Persona DxD: Wild Card of the Red Dragon

Disclaimer: All rights to their respective creators.

The only thing that would count as mine is this story.

""Character speaking

""Character thinking

"Word" what the character reads

(-)

Issei Hyoudou, a young man who had just turned 17 a month ago, was about to begin his second year of high school. The previous night, he had collapsed into bed, excited about what the future would bring. He didn't consider himself someone with big dreams; his nights were usually filled with everyday images. But that night... was different.

He found himself standing in a vast abyss. There was no visible ground beneath his feet, but something invisible held him, as if he were floating in the void. The sky, black and starless, stretched infinitely above him. Not even the moon broke the darkness. Around him, shadows seemed to move with a life of their own, watching him from the corners of his vision, but never close enough to be seen clearly.

The air was suffocating, laden with a heavy, oppressive energy that slowly asphyxiated him. In the distance, barely visible, dark towers rose, abstract figures that seemed to stretch beyond what his eyes could reach. They emitted no light, but their mere presence was unsettling, like silent witnesses to everything that happened in that place.

"Where am I?" murmured Issei, his voice barely a whisper that was lost in the infinite echo of the void.

The only sound accompanying him was the echo of his own footsteps, resonating strangely. The void amplified the noise, making each step thunder into nothingness, reverberating unnaturally. With each step, the echo grew louder, as if the space itself were watching him and responding. A chill ran down his spine, but his legs did not stop. Something urged him to keep moving forward, even though every fiber of his being screamed that he should run in the opposite direction.

In the distance, fragments of mirrors floated in the air at various heights, reflecting distorted versions of Issei. Each image in the mirrors showed something he didn't want to see, hidden aspects of himself he preferred to ignore. Familiar faces from his daily life briefly appeared in those mirrors, deformed and shadowed, as unrecognizable as the sensation of fear that began to root itself in his chest. The image of Matsuda and Motohama passed fleetingly in one of the mirrors, their faces twisted in expressions of disdain. He even glimpsed the face of Rias Gremory, but the beauty he so admired was obscured by grotesque shadows that distorted her figure, as if his perception of her was also being devoured by the darkness.

Cold sweat began to accumulate on his forehead as he felt the shadows around him move with greater agitation. They observed him, judged him. Though there were no visible eyes, Issei knew those shadows could see through him, probing every corner of his mind and soul.

"Issei Hyoudou... you are the Fool, the one who walks aimlessly. But destiny has already set a path before you," echoed a deep, ethereal voice within his own mind.

Issei stopped abruptly, his eyes searching for the source of that voice. The shadows around him began to take vague humanoid forms, figures that twisted and whispered, but never came close enough for him to see them clearly. They seemed to mock him from a distance, whispering incomprehensible words that faded before reaching his ears.

In the center of it all, a circle of pale, intense light floated in the distance, solitary in the midst of the darkness. It didn't illuminate the place, but its presence was impossible to ignore, like a beacon that drew his attention, pulling him in. And there he saw it: a Shadow, his Shadow, emerging from the darkness. It was a distorted version of himself, yet unmistakable. The smile on its face was sarcastic, malicious.

"Do you really think you understand what you are?" The Shadow's voice was cold, filled with disdain. "Look at you... pathetic, a pervert, a loser who can't even fulfill his own dreams. What would you do if everyone saw you the way I see you? Because this is what you are."

Issei felt something inside him shatter. The Shadow's words were cruel, but there was a bitter truth he couldn't deny. His heart pounded fiercely, trying to deny what he heard, but deep down he knew that darkness had always been with him.

The Shadow took a step toward him, and before Issei could react, it lunged. An intense pain shot through him, as if his chest were being crushed under unbearable pressure. His entire being was filled with an overwhelming sense of helplessness and despair. The darkness seemed to consume him, closing in on him as the voices of the shadows around him grew louder, more insistent, whispering truths he didn't want to hear.

"You can't escape what you are," murmured the Shadow, now almost face-to-face with him, its figure enveloping Issei as if trying to merge with him. "You are weak, you always have been. And you always will be.'

Issei screamed, a sound that was lost in the abyss, but no one answered. No one heard him. He was alone, trapped in that place where time and space had no meaning, where his own identity was being torn apart before his eyes.

