Chapter 36: The Great Dragon.
*Extra Chapter 1: Uroboros*
I, Azazel, have taken care of quite a number of devils from the Old-Maou faction in the Rating Game field. The rest of them should be easily taken care of by my subordinates.
I left the rest to my subordinates and flew up the sky heading towards to a certain location —The jewel which has Fafnir residing in it is reacting towards this way.
When I immediately teleported here with Odin's power along with my subordinate, the jewel was inside my stomach. When I saw a person at the corner of the field, the jewel increased its brightness.
I then stood in front of that person. …A little girl who has her black hair down till her hips. She is wearing a black one-piece, and you can see her thin limbs. The little girl has a graceful face, but she is looking at the centre of the field which has many shrines lined up. ….I sharpen my eyes and then say to her.
"…I never expected for you to come here personally."
The girl reacts to my voice and then looks at me. She laughs lightly.
"Azazel. It has been a while."
"Didn't you have the appearance of an old person before? Now that you have the appearance of a Bishoujo-sama, you definitely have my respect. What are you plotting….Ophis."
Yes, she is the [Ouroboros Dragon], Ophis! The boss of the Khaos Brigade! No mistake about it. The creepy aura which you cannot describe only belongs to Ophis. The last time I met her, she was in the form of an old-man, but this time she has the appearance of a black-haired girl. Well to her, appearance is only a decoration. She can change as much as she wants.
If she came here personally, then that means this terror is that much more important to her.
"Observing. Just that only."
"Sightseeing from such a good place, aye….. But for the Boss to appear huh. Will the World be peaceful if I defeat you here?"
I said it with a bitter smile while pointing my spear of light at her. But she shook her head.
"Impossible. Azazel can't defeat me."
She said it clearly. Like I thought. I won't be able to defeat her by myself. I know that. But it's certain that the Khaos Brigade will get critical damage if I defeat her here.
"Then how about with the two of us?"
The one who came down while flapping his wings is…an enormous dragon!
"Tannin!"
The former Dragon-king Tannin! This guy also was involved in eliminating the Old-Maou faction within the game field, but it seems he came here after he finished his work. Tannin glares at Ophis with his big eyes.
"The young devils are betting their future, and they are standing on the battlefield. I don't like the fact that you came to interfere in it! For you, who didn't take any interest in the world to become the boss of the terrorists!? What made you become like that!"
I also nod at Tannin's opinion and I also ask her.
"Killing time… Don't tell me such a dull reason like that. Because of your actions, there are casualties in each area."
Yeah, since she stood on the top of the terrorists, she lent her power to all types of dangerous guys, and it brought casualties to each of the factions. The number of people getting killed increases day by day. It's so serious that we can't ignore it anymore.
What drove her to act and make her stand on the top of the terrorists? I just couldn't understand that. Why did the ultimate existence who stayed silent about the World decide to act now?
But Ophis's answer was something I couldn't accept.
"…The silent World."
…
For a moment, I didn't understand what she said.
"Huh?"
I ask her once again. Then Ophis looks at us straight and says it again.
"I want to return to the dimensional gap, and attain silence. That is the only reason."
—!
She's saying that's her reason? The dimensional gap. To make it simple, the human World and the Underworld, the human World and the Heaven, the dimensional wall which exists between them. The boundary which separates the World. The boundary created as an extension of the Outside. Nothing exists there and it is called "The world of nothingness". I knew she was born there, but….
"….I would laugh because your reason is being homesick, but the dimensional gap huh. If I remember, over there at the dimensional gap….."
Ophis nods at my words.
"Yes, Veldora is there."
Right now, the dimensional gap is in the control of that delinquent. I see. Ophis wants to get rid of him so she can return to the dimensional gap. Don't tell me with that requirement… The requirement to get rid of Veldora was the reason why she placed herself with the devils from the Khaos Brigade and other dangerous guys from the different factions.
Then I thought of a single possibility in my head. —I get it now, Vali. Your objective, that is!
When my mind was trying to make up a conclusion, a magic-circle appears next to Ophis, and someone teleports here. The one who appeared is a man wearing the clothes of a noble. That guy bows at me, and puts on a smile.
"It is my first time meeting you. I am the one who carries the blood of the true Asmodeus. Creuserey Asmodeus. I came here to ask you, the Governor of fallen-angels for a battle as I am the member of the True-Maou faction of the Khaos Brigade."
…..Hahahaha, look what we have here…. It's the appearance of one of the masterminds. I said it while scratching my head.
"Looks like the Asmodeus of the Old-Maou faction showed himself."
DON!
Before I confirm his identity, he had the demonic-aura around him running through his body. The color is deep black. So this guy also received Ophis's power.
"It's not the "Old"! I am the blood inheritor of the True-Maou! I will avenge Cattleya Leviathan right here!"
Is he Cattleya's man or something? Well, it doesn't matter. If I can defeat the mastermind of this terror, then I can't ask for anything more. So I will have myself accept his challenge.
"Fine then. Tannin. What will you do?"
"I'm not a rude guy who would interfere in a one-on-one. I will have myself watch over Ophis."
This guy really is a warrior. It's a waste having him as a dragon.
"I leave it to you. It has got chaotic, but it's about time my students reached Diodora's place safely."
I slip that out of my mouth, but Ophis shakes her head when she heard that.
"I also gave my snake to Diodora Astaroth. If you consume it, your power increases drastically. Defeating him won't be easy."
"Hahahahahahahhahahahahaha!"
I laughed out loud at what Ophis just said. She doesn't know! You really don't understand, Ophis!
"Why laugh?"
I said it to Ophis who tilts her head.
"Snake huh. That seems powerful. But unfortunately, that won't be enough."
"Why? My snake, it grants enormous power if you consume it."
"Even so, that won't be enough. In the game before, due to the rules, he couldn't use his power completely."
The training with Tannin, how serious that is, let alone the man who take that training head on, Diodora Astaroth will find that out with his own body. Dragon king as his training partner. Even if he is the former Dragon King, a legendary dragon that is still active was chasing around the Misfit labeled by the Gods! That kid fought evenly against a powerful Dragon King, despite being weakened.
He endured it. He surpassed Tannin, and reached Balance Breaker! You guys still don't understand what that means!
I took out Fafnir's jewel, and made a stance with the artificial Sacred Gear.
"Now, Fafnir. I will have you tag along with me. Our opponent is Creuserey Asmodeus! Let's go, Balance Break!"
Next moment, I was covered with golden plate-armor. Vergil, there is nothing which is restraining you here now.
… So rampage! Destroy all!
When I was trying to show off like that, a magic circle intrudes us. That crest is….. I see. So you will come out personally. And the one who appears from the magic circle is the Crimson haired King, —Sirzechs.
"Sirzechs, why did you come?"
He narrows his eyes to my question.
"For this plan I got my little sister involved in the political matters of us adults. So I need to come forward as well. I thought it would be bad if I leave everything to Azazel every time. I want to persuade Creuserey. If I can't even do that, then I won't be able to face my sister."
Man, this guy really is…..
"…..You are such a Mr. Nice guy. You know it will be a waste?"
"Even so, I wanted to ask them directly as the current King of the devils."
I pulled away my spear. The moment he saw Sirzechs, Creuserey's expression turns to that of rage.
"….Sirzechs! The hated fake existence! To appear here personally! Because of you… Because of you guys, we….!"
Look. This is the reality. To them, your existence is the one they hate the most.
"Creuserey. Can you lower your weapon? If it is now, I can still prepare for negotiation. For having the descendant of the previous Maou be further away from the spot light, and drove them to the corner of the Underworld. Even now I think "Maybe there was another way?" at times. I want to prepare a negotiation with the descendant of a former Maou. More than that, I would like you to talk to the current Maou Asmodeus. Falbium."
Sirzechs's words are polite. That's why it ticked off Creuserey instead.
—It's useless, Sirzechs.
To begin with, your words as the current Maou won't reach these guys. You are naïve. Creuserey then gets enraged.
"Don't speak nonsense! Not only the fallen-angels, but you too, have allied with the angels, so I don't want to hear you who have become a filth talk about devils! Not just that, but are you telling me to talk to the impostor!? That is enough with your nonsense!"
I made a sigh and said it to Creuserey.
