Tiamat slowly opened her eyes. There was something different in her gaze. Not anger, not fear… but curiosity mixed with evaluation, like an ancient dragon who had just re-read the world's history.
"Is it true that you can Boost twice permanently?" she asked, staring straight at Issei.
Issei sighed, placing his teacup back down.
"Yes."
Tiamat leaned forward slightly. "Is that all?"
"Nothing special…" Issei said casually, then glanced at his Boosted Gear. "Also, you know how the Boosted Gear mechanism works, right?"
Tiamat narrowed her eyes. Her tone became soft and deep. "Every ten seconds the wielder can Boost twice… Under certain conditions, especially when emotions are shaken or under pressure, it can become two Boosts per second. And most importantly: stamina limitation. Did you… change all of that?"
Issei raised an eyebrow, then leaned back in his chair.
"Correct. I can Boost up to 1024x. Although, for now only in the consciousness space because Ddraig said… it's too dangerous if I use it in the real world."
Tiamat clasped her fingers together, staring at him intently.
"So… that power which shook the world—was that 1024x?"
Issei coughed lightly.
"Wait, what?! Shook the world?!"
Irina turned, sounding half-annoyed.
"Issei-kun, you think no one noticed? Even we were overwhelmed by your magic wave!"
Issei tilted his head lazily. "That was just Boost 100x. 1024x hasn't been used yet."
Silence.
Tiamat flinched slightly. Ophis blinked—something extremely rare. Irina and Xenovia froze.
Xenovia finally spoke. "Wait. 100x Boost is just… normal? And that's permanent?"
"Yes," Issei answered flatly. "But I can disable Boost anytime. So it's not too obvious. Transfer Boost can also be twice… even up to a million times more. Boost 1,048,576x if I really maximize it."
Tiamat stared blankly for a few seconds.
Issei continued without hesitation.
"Transferring a 10x Boost into someone—enemy or ally—can make them explode from magic overload. Previous Boosted Gear users were too focused on Balance Breaker. To me, that's boring. They were too obedient to the system. Better to get out of the system than be constantly monitored from the heavens."
Ophis turned toward him, listening.
Issei sipped his tea. "By the way… my Boosted Gear can't be tracked anymore. Even Michael and his Heaven team can't detect it. Unless… they look directly because I carry Ddraig's aura."
Silence filled the room again. The ticking of the wall clock echoed clearly amidst the held breaths. Misa had gone out shopping, leaving this dining room like a secret world stage.
Tiamat finally spoke. Her voice was soft yet heavy.
"You… are an anomaly. I never imagined a human could… go this far."
Issei shrugged, then replied while finishing his tea.
"Because the mindset of Gods, Devils, Dragons, even Yokai is too ancient. They always talk about great power, not potential or understanding magic structure. I studied Boosted Gear, searched Sacred Gears to increase power—not just firing big beams or absolute magic."
Then Ophis, who had been silent all this time, spoke. "If so… can you Boost me too?"
Everyone turned. Tiamat tensed immediately. Even she, the oldest Dragon of the West, remained cautious near Ophis—the Void.
Issei blinked.
"You're… the Infinite Dragon, right? Why ask for Boost?"
Ophis stared expressionlessly.
"My power… is divided. At first only to repel Great Red from the Dimensional Gap. But they all stayed silent. Did not help."
Issei rubbed his forehead. "I… can't just Boost randomly. And… please. Not now. I need rest."
Tiamat tucked her hair behind her ear. "And me?"
Issei looked at her tiredly. "Tomorrow. Seriously. Today is my day off. I just want to sleep all day."
Irina stared at Issei deeply. "How can you become like this? Aunt said you lost your memories… But now, you're like a monster."
Issei looked at the ceiling, then leaned back.
"I don't want this world to collapse. You know the major races are in conflict: fallen angels, devils, holy angels. But that's not my concern."
He looked toward the window.
"What I fear… is the monster that has long been sealed. If it awakens… not even this world will remain."
Tiamat focused instantly. Her blue eyes glowed coldly.
"Don't tell me… you intend to kill Trihexa?"
Issei looked at Tiamat calmly. "Correct. But not now. If the seal breaks… my current power isn't enough."
"So you want to…" Tiamat didn't continue.
"…reach 1,048,576x Boost. Or even more," Issei answered softly.
Suddenly, a heavy pressure filled the dining room. Ophis reflexively released a bit of her Void aura, and Tiamat adjusted her posture. Irina and Xenovia trembled.
Xenovia shouted, "What is Trihexa?!"
Tiamat turned quickly, her tone sharp. "You don't need to know. And DON'T speak of this to anyone."
"But—"
"No buts." Tiamat's aura surged. "This is not human business. Especially not yours."
Irina and Xenovia felt as if a mountain had fallen on top of them. Their breaths were crushed.
Then… Flick!
Issei snapped his fingers.
The heavy aura disappeared.
Ophis turned. Issei looked at Tiamat flatly.
"Don't release that pressure. This is my Authority domain. The two of them nearly fainted."
Tiamat exhaled, turning to Irina and Xenovia. "Sorry. I… got carried away."
She looked back at Issei. "But you know? Your permanent Boost… even the King Piece looks like a joke now."
Issei stood, then gently patted Irina and Xenovia's heads one by one. Both gradually felt lighter.
"Sorry. I forgot you're not used to Dragon pressure."
Irina blushed. "It's better now. Thank you for caring…"
Xenovia smiled weakly. "It feels nice being near you, Issei."
Issei smiled. "Because you… are part of this family."
He sat back down. "By the way… I still don't understand the King Piece. Can you show me?"
Tiamat took something from her dimensional pocket. A red chess piece floated above her palm.
"This is the King Piece. It increases a devil's power depending on their potential."
Issei observed it. "It looks like a King chess piece. Can I hold it?"
"Go ahead."
Issei held it. "Hmm… feels like there's a binding system inside it."
"All devils get Evil Pieces?" he asked.
"Not all," Tiamat replied. "Most have never seen a King Piece. It's too dangerous. Even in the past… many were killed for possessing one."
Issei sighed, placing the King Piece on the table. "Idiots. In the past… and now, it's the same. Ddraig once said: what matters isn't the magic, but intent and imagination."
He turned. "You know? A human with magic can create incredible things. Devils? They only chase instant power."
Tiamat narrowed her eyes. "What do you want now?"
"Two Pawn Evil Pieces," Issei said quickly. "Just want to experiment."
"Experiment?" Tiamat's voice tightened. "Someone like you never thinks simple. Explain."
Issei stared into Tiamat's eyes.
"A spare life. If my friends or family die… I can revive them. Without turning them into devils."
Tiamat fell silent.
"That… is impossible," she whispered. "You're altering Evil Piece structure? Without rituals? Without the system?"
Issei smiled calmly. "Impossible? Depends on who tries. If it's me… rituals are too bothersome. Too old-fashioned."
He sat back casually. "But… about that, I'll discuss it later with Ddraig."
Then, he frowned. "Speaking of which, why isn't Ddraig talking? Did you… kill him?"
Tiamat smiled softly. "No. I just… greeted him."