And then, suddenly, everything vanished.

Issei sat up in his bed, gasping, his body drenched in cold sweat. His breathing was ragged, and the sound of his heart echoed in his ears. He looked at the clock beside his bed: 3:33 in the morning. As he tried to calm himself, he couldn't shake what he had just experienced. His hands trembled as he brought them to his chest, still feeling the phantom pain of the Shadow's attack. He clenched his fists, trying to convince himself it had all been a dream.

But something deep in his mind told him otherwise. A dream? Or something more?

(-)

Morning: April 5, 2009

Issei walked silently toward Kuoh Academy, hands in his pockets, eyes focused on the ground in front of him. The sun was just beginning to rise over the buildings, tinting the sky with shades of orange and pink. The morning breeze was gentle, but he didn't feel it as usual. Something was different in the air, something he couldn't identify, but it left him feeling uneasy.

Normally, this route was relaxing, a routine that helped him clear his head before classes. The birds' chirping and the quiet murmurs of his classmates on their way to school usually served as a reminder that everything was the same, that each day was just a repetition of the last. But this morning, that comfort seemed absent. The birds were singing, yes, but their songs felt muted, distant, as if they came from a place he no longer belonged.

As he continued, he began to notice that the people around him looked... different. Their faces, which he normally wouldn't pay attention to, now seemed blurred, as if he were seeing them through foggy glass. Some students passed by without looking at him, their expressions empty, lacking the usual morning energy. Others seemed lost in their own thoughts, walking with eyes fixed on the ground, their movements strangely clumsy, almost mechanical.

A slight shiver ran down his spine when he realized not a single person had greeted or smiled at him since he'd left home. It was as if he had suddenly become invisible to everyone.

"Is it just my imagination?" he thought, clenching his fists inside his jacket pockets. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him, a presence lurking in the shadows, always just out of sight, yet constantly there. The sensation was so intense that, at times, his body reacted instinctively, tensing up, expecting something that never came.

As he walked past a dark alley, his heart skipped a beat. Out of the corner of his eye, he could swear he saw something-a dark, tall, and thin figure watching him from the shadows. He stopped dead, quickly turning his head toward the alley. The place was empty, just trash carried by the wind and the distant hum of the city. He shook his head, trying to convince himself it was just his mind playing tricks on him.

"I'm just tired," he murmured to himself, though he didn't believe his own words.

Issei continued walking, but the feeling of being watched didn't fade. On the contrary, with each step he took, the discomfort in his chest grew. The urban

landscape around him-the shops and houses lining the streets-felt stranger with each passing second. The windows of the buildings were closed, curtains drawn, as if the residents had hidden away in fear of something. Even the air felt heavier, dense, as though he were submerged in an invisible fog.

Every shadow seemed to come to life as he moved, shifting just beyond his field of vision. Issei couldn't help but glance back repeatedly, expecting to see someone-or something-stalking him. But each time he looked, he found only emptiness. A faint, inaudible whisper floated in the air, like a distant echo he couldn't quite understand, yet it felt eerily familiar.

His mind drifted back to the dream from the previous night. That voice... that feeling... Everything had been so vivid, so real. He recalled the shattered mirrors, the dancing shadows, and the distorted figure of himself that had confronted him. The words he had heard echoed in his head, refusing to fade away. "Issei Hyoudou... you are the Fool, the one who walks without purpose."

"The Fool..." Issei whispered, not realizing he had spoken aloud.

The word kept circling in his mind. He knew there was more behind it, something he couldn't quite grasp but felt was on the verge of being revealed. But what did it mean to be 'the Fool'? And why had that voice spoken to him with such authority, as if it knew parts of himself he had yet to understand?

The scenery around him began to blur again. The streets he had always walked seemed longer than usual, the buildings taller, the shadows deeper. Even the trees in the park he usually passed each morning looked oddly twisted, as if the world itself was changing around him, forming into something that didn't belong to the reality he knew.

As he approached the entrance to Kuoh Academy, he noticed that the groups of students who usually chatted animatedly at that time were strangely quiet. There were people, yes, but conversations were minimal, barely murmured. And what unsettled him most was that no one seemed to notice his presence, as if he had been erased from the world around him.

Before entering the building, he glanced back one more time, and that's when he saw it.

