DxD: Ascension - Redux

Chapter 46: New Potential

Rias struggled to focus on her work as she sat in class. She couldn't help but think about Zach- more specifically, his current condition.
He's not exactly himself, Azazel had said. What did that even mean? And what was that strange aura around him?
Her thoughts ran at a thousand miles an hour as she left her class at the end of the day, not even noticing her boyfriend as he joined her in the hall.
"Uh... hello? Earth to Rias?" Issei waved his hand in front of her face. "You alright?"
Rias flinched. "Yes, I'm fine. Just lost in thought. What were you saying?"
"I was asking if you wanted me to zip that up," he answered, gesturing to Rias's open school bag.
"Oh, I've got it. Thank you." Rias zipped up her bag and they continued on their way. "It just doesn't make sense. I know Zach is in a dark place mentally right now. He's grieving, just like the rest of us. But why's Azazel so concerned for his well-being? Is there something wrong with him?"
Issei shrugged. "There was that creepy aura. Definitely didn't feel like his normal power. Maybe that has something to do with it? Either way, I'm worried about him. The rest of us have tried to put on a brave face and keep moving forward, but he's going nuts."
"Obsessing over Rizevim," Rias agreed. "I'm glad you see it too."
"But... maybe we should be trying to help him instead of yelling at him."
Rias sighed. "I know. I shouldn't have said what I did. We've all just been high-strung lately, and... well, you know."
"Yeah. Hey, no worries! Zach's a good guy, just apologize and it'll be like it never happened," Issei suggested with an optimistic grin.
Rias gave a small smile in return. Issei was trying, and she appreciated that. "I'll be sure to."

Zach's house

Zach and Irina sat together at the dinner table. Irina had stayed home from school to take care of Zach, who was still not feeling well.
"Zach... are you sure you lost all your power?" Irina asked, looking across the table at the former Phoenix.
Zach nodded slowly. "I am. The Phoenix of Rebellion... it's gone. And I don't think I'll ever get it back."
"Then what about that aura we saw after you blacked out? Could you be cursed by something?"
"No idea. It's just as much a mystery to me as it is to you. Although... I did have a dream last night. Rias was casting a ritual to... 'set my power free.' Can't tell what that means, though."
"Maybe you've got something buried deep inside you," Irina guessed. "Not your old power, but something new. Something that Azazel is scared of. He said your essence is in disarray. And you're not yourself."
Zach shrugged. "He could've just been referring to my state after losing my powers. I've basically lost a fundamental part of my being. My body and soul are scrambled. But I still feel like me. I'm not hearing another voice in my head, or the other usual symptoms of 'not being myself.'"
"Not even Azrael?"
"Nope. I lost my connection to him and the others again when the Talon was destroyed and I lost my fire." Zach sipped his tea. "I'll miss him, but it's also nice to not be sharing my mind with anyone else. Besides, whatever's wrong with me can wait. We need to focus on Rizevim and the Khaos Brigade." Zach's expression darkened. "Whatever it takes."
"I don't like the way she said it, but Rias was right about one thing. You're obsessed," Irina countered. "Let our leaders focus on him. The rest of us just need to work on recovering and getting stronger."
"Wish me luck on that last bit," Zach said with a dry smirk. "I might as well be a powerless human now. And someone like that can't compete in a world like ours, much less fight the most powerful devil alive."
Irina frowned. "But that doesn't make sense. Even before I became an angel, I could fight on pretty even terms with devils and fallen angels, and I didn't have any powers besides wielding Holy Swords. So humans have to have a place in this world, don't they?"
Zach shook his head. "You weren't a powerless human. The Holy Sword ritual when you absorb that crystal does more than just let you pick up special weapons. It imbues your body and soul with a degree of holy power- that's what allows you to use them. And that holy power also improves your physical capabilities massively compared to a normal human. Not really sure by how much, but enough that, with enough training, you'd have been able to contend with high-class devils with pure physicality alone. But anything above that, against foes that really matter, and you would be outclassed."
"Wow, I never knew any of that! See? Rias was wrong. You're super valuable just because of how much you know about how things work! And what about Sairaorg? Once you're all healed up, won't you be in the same boat as him? No real magic to speak of, but more than capable of fighting with just physical strength."
"Sairaorg trained just about all his life to be able to reach the level he has without magic. We don't have the luxury of time." Zach leaned back in his chair. "Whatever way you look at it... I'm sidelined. Even the Thief's Blade won't function for me anymore. I have to have at least the capacity for magic for its ability to work, and I don't even have that anymore."
"Hey, you're gonna be okay." Irina took Zach's hand. "It doesn't matter if you can't fight anymore. We can't do this without you."
Zach ran his thumb along Irina's. "I think... we should go see the club."
Irina frowned. "Why? The school day's over."
"Something's wrong." Zach looked up at her.
Irina's eyes widened. Traces of red were creeping back into Zach's grey irises. "Let's go!" She teleported them to the clubroom. "It's happening again. Get Azazel!" She looked back at Zach, whose eyes were half red already. "Hurry!"