The Bronze Bull of Gremory - 18 (Patreon)

Disclaimer: I do not have any rights of ownership for the characters used except the OC's. All the credit goes to the authors. Only the plot belongs to me. All characters are aged up (above 18) and are consenting adults. This is a work of fiction and does not resemble reality in any way whatsoever.

Chapter 18

~ Issei Hyoudou ~

The morning light filtered through the window of Issei Hyoudou’s bedroom, casting weak shadows across his cluttered floor. Normally, this was the time Issei would be groaning, hitting his alarm clock, and immediately letting his mind drift to thoughts of the girls at Kuoh Academy, or perhaps a lingering, half-remembered dream about Rias Gremory’s breasts.But today, everything felt different.He sat up slowly, the sheets sliding off his chest. The silence of the house was typical, but the silence inside his own body was gone. There was a rhythm beneath his ribs, a secondary pulse that beat out of sync with his human heart. It was warm—almost hot—and it was concentrated entirely in his left arm.He lifted his hand.

His left arm felt heavy, as if the bones had been replaced with dense, forged steel. He flexed his fingers, watching the way the muscles of his forearm shifted beneath his skin. There was a faint, almost imperceptible shimmer of green light beneath his skin, a quiet static electricity that made the hairs on his arm stand on end.The connection with the Boosted Gear didn't feel like a weapon he had to summon anymore. It felt like an extension of his hand. It felt like a piece of his own soul had been hammered and welded directly onto his nervous system. "What is this...?" Issei muttered, his voice raspy with sleep. He closed his eyes, focusing his consciousness inward, pulling his mind down into the dark, fiery space of his inner soul. "Hey. Ddraig. You there?"The fire around his mental feet rippled. From the absolute darkness of his mindscape, two colossal green eyes snapped open. The scale of the Welsh Dragon was always terrifying, but today, the presence didn't make Issei flinch. He stood his ground, looking up at the towering, red-scaled titan."I am here, partner," Ddraig’s voice boomed, a low, resonant rumble that shook the foundations of Issei’s consciousness. "You feel the weight, don't you? The heavy hand of the dragon.""Yeah," Issei said, looking at his mental hands. "My arm... it feels different. The gear... it feels like it's a part of me now. Not just some armour I put on. Did we gain more power during the fight with Riser? Did the contract change?"The great dragon shifted, his massive claws scraping against the unseen stone of the mindscape. A heavy sigh escaped his nostrils, sending plumes of hot, sulphurous steam rolling over Issei."Power? Yes, you have unlocked more of my power," Ddraig rumbled, his voice carrying a strange, almost thoughtful note. "But this change... this integration... it is not simply about the raw volume of energy you can channel. It is about the vessel itself. It is about you, Issei."Issei blinked. "Me?""Before this day, you desired strength for reasons that were... childish," Ddraig explained, his giant eyes narrowing as he stared down at his host. "You wanted power because you hated feeling weak. You were jealous of those who possessed natural strength, like the bull around your King. You wanted to be strong because you wanted to build a harem, to be the king of a world made of your own lust. Your motivations were selfish, born of a lonely boy's frustration."Issei looked down, his cheeks flushing slightly.

He couldn't deny it. His initial drive to become a Devil, to climb the ranks, had been entirely about his own selfish, perverted dreams. He wanted the girls, he wanted the glory, and he hated the fact that he was the weakest piece on the board."But now... after everything that has transpired," Ddraig continued, his voice softening just a fraction, "Your desire has shifted. The fire in your soul has changed its fuel.""It has," Issei whispered, his fists clenching. He thought of Asia’s gentle smile, of the way Rias had looked at him with relief after the Rating Game, of the quiet, absolute protection that Taurus and the others offered. "I still want the harem, Ddraig. I’m not gonna lie to you about that. I still want to be the Harem King. But... that's not the main thing anymore. I want power because I want to protect them. They accepted me. A perverted, useless guy like me. They gave me a home, a family. I can't be the guy who sits in the dirt while they bleed. I want to be the shield that protects. I want to be the sword that their enemies think twice about before crossing."The mindscape fell silent. Then, Ddraig laughed.