"Like you are in the position to say that. You guys, the Khaos Brigade, have the dangerous heretics of the Three-Great-Powers gathered."
He makes a smile.
"We are not cooperating. We are using them. The hated fallen-angels and angels are beings who are only tools that we use. Understanding each other? Peace? All existences besides devils must be destroyed, why can't you understand who Devils are! No! We, the Maou, are the ones who have to become the Kings of the World! By using Ophis's power we will destroy the world, and create a new World of devils! For that, you impostor Maou are in our way!"
Ah, this is bad. It's the mind of bosses of grunts that comes up in books. The devils are already in danger of continuing their kind already, so what are they thinking…..?
Sirzechs. You might have mixed feelings, but you are doing a better job as a King, you know? Because the Old-Maou were like these guys, the devils were heading to the path of self-destruction. Their thoughts. Their beliefs. They do not match. The gap between both sides is big, and it will never get fixed. Sirzechs then says it with sad eyes.
"Creuserey. I just want to protect the seeds of devils. I need to protect the civilians, or else our kind will not prosper. I don't care whether you call me naïve. I want to lead the children with the future. – We don't need war in the current Underworld."
"Naïve! More than that, it is a foolish reason! Do you think that will be the end of devils!? Devils steal the souls of humans, we lure them to hell, and we exist to eliminate God and angels! There is no need for negotiation anymore! Sirzechs! The fake King with fake kindness! — A Lucifer! A Maou! They are a being who annihilates everything! Even though you have the power of destruction, why don't you use it against the fallen-angel beside you!? Like I thought, you don't have the right to call yourself a Maou! I, Creuserey Asmodeus, who am the true Maou will annihilate you!"
That was the end of Sirzechs who is the current Maou and the descendant of the Old-Maou. Sirzechs then speaks to Ophis.
"…..Ophis. Is a negotiation with you also impossible?"
"Only if you consume my snake, and make an oath to me. One more thing. Hand over the ownership of the dimensional gap around the Underworld. I will take all of it."
—Obedience and closure of the Underworld, huh.
There is no way a Maou who carries the Underworld on his back will accept that easily. Sirzechs looks up and closes his eyes. When he opens his eyes…. His eyes are filled with coldness which gives me chills. After confirming that, Creuserey distances himself and creates large blocks of demonic-powers in both of his hands.
"Yes! That's it! That is easier to understand, Sirzechs!"
Creuserey was hoping for this the whole time. ….Sirzechs, there was no way that your words would have reached him from the beginning. Even so, you still wanted to talk to him huh. –Your thoughts. And the thoughts of the Underworld that is.
Sirzechs puts his right hand forward, and then he pointed it up. Demonic-powers were gathering there. Sirzechs's demonic-power starts to give an irregular aura. –The power of destruction. Sirzechs then says it with a strong tone.
"Creuserey, I will eliminate anyone who becomes a threat to the Underworld as a Maou."
"You! Don't you dare use the name Maou!"
Creuserey releases huge demonic-powers from both his hands. Sirzechs doesn't flinch, and changed the demonic-powers in his palms to several smaller spheres and then he shot them forward.
BANG! GUUUUUN!
Creuserey's demonic-power perishes after it touches Sirzechs demonic-power as if it was ground away. The demonic-power released by Sirzechs moves as if it has its own mind and eliminates Creuserey's attack. Sirzechs himself dodges or uses defensive spells for the attacks which couldn't be eliminated. One of the spheres of power of destruction goes into Creuserey's mouth.
DON!
Creuserey swells up once. When it calms down, at the same time his demonic-powers decrease drastically! –Did Sirzechs get rid of the snake Creuserey consumed?
Sirzechs then says it.
"—[Rune the Extinct]. I got rid of Ophis's snake in your stomach. – With this you won't be able to fight with enormous power."
By having the snake, which is the base of his power up, destroyed, his confidence from earlier disappears and now he looks impatient. Sirzechs' attack. It's my first time seeing it.
One of the reasons why Sirzechs was chosen as a Maou. – Overwhelming power of destruction. It eliminates everything it touches. It doesn't even leave a trace. Absolute destruction. Even if it was small, it has outrageous power. He didn't overuse the absolute power of destruction, he didn't even increase its mass, he kept it in a small size, and he is able to control several of them like his own limbs. A technique which requires delicate control and a great level of talent. Sirzechs has those.
"Damn you! Just like you! And just like Vali! Why do those who carry the name of "Lucifer" are blessed with powers, yet both of you clash with us!?"
Creuserey tries to release more shots while cursing.
KUUBAN!
— But one of the spheres touches Creuserey's stomach, and it takes away his whole stomach. Even if small, the power of destruction has enough power. The moment it touches it, it eliminates everything in its surroundings.
"…..W-Why…. Why does the real one have to lose against the impostor…"
Blood flowing from his mouth, Creuserey sheds tears of blood. Sirzechs closes his eyes and swings his arm to the side slowly.
At that moment, Creuserey's whole body was eaten away by several spheres floating in the sky.
"Even I'm not the real one, you are right, Creuserey. The only true Demon King, is the hero who saved all the worlds", said Sirzechs.
Indeed. Even if Urizen is now at the throne. The only one to be the true Demon King… can only be that kid.
*Last Shrine*
The place we arrive in is the shrine located at the deepest end. When we go inside, there is something that looks like a gigantic device.
It's a circular device which is carved into the wall, there are jewels located in various parts, and it also has ancient symbols and letters in it.
This… this is the same device I witnessed in my nightmare.
"You finally came.", said Diodora as he was next to the device.
"… Takeru-san?"
Asia isn't hurt, but her swollen eyes means that she knows now from what I learned from Freed.
I then started the timer for Balance Breaker.
"You told her, didn't you?", I asked.
"Yeah. I told everything to Asia. Fufufu, I wanted to show it to you as well. The moment she had the best expression. The face Asia had when she found out everything was going according to my plan was simply the best. Look, I even left the video of it. Should I play it? She really had a splendid face. The expression of the women affiliated with the Church falling, no matter how many times I see it, I never get bored of it."
Asia then started to sob.
"But I think it's still lacking. Asia still has hope inside her. Yes, I'm talking about you guys. Especially the filthy Sekiryuutei over there. Because you saved Asia, my plan turned into a failure. That fallen-angel woman….Raynare. I was supposed to appear and kill Raynare, after she killed Asia once and I was planning to give my evil-piece then. I thought you wouldn't win, even if you were to interfere. Then I found out you are the Sekiryuutei. It's an interesting occurrence. Thanks to that my plan was postponed quite a lot, but she finally returned to me. Now I can enjoy Asia."
"..."
I growled angrily. This brat,
"Asia is still a virgin, right? I like to train them from virgins, and I will hate it if she was already "used" by Sekiryuutei."
You little…
"Ah, but maybe it might be fun to NTR in front of the Sekiryuutei?"
I'll tear you up to pieces...
"Maybe it would be good to forcefully have sex with her while she screams out your name…"
"ENOUGH!"
[WELSH DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER!]
Along with my scream, the Red Dragon Emperor armor covered my body from head to toe, Godlike aura emanated from every parts of the armor.
"Ahahahaha! Amazing! So this is Sekiryuutei! But I also powered-up! With the snake Ophis gave me that is! I can kill you instan~"
As Diodora spoke, my fist already met his stomach. The shockwave of my fist cracked the whole shrine's structure. I was held back though.
"...Gaahah!"
His body bends. His face was distorted from receiving intense pain. He couldn't react to my speed. He immediately puked out his recent meal with a ton of blood.
I then grabbed the brat's face and threw him across the hall.
"All of you, get Asia down and cover your eyes, this is going to be ugly"
"Vergil…"
"Do it", I commanded coldly.
'Ddraig, I'll do it my way. Sit back and watch'
[… Alright]
Diodora struggled to stand up, he held his stomach while vomiting waste food and blood continuously.
"Now, where were we?", I said.
"Ku! With something like this! I'm a High-class devil! The blood relative of the current Maou Beelzebub!"
He then put his hand forward and made bullets of demonic-power.
"There is no way that a noble high blood like myself will lose to a lowly, filthy reincarnated Devil like you!"
I just walked toward him without dodging. These bullets are like raindrop.
