Divine Blizzard: Oh no! I hope you are feeling better now and it was mild. It means a lot my story gave you some enjoyment during that time and that you like the latest one :)

CourtMageMerlin: Perfect timing then :D Yea, Cao Cao has an annoying talent for dealing with fighters that are way stronger than him. Well, I hadn't planned the Tafl pieces to extend life since they aren't changing races. They had Dorian's set custom-made to not change races so there won't be any perceived preferential treatment in a cross-myth team.

Okaze: How indeed...if only he had something that could deal with Olympian-magic petrification... ;)

Hollowreaper 93: Plot twist, Dorian the statue for the rest of the series...just kidding XD

Guest 1: The battle is far from over ;) No one has won or lost yet.

Just a reader now a writer: We are in complete agreement on that and I am so glad you like the path I am taking. I agree that most characters can be great if they have development which I am hoping to do well in Roots. Oh, there will be plenty of gods not seen in DxD or had not actually been seen in the arcs to come. As to the EX timeline seeing this one's outcome...maybe in some capacity :)

7: Oh yes, Cao Cao is notorious for being able to outthink/maneuver enemies way stronger than him. He's just a human so with the True Longinus he's like the ultimate glass cannon. Man, thank you so much! I don't know what to say but am so grateful you think so highly of my story. I agree, what drew me to DxD at first was the balance between a cool story premise and the ecchi elements, but over time the latter took over way more which is part of what inspired me to write Roots :) . Oh, the poison blood isn't from Grim Reapers, but they are the jailors of the one where the blood did come from...

xXwolfsterXx644: He'll find a way, you can't keep a determined man down :D

fanficcyberman: Thrud will be more than happy to take you up on that sentiment XD And that aspect to Azazel I was really looking forward to writing, sometimes even the most experienced of us just needs a little unexpected nudge. Exactly! They have gone through so much that, even as teenagers, they are working towards finding out what kind of person they each want to be. You've always gotten the intentions I have for my characters so well every chapter, I love seeing your reviews. As always, my family and I are doing well and I pray the same or even better for you and yours. :D

TheLycan2026: Cao Cao has that effect on people...can't wait to see him get punched LOL. It may take a bit, but it's coming ;) . And indeed, Azazel seeing something he doesn't have...but can push him to try and make it a reality.

frostyoblivion: We are the same :D These arcs kind of require them to be mostly together without much downtime, but afterwards, I promise there'll be more time for fluff stories that we all love.

Gaiall: That truly means a lot to hear that you think so highly of my story, thank you for the review and kind words! I totally understand feeling that way when I reached the canon story with how I wanted to merge the two, but got plenty of original stories set going forward and a few renditions of the OVAs for nice in-between arc moments. I hope to never disappoint as I keep moving forward ;)

Talking Pumpkin: That it is, but they aren't down for the count yet. :D

Guest 2: Oh, that I can tell you is definitely a thing XD Vali would hate to admit it, but can't deny it when a certain rodent may rub it in his face to see how he reacts lol. And I most certainly will! Thank you :D

Dragonx411: Indeed, he knew it'd take too much power to deal with him when Ophis was his true target. So it was sort of putting a band aid on the problem until he can deal with him later. I am so glad you enjoyed it! The Crossroads won't give up without a fight.

And with that…ONTO THE SHOW!

"Wow, who knew he'd give in so quickly," the descendent of Marsilio Ficino murmured from the first-floor lobby as he stared into the worlds created by his Sacred Gear, Dreamlike Curse. His ancestor he was named for may have been an ingenious scholar and philosopher, but the Hero Faction man had never considered such things. Seeing how the Governor-General of the Grigori had fallen into the dream, however, made him ponder just how different their two kinds were.

Each of the fallen angels belonging to Azazel's strike team were in a self-contained world of his creation. Despite being separated, each were in a similar state where the supernatural didn't exist and they found themselves wandering a 'normal' version of places they knew. It was almost like one of those simulator games where the player controlled all that happened. He wasn't cruel, opting to leave them trapped inside without creating any torturous situations as his goal was to delay them only. Time had no meaning inside so it passed far quicker from their perspective despite only a few minutes since they'd become trapped. Many were still trying to find ways out, though he knew it was an impossibility.

