Reborn as Issei Hyoudou: The Phat to Supremacy

The air in the Occult Research Club was tense.

Even though Rias had reluctantly agreed to let Raynare live, it was clear she wasn't happy about it.

Raynare, on the other hand, stood quietly at my side, her face a blank mask. But I could see the tension in her shoulders, the stiffness in her stance. She didn't trust anyone in the room—except me.

I wasn't naive. I knew that trust only went as far as her fear of what I could do if she stepped out of line.

And that was fine. For now, fear was enough.

"Alright," Rias finally said, standing from her desk. "If she's going to stay, then we'll put her to work. But I'll be clear about one thing—" She turned her sharp gaze to Raynare. "If you betray us, if you even think about harming anyone in my peerage, I'll kill you myself."

Raynare met her gaze evenly, though I noticed her fists clench slightly. "Understood."

Rias nodded. "Good." She turned to me. "She's your responsibility, Issei. If anything happens because of her, it's on you."

I smirked. "Don't worry. I've got it under control."

Akeno giggled, her smile sharp. "Ara~ ara~ This is getting interesting."

Koneko muttered something under her breath but didn't argue further.

Kiba, ever the calm one, gave me a small nod. "Let's see how this plays out."

With that, the meeting was over. But I wasn't done yet.

[Training Grounds – Later That Night]

I stood in the clearing behind Kuoh Academy, arms crossed, watching as Raynare hovered in the air. Her black wings flapped slowly, keeping her steady as she summoned a light spear in her hand.

"Alright," I said, my voice steady. "Let's see what you've got."

Raynare narrowed her eyes. "You want me to fight you?"

I shrugged. "You need to prove yourself. If you're going to stick around, I need to know what you can do."

Her jaw tightened, but she nodded. "Fine."

She flung the light spear at me, the weapon cutting through the air like a missile.

I didn't move.

The spear hit an invisible barrier of Hakai energy surrounding me and disappeared instantly.

Raynare's eyes widened slightly.

"Again," I said.

She hesitated, then summoned another spear, this one larger and brighter than the last. She threw it with more force, the spear crackling with energy as it hurtled toward me.

Once again, it disappeared the moment it touched the edge of my aura.

Raynare landed on the ground, her wings folding behind her. "What the hell is that power of yours?"

I smirked. "Something you don't need to worry about."

She frowned, clearly frustrated, but didn't push the issue.

"Your attacks are fast," I said. "And strong. But they're predictable. You rely too much on brute force."

Her eyes narrowed. "What do you expect? Light spears are our specialty."

"Exactly," I said, stepping closer. "That's the problem. If you're going to survive here, you need to learn how to fight outside your comfort zone."

She tensed. "And how do you suggest I do that?"

I raised my hand, a small sphere of Hakai forming at my fingertips.

"By learning to deal with this."

Her eyes widened as the energy flared, the violet aura casting an ominous glow across the clearing.

For the next hour, I pushed her. Forced her to adapt. Forced her to think.

At first, she struggled. She was fast and agile, but every time she relied on her light spears, I countered with Hakai, erasing them before they could even touch me.

But slowly, she began to change.

Her movements became sharper, her attacks more unpredictable. She started using her wings to create wind currents, disrupting my balance. She even tried feints, throwing smaller spears as distractions before going for a real strike.

She was learning.

By the end of the session, she was panting, her wings drooping slightly, but there was a spark in her eyes that hadn't been there before.

"Not bad," I said, smirking. "You've got potential."

She scoffed, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "Don't patronize me."

I laughed. "I'm serious. You're better than I expected."

She didn't respond, but I could see the faintest hint of a smirk on her lips.

[Multiversal Chat Group]

[Supreme Sorcerer]: Training your enemy? Now that's bold.

[Demon Lord in Disguise]: I like it. Turning your enemies into allies is a power move.

[Tactician from Another World]: Strategically sound. You're not just building strength—you're building loyalty.

[God of Thunder]: A warrior's growth comes through combat! This Fallen Angel may prove worthy yet!

[The Caped Baldy]: If she causes problems, just hit her harder next time.

I chuckled, leaning back against a tree.

Raynare was far from perfect. But she was improving.

And if she kept this up, she'd be a valuable asset.

[Kuoh Academy – The Next Morning]

Asia Argento was sitting in the clubroom, fidgeting nervously as Koneko handed her a cup of tea.

The ex-nun was clearly overwhelmed. Her wide eyes darted around the room, taking in the strange assortment of devils she now found herself surrounded by.

"Relax," I said, sitting across from her. "No one here's going to hurt you."

She nodded slowly, her hands trembling as she took a sip of tea.

Rias walked into the room, her presence commanding as always. She looked at Asia, her expression softening slightly.

"So," Rias said, sitting down beside me. "You're the one they were after."

Asia nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes… they wanted my Sacred Gear."

"Twilight Healing," Rias said thoughtfully. "A rare and valuable ability. No wonder the Fallen Angels were after you."

Asia bit her lip. "I… I just wanted to help people."

"You still can," I said, leaning forward. "You're safe now. And with Rias, you'll have a place where you can use your abilities without fear."

Her eyes welled up with tears, and she nodded.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Rias smiled softly. "You'll be safe here, Asia. Welcome to the family."

[Elsewhere – Azazel's Plan]

In a darkened room, Azazel leaned back in his chair, a glass of wine in hand.

"So," he murmured, staring at the reports in front of him. "Raynare switched sides… and this Sekiryuutei is making waves already."

He smirked, swirling the wine in his glass.

"Interesting."

Behind him, a shadowed figure stepped forward. "Do you want us to intervene?"

Azazel chuckled. "No, not yet. Let's see how this plays out. This Issei Hyoudou… he's different."

His smirk widened.

"I like different."