I guess I have to thank Tannin-shishou for pushing me closer to Balance Breaker.
[That's right. The training with the Dragon-King trained you quite a lot. In the match against Sitri you couldn't show much of the result, but with no restrictions you can release your power. Needless to say you can kill this brat without the armor. But that won't be satisfying, won't it?]
'This brat also mocked us, remember? This is the lesson he'll will suffer till the end of time, in the true hell', I transmitted my thoughts to Ddraig.
[Hahahaha! Indeed, rip him to pieces, partner.]
You don't have to tell me.
When I was in front of him, Diodora stopped attacking and tried to run. I cut the brat off from running by appearing in front of him again. He then made defensive barriers.
"Weak"
I plough my hand through all the barriers with ease and grabbed one of the brat's arms. He couldn't react in time.
TEAR!
I tear it off. Blood flows out of the wound like waterfalls.
Diodora then held onto the torn flesh around the area of the missing arm, tears ran in long lines across his face.
"...My arm! It hurts. It hurts. It hurts! Why!? My demonic-power hit you! I was supposed to have had my power increased drastically with Ophis' power!"
DOOON!
I make a Beast Uppercut! Diodora's body got launched, but he moved in slow motion in the air from my perspective, due to my speed.
I then deliver a barrage of punches.
"Guha! Guha! Guha! Guha! Guha! Guha! Guha! Guha! Guha! Guha! Guha! Guha!"
Every hit cracked a bone of his torso, crisp sounds can be heard clearly.
Then a strike to the face. He fell face first, shattering the floor, with the whole body followed after it rose up like a seesaw.
"*cough* I won't be… defeated by a damn rotten dragon… like you!", he said, making a thick wall of aura.
"You think that you're safe behind a thicker wall?", I said coldly as I crouch down for another uppercut, but this time, a level higher.
DOON!
Rising Dragon! My fist coaxed with explosive aura shattered the aura wall completely, I dragged myself and the brat into the air, with the latter flew up so hard, he broke the ceiling.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAA!", his scream echoed throughout the air.
I immediately catche up with the fool by soaring through the air with the boosters on my back.
As I was in front of him.
"!"
The brat was surprised of my speed.
DOOOON!
I make a double hammerfist and slam the fool back down.
DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!
His impact made a huge cloud of dust and destroyed most of the floor, create a crater.
Diodora survived, barely.
As the brat weakly crawled out of the crater, trying to reach the device. I also landed behind him. As he looks at me, his eyes started to color in fear.
"This… must be… a lie! *cough* There is no way… I will be beaten! I… won against Agares! I'm also… planning to win… against Bael! *cough* There's no way… I will lose to… the untalented heir… of the Great-King! Gremory… who holds affection… can't even be my opponent! *cough* A lowly peasent like you… can't possibly be… my opponent! I'm Diodora… from the House of Astaroth!"
He then makes sharp blades around me as he coughed out blood.
"This is nostalgic…. But only I am allowed to use those"
SNAP.
I then coaxed my aura with those blades in a finger snap. To Diodora's surprise, the swords' aura changed to red, their shape and size changed to that of a familiar sword.
Yes, it's the Force Edge. The sealed form of the sword that bear my father's name, Sparda. Well, not many would known of it since the sword was commonly described in its' true form.
"What!?"
The swords the surrounds Diodora and then.
STAB!
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
The brat screamed in agony as the sword skewered him instantaneously. He bleeds like a sliced pig.
Hmmm, it's weaker than I thought.
Normally, this move, Storm Swords, will shred a fool like Diodora to pieces… but, I guess I can only expect these small results for now.
Diodora then struggled as he makes a large sphere of demonic power. Pointless.
[BOOST! X2]
I also make a sphere of demonic power, mine was smaller. I flicked it forward with my finger.
DOON!
the spheres collided in the air as the gusts of wind blew away the rumble and dust.
"Ahahahahahaha! *cough cough* Did you see! I have higher demonic-power than you! There is no way that you, the Sekiryuutei can…. !"
To his surprise, my smaller sphere overpowered his larger one, as if it was just playing around. The sphere hits the brat's face, blew him away and imprinted him to a wall.
As Diodora fell down, I moved in and strangled the brat with one hand, at the same time, he got lifted off the ground. The moment his eyes caught my demonic eyes, they are already overflowed with fear.
[Partner. His heart is already crushed. His eyes are that of those who have become ingrained with the fear of dragons.]
'Good'
"...I can't take off the restraints on her limbs.", said Kiba as he caught my attention.
He tried to pull the restrain off. But…
"Kya!"
Asia screamed!
"Asia-san, what's wrong!?", asked Kiba.
I then heard Diodora's weak voice.
"…It's useless. That device can only be used once due to its mechanism, but it was made that it won't stop unless you use it once. –It won't stop unless Asia's ability is activated."
"What do you mean?", Kiba asked as the brat timidly responded.
"That device is one of the special barriers created by a Longinus possessor. The strong barrier protecting this field was also made by him. Dimension Lost is the ultimate barrier-type Sacred Gear. Having the possessor in the center, it spreads unlimited amount of mist. It can seal everything inside its zone and it can even teleport it to a different dimension. When it reaches Balance-Breaker, it changed its ability in which it can create any type of barrier device the possessor wishes with the mists. –Dimension Create. The barrier made can't be stopped unless it is activated once properly."
Dimension Lost? Is that also a Longinus?
[Yes, Dimension Lost is a higher rank Longinus than the Boosted Gear. And if it reaches Balance Breaker, its near limitless. Please remember it. Longinus more powerful than the Boosted Gear exists.]
"What's the requirement for activation, and what is the ability of this device?", asked Kiba.
"…. The activation requirement is either I or someone affiliated with us gives the signal to start, or if I was to be defeated. The ability of the barrier is to increase the power of the one in the restraint, in this case Asia, and reverse its effect."
Reversal?!
That's the same ability that the Sitri used!
"What about the range of its effect?"
"...This field. and the viewing room where the observers are present at."
"...The leaders of each factions might be eliminated...!"
With Asia's immense healing capabilities. If the effects are reversed, then even if the top brass survived, they'll be weakened significantly!
"How did they get the Reversal tech?"
"...They always had it. It seems like the possibility of it was predicted quite some time ago. Except, since the ones in the Sitri group used it, the plan was proven to work, even with the little data they had..."
"The traitor in the fallen-angels remained in the organisation and let Sona borrow 'Reversal'. So they gathered data from it and might have been using them!"
A spy, huh. So Khaos Brigade was behind all that happened recently.
"Hahahaha! You came all the way here, only to fail! Hahahaha!", Diodora laughed.
But the brat stopped as he noticed my glare.
I then approached him, he tried to crawl away, but to no avail.
As I was right next to him…
STEP!
I then stepped on Diodora's face.
"Aaa..aaa…"
As I slowly put more pressure, Diodora shrieked in agony.
"W-Wait! You don't… have to…"
Diodora tried to beg for his life, but…
"Yes… yes, I do"
It's already too late.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Diodora's scream echoed through the shrine as the pressure of my foot raised to the utmost limit.
CRUSH!
Diodora's head… is now a puddle of blood and flesh, crushed beneath my foot.
…
A moment of silence clouded the space…
"Fuuu…."
As I exhaled a breath…
"Vergil…"
I heard Rias' voice, filled with sadness.
I turned around to see the kids. Asia's eyes were covered, but the others…
They witnessed it all.
I was surprised to see sad faces instead of horror.
…
I disengaged my Balance Breaker and decided to move towards them, once again, to my surprise, they didn't move away.
As we were face-to-face, I was the first to spoke.
"Sorry, that was a bit too much for all of you"
But they protested.
"No, we are fine"
"Yes, don't worry, Vergil-san"
"Yeah, knowing Vergil-senpai, this is to be expected."
All their responses are similar. They even smiled.
…
"Well, it's Vergil after all, I'm not surprised. So what's the plan now?", said Alex.
Oh right…
Obviously, Asia is the priority right now.
"First, let me see this thing."
I inspect the device as I went around it.
Suddenly, I noticed a panel that can be removed. I proceed to remove it, and…
"A computer?"
I turn on the computer and look through the streams of code that is displayed on the screen.