I trained so hard to get this power, not like the ones brainwashed, Marsilio still felt uncomfortable about that. He knew their mission was a noble one for humanity, but seeing others mind-controlled into joining still made his stomach crawl. He'd been glad upon hearing the mask had been destroyed in Olympus. From inside the illusion, it'd take a gargantuan amount of power to escape, I bet I could even hold a god for a time. None of them can hope to escape, but still…

Many were still trying to find a way out, but to his surprise the one he expected to be most resilient almost seemed to have given in already. He watched with a morbid curiosity as Azazel sat in on opening ceremonies alongside Yasaka watching her daughter Kunou be accepted to the academy. They were even holding hands with more than a few inappropriate comments shared about having more time alone when her daughter was at a friend's house. He hadn't programmed the illusion specifically, merely allowing it to learn from his surface-level thoughts like a plane on auto-pilot. Meaning that what he was seeing is what was resting in the back of the fallen angel's mind.

"Never imagined one of them could have such a quaint desire," he admitted talking to himself. The rest of their forces had stormed upstairs save for a handful of guards to keep him safe. While his Gear was active, he could do little else but focus on it. Even doing just that, he coughed in a loud, hacking manner into his hands feeling as if he'd puke at any moment. "If we'd just held off a few more months, I'm sure I could have gotten better at this." Finally giving up, he promptly vomited into a nearby waste basket.

Fucking strain, he cursed again. It was never this bad when I viewed the worlds myself, only when trapping others. Probably for the best the entire Crossroad and Gremory Peerage weren't together, can only imagine how this'd feel with that many inside. I would have had to start doubling up worlds.

That was how it all started, he'd never forget it. Back when he was nobody, no family, friends or anyone aside from the other urchins that survived on the streets. One day, when he could take no more, suddenly he had found himself being fawned over by the neighbors who had beaten him. They shared meals, blankets and more treating him like one of their own. For a time, he thought he had died and this was Heaven. That did not last long, however, before he had come. The man carrying a spear that made Marsilio shield his eyes from and fall to his knees with tears.

"Cao Cao," he found himself whispering again as he took a long drink of medicine from his flask.

As it turned out, his Sacred Gear manifested in his sleep and Marsilio had created an illusory world of his greatest dream, but it couldn't last. Drawn by the revealed power, Cao Cao found him and showed that the harsh reality still existed and simply hiding away would not help change it in the slightest. He'd extended a hand with an offer to make him a hero where such admiration could be real and earned. Marsilio accepted, and never knew hunger again since that day.

I know the allure of that world, it lost all sway with me when I learned to control the Gear, but to everyone else it's like a dream come true. I almost envy them…

Marsilio started hacking again, bringing a sleeve to his mouth noticing the red stain when he pulled it away. The younger Hero Faction guards watching looked to each other nervously no doubt worried he may drop dead at any moment.

Just a bit longer, doesn't matter if it kills me. Just a bit longer, Cao Cao knows what he is doing.

Hyoudou Residence…

It happened so suddenly they barely had a chance to register what was coming as a ball of fire erupted through the barrier blocking off the Crossroad Tower. The powerful elemental blast was aimed directly at Asia in the back much to her shock. As it hurled through the air, Ophis simply stepped between to allow it to slam into her body. The attack disappeared within her as if it had been little more than a spark.

"Th-thank you!" Asia finally got out upon realizing what had nearly happened, but the infinite dragon did not react, merely glancing over to the source of the strike.

"A pity, it would have been far simpler to take out your healer first. It has been a while, Red Dragon Emperor."

"Cao Cao!" Issei screamed upon spotting the dark-haired man clad in a mix of a school uniform and Chinese top with the mage Georg at his side. The absolutely smug expression mixed with how he tapped the spear nonchalantly across his shoulder served only to irk him further. "What a coward, attacking Asia first!"

"Think of it as an eye for an eye as it were," he retorted with a weak clap while taking a seat on the sofa between the barrier and Team Gremory.

I shot out his eye, the young Pawn noticed that the injury seemed to gone, though Azazel had been certain the wound couldn't heal so quickly and may have had permanent damage. How did he…?