In the distance, at the corner of a deserted street, stood a figure cloaked in darkness. The wind gently rustled the fabric, but the figure remained motionless, staring directly at him. Although the distance was considerable, Issei felt the weight of that gaze. His heart began to pound, and his hands grew sweaty inside his pockets.

The figure didn't move. It said nothing. It simply watched him.

An indescribable coldness took hold of his body, freezing him in place for what felt like an eternity. He wanted to move, shout, ask who it was or what it wanted, but his voice wouldn't come, and his legs wouldn't respond. Then, in the blink of an eye, the figure vanished, as if it had never been there.

Issei swallowed hard, feeling as though he were short of breath. He took a shaky step forward before regaining his balance. "What the hell was that?" he thought, but found no answer. However, deep down, he knew that encounter hadn't been coincidental. Something, or someone, was watching him, and whatever it was, it hadn't finished with him.

With his heart still racing and his body trembling, he finally crossed the academy entrance, blending into the crowd of students. Yet, that feeling of being watched didn't entirely leave him. Even among the crowd, he couldn't shake the thought that the shadows still followed him, lurking just out of sight.

As he crossed Kuoh Academy's doors, Issei felt an invisible weight lift from his shoulders. The oppressive feeling that had followed him the entire way from his house finally dissipated. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with fresh air, and allowed himself to relax a bit. "Maybe it was just my imagination," he thought, though a small part of him remained on guard. His heartbeat slowed, and the unsettling sensation of being watched had vanished.

The air in the school courtyard was fresh, and the murmurs of students around him were reassuring. There was something calming about the daily routine of the academy: the laughter of his classmates, the hurried footsteps of those running late to class, and the distant sound of a teacher giving instructions over the loudspeaker. As he crossed the main courtyard, he could see the typical bustle of the first day of school. Groups of students gathered, chatting animatedly about their vacations, exchanging stories, while others were more serious, reviewing the subjects they'd face.

Issei joined the crowd and, for a brief moment, allowed himself to forget the disturbing dream from the previous night. More at ease, he began his first day of his second year of high school.

Sitting at his desk, Issei found himself lost in thought. The hours of the day had passed in a kind of haze. He vaguely remembered the principal's speech, filled with formalities and empty promises of "a year full of opportunities." The student council had also made an appearance, led by the always impeccable Sona Sitri, who, with her typical coolness, recited the rules and expectations for the year.

(-)

Afternoon: April 5th, 2009

After that, Issei met some of his new teachers. Math, history, science. The subjects were the usual ones, but he felt disconnected from everything. Even as he took notes in class, his thoughts kept drifting back to that strange dream. That feeling of emptiness, of darkness surrounding him, like something deep and unknown within him had awakened. "What the hell was that?" he wondered, unable to shake the discomfort he felt remembering the shadows watching him from the edges of his vision.

The chatter around him blurred into the background, and his attention wandered among the murmurs of his classmates. He didn't notice Matsuda and Motohama approaching his desk until Matsuda's voice snapped him out of his daydream.

"Hey, Ise," Matsuda said, leaning over his desk with a mischievous grin. "Where have you been? We were supposed to meet at the usual spot today."

Issei blinked, still somewhat disoriented. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to clear his mind. "Sorry, I lost track of time," he replied without much enthusiasm, still distracted.

Motohama, standing beside him, raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong, Ise? You don't look in the best of spirits," he remarked, taking on a more serious tone than usual. However, his expression quickly changed, and he added with his typical lecherous smile, "Maybe... you didn't like the Cleavage DVD I gave you!?"

The mention of the DVD made Issei start slightly, bringing a hand to his face in exasperation. "It's not that... I'm just not in the mood," he replied with a sigh. "How the hell do they have the energy to think about those things?" he wondered, though he couldn't help but feel a bit of relief at the familiar banter with his friends. That was his routine, that was the usual Issei: the pervert, the fan of adult DVDs and magazines, the guy who had nothing on his mind but girls and... more girls.

But today, something inside him felt different. He was distracted, as if a part of him was still trapped in that strange dream. It was as though the Issei from that dark, empty world was still watching from the shadows, silently judging him.