"Hmm…."
"Vergil, what are you thinking?", asked Rias.
…
"Alex, come here", I called Alex.
"What can I help?"
"There must be a second computer on the other side of the device, since this one is a two-man rule-styled security lock. Look for it"
Hearing my instructions, Alex proceed to the other side of the device and inspect it, after a short while.
"I found it", he said as he removed another panel.
"Familiarize the keyboard."
I then casted a special magic formation that displays my keyboard on his side.
"When I count to three. Sync with my sequence by typing the sequence with the opposite keys, got it?"
"Let's do this", said Alex as he cracked his fingers.
As expected from my best friend.
"Then…. Three…Two…One!"
We then proceed to typing our respective sequences at high speed.
Suddenly…
[Warning! Unauthorised access detected. Beginning countdown]
"Vergil-san!", panicked Akeno.
"Quiet. I'm focusing", I said.
[Reverse ignition in T-minus 3 minutes]
"Alex-san!", panicked Kiba.
"Not helping…", said Alex as he and I continued typing.
[Reverse sequence in T-minus 1 minute 15 seconds]
Oh shut up you worthless machine.
[Reverse sequence in 10…9…8]
Almost there…
[7…6…5]
Come on…
[4…3…2]
A little bit more….
[1…]
""Done!""
both Alex and I shouted as we pressed "Enter" at the same time.
[Reverse sequence canceled]
"They did it!", said Rias. She and Akeno hugged each other in joy.
"Yes! Vergil-senpai and Alex-san did it!", said Gasper also enjoy. He then hugged Koneko as she hugged him back.
"Fuuu… This is the first time, I worked this much on a computer", I said, taking a few quick breaths, due to the earlier tension.
"Fuuu… No shit", replied Alex who also took a few breaths.
"Hey, Vergil."
"Hmmm?"
"Remember what we used to do?"
"That huh… it feels like a lifetime ago, and we were just kids back then."
"Oh come on, for old times' sake."
"*Sigh*… fine"
As I consented, Alex and I make our elaborate exchange of brotherly fist bump.
"Haha! You still remember it", said Alex as he laughed happily.
Yeah… I still remember it, among the only good memories of that time…
"Now then, let's get rid of this worthless thing, shall we", said Alex.
"After you", I said as I stood up.
I picked up the machine and threw it away to one of the holes made earlier.
Alex then proceeds to make a highly reactive spear of light, and threw it. After a while…
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
An explosion occurred. The Reversal device was successfully destroyed.
"Vergil-san!"
Asia, who was released from the device earlier, jumped and hugs me.
"I believed in you... That Vergil-san will come to rescue me."
"I made you a promise, remember? But, you heard something painful right?", I asked as she smiled.
"I'm alright. I was shocked at the time, but I have Vergil-san with me."
You sure are strong-willed Asia. To go through this without losing yourself. Xenovia then had teary eyes.
"Asia! I'm glad! If you were to disappear, I..."
Asia smiled while wiping Xenovia's tears.
"I won't go anywhere. Since Vergil-san and Xenovia-san will protect me."
"Yeah! I will definitely protect you! Definitely!"
The two girls hugged happily. I'm glad.
"Buchou-san. Everyone. Thank you very much. For doing this for me...", said Asia as she bowed and smiled at everyone.
"Asia. It's okay for you to not call me 'Buchou' at home you know? You can think of me as your older sister.", said Rias as she hugs Asia while smiling.
"…! Yes! Rias-oneesama!"
Now it's Asia with Rias hugging.
"I'm so glaaaaad! I'm so happpppy that Asia-senpai returned!", said Gasper as he cried while Koneko pats him on the head.
"I'm glad for all of you", said Alex as he smiled.
Guess we can wrap it up for now.
"Let's go home", I said as they agreed.
"Yes! But before that, I need to pray.", said Asia as she began praying to the sky.
"What did you pray for?", I asked.
Asia then says it shyly.
"It's a secret."
Asia runs towards me while smiling.
FLASH
Then something very bright appears. When I looked, Asia is surrounded by pillars of light. When the pillars of light disappeared…..
"…Asia?"
No one was there. She's gone…
*Juggernaut Drive*
*Kiba's POV*
We didn't know what happened for a moment. No, even now I still don't know what happened.
Vergil-san defeated Diodora Astaroth and destroyed the device made by a Longinus alongside Alex-san, and we rescued Asia-san safely. The group and I were trying to leave this place. Then that moment, Asia-san disappeared inside the bright light.
...What just happened?
"An object made from a Longinus was tampered and destroyed by another Longinus, huh. Damn Mist-user, he eased up. It's necessary to readjust the plan."
An unfamiliar voice. When I looked at the direction it came from, an unfamiliar man was floating in the sky. He's wearing light armor that had a cape on it.
...What is this amount of aura which feels like it froze the core of my body...
Buchou then asks that man.
"...Who are you?"
"It's my first time meeting you, sister of the annoying fake Maou. My name is Shalba Beelzebub. The true successor of the Great True Maou Beelzebub. I'm different from the relative of the fake one you fought earlier. Diodora Astaroth, I lent you my power and look at the situation you are in. In the match against Agares, you used Ophis's snake without my authorisation and had the enemy predict our plan. You are very foolish indeed."
Old-Beelzebub! At a time like this! Seems like the mastermind of this terror that Azazel-sensei mentioned showed himself...
He then moves his gaze to look at the corpse of Diodora Astaroth whose head was crushed by Vergil-san.
"Pitiful. I even told you the power of that girl's Sacred Gear and yet you couldn't do anything. That explains how useless you are.", said Shalba.
"Now, sister of Sirzechs. It may be sudden, but I will have you die here. The reason is simple. That is to destroy every blood relative of the current Maou.", said Shalba with a cold voice.
His eyes are filled with hatred. He must have a huge hatred towards the current Maou. Authority and nobility, and the seat of Maou was taken away from him, and they were pushed away to the end of the Underworld so their hatred must be very deep.
"So you mean to kill Glasya-Labolas, Astaroth, and us, the Gremory.",said Buchou as Shalba narrows his eyes.
"That is correct. It is simply displeasing. We, the true successors, to be called the "Old" by you people, the relatives of the current Maou, and it is something very hard to endure."
Shalba made a sigh.
"Our plan ends with this. It is our defeat. I never thought that a Boosted Gear, a mid-tier Longinus, with the mysterious Creation Gear would win against the Dimension Lost, a high-tier Longinus. I can only say that this was something we didn't anticipate. Well, we got significant results for future terrorism, so I have to be satisfied with it. Cruzerey died but it won't be a problem. –As long as I'm active, we can still progress even without Vali. The True Beelzebub is great. Now, as my souvenir while returning…. Sirzechs's sister, I will have you dead."
"You don't challenge the current Maou directly, but kill their relatives, what cowardice!"
"That's alright. I will kill the family of the current Maou first. It won't mean a thing if we don't have them taste despair."
"-Scum! Most of all, the crime for killing Asia! I absolutely won't forgive you!"
Buchou rages and increases the red aura around her body to the limit. Akeno-san also puts an angry expression and she started to wear the holy lightning on her whole body. I also don't plan to forgive him! Asia-san...was finally able to conclude with her whole past! The one she loves, Vergil-san, ended it by breaking the obstacle! She was finally able to resume with her current happiness! And the one in front of us took her away from us! The crime for killing our important comrade! He won't be able to repent even with the cost of his life, but I will have this terrorist die right here!
"..."
-!
Vergil-san was groaning with a blank look in his eyes. The groaning sounded as if something inside him died. He was walking unsteadily.
"...Asia...?"
I wasn't able to look at him in that state. Seeing that, Koneko-chan and Gasper-kun started crying. Akeno-san looks away with tears flowing out of her eyes. Alex-san has a frightening look in his eyes, as if he knows something bad is going to happen. Buchou is hugging Vergil-san gently.
I also couldn't stop the thing coming out from my eyes...
"…I won't forgive you. I won't forgive you! I will cut you! I will cut you up and kill you!"
Xenovia slashes at Shalba with Durandal and Ascalon while shouting!
"Futile."
GUUN!
Shalba reflects the two holy swords with a defensive barrier, and shot a demonic-power bullet to her stomach!
