Red Dragon Emperor of Domination

Chapter 13: Provocation

Issei giving Saji the hands, with a side dish of advice. Or should it be the other way around? XD

-cut-

Issei loomed over Saji, balancing atop a tree, jet black lightning dancing across his hands and forearms. "Are you angry, boy? Do you... feel defenseless? Small? Insignificant?" Issei questioned with a flat expression.

Saji, meanwhile, was trembling. He was terrified. Utterly terrified to fight that man, no, that monster. With just one attack, Saji's organs were bruised, his ribs cracked, muscles had been pulled, and the trees and rocks left him with more cuts, scratches, and bruises on his skin. Sure, he could already feel the minor wounds healing, but still...  it was from a single kick.

Yet, despite the fear consuming him, he felt angry... and excited. Angry at God, at the Devil, at Issei, at The World, but most of all... at himself. He was angry for being weak. And he was excited to prove himself, because if he could so much as cut a Monster in the Heavens while he was stuck on the Earth, he would see that as a victory.

"... ahh.. that's right. I'm just a Pawn and a low-class Devil... small and insignificant. But..." Saji forced himself to stand on trembling legs, coughing up blood. "... even us nobodies have our pride!" Saji shouted.

Issei's face contorted into a sadistic smile. "Right you are, but how long can you cling to that pride, I wonder? Is that Sacred Gear really anything more than decoration?" Issei questioned, intending to provoke Saji further. His goal was to not only test Saji, but to test the upper-limits of the boy's power. And to that, he needed to draw that power out... and for that, anger was the easiest method.

To that end, Issei would play the villian. Afterall, a King may treat his subjects cruelly if it is in the best interest of his people.

Saji grit his teeth and clenched his fist, his Sacred Gear appearing on his arm. "Absorption Line!" Saji shouted, the Line shooting out with the intention of ensnaring Hyoudou. Issei lazily caught the Line and raised an eyebrow, as if questioning if Saji actually thought it would be that easy, before tightening his grip on the "tongue".

Issei pulled on it, spinning around. He smashed Saji into trees and branchs as he slowly reeled the boy in, and once the Prison Dragon Wielder was close enough, Issei used his free hand to deliver a devastating lightning-charged left hook to the jaw.

Saji could do nothing to defend himself thanks to the dizziness induced by his... impromptu orbit, and could only watch as the Kiss of Death mocked him. At the moment of contact, Saji felt his teeth rattle and his nerves turn to magma. An explosion of plasma, of electrical energy, was released with Saji's face as ground zero! He was catapulted, first by the fist and then by the explosion, and found himself paralyzed as he flew through the air! The Electricity made his muscles twitch and spasm, and it burned his flesh. He found himself covered in a mild sunburn and suffering a second degree burn on his jaw.

Issei dropped the Line as it snapped, potentially to disappear or perhaps to become litter in the forest, and sent Lightning out with his right hand. Near-instantly, the bolts struck Saji and shocked him even more. After around six seconds, Issei stopped shocking the juvenile Dragon and let him suffer in the dirt.

Issei teleported to Saji, looking down at him. "Pathetic. Is this really all the power a Servant of a Demon Pillar has? Though you may wield only a small Piece, nothing compared to the Real Thing, you're still far below par. You are one who has inherited part of the Power and Spirit of a Dragon King, you should be your Master's equal in terms of power, if not her superior." Issei ridiculed, scoffing.

"You were supposed to be a Dragon, and instead you're only a worm. No doubt your Master regrets enlisting something so pathetic, something incapable of being any use to her!" Issei kicked Saji in the ribs, rolling him over before stepping on his head and forcing his face into the dirt. "You're unworthy of those Evil Pieces, a waste of the Gift Sitri gave you!"