Motohama and Matsuda exchanged glances, clearly concerned by their friend's attitude, but they didn't press him. Instead, Matsuda changed the subject with a casual gesture. "Well, if you're so down, why don't we go somewhere else? You need something to cheer you up."

Issei nodded, grateful for the offer of distraction. "Yeah, that sounds good. Let's go," he said, slowly getting up from his seat and gathering his things with slow, heavy movements.

The trio left the classroom, stepping into the school hallway as the voices of students echoed around them. The corridors were buzzing with activity, but to Issei, everything seemed to move in slow motion. The faces of his classmates blurred, and for a moment, he felt as if he was seeing everything from a detached perspective, as if he didn't truly belong there.

As they walked together toward the academy's exit, a strange sensation began to invade Issei again. At some point, he noticed that the sound of voices around him was starting to fade. The hustle and bustle gradually died down, and what had once been the lively sound of a bustling school now felt like a distant, almost unreal echo. Issei frowned, shaking his head slightly to clear his mind, but the unease persisted.

He stopped for a moment and looked around, trying to shake off the feeling, but everything seemed normal. Students chatting, some laughing in the hallways, others checking their phones. "It's just tiredness," he thought, trying to convince himself there was nothing strange.

However, as they left the building, Issei couldn't help but recall that strange figure in the alley, that shadow that seemed to watch him. A cold shiver ran down his spine once again, and though he tried to ignore it, something inside him told him that dream, that vision... was only the beginning of something much bigger.

Currently, Issei and his friends were at a manga shop downtown, enjoying what seemed like a normal afternoon after school. Each of them browsed different sections, occasionally making comments about the titles or covers they saw.

"Hey, Ise, what are you thinking of buying?" Matsuda asked as he saw Issei glancing at a DVD of Dragon Ball Evolution. Issei looked at it with a mix of curiosity and doubt before putting it back on the shelf.

"Well... maybe a volume of Dragon Ball. It's a classic, after all," he replied, smiling as he remembered the good times he'd had watching the series.

However, his smile faded when he heard a surprised yell from the other aisle. "Why is this so expensive?!" Motohama was holding a collector's adult magazine in his hands, staring at the price with utter astonishment.

Issei and Matsuda exchanged a look before walking over. "I know it's because it's rare, but this is outrageous!" Motohama ranted, adjusting his glasses.

Seeing the price, Issei was also shocked. "That's... a lot of zeros," Matsuda whispered, incredulous. He'd never seen anything that expensive in that store before.

Issei shook his head and looked toward the door. "I'll wait for you outside. I need some air," he said as he left the store and headed to a nearby bench in the plaza. He needed a moment to clear his head and organize his thoughts. He'd been feeling strange that morning, and although he tried to convince himself it was just fatigue, an unknown uneasiness continued to weigh on him.

Outside, he bought an ice cream and sat down, watching people go by. People strolled through the plaza in groups, chatting, laughing, and simply enjoying an ordinary afternoon. Some walked alone, lost in thought, while others seemed to be with friends, enthusiastically discussing trivial topics. This everyday scene unexpectedly brought Issei peace, a feeling of connection with the world around him. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the sounds of the city surround him, and for a moment, he almost forgot the strange dream from the night before.

However, that moment of peace was broken when, upon opening his eyes, he noticed something unusual on the ground in front of him. A letter. What first caught his attention was the color: a vibrant blue envelope, something uncommon in such an ordinary place as a plaza. Intrigued, he looked around, searching for anyone who might have dropped it, but no one seemed concerned or to be looking for something.

He hesitated for a moment before bending down to pick up the letter, examining the envelope closely. It had no name on it, no stamp, just the unusual blue color that seemed to stand out even under the dim evening light. He turned it over but found nothing to indicate where it came from. He wondered if he should open it, but before making a decision, he heard familiar voices.

"Did you really buy that?" Issei looked up to see Matsuda and Motohama approaching. Motohama held the collector's magazine with a triumphant expression, as if he had just won a prize.

"Of course, it was worth it, even at that price," Motohama replied, adjusting his glasses with a satisfied look.

"Who would spend so much on that?" Issei asked, feigning disapproval as he tried not to laugh.

Motohama shrugged. "You wouldn't understand the true dedication of a collector," he said with a serious expression, as if defending a noble cause.