"I must say Ms. Gremory, your Rating Game was exquisite the other day. A stirring fight between your team culminating in two Balance Breakers and unleashing a form that only one other of your kind has anything even close to? I very nearly planned an assault during, but found myself truly intrigued by the battle. Regardless of our conflict, praise is deserved there. This is our first meeting after all since I missed you in Kyoto."

"Words of praise form you ring hollow," Rias stood up from assisting Volody, throwing a quick glance to him and Akeno to continue trying to bring down the shield. "I imagine you must have quite the reason for trapping us all in this mockup of our homes in Dimension Lost?"

A good delaying tactic, Catherine's eyes quickly darted to the others, even Issei seeming to understand the President's mind. If there is anyone they can get to monologue, it would be him.

"Why, the reason is right back there," he pointed over to Ophis still standing beside Issei. "Your fascination with the Red Dragon Emperor is…childish to one as old as you, very unexpected."

"And your betrayal is so human," she explained calmly as if she was giving a dissertation.

"You aren't very good at zubtlety," it was Volody who stood up leaving Akeno at the door. "I ztill had zome contacts at Nilrem, even Vali knew zomeone vas after Ophis from ze shadows. It vas obvious zat zhey vould make a move once she vas no longer in your little vortress. Ze convusing part of me is zat ze one avter Ophis was thought to be among their own allies. No one thought it would be from her own group."

"Wow, just when I thought you couldn't get any lower," Issei gritted his teeth. "Betraying your own boss, she gave you all that power and you just turn on her. I couldn't imagine doing anything to Rias in a million years!" He missed the gentle smile of love and pride mixed of the Gremory heiress' face at those words. Everyone in the room looked shocked and surprised at the Hero Faction betrayal, the two men's faces remaining calm throughout.

"And a trap was obvious with how suddenly she left and the clear interest in how the White and Red Dragon's current possessors are changing," Cao Cao continued seemingly ignoring Issei. "Our numbers have always been greater than you knew, we had more than enough to organize the attack on your Crossroad allies, for me to come here and even another force to delay Vali's team. "I am surprised you did not take refuge in their fortress, had I realized that sooner we would have entered here first. No matter, we are more than enough and Ophis is already here."

"You cannot defeat me," the infinite dragon remarked as an utter fact. "I am not sure what you hope to gain, but I am beyond you."

"That is what I would like to put to the test," Cao Cao popped to his feet spinning the spear with an unmatched skill and grace as the holy blade formed at its tip pulsing an aura that gave all the devils in the room chills even from a distance. "Shall we?"

Without warning, the Hero Faction leader disappeared, reappearing in front of Ophis with his spear already rammed through her stomach. He looked to be putting all the power he could into the attack that would have killed any devil, even one of the four Satans, instantly.

"Shine, spear that destroys the gods!" The nova of light expanded outward from the infinite dragon's gut and threatened to fill the room.

"Zhit!" Volody started focusing entirely on Cao Cao, his hands raised to focus on the incoming wave of light threatening to overwhelm the entire building. "Everybody, hold onto zomething!"

A shielding spell several layers thick emerged from his hands to hold back the attack. Even with his preparation, the blinding force pushed against it causing Volody to stagger. Rias tried to add her own seals to it but they disintegrated instantly, devil magic of her caliber being totally ineffective against the strongest Holy Longinus. Just as it seemed his strength would give out, Issei stepped forward.

TRANSFER!

With a monumental surge of power, Volody was strengthened by Issei's gift of dragon energy allowing him to stand once more. Bringing his hands together, his seal formed a sphere around the attack reducing in size over and over again until it blinked out of existence taking the colossal explosion of power with it. With a goofy smile and lidded expression, the Russian mage fell backwards to be caught by Honda completely spent and his body smoking.

"I've…never felt zo strong," he muttered almost drunkenly with a chuckle. "Promize me we can do zat again and I'll teach you any magic you want. Can't do it a zecond time though."

Come on man, you don't have to make it sound so weird!

As the light of the Holy Spear faded, they could see further towards Ophis and Cao Cao with the weapon still lodged into her gut. Even so, there was no blood nor look of pain on the dragon's face. Cao Cao slid the Longinus out, no wound left behind as Ophis remained just as uncaring as before. Strangely to the watching devils, the Hero descendent just laughed.

