"That was absolutely incredible, man!" Issei exclaimed, staring at Araki with awe.
Araki chuckled softly at Issei's enthusiasm after witnessing his power. He nodded slowly, offering Issei a wry smile.
"That was truly impressive, Araki-kun." Kiba said, smiling warmly at Araki.
"Thank you..." Araki murmured, forcing a bitter smile as he glanced between Issei and Kiba.
Issei and Kiba nodded slowly and immediately sat down beside Araki.
"Are you feeling better now, Araki?" Rias asked, her concern for him still evident.
"Yes, Rias-senpai... Please continue." Araki replied, offering a weak smile.
"Alright," Rias said, returning his smile.
"In fact, the Fallen Angels fear that thing." Rias said, shifting her gaze to Issei.
Araki nodded slowly, watching Issei, who looked utterly bewildered.
"But if all that's true, how did I come back to life?" Issei asked, his eyes fixed on Rias.
"With this." Rias replied, showing a piece of paper with a strange symbol drawn in the center.
"T-that!" Issei stammered.
"You summoned me from this paper moments before your death." Rias continued.
"What about me, Rias-senpai? I didn't even take the paper or summon you." Araki asked, looking at Rias.
"Because you're special, Araki. I came to you myself, not because you summoned me." Rias replied, smiling warmly at him.
"A-alright..." Araki's face flushed slightly after hearing that.
"Issei, Araki. You two have been reborn as members of the Rias Gremory family. The noble princess of the Gremory family, a high-class Devil," Rias announced, smiling broadly as she looked back and forth between Issei and Araki.
"That is, as my servants." Rias continued, unfurling her bat devil wings from her back.
Araki was instantly startled and stood up abruptly, suddenly feeling something emerge from his own back.
"T-this!" Araki exclaimed in shock when the same devil wings as Rias suddenly sprouted from his back.
"Welcome to the Gremory family, Araki and Issei." Rias said, smiling warmly at them.
"So... I'm not human anymore?" Araki asked, his voice a mix of confusion and shock.
"That's right. You're a devil now, Araki-kun." Kiba replied with a smile.
"Devils make contracts with humans, offering power in exchange for something." Rias explained with a giggle.
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"We usually have our own servants for this, but as a devil servant yourself, you should know the basics." Rias said, now sitting beside Araki.
"I understand, Club President." Araki replied, tucking a sheet of paper into his bag.
"Work hard, and maybe you'll get your own servant someday." Rias whispered near Araki's ear.
Araki paused for a moment before turning to Rias with a wide smile.
"Yes! I'll definitely give it my all!" Araki declared, beaming at Rias.
"O-okay. I'm glad you're so enthusiastic," Rias stammered, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Alright, everything's ready. It's my turn to work after Issei. Excuse me, Club President, Akeno-san, Kiba, and Koneko-chan." Araki said, bowing slightly before leaving the room.
"He's such a good young man, isn't he, Club President?" Akeno asked teasingly.
"Yes, he is a good young man." Rias replied, taking a sip of the tea Akeno had prepared, her cheeks flushing slightly.
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"I'm back!" Araki said as he walked into the Occult Research Club room.
"You're back, Araki." Rias said, appearing to be wearing only a towel.
"That's right, Club President." Araki replied with a wide grin.
"But I have one more task for you, Araki," Rias continued.
"What is it, Club President?" Araki asked, looking at Rias.
"Kiba received two requests today, so I'm asking you to handle one of them." Rias said with a smile.
"I'm sorry for the trouble, Araki-kun." Kiba said, bowing slightly to Araki.
"It's no problem at all, Kiba. I don't mind helping out." Araki replied, smiling warmly at Kiba.
"Thank you, Araki-kun." Kiba said with a smile.
Araki nodded and walked toward the magic circle Akeno had prepared. He stood in the center of the circle, and it slowly began to glow red.
"I'm going." Araki said as the crimson light enveloped his body.
"Good luck, Araki." Rias said with a smile.
Araki nodded slightly before the magic circle suddenly vanished, taking him with it.
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(Timeskip.)
"Hehh... That was quite tiring for today," Araki sighed as he walked home after completing his contract.
"I have a bad feeling about this." He muttered, a bead of cold sweat trickling down his forehead as he slowly turned to look behind him.
"We meet again, Devil." The man in the fedora said, emerging from the darkness.
"You again!" Araki said, instinctively backing away.
"Oh, my. I never properly introduced myself before. My name is Dohnaseek." Dohnaseek said with a sneer, conjuring a spear of light from his hand.
"Not again!" Araki cried out in panic and terror as he saw the spear of light Dohnaseek wielded.
"Heh heh... This time, no one can save you, Devil!" Dohnaseek roared, hurling the spear of light toward him.
"No!" Araki instinctively shielded himself with his arms.
Suddenly, a purple particle shield reappeared, blocking the spear thrown by Dohnaseek.
"Impossible! You have a Sacred Gear too?! I was too careless! I must report this immediately!" Dohnaseek quickly flew away from Araki.
"Thank goodness..." Araki murmured, exhaling in relief.
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(Time skip.)
"That's your power, Araki." Rias said, her gaze fixed on the small purple particles floating around Araki's right arm.
"I understand, Club President." Araki replied, smiling faintly as he watched the violet motes swirl around his arm.
"It suits you perfectly, Araki." Akeno said, smiling warmly at him.
"Thank you, Akeno-san." Araki replied, smiling at Akeno.
"But it's become a bit of a problem for us," Rias continued, letting out a long sigh.
Araki was immediately startled and turned to look at Rias with confusion.
"The Fallen Angels now know that Issei isn't the only one with a Sacred Gear." Rias said coldly, her gaze fixed on Araki.
"Please forgive me, Club President." Araki said softly, bowing his head.
"It wasn't your fault. You just happened to run into them. But don't ever try to be arrogant and fight them alone." Rias continued, her gaze sharp and piercing.
"I understand, Club President. Then I'll take my leave." Araki murmured, bowing deeply to Rias before slowly walking out of the room.
Koneko glanced at Araki as he walked away, seeing his expression tinged with sadness. Akeno slowly approached Rias, her gaze fixed on Araki as he left the room.
"You were too harsh on him. He's still new." Akeno said, finally turning her attention to Rias.
"That's why I have to be strict with him. To keep him on his guard." Rias replied flatly.
Akeno turned to Rias with a puzzled look, while Rias continued to stare sharply at the room's door.
"I won't let those Fallen Angels take my invaluable servant either." Rias added coldly, without turning to face Akeno.
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