Issei just shook his head, unable to keep from smiling. There was something comforting about these interactions with his friends, something that made him feel more grounded in reality and less affected by the uneasiness he had felt before. But the blue envelope in his pocket reminded him that the day had not been entirely ordinary. He felt a strange mix of curiosity and nervousness each time he thought of it.

The sun was beginning to set on the horizon, coloring the sky with warm shades of orange and pink. The plaza was bathed in a soft golden light, and seeing that it was getting late, the group decided to say goodbye and head home. But as he walked toward his home, Issei couldn't stop thinking about the letter. Its weight in his pocket was more noticeable than it should have been, and part of him felt that carrying it with him was significant, though he didn't understand why.

When he got home, he went up to his room and closed the door, taking a seat at his desk. He took the envelope out of his pocket and looked at it again, as if searching for answers in the deep color of the paper. Finally, with a mix of excitement and apprehension, he ran his finger along the flap to open it.

Upon opening the letter, Issei felt an odd unease. Instead of a direct message, the first thing he saw was a series of finely written verses, like an ancient poem. The words seemed to stand out in the dim light of his room, almost as if they glowed with a mysterious hue. Slowly, he began to read to himself, line by line.

"Invisible threads mark each step

An eternal bond to which we all are bound.

If you look back, you'll see the chains

That bind and condemn each of us.

Destinies written, traced in the dark,

Souls trapped in their own truth.

And those who dare to defy,

In deep shadows may drift astray.

Would you dare break the prison,

To challenge the eternal condition?

But beware, for every action has its price,

A sealed fate or an eternal silence.

So tell me, revolutionist,

Would you accept the weight of a new path?"

Sign here, if you are the one to defy the established:

Issei blinked, processing each word as his thoughts filled with questions. "A poem?" was his first thought as he saw the content of the letter. What did it mean? Why would someone leave something like this in the middle of the street? Despite the absurdity of the situation, the poem had something in its tone, in its weight, that sent a slight chill down his spine.

"Would you accept the weight of a new path?" he murmured to himself, savoring each word, trying to decipher some hidden message. It felt as if the letter was speaking directly to him, challenging him to make a decision. For a moment, he remembered the strange dreams he had had, that feeling of being trapped in something bigger, something dark that surrounded him and from which he could not escape.

He wanted to ignore the letter, set it aside and return to his normal activities. However, as he read over the final words again, something inside him seemed to stir, a sort of inexplicable urge pushing him to accept. It was as if an unknown part of himself was asking to be released.

The silence in the room intensified the sensation. He hesitated for a few moments more, his eyes fixed on the last part, where it said, "Sign here, if you are the one to defy the established."

Finally, with a slight tremor in his hands, he took a pen from his desk. Taking a deep breath and without taking his eyes off those words, he began to write on the paper: Hyoudou Issei.

Upon finishing the signature, he felt a mixture of relief and anticipation, as if he had taken a first step toward something unknown, something that would change his life.

"Ise, dinner's ready!" His mother's voice broke the calm in the room, startling him. Quickly, he folded the letter and carefully placed it in his pocket, as if it were a secret he had to keep. He stood up, trying to dispel the strange ideas that were beginning to form in his mind, and went to have dinner with his parents.

As he walked toward the dining room, the poem kept echoing in his mind, its words intertwining with his thoughts. Though he tried to ignore it, he knew that something inside him had already changed; a new path had opened, and although he couldn't see it yet, he felt that his steps would soon lead him toward the unknown.

(-)

As he fell into a deep sleep, Issei felt his body being dragged, as if an invisible force was pushing him toward an unknown place. The soft mattress of his bed and the warmth of his blankets vanished, replaced by a hard, rough surface. When he opened his eyes, he found himself on what could generously be called a "bed": a pile of straw with a thin blanket and a battered pillow. He tried to move, but felt a tension in his wrists and ankles that prevented him from doing so freely.

"What the hell is going on?" Issei thought, looking around frantically. Looking down, he noticed his limbs were secured with thick metal shackles, connected to long chains that stretched out, disappearing into the shadows of a deep blue wall. The color, intense and somber, seemed to absorb the scant light in the room, wrapping it in an oppressive aura.

In the distance, he made out a metal door with thick bars, and, summoning all his strength, he slowly approached, pulling on the chains. Peering through the bars, he glimpsed a vast emptiness where shadows and blue intertwined, creating an unsettling atmosphere.

