User blog comment:B214/Volume 23 discussion blog/@comment-82.178.103.238-20170802211752/@comment-10330822-20170806014505

You're right of course, I'm sorry. I didn't proof-read that part well enough clearly. Yes, he does only have 8, and mastering the three forms of IMT is how he masters CxC, but as we are discussing, he hasn't done that, hence why he hasn't reached Juggernaut Drive levels of strength yet. Had he, he probably could have taken Apophis without using pseudo DxD, or at least made the fight a little closer matched. Apophis was Heavenly Dragon-Class, meaning his power rivals Ddraig's, and thus, a complete CxC mode.

Also, yes, Ajuka's implications in this chapter were that the eight mutated Evil Pawn Pieces of Issei and Issei's body made from Great Red's flesh are the key to him being able to use AxA. It kind of makes sense, because DxD is is part Ophis' power, while AxA will be Great Red's. The question is what part will the evil pieces play.

We also got a hint that Issei might be able to better use DxD if Ophis and Lilith "work together" since apparently Ophis and Lilith's seperation is in small part why Issei has such problems controlling DxD's power. This is also something that might be fixed in the tournament, Ophis and Lilith may get worried about Issei while he's fighting Tyhon's team, and they might sync their powers together, or possibly even fuse, so Issei can use DxD G without worry.