DON!
Xenovia falls to the floor. The holy-swords were also pushed away and it stabs into the floor.
"…..Return Asia….. …..She is…..my friend….! …..She is my kind friend… She was kinder than anyone….! Why…!"
Even though Xenovia was slammed to the ground, she is trying to find the holy-sword which is away from her, and then grips onto it. Shalba then says it to Vergil-san.
"A mixed-blood reincarnated devil and the dragon which is the same as garbage. The princess of Gremory seriously has bad taste indeed. That girl disappeared beyond to the dimension. Her body should have perished by now. – It means, she died."
Suddenly…
DOOOOOOON!
The aura covered Vergil-san started to spike! It overwhelmed Shalba's aura immediately!
"!"
Shalba was surprised by the change in Vergil-san.
Vergil-san eyes… they once again became demonic… like that time he fought against the Hakuryuukou Vali… they are now dyed in black, leaving the irises and pupils a blood red glow.
[Rias Gremory, leave this place at once. If you don't want to die, then it would be better to leave here immediately.]
"Ddraig's right! He's not stable anymore!", said Alex-san.
"GRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
From a piercing growl, Vergil-san screamed a distorted demonic voice. His aura caused the whole shrine to crumble.
He pushes Buchou away, and walk towards Shalba, each step he takes gouged the floor, causing a small earthquake.
[The devil over there. Shalba was your name, right?]
[-You…]
Ddraig's voice emitted from his mouth! His sound that doesn't have any slight emotion gives chills to my body.
[Made the wrong choice.]
DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!
The shrine shook violently, and Vergil-san starts to emit a blood-like red aura! That aura starts to rise, and it gets bigger. It started to dye the whole area inside the shrine red.
I can understand from the quality of the aura I can feel with my skin! That aura….is dangerous! From Vergil-san's mouth, a curse-like chant is emitted. The voice isn't just that of Vergil-san. Young. Old. Male. Female. A creepy sound which is mixed with voices of several people.
[I, who is about to awaken…]
It started. Looks like it will start.
[Am the Heavenly Dragon that has stolen the principles of domination from God….]
It was always like that, no matter what. That's not right; it was like that every time.
[I laugh at the "infinite", and I grieve at the "dream"….]
The one the World seeks…. The one the World rejects...
[I shall become the Red Dragon of Domination…]
It was always power. It was always love.
You guys choose destruction no matter how many times!
Vergil-san's armor starts to change…. It became sharper, and it grew large wings, each with 7 "feathers" that look like armored spider legs. From both hands and feet, claw-like things appeared. On the helm, many horn-like things appeared. His physical being enlarged to a massive size, towering all the way above the ceiling of the destroyed shrine.
-That appearance is a dragon itself.
And then, from all the jewels in its body, a mixed scream like voice of the old, the young, man, and woman is emitted!
" " " " " " " And I shall sink you to the depths of crimson purgatory!" " " " " " "
[Juggernaut Drive!]
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON….
Vergil-san's remaining surroundings were blown away! The floor! The wall! The ceiling! All of that is destroyed gets blown away even further by the blood-like red aura emitted from Vergil-san's armor!
"GUGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Vergil-san makes a beast-like roar and stands with his four limbs at the spot while moving his wings!
CUT!
The sound of the wind! So fast! I couldn't follow it with my eye…
"Nggggggggh!"
I heard Shalba's scream. When I turned around, Vergil-san who turned into a massive dragon is gnawing on Shalba's shoulder. A mouth-like thing appeared on his helm, so he must have bitten using that fang.
MUNCH MUNCH MUNCH MUNCH…
The sound of flesh getting torn apart.
"Damn you!"
Shalba creates a light with his right arm and tries to release it towards Ise-kun. But from one of the jewels. A massive terrifying-looking demonic sword, seemingly made of blood and energy, appeared and stops Shalba's right arm.
Then from another jewel, another one of those blood sword appears and cuts off Shalba's right arm!
"Guu!"
Shalba shows an expression of pain! His blood spreads around the floor of the shrine!
Gunch!
While making a creepy sound, Vergil-san bites off Shalba's arm, and descended to the floor.
When he comes down with his limbs, he spits out the flesh from Shalba's shoulder. The red armor mixes with Shalba's blood, and it was giving off a creepy brilliance.
"Gegogyuuga-gyhugohaaa! Guooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"
He…has already lost the voice of a human….. On all of the jewels which are shining, massive blood swords appeared, they gave the terrifying impression of a true Demon King.
"Don't screw around with me!"
The enraged Shalba who descended to the ground releases an attack of light with his remaining left arm!
Then the Sekiryuutei's wings…..glowed with light! The right wing then transformed in to a white-colored demonic wing with 7 energy "feathers"! It looks like that of Hakuryuukou's wing! The moment Shalba's pulse of light was about to hit…..
[Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide!]
That sound echoes, and the pulse of light halved….. And halved again! It didn't know when to stop halving and Shalba's attack became so weak that it was like penlight.
This is…The power of Hakuryuukou that Vergil-san took before! He can even use it at this high level!
"Vali's power! Damn you! How many times do you have to stand in my way! Valiiiiiii!"
Shalba roars, but instead of releasing a light, this time it was the pulse of demonic power! Huge! Enormous amount of aura goes toward Vergil-san!
SLIDE!
Vergil-san moved its direction just by flapping his left wing. -! He fended of such a powerful attack with just that!? But does Shalba Beelzebub hold a grudge against Vali? The descendant of Old Beelzebub and Old Lucifer. Maybe due to their standing point, there must be a rift.
What!? Then I realized the change in Vergil-san. The lenses on the helm of Sekiryuutei turned red and have weird symbols on them! At the same time, the mouth on the helm of Sekiryuutei opened wide! A laser cannon thing appears from inside it. A terrifying glow shined from them on Shalba.
PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Three laser shoots out of his eyes and mouth, and converged as a single massive laser beam! And it goes straight to Shalba, blowing away his left arm! The power of the laser doesn't stop, it gouged a massive, molten lava trail along the ground to a distance far away. In an instant…
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!...
The trail, along with the lands on its' two sides was taken by an array of explosions!
They then lead to…
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!
A massive explosion happened from a far-off place! Smoke appears and spreads dust everywhere, making a mushroom cloud of dust! It's like a nuclear bomb!
"GRHHHHHHHH"
Vergil-san growled, and when he covers himself with enormous amount of aura, a hole is made to the floor and it turned into a huge crater. Just by exposing his aura it seems like it will blow away the surroundings!
"Y-You Monster! A-Are you telling me this is the 'Juggernaut-Drive'!? This is no joke! M-My power should have been raised to that of the former-Maou due to Ophis' power! He has surpassed the Boosted Gear's specs recorded in the data!"
Shalba's expression finally turns into that of fear. His eyes are dyed with fear, and looks at Vergil-san as someone he should fear to begin with.
We could only stand there and look in a daze. Buchou has her eyes opened wide and her whole body is trembling. Akeno-san, Xenovia, Koneko-chan, and Gasper-kun are looking at Vergil-san with overwhelming fear. My body also couldn't stop trembling.
-That is a monster. That isn't Vergil-san anymore. Vergil-san….. The Son of Sparda… Sekiryuutei started to change his stance. It spread its wings and looked directly at Shalba.
SLIDE
A sound of something sliding. When I looked, the chest and stomach part of the armor opened, and something that looks like a launcher shows up.
DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…
After the silent vibration, a red aura gathers to the launcher. That starts to get bigger, and the aura is compressed and is charging at the launcher….!
The wings which are spread to the sides are glowing red, and the creepy red color spread around the area.
"Ku! I can't die in a place like this!"
Shalba tries to draw a magic circle with his remaining leg…. But that leg was "stopped".
"…You stopped it! My leg!"
The jewels on the chest armor shone red. …Are you telling me it activated an ability similar to Gasper-kun's Sacred Gear!?
[Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!]
[Longinus Smasher!]
It echoes through the shrine numerous of times. The sound coming from Sekiryuutei's Sacred Gear.
Then from the launcher that has been charged, an enormous amount of red aura is shot! This is bad! At this rate we will also get dragged into it!
"Buchou, let's retreat at once! We have to evacuate from this shrine!"