"If she had been any devil, even a Satan, that would surely have killed them," he explained. "Even a lesser god would have likely fallen to that, yet not even a scratch for Ophis. Do you see the gap between us, Red Dragon Emperor? It's impossible to kill her even for the strongest Sacred Gear of God himself. I surmise that is why you don't just end me immediately, right? I am so far beneath you that you hold no interest in even that, just what will the Red Dragon and Great Red do next? I doubt even the second strongest being could hold a candle to you, that thought is so frustrating it makes my blood boil."

Then why does he do this? It was Catherine's turn to be confused. I can only imagine what he wants her infinite power for, but if he knows he can't beat her then what was the point of this ambush?

"In any case," he spun his spear again completely ignoring Ophis to focus on the now-prepared Gremory Team. "I will deal with her later, for now it's time to see if the supposed strongest young devil team can stand up to even just myself. Do not hope for reinforcements, it's only a matter of time before your friends' tower is reduced to rubble.

Crossroad's Tower, upper floor…

"Move damnit…MOVE!" Dorian pushed against the petrification left by Cao Cao. The curse of Medusa lived up to the legend not just paralyzing his movement but also his mind. Not even Iggy could manifest herself, being trapped with him. "Georg even put a spell on us, some type of invisibility illusion. The others won't be able to find us like this without searching the whole tower. Can you open the Roads or anything?

No, Iggy kicked the side of a wall within her mental construct. I feel so…trapped, like before you could speak to me. I never realized Medusa's curse was so potent.

"We have to find a way out!" Dorian thought while pounding on the metaphorical prison around him. "If Cao Cao attacks the others while they're fighting the main troops, they won't stand a chance!"

He wasn't heading that way, Iggy sought to calm him. He was bent on Ophis, he'll attack there first. Perhaps Rias and her group can repel him, though he seemed very confident as if he has something they won't expect.

"All the more to get out of here. Damnit, if only I'd learned more of Olympian petrification magic. Rossweisse was studying that after we got back from the siege." Dorian was so frustrated at his immobility that he did not feel a warm sensation growing on his breast.

I should have as well, with how much we'd learned and never faced someone with such a power, I grew careless. I'll make sure to know EVERY magic there is!

The warmth on Dorian's chest got hotter.

"Don't beat yourself up Iggy," Dorian held her hand. "I wouldn't know most of my skills were it not for you. You're such a genius, always learning the most complex spells and…and…OW!" He finally felt the burning sensation, reflexively reaching for the source of it. "Tch," he winced at the painful jab of nine points as his hand closed around it.

I was so foolish! Iggy smiled with a growing sense of satisfaction. You said Rossweisse was studying that magic…and we all forgot something she made for you with her heart and sweat!

In Dorian's palm was a shining silver 9-pointed star brooch crafted by the most intelligent woman he'd ever known. That day flooded back even before they were officially together, both the joy of their time together at the festival and the pain of a nearly-crushed hand by Thrud causing his spirits to soar higher than they had been in some time. He'd always worn it even under his armor, never taking it off, owing much of his good luck to its presence.

This is it! Rossweisse, when I see you again I could…wait, was there always a crack on the side…?

Crossroad's Tower, lower floor…

How many did they recruit? I had no idea there were this many Sacred Gears in the world, let along who had joined the Hero Faction.

Hecuba blocked a new volley of fire with her shield, the last shot soaring over and ringing her helmet like a bell. To stop the pain, she tore the protective metal from her head, casting it at the nearest Hero Faction member, clocking them hard. Time seemed to slow as she surveyed the room, seeing how things were going. Seekvaira's machines were helping but had nearly all been destroyed. Rossweisse and Zepar were starting to show exhaustion needing more and more power to get through the defenses in the back. Thrud was having the time of her life, but was slowly accumulating injuries and if she advanced any further, would move beyond their ability to cover her. They were holding, but barely.

And Dorian hasn't returned, he would have if he could. Why would Cao Cao take their battle above? If he'd remained on this floor his powers would surely have allowed them to overwhelm us. Unless…

"HEY! OVER HERE!" The sudden shouted snapped Hecuba back to reality, not having noticed that a pair of Hero Faction swordsmen had crept up close to her. Before they could begin their attack, the form of Despoina appeared with her old trident Twilight over her head. "Take this!"