Then, a dim light turned on at the back of the room. Issei squinted, trying to adjust to the change. As the light filled the space, he began to see more clearly: he was in what appeared to be a courtroom, with an aura of ancient solemnity, though imbued with an unwavering sense of authority.

"Welcome, Captive Revolutionist, to the Velvet Room."

The voice was firm but carried a nearly soothing calm. Still, Issei felt a chill run down his spine. Looking up, he discovered a figure seated on a platform, like a judge in a court. The man had a peculiar, somewhat disturbing appearance, with an abnormally long nose and an enigmatic smile that conveyed calm but also a kind of mysterious satisfaction.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," the man continued, while Issei tried to comprehend the situation. Summoning his courage, he asked, "Where am I?"

Before he could say anything else, a female figure next to the man interrupted him. "Silence, captive. It is rude to interrupt the master." The woman's voice was as firm as it was authoritative, and her cold gaze made it clear she would not tolerate disobedience.

Issei studied the woman, who seemed to project an almost unsettling seriousness. Her hair was pure white, contrasting with her attire, a dark blue, elegant secretary outfit that stood out in the monochromatic setting. The details of her clothing, from the impeccable cut of the blazer to the way her dark gloves covered her hands, gave her a professional yet relentless air. The golden chain hanging from her belt was the only ornament, a small sign of her connection to the concept of restriction and freedom that pervaded the Velvet Room.

The man, noticing Issei's reaction, let out a light laugh. "Don't worry, Captive. That's just how she is," he said with a more affable smile, as if the atmosphere needed a bit of lightness. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Igor, and I am the master of this place." After saying this, he extended a hand toward his companion. "And this is my assistant, Cassandra. She will be at your disposal and will assist you in your pursuit of freedom."

Cassandra inclined her head slightly, always maintaining a serious and calculated expression. "It's a pleasure to meet you," she said, with a voice resonating with authority and professionalism that only increased Issei's intrigue.

The brown-haired young man swallowed, trying to process the situation. "I don't want to sound rude, Igor? But... where am I supposed to be?" he asked, his voice slightly trembling as he clung to the cold bars of the door.

Igor, unfazed, responded with a soft, deep voice: "This place exists between the dream world and reality, the mind and matter. It is a room that only those bound by a contract can enter." At that moment, a blue sheet of paper materialized on the table before Igor, as if the very essence of the room had brought it into existence. "That's...," Issei whispered, recalling the strange letter he had found on the street.

"That's right, young Issei," Igor affirmed, his smile widening slightly, "you have signed a contract committing yourself to challenge your own destiny."

Igor's words struck Issei's chest like an insurmountable weight. He felt a knot in his stomach, as if all the air in the room had become dense, hard to breathe. However, at the same time, something within him told him he needed to listen, that this moment meant more than he could comprehend at that moment.

Cassandra observed him silently, and though she maintained a stoic expression, her voice softened slightly when she spoke. "It's normal to feel overwhelmed by this information. Accepting a new destiny always requires a sacrifice, but we will be here to guide you in your quest for freedom." Although her tone remained firm, Issei sensed a faint note of compassion in her words, as if she understood the burden he had just accepted.

Igor observed Issei's reaction and, after a brief moment of silence, continued. "Do not worry, we will have many more opportunities to talk. Sooner or later, young Issei, you will return here of your own free will." His smile widened enigmatically, and before Issei could say anything else, he felt the chains holding him to the wall tighten.

A sudden jerk pulled him backward, so abruptly he barely had time to process what was happening. The light faded, and Igor's face and Cassandra's imposing presence vanished into the darkness as he fell into an endless abyss.

(-)

End of the prologue.

And yes, here we are again with a new story. Honestly, I have high expectations for this one since it involves the Persona saga, one of my favorites.

I chose the world of High School DxD because, honestly, I think it fits quite well. (I had other worlds in mind, actually) But this one finally convinced me.

I should clarify that in this universe, the events of Persona 3 will not happen, just to avoid huge canon issues and make things easier for the future of this story.

So Makoto doesn't become a door, at least that's something.

I would really appreciate your support, and with nothing else to say, I wish you all an excellent day.