"Vergil…I…"
Buchou walks towards Vergil-san craving for him, but I stop her.
"My apologies!"
I hold Buchou in my arms and ran. Akeno-san lent her shoulder to Xenovia, and Koneko-chan and Gasper-kun follow after me!
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!
"I-Impossible…..! I, the true successor of the True-Maou…..! I still haven't made a fool out of Vali yet! Beelzebub is greater than Lucifer! Curses! A mere dragon! Red dragon! White dragoooon!"
Shalba gets enveloped by the red aura that was shot, and he disappeared into the light along with the surroundings…..
*Later, Kiba's POV*
"...!"
When I got out of the shrine, I created many holy-demonic swords to make a shelter, and had everyone evacuate in it.
When I confirmed that the sound of the earth crumbling stopped, I released the swords, and checked outside.
The whole area is a complete barren wasteland. Like a nuclear holocaust!
"GRHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Vergil-san stood in the middle of the wasteland, releasing a wrathful scream to the sky.
…Even if he lost himself, despite his obvious wrath, he still has the sadness of losing Asia-san within him.
Shalba Beelzebub and Diodora Astaroth are no longer alive. The fight is supposed to be over, yet Vergil-san 's armor shows no sign of disappearing.
…..What should I do? What should I do to make Vergil-san return to himself?
Including Buchou, the whole group can only just look at the roaring Vergil-san.
"Looks like you guys are in trouble huh?"
A new person? Then a crack is made in the air! From the crack, the one who appeared is Hakuryuukou Vali. And also the man wearing ancient Chinese armor. It's my first time seeing him, but he must be Sun Wukong.
And another unfamiliar man wearing a business suit. The sword this man is holding has a great amount of light I have never seen before. I knew right away. The man Vergil-san met. The wielder of the Holy King sword Caliburn.
"Vali."
Buchou gets shocked at Vali's appearance. – But she made a stance to attack immediately. We also made the stance to battle too. But I couldn't sense hostility from them.
"I have no will to fight. I just came to observe. –Sekiryuutei's [Juggernaut Drive], that is. But by looking at it, it seems like he went through an incomplete Juggernaut Drive. You are lucky that Juggernaut Drive occurred within this specially-made battlefield. If this had happened in the human world, the urban areas and its surroundings might have vanished, since his current aura can decimate a whole country at will."
"This aura… he's even more terrifying than the time me and Kuroka faced him as he obtained his Balance Breaker!", said the current Sun Wukong, Bikou, nervously.
"Indeed, he can even fight against the High-tier God-class beings with this form", said the gentleman in his suit.
High-tier God-class!? I know that Vergil-san is weakened, but he still remained so powerful!?
As expected from the Son of Sparda. But now isn't the time!
Buchou asks Vali.
"….This form, is he able to revert from it?"
"Since it isn't a complete Juggernaut Drive there would be cases where he can revert, but there will also be a case where he remains like this, trimming his life and die. Either way, staying like this for long would put Takeru Silver's life in danger."
So it is a very dangerous form after all….. Then Bikou walks towards me. – He was holding onto a familiar girl.
"Here, she is part of your guys' group, right? This healing sister."
The girl who Bikou handed over to me is…..Asia-san!
"Asia!"
"Asia-chan!"
Buchou, Akeno-san, and everyone else gathers around Asia-san. From the looks of it, she had no external wounds. It seems like she is unconscious…but she's breathing!
"She's breathing!"
Everyone got in tears with my answer. Even I have tears coming from my eyes. I'm glad! I'm seriously glad!
"But why…."
When I ask, the wielder of Caliburn answers.
"We were investigating the dimensional gap around here by chance. Then this little lady came flying into the dimensional gap. Vali said he recognised her, so we brought her here. She was lucky. If we weren't there by luck, this girl would have been exposed to "nothingness" and would have perished."
I see. So that's the reason. But I'm glad that Asia-san is safe.
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaan!"
Xenovia confirms Asia-san's safety and maybe she felt relieved, so got on her bottom crying. I put Asia-san down on where Xenovia-san is. She hugs on Asia-san with a lot of care, and is shedding tears of joy.
"-What's left now is Ve… Takeru"
Buchou corrected her speech immediately as she looked towards Vergil-san. Vergil-san is still continuing to roar because of the sadness of losing Asia-san.
"Is he able to revert to himself if we tell him about Asia's safety?"
Vali shook his head to the side to Buchou's suggestion.
"It's dangerous. You will die. Though I won't stop you from doing it."
Akeno-san and Koneko-chan approach Vali.
"I know we are not in a position to ask, but please. Please help us save him. If it's you, the Hakuryuukou, can you not fulfill the role to bring back his consciousness?"
"…Please. We will also help using our full strength, so please let us borrow your power to bring him back…."
Both of them are thinking deeply about Vergil-san. I thought Vali would decline right away but he starts to think about it.
Suddenly…
He dashed into the air in a bolt of light!
{VANISHING DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER!}
"It would work if there is something which will stimulate his heart. I'll try to keep him down, think of something in that time."
Vali turns into Balance Breaker immediately, wearing a white armor. Vali said as he puts his hand out to Vergil-san while flapping his wings.
{Divide!}
The sound of Hakuryuukou echoes through the air. At the same time, it feels like Vergil-san's power reduced quite a degree. Vali must have touched Vergil-san at the speed of light and activated his ability.
"But what can we use? We don't even know a thing about him"
Bikou says that while scratching his head.
As Vali continued to use his ability….
!
GRAB!
Vergil-san catched Vali who was moving at light speed!
CRUSH!
He then tightened his hand! Metal bending sounds can be heard!
"Guha!"
And Vali is vomiting blood!
Such sharp senses, even when he is in berserk state, Vergil-san's senses haven't dulled a bit!
This is bad! Even Vali can't avoid Vergil-san…
"Hahahaha!"
Despite his pain, Vali laughed happily.
"Even when losing yourself, you became stronger! As expected from my rival! You want to play rough!? Let's play!"
DOOOOON!
Vali unleashed a massive surge of white aura, break himself free of Vergil-san's grasp!
"Yeah, an eye for an eye. A Dragon for a Dragon!", said Vali as he began to chant something.
{I, who am about to awaken…}
This is…
{Am the Heavenly Dragon who has taken the principles of supremacy from God…}
!
{I envy the "infinite" and I pursue the "dream"…}
This is different, but similar to Vergil-san's cursed chant!
{ I shall become the White Dragon of Supremacy…}
The chant… it's about to be completed!
" " " " " " " And I shall take you to the limits of white paradise!" " " " " " "
Like the Sekiryuutei, a mixed scream like voice of the old, the young, man, and woman is emitted!
{Juggernaut Drive!}
A burst of white light occurred!
As the light dissipated… What that is flying high in Vali's spot… was a giant, majestic, quadruple dragon.
But…
It's entire body alongside the aura, while identical to Vali's… was far more ominous…
So this is the Hakuryuukou's {Juggernaut Drive}…
"GRHHAAAAAAAAA!"
As he also rose up to the skies, Vergil-san roared angrily at Vali who has entered {Juggernaut Drive}.
The two's auras started spiking… and their battle begins…
DOON!
DOON!
DOON!
Amazing…
They are so fast, we can only see 2 streaks of white and red. Their clashes caused shockwaves to blew away the surroundings. Even we have hard time get a firm grip to the ground!
A splendor of pure power… that's the only way you can call that…
But now isn't the time to watch.
We need to bring Vergil-san back, ASAP!
"We need to get him out of that form. Is there anyway to do so?"
It was Buchou who make the question.
"Hmmm… What always calmed down a dragon was a song... We don't have such a thing, and a song for the Sekiryuutei and Hakuryuukou doesn't exist…."
The gentleman who is the wielder of Caliburn, spoke.
"There is!"
!
As we turned to the direction of the voice.
A white-winged angel surrounded by two fallen angels flew towards us while speaking over Vali. –It's Shidou Irina-san, she brought Raynare-san and Mittelt-chan.
"Haa, I finally arrived. Wait, that's Ve…Takeru-san!? I heard it from Michael-sama and Azazel-sama, but such a serious thing was actually happening!"
"That's Senpai!? He's looks so terrifying!", said Raynare-san as she was scared, looking at the two's clashes and ominous auras.