Bolts of lightning shot forth, missing the men by a small margin but causing them to scramble and fall back to the others. One launched a fireball at the former goddess, passing through her body leaving him uncertain and bewildered.

"What are you doing here?" Hecuba asked with a harsh tone in her voice.

"Saving your life it would seem, they were almost on top of you."

"I thought you couldn't interact with them," she whispered low contemplating if this was some new power born of her time with Dorian.

"I can't," she winked back but grew serious upon seeing Hecuba was not returning the sentiment. "But they don't know that, what did you think of the light show? Hecuba had no words, realizing just how close the foes had gotten without her noticing leaving her shaken. All the same, she couldn't find the words to thank Despoina for the act of kindness. "You don't have to," Despoina sighed as her body grew translucent. "That really took a lot out of me, have to return to Dorian's mind, I worry he's not doing well. Good luck, please don't die, if you did, I'd feel…" Before she could finish, her form vanished into the air and was gone.

She bought us time, even a few seconds. They don't know what to make of another combatant appearing briefly. We have time to…wait! Her thoughts snapped to what she'd been considering before, leaping back suddenly.

"Thrud! Retreat to our lines!" She called out as the answer to Cao Cao's departure entered her mind. The daughter of Thor looked back incredulously but acquiesced while slamming one more armored woman into the ground denting the floor. "Rossweisse, can you bombard the area? We need to drive them back!"

"I have enough for one more I think," she huffed before opening a circle over the area. The Hero Faction still standing recognized it, each running back to the perceived safety of their barrier supports before all Hel started raining down on their heads.

"Cao Cao isn't interested in us, he's leaving us to his own standard troops," Hecuba quickly explained. "He engaged Dorian; most likely both to get him away from us and mask going for higher up in the tower!"

"Issei's house?" Zepar agreed. "If they realized Ophis is not here, perhaps they reinforced the front entrance to prevent any hope of them finding a way out and plan to enter…"

"From the connecting bridge!" Rossweisse landed utterly exhausted, their opponents still picking themselves up from the barrage. "We must warn them!"

"Communications aren't reaching them; they must be jamming it somehow. Some of us need to stay and fight them here or they'll be able to reinforce themselves on every floor," Hecuba explained as her strategist mind started racing. "Le Fay, can you take some of us over there? You can teleport still, correct?"

"Yes!" She stood up proudly. "It's not enough to leave Dimension Lost, but I can probably teleport myself and two or three people a short distance to the bridge and make our way from there."

"Take Zepar and Thrud and head next door. Give them any support you can and to Bennia or Kuroka if our guess was right and the bridge is under siege."

Zepar is the only man, Cao Cao's power to seal women like he did to Yasaka won't affect him, and Thrud is our hardest hitter. The Hero Faction forces are numerous but with Jeanne gone they have no true fighters. Irina, Xenovia…I'm sorry, we'll get down to you as fast as we can.

Le Fay nodded, motioning the two to stand beside her. "Okay, hold onto my cape. Here we go!" Raising the staff, she had acquired from the future, she created an ornate circle beneath them. It was evident to all it was difficult to maintain, flickering as the countermeasures of the Hero Faction attempted to prevent their usage. With a pop and boom of sound, they were gone. Those remaining could only pray they made it safe.

"Back up the stairs!" Hecuba rallied Seekvaira and Rossweisse, the last ones remaining with her. "We'll use the defenses on the next floor to stop the last of them! Without Jeanne's dragons, it will take them longer to break the barricades!"

"Thank you all," Seekvaira silently gave praise to the remaining members of her miniature robot army, treating them with the respect they deserved almost like her children with the work and care she had put into their creation. "Please delay them as long as you can." The nearest gave her a quick salute before turning to form up with those that remained.

"That goddess fled the field!" The highest remaining leader of the attacking forces called out while blasting the robots that defended. "Bring in Leonardo's failures! With them we can sweep away the last!"

"But Lord Cao Cao said only as a last resort, that we can't just…"

"Look around you, most of us are down! We can't press further like this. I said bring them in!" Rossweisse cursed as a group of robed mages previously hidden in the 1st floor stairwell stepped forward chanting magic she recognized.