It wasn't the mocking, booming laugh he usually directed at Issei's antics. It was a deep, chest-rumbling sound of genuine satisfaction."This is the difference, partner," the dragon declared, his massive tail sweeping through the darkness. "This is what separates a simple host—a parasite who merely leeches off the power of a Longinus—from a true partner of the Red Dragon Emperor. A lot of my previous hosts... they sought my strength to conquer, to destroy, to avenge. They were consumed by the flame. But you... you seek to build a wall of fire to keep the cold away from those you love."The colossal dragon lowered his head until his snout was inches from Issei. The heat radiating from his scales was immense, but it didn't burn. It felt like a protective cloak."For the first time in a while, Issei Hyoudou, I feel genuine respect for the soul that carries me. You may still be weak compared to the primordial monsters that roam this world. You are a fledgling, a child playing in a yard full of wolves. But you have finally taken the first step. You are no longer just a boy with a toy. You are becoming someone worthy of the title, Red Dragon Emperor."Issei’s eyes widened.

The praise from the heavenly dragon felt heavier than any physical weight. It settled into his chest, a warm, solid core of resolve that chased away the lingering doubts of his encounter with the Church."Thanks, Ddraig," Issei said, a quiet, confident smile finally returning to his face. "We've got a lot of work to do.""Indeed, partner," Ddraig’s eyes gleamed with a predatory light. "The vultures are circling. Let us show them the bite of the dragon."Issei snapped his eyes open. He was back in his bedroom. The physical numbness in his left arm was gone, replaced by a comforting warmth. He stood up, dressed quickly in his Kuoh Academy uniform, and headed out.

The air outside was cool, but the fire in his chest was burning hot. ~ Rias Gremory ~The atmosphere inside the Occult Research Club was thick enough to choke on.The victory against Riser Phenex should have been a cause for endless celebration. They had defied the odds, shattered their foe's arrogance, and secured Rias’ freedom. But the celebrations in Kuoh lay silent, the champagne glasses un-popped, the decorations left in their boxes.The situation with the Church had deteriorated rapidly. The theft of the Excalibur fragments, the sudden, aggressive appearance of the Vatican’s exorcists, and—worst of all—Kiba Yuuto’s disappearance had cast a dark, suffocating shroud over the clubroom.Rias Gremory stood by the tall, arched windows, her hands clasped tightly behind her back. The sunlight caught the rich, blood-red strands of her hair, but her face was etched in grim concentration. Beside her, Akeno Himejima was quietly brewing a pot of tea, the delicate clinking of porcelain the only sound in the tense room."Any word from the familiars?" Rias asked, her voice quiet but carrying the sharp edge of a King worried about her people.Akeno set the teapot down with a soft click. "None, Buchou. The bats have scanned the northern forest, and my little oni's have been circling the industrial district since dawn. There is no trace of Kiba-kun's magical signature. It’s as if he’s completely vanished from the grid.""He’s hiding his aura," Rias murmured, her jaw tightening. "He knows our search patterns. He’s deliberately staying in the blind spots."She looked down at the documents scattered across her desk. They weren't school materials. They were maps of Kuoh Town, dotted with red and blue ink representing the latest reports."The Fallen Angels are mobilizing," Rias said, her finger tracing a line along the eastern ridge of the city. "Our border wards have triggered three times in the last twelve hours. Increased activity near the old church. Strange magical signatures that don't match the standard stray signatures we've logged. I have already alerted Sona and asked her to convey messages to Lady Serafall and sort this mess out since she is in charge of foreign affairs, but neither one of us have heard anything yet.""And the Church?" Issei asked, sitting on the sofa with Koneko. His left arm sat heavily in his lap, the skin still humming with that new, draconic heat."The Church is moving in force," Akeno answered, her eyes narrowing. "More priests have arrived at the local transit stations. They aren't hiding their presence anymore. They are setting up wards of their own, encroaching on our territory under the guise of 'protection from heretics.' If we cross paths with them, a skirmish is inevitable."Rias let out a slow, tired breath.

The peace they had fought so hard to gain after the Rating Game was already slipping through their fingers. The victory had given them a moment of joy, but the real world—the harsh reality of this cold war between the Three Factions—was reasserting itself with a vengeance."We are being surrounded," Rias stated, turning back to the room. Her expression was hard, the Gremory resolve shining through her fatigue. "Kokabiel is playing a larger game. The Excalibur fragments are just the bait. He wants to draw the Church and the Gremory peerage into a conflict. To do what, I do not know yet. But I intend on finding out."She paused, her gaze drifting toward the door."And where is Taurus?" she asked."He’s outside, Buchou," Koneko said, her voice quiet as she looked up from her chocolate. "He’s been out there for hours. With the little one."Rias’ expression softened slightly, a flicker of warmth breaking through her stoic mask. "The Hydra?""Yes," Koneko nodded. "He’s not training. He’s not sparring. He’s just... sitting."Rias looked at Akeno, who gave a gentle, understanding nod. "Go to him, Rias. You need a moment."Rias nodded.