"Irina, why are you and everyone else here?"
When Xenovia asks, Irina-san went to Alex-san. She pushed forward a large speaker. It's the one used by devils.
"The fact that Takeru-san went into a dangerous form is already known by the VIPs who are at the observation room and at this field. So they thought leaving it like this isn't a good idea, Maou Lucifer-sama and Azazel-sama made me carry this secret weapon! By the way, the one who teleported us here is Odin-sama! He sure is amazing! The God from the North! And he has a huge beard!"
…Her spirit is so high that it destroyed the atmosphere here.
"Alex-nii!"
"Hmm?"
Irina-san and Alex-san suddenly started to make unknown gestures…
!
I see, they are hiding their relations with Vergil-san from Vali and his companions.
"Let me see", said Alex-san as he adjusted the speaker. He then nodded to Buchou.
"I don't actually get it, but if it is something prepared by Onii-sama and Azazel, then we can depend on its effect."
Buchou took a breath, and then pushed the button.
Suddenly, the speaker plays a rather classical tune. A classical song with an orchestra of violins.
Then, a soothing voice, like that of a woman, sounded:
WHEN THOSE VOICES DEEP WITHIN
BRING YOU DOWN TO YOUR KNEES AGAIN,
REDEMPTION CALLS ONTO
ALL OF THOSE WHO PERSIST
WITH THE STRENGTH OF THE FEW.
DON'T COME TO QUESTION
ALL THAT YOU'VE KNOWN.
REMEMBER, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
I WILL BE HERE,
STANDING BESIDE YOU.
THERE IS NO MOUNTAIN
TOO TALL TO OVERCOME.
WE WILL BE AS ONE.
YOU WILL RISE AGAIN...
THIS IS YOUR LEGACY!
A rather beautiful song, one that depicts the act of passing the torch. But I don't think…
"!?"
Vergil-san, while on a standstill with Vali… is looking this way?! He continued to listen to the song until the end of the first verse…
He is… crying…
"He's responded!"
Buchou sheds tears of joy.
"Shidou-san, Alex, can you play the music one more time!"
Irina-san and Alex-san accepts Buchou's request.
"Yes! Leave it to me!"
"You got it!"
The resume button for the speaker is pushed.
DON'T COME TO QUESTION
ALL THAT YOU'VE KNOWN.
REMEMBER, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
I WILL BE HERE,
STANDING BESIDE YOU.
THERE IS NO MOUNTAIN
TOO TALL TO OVERCOME.
WE WILL BE AS ONE.
YOU WILL RISE AGAIN...
THIS IS YOUR LEGACY!
"I have to say, this is an excellent song indeed. Looks like it will work now."
Vali seems to mutter that as he activated his abilities.
{Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide!}
The sound of the Hakuryuukou once again echoed through the air. But the change was significant!
"Grhhhhh!"
Vergil-san's power was reduced drastically! He struggled to maintain altitude as he fell to the group!
"Now, go to him! The people he cares about is what he needs! Let him see the healing sister! He'll know!"
RISE AGAIN...
THIS IS YOUR LEGACY!
As the final lyrics echoed throughout the area, we all went to him and let him see Asia-san.
as soon as he recognized her, his aura stopped spiking!
"…"
After a moment of staring… his armor disappeared and he was released…
He then fell to the floor. Lying unconscious.
Vergil-san…. You really are back…
*Later, Vergil's POV*
"Urghhh… my head…"
I opened my eyes to see that I wasn't in Balance Breaker anymore. I was confused as Rias and Akeno were hugging me, crying in tears.
I don't quite remember, but according to Kiba I went berserk and defeated the guy called Shalba. Yeah, I don't remember that at all.
Wait, isn't the girl Xenovia is hugging onto Asia!?
"Vali rescued her."
Kiba points at Vali.
Hmm, so Vali was here.
Wait, why's he here? And why is he smiling? When I asked for the reason, I found out that Vali came here by coincidence.
But I'm glad Asia is safe.
"Asia! Asia!"
When I called out her name, Asia opens her eyes slowly.
"…..Huh? …Ver…?"
!
I closed her mouth immediately. That was close. Though I can't blame her for being like this.
"Oh… Thank goodness, you're okay", I said as I hugged her tight.
Then, Xenovia came in to hug Asia too.
"Asia!"
Xenovia hugs onto Asia. She's crying like mad.
"Xe…Xenovia-san. What's wrong? I-It's hard to breath….."
"Asia! Asia Asia Asia Asia Asia Asia! You and I will always be friends! Friends forever! That's why please don't leave me again!"
Asia pats gently on Xenovia's head.
"…Yes. We will always be friends."
"I'm so glad."
Irina who was beside me started nodding her head down while crying.
…Looks like case closed. I made a sigh of relief. Then Vali comes to talk to me.
"Takeru Silver. Looks like you are alright."
"Yeah. Looks like I caused you trouble."
"Well, it may be alright at times. More than that, it's about time. Look up the sky."
"?"
BREAK! BREAK!
I look up to see a crack happening in space. Then the crack shatters to make a gigantic hole. From within that hole, I saw a gigantic dragon.
"That…."
"Look carefully, Takeru Silver. That is the one, I wanted to see."
A titanic black-colored Dragon, with scales gleam like black steel, flexible, and durable, like the scales of a fish. Tannin-shishou looks like a puppy in comparison.
"The massive Dragon that is flying in front of us, is none other than the Gigastorm Dragon, Veldora. The dragon that chooses to live in the dimensional gap and swims there for eternity. The very embodiment of natural catastrophies to the core concept"
"Gigastorm Dragon, Veldora?"
"In the primordial time, before other sentient beings came, the divine entities, called True Dragons, were the first to came to existence. Beings that are "perfect as one," especially durable, spiritual lifeforms, they have no attachment to their physical bodies, they only take those forms to respond to the core aspects they represented, also for convenience and preference. Godly Dragons that were worshipped by both humans and dragons alike. Up until this point, there are four known True Dragons: Cosmic Genesis Dragon, Veldanava, the oldest and most powerful of the True Dragons, as well as the Founder of all Dragon races, but we would know him more, as the "God of the Bible"."
Hmmm, now that he mentioned it, I remembered reading somewhere about True Dragons. Never really thought that they existed, until today.
"The second in birth from Veldanava: Fimbulvetr Dragon, Velzard. She is known as the Draconic Deity who governs the aspect of "Fixation", and also the main harbinger of the eternal winter of the myths."
Huh, you really do learn a new thing every day, every hour even.
"The third True Dragon, who governs the aspect of "Motion", Accelforce Dragon, Velgrynd. She is also known as the Guardian Deity of the forgotten Holy Empire Azeshion"
Hmm, Velgrynd…
and Azeshion…
Something tells me that I'll have to keep that specific information in mind…
"And lastly, the one that is in front of us today, like I told you, Gigastorm Dragon, Veldora, who embodied natural disasters themselves to an unrivaled degree. Although…"
Vali suddenly paused for a bit.
"Although?"
"… There was another True Dragon, a fifth one, called "Great Red"."
"Great Red?", I said.
"There are two dragons called the 'Red Dragons'. One of them is the ancient dragon from Welsh residing in you. Welsh Dragon. The Sekiryuutei. Hakuryuukou also comes from the same origin and the same myth. But there is one more 'Red Dragon'. That is the Red-Dragon which is recorded in Revelation."
"Revelation…?"
"The True God-Emperor of Red-Dragon. Apocalypse Dragon, the Great-Red. The mysterious True Dragon that has never appeared in the rivers of history, natural and supernatural alike. Yet, it was recorded in the Book of Apocalypse."
"So you're saying that that Dragon truly exist?"
"Indeed. Anyway, we were here today to observe Veldora. The field of the Rating Game is inside a section in the dimensional gap by putting on a barrier. This time, Ophis's true aim was to confirm that. Shalba's plan was something which wasn't important to us."
"But why is it flying in a place like this?"
"No idea. There are lots of opinions about it… That is Ophis's 'aim' and one of the two 'targets' I wish to defeat."
Vali's target…
That time, Vali showed the clearest eyes ever seen before.
