt, her usual composure slowly returning. “We need to figure out where we are and if there’s civilization nearby. If this is truly another world, we’ll only have each other to rely on.”

He smiled faintly. “Heh. Just like old times. I wouldn’t have it any other way”

For a moment, she paused, her expression softening. “Your right.” But before they could walk, Rias stopped suddenly and turned toward Issei, her eyes soft but her tone carrying a familiar, commanding edge.

“If we’re going to explore, Issei… you’ll need a change of clothes.”

He blinked and looked down. The hospital robe fluttered slightly in the breeze. “Oh… right.”

He awkwardly scratched his cheek. “Guess walking around like this isn’t exactly comfortable. But where am I supposed to get clothes in the middle of nowhere?”

Rias simply smirked, raising her right hand. A glowing crimson magic circle flared to life in her palm, humming softly with power. A second later, light shimmered before them, then solidified into a neatly folded set of clothes resting in her hand.

“Luckily,” She said, her voice proud yet tender, “I came prepared.”

Issei stared, wide-eyed. “You… had clothes ready for me?”

Rias nodded. “I kept many things ready, just in case. I told myself that if you ever woke up, I wanted you to have something of your own immediately. I stored them with a preservation spell in my magic circle.”

He took the clothes from her hands, speechless for a moment. They weren’t anything extravagant, just a simple dark jacket, a red shirt, and sturdy pants, but to him, they might as well have been precious.

“You really thought of everything, huh?”

Rias turned her gaze away, trying to hide the faint blush rising on her cheeks. “Of course I did. You think I’d let you wander around half-naked after finally waking up?”

He chuckled softly. “Heh, you’ve got a point.”

As Issei began to change, Rias looked away politely but couldn’t help the faint smile tugging at her lips. Watching him move, alive and full of energy again, felt like a dream she never wanted to end.

Once dressed, Issei tugged at his jacket and grinned. “Feels good to be back in normal clothes. Thanks, Rias.”

She smiled warmly. “You’re welcome, Issei. Now you actually look ready to face whatever comes next.”

He nodded. “Then let’s go see what kind of world we landed in.”

—----------------------------------

They began walking toward the river, hoping to find a sign of life. The grass rustled beneath their steps, and the air was filled with the songs of unseen birds. It was strange—peaceful yet unnervingly quiet.

Rias knelt by the riverbank, dipping her fingers into the crystal-clear water. “It looks fresh,” she said, surprised. “No toxins or pollution. Just pure water.”

Issei crouched beside her, splashing his face. “Man, it’s been forever since I felt something like this. Guess even coma patients need a bath.”

That earned him a small laugh from her, one he hadn’t heard in so long it nearly made his heart stop. “Still joking at a time like this,” She murmured. “You really haven’t changed.”

He grinned. “Wouldn’t be me if I did.”

Ddraig’s voice interrupted softly. [Partner… this world is full of energy. It feels very pure and strong.]

“Purer?” Issei frowned. “Like holy energy?”

[No. More like… the life force of the world itself. Be careful—it may react to you differently.]

Rias stood, brushing her hair back. “If that’s the case, we should be cautious. If it reacts strongly against us, we don’t know what might happen.”

Before Issei could respond, a shadow passed overhead. He looked up instinctively.

A massive creature soared across the sky, its scales glinting gold in the sunlight, wings stretching wide enough to darken the plains below. It released a low, thunderous roar that shook the ground.

“...Please tell me that’s not what I think it is,” Issei muttered.

Rias’s eyes widened. “It’s… a dragon.”

The creature flew past them and disappeared into the distant forest, leaving the air trembling with residual energy.

Ddraig’s tone turned cheerful at the sight. [That was no ordinary dragon. Its aura feels strong. Hopefully this is a sign that this world’s dragons are alive and powerful.]

Rias glanced at Issei, her voice steady despite her awe. “Looks like we’re not the only ones here.”

He chuckled nervously. “Great. Just what I needed after waking up, a dragon world. Hope they are reasonable or else I’ll finally have to live up to my title, huh?”

She gave him a small, confident smile. “Then it seems the Red Dragon Emperor has work to do once again.”

—-----------------------

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in gold and crimson, the two walked side by side toward the horizon.

“Hey, Rias…”

“Yes, Issei?”

“No matter what happens next… I’m not letting you wait another ten years for me.”

She turned to him, smiling faintly as the wind carried her hair like flame. “As long as you're with me. I will always be happy.”

They continued walking, unaware that from beyond the treeline, unseen eyes watched them—curious, cautious… and waiting.