She walked out of the clubroom, her heels clicking softly against the wooden floorboards of the corridor, heading toward the rear exit of the building that led to the private, forested gardens.~ Rias Gremory ~The gardens of the old school building were peaceful, a small sanctuary of green surrounded by the concrete of Kuoh Town. The air here smelled of damp earth, pine needles, and the faint, sweet scent of early summer blossoms.Taurus sat on a low stone bench near the edge of the tree line.He wore simple black training trousers, his colossal, bare torso a roadmap of scars and defined muscle that seemed to absorb the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy. His long, black mane of hair fell over his shoulders, and his forward-curving horns caught the light like polished obsidian.But he was completely still.Resting on the grass beside his heavy boots was the young Hydra, Zeref.The creature had grown significantly since the day they had found him in the forest. Its midnight-blue scales were thicker, harder, reflecting the light with a metallic, dark sheen. Its three serpentine necks were draped over Taurus’s thigh, the heads resting quietly, but the eyes—all six of them, a bright, intelligent gold—were wide open, scanning the surrounding brush.For the first time since his return, Rias didn't see the brute force of her Rook. She didn't see the beast that had pulverized Riser Phenex, or the dominant male who claimed her bed. She saw the person behind the strength. The quiet, ancient soul that had survived the gutters of the world to find a home.She approached slowly, her steps soft on the grass. "Taurus?"The middle head of the Hydra hissed softly, a tiny puff of green smoke escaping its nostrils, but it quickly settled as it recognized her scent. Taurus didn't turn his head, but his golden eyes flicked toward her."Rias," he rumbled, his voice a low that seemed to vibrate in the ground beneath her.Rias sat beside him on the stone bench. The heat radiating from his skin was immense, a comforting warmth in the cool shade of the trees. She leaned her head against his shoulder, her small frame completely dwarfed by his bulk."Is something bothering you?" she asked softly, reaching down to stroke the middle neck of the Hydra. The scales were cool and smooth, the creature letting out a low, vibrating purr that sounded like it was enjoying the attention. "You're usually training with Surtr or taking care of your contracts. But you've been so quiet today. The fallen trio said you've been out here since dawn while they looked for Kiba."Taurus was quiet for a long moment. He reached down, his large, calloused hand patting the left head of the Hydra."Something is approaching," Taurus said, his voice dropping to a register that was almost subterranean.Rias looked up at him, her brow furrowing. "The Church? Our familiars have confirmed their movement. We know they are coming into the city.""No," Taurus shook his head, his horns cutting through the air. "Not through magic. Not through sensing an enemy's aura. It’s... deeper. More instinctive."He looked down at the Hydra."He senses it too," Taurus said. "He’s been restless all morning. Usually, he hunts, he eats, he sleeps. He acts on hunger and territory. But today... he’s acting with intelligence."As if to confirm his words, the three heads of the Hydra suddenly snapped upright. The serpentine necks tensed, the scales along their spines bristling like those of an angry cobra. The middle head let out a low, vibrating hiss, the left head growled, and the right head spit a tiny drop of acid that sizzled against the stone bench.Taurus stiffened. His golden eyes widened slightly, a sudden, sharp focus locking onto the empty air in front of them."Taurus?" Rias asked, her hand instinctively drifting to his bicep. "What is it?""A voice," Taurus whispered, his voice carrying a rare note of genuine shock. "Inside my mind. Two words."Rias’s heart skipped a beat. "What did it say?"Taurus looked at her, his golden eyes burning with a deep, primal intensity."Danger coming."Rias gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.The Hydra was evolving. The connection between a Devil and their familiar was usually a one-way street of command and obedience.

But this... this was a partnership. The creature, born of ancient magic, was developing a cognitive, telepathic bond with its master. It was growing faster than any records of the Gremory clan had ever indicated.Taurus looked at the three heads, which had now settled back down, their golden eyes still alert but focused on him. He realized, in that moment, that this creature was not simply a weapon he had tamed. It was not a tool to be unleashed on his enemies.It was a being that had chosen to stand beside him. And once it grew, it would be his partner."We need to be ready," Taurus rumbled, his hand closing into a fist that looked like a block of granite. "Whatever is coming... it’s not just a stray or a rogue. It’s something that wants to test our peace."Rias nodded, her hand sliding down his arm to interlace her fingers with his. "We will be ready. Together."

Author’s Note

Short chapter. More to come soon.