"The ones I want to fight the most. The mysterious Apocalypse Dragon Great-Red who is called [DxD], Dragon of Dragon, and the Gigastorm Dragon Veldora, who is hailed as Great Red's rival. – I want to become "The True God-Emperor of White-Dragon". One day, I'll defeat both Great-Red and Veldora, and claim that place."
You willing to put yourself among the terrorists just to fight two Dragon Deities, which one of them is unknown?
Huh, that is surely like him.
"Veldora. It has been a while."
Near us is a black-haired girl wearing a one-piece gothic suit.
"Who's this?", I asked Vali as he makes a bitter smile.
"-Ophis. She's the Uroboros. She's also the head of Khaos Brigade."
"!"
The Dragon God of Infinity!? She is here!?
I then saw her make a posture of shooting a gun at Veldora.
"I shall, definitely get my hands on silence."
I then heard wings flapping. I felt the ground shake as something heavy fell down. I'm familiar with this feeling. It was Azazel and Tannin-shishou.
"Azazel, Shishou"
"Oh, Ve… Takeru. Good to see you're back to normal. I was scared about what would happen to you, but for you to return to normal from Juggernaut Drive by listen to that song. That is just as expected from you."
That song huh…
"Hahahaha. To be expected from the potentially strongest Sekiryuutei! – Oh. Looks like something outrageous appeared while we were following Ophis."
Azazel and Shishou also looked at the Gigastorm Dragon, Veldora.
"How nostalgic. Veldora huh."
"Have you also fought him Tannin?"
Shishou shook his head to the sides to Azazel's question.
"No, he didn't even pay attention to me."
Even Shishou couldn't be this Dragon's opponent… So this is the strongest existence that is said to be on par with the mysterious Great Red…
"It's been a while, Azazel."
Vali speaks to Azazel.
"Did you defeat Creuserey Asmodeus?"
"Yeah, but Sirzechs was the one who took care of him. ….If their leaders are taken down, then their henchman will run away. Looks like Shalba Beelzebub was taken care of by Ise in [Juggernat Drive]."
"And Onii-sama?"
Rias asks Azazel.
"The barrier collapsed, so he returned to the observation room."
Azazel then says it to Ophis.
"Ophis. The guys from the Old-Maou faction who were rampaging in each area either retreated or surrendered. –In reality, the Old-Maou faction which was in control by the descendants is now basically finished."
"Yes. That is also one of the conclusions."
She's not bothered by it? Why I get the feeling that Ophis isn't someone who would plan things like what happened earlier. Her interest seems to be only Veldora, everything else doesn't seem to matter to her.
"Among you guys, the group with power apart from Vali is the faction assembled by the humans who are either the descendants of heroes or Sacred Gear possessors. I think they were called 'Hero-faction' right."
Another faction? Hmmm, I never knew that Khaos Brigade has another faction, maybe it was formed when I was gone.
"Now Ophis. Shall we fight?"
Azazel points his spear of light at Ophis. This is kinda worthless. If Orphis is said to have infinite power, then even if we combined our strength, she can't be beaten. Still, we have to be ready.
"I will go home."
That was… unexpected.
"Wait! Ophis!"
Shishou shouts at her telling to stop, but Ophis puts on a creepy smile.
"Tannin. The dragon-kings are gathering once again. This will be interesting."
The air vibrated as she disappeared. Azazel and Tannin-shishou then sighed.
"We will also retreat.", said Vali as Arthur made a cut in space.
"Takeru Silver. Do you want to defeat me?"
"*sigh* It's not like I have a choice, do I? I do like a good fight. But there are things I want to do before then. So even you're not my current top priority"
That was a lie. You are among my top priorities, Vali. For I've made a promise…
"I see. But I'm glad that you do want to fight me. There are those I want to defeat besides you. This is weird. Looks like the current Sekiryuutei and the current Hakuryuukou have dreams and objectives more important than their destined fight. Maybe you and I are weird dragons. But something like that might be good at times. – But one day…."
"Yeah, let's settle it one day. I don't like leaving unfinished fights either."
"Like I thought, you are truly amusing. Get stronger, Takeru Silver."
"See ya Dragon Lord! And also, Switch Princess!"
Where did they heard that? Also, Switch Princess? Is he referring to Rias?
"Kiba Yuuto-kun. Xenovia."
Arthur then talks with Kiba and Xenovia.
"I am the wielder of Holy-King sword, and the descendant of Arthur Pendragon. Call me Arthur. One day, let's have a battle of Holy-swords. Have Takeru-san join you as well. Good bye."
After that, the Vali team disappeared through the crack. Whatever, I don't care right now.
"Let's go home Asia, for real this time.", I said.
"Yes. I will go home to the house where we all live."
I was looking at a smiling Asia… until I lost consciousness.
*Extra Chapter 2: Vali Lucifer*
"Vali, I received contact from the leaders. That guy, Shalba, is on the verge of death but survived."
"I see, Bikou. Either way, Shalba rushed it. He was talking about resisting till the end, and our ancestors who were exiled by the current-Maou government rushed it too. – They destroyed themselves because they only acted with hatred."
"Those guys from the Old-Maou faction said they want you to become their leader. What will you do?"
"Tell them I'm satisfied with my current position. I don't want to increase my duty as the descendant of the former-Maou any more than this."
"Aaaah, looks like the Old-Maou faction is basically done for. Looks like the other factions will start to rise up now."
"Cattleya, Creuserey, and Shalba. –You guys had too much envy. If you chose to live as the prideful descendant of the former-Maou, then you should have lived with pride like one."
"So, what was the reason for saving that healing Sister from Sekiryuutei's group? It didn't seem like you at all."
"-Just boredom. That's the only reason."
Or at least, I felt like that was the only reason… even though Takeru Silver is a different person…. No, it can't be him…. Right?
*Extra Chapter 3: Heroes*
"Shalba Beelzebub was defeated. Hakuryuukou Vali also said he won't stand at the top."
"I see. So that means the Old-Maou faction of Khaos Brigade is done for. Well, maybe it turned out like that because the [Dimension Lost] possessor from our group held back."
"As if. You ordered him to do that. So what now? Is it about time that we, the Hero-faction, which consists of the descendants of Heroes, act? Cao Cao."
"Now, what shall we do? –I was having fun gathering those with talents."
"Just like the original. But in the near future, we will have to act whether we like it or not. The thing which resides in you won't allow you to stay like that. That Ultimate Longinus…."
"…[True Longinus] huh. The direction this spear is pointing to. Is it domination? Or…"
Author's note: Another long chapter, and some major introductions:
- As mentioned in the previous chapter, I added the Akashic Record, the compendium of all universal events, thoughts, words, emotions, and intent ever to have occurred in the past, present, or future in terms of all entities and life forms. Yes, Vergil's getting a… no, a few upgrades. Please look forward to them.
- Juggernaut Drive, the cursed power of the Boosted Gear and Divine Dividing. I took elements from the version of Season 3 of High School DxD, High School DxD BORN, where those forms are gigantic, instead of being miniature Dragons like in the Light Novel. Also, to be specific in their appearances, if you have watched Bakugan, then imagine the Sekiryuutei's incomplete Juggernaut Drive being a Sekiryuutei version of Zenthon Titan in Bakugan: Mechtanium Surge Season 1, with all the descriptions in Kiba's dialogue. The Hakuryuukou's Juggernaut Drive resembles a Hakuryuukou version of Maxus Helios Mk2 from Bakugan: New Vestroia. I simply like those designs and want to implement them here. Also, the battle between the Juggernaut Drives is also taken from the anime of DxD BORN. I feel that Vali's Juggernaut Drive needs a bit of love compare to the Light Novel version.
- The introduction of the True Dragon family, base on the same individuals from Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken. Though shared the names and key natures, my version of these characters will be a bit different. Velgrynd and Velzard were considered due to my Hero character, Kanon Nedra I. Veldora, in my opinion, is more than enough of the fitting replacement for the original Great Red in this story, due to their similar delinquent nature. Veldanava is obviously the perfect candidate due to like the DxD's Biblical God, the former is also "God", as well as being dead. Don't worry, "Great Red" still has a role I planned, but you'll have to wait and see.
- I will retain Rias' "Switch Princess"nickname, since she is the trigger for Vergil's Sekiryuutei awakening, after all.