"They're summoning something!" She called out, firing a concentrated blast that sniped the first summoner. Unfortunately, the rest continued unhindered, the process almost completed giving no time for a second shot as the remaining heroes honed in on her with suppressing fire. With her energy spent from a protracted fight, several blasts got through scorching her armor forcing the Valkyrie to the ground.

"Rossweisse!" Hecuba went back, her shield protecting her until she could reach Odin's former bodyguard. Seekvaira managed to take out another mage, but it was too late as their magic circle bore fruit.

The screeching sound was terrible to behold, causing friend and foe alike to cover their ears. The being that appeared was clearly an anti-monster but had taken on gruesome features missing from their Kyoto counterparts. Malformed wings that could not fly protruded from its back and its head was more draconic than humanoid. The aura released from its arrival shattered what few windows were unbroken on the 3rd floor.

"Leonardo must be around, that is one of his handiworks," Rossweisse and Hecuba recognized the monster's makeup. "We can't fight that yet, upstairs we can…" She froze as the head of the remaining heroes started to laugh.

"You can't defeat us now; all our fallen comrades will be avenged. This may have been deemed a failure, but it has more than enough power to…" He did not get a chance to finish as the anti-monster dragon turned and slammed its wall-like wing into his face. Blood shot from the man's face as the attack clearly broke bones wherever it impacted.

"What in the world?"

Seekvaira was perplexed as the dragon turned on the remaining heroes seemingly without any sense of loyalty to the summoners. It became apparent why they had not led with this creature as it ran amok attacking anything that moved. In a matter of frantic moments, those still standing had been cast aside or battered by the creature's fury. The remaining heroes dragged their wounded comrades that could be reached back downstairs abandoning those it had turned its attention towards, leaving them to their fates.

They earned this, Hecuba thought as she watched the carnage. Aligning themselves with Cao Cao, the attacks worldwide with the rest of the Khaos Brigade. They earned this just like…just like Despoina did? Damnit.

"Lady Agares, can you get the men still in there out once I distract the beast?"

"Help them? But they're the enemy!"

"Yes…but they are also human beings," Hecuba gripped Monsters Bane before rushing full speed towards the horrific dragon as it was trying to chew through an armored opponent who had already lost consciousness. Planting her feet, she swung the blade which bit into its tough hide but skidded off it, severing a wing cleanly instead.

Roaring in pain, the dragon dropped its prey, turning and barreling directly for Hecuba who somersaulted over it to land another cut cleanly across its back. The bones of Echidna did their job well, slicing through this time and spilling its black blood across the lobby. With a quick nod, she signaled Seekvaira who swooped in with Rossweisse grabbing the Hero Faction members who were unconscious scattered around the creature. Hecuba expertly fought with the Hero's trump card, making sure to keep its attention as they got anyone still alive out of harm's way.

It's strong, but not insurmountable, Hecuba analyzed its movements as she avoided it. Cao Cao fights the supernatural but avoiding direct hits, his spear makes it easier but if he can do it…so can I as I have always tried.

She dodged and pirouetted around its wild and uncoordinated swings, using her shield when it surprised her but that was few and far between. It only took a few moments of trial and error to avoid its claws and leap onto its back. With that, it took a single precision slash to decapitate its head from its shoulders. The anti-monster dragon slumped to the ground with a second plop alerting her that its head wasn't far behind.

"Hecuba, behind you!" Seekvaira's warning as she returned came a half-second too late. A claw that should not have been there swung through the air, catching Hecuba in the side and sending her flying into the wall. She was certain at least one bone in her arm was broken.

The decapitated body had risen again, worse yet its head had started bubbling at the neck, an entire new body cascading outward until it was just like the first. Similarly, the missing head of the first started to regrow as well, replaced with an even more misshapen visage than the first.

And in that moment, now there were two of them.

He was collecting powers and abilities fighting the various myths to make his anti-monsters stronger. Did he put a bit of hydra in there!? I am surprised I am not dead with that blow.

Hecuba stood her ground, Rossweisse and Seekvaira almost done getting their defeated enemies to safety. She spit up blood, cracking her neck as she stood with both monsters focused solely on her. She couldn't take both as she was, especially if another decapitation would simply create another. Nevertheless, she stood her ground unwilling to move.

"You won't take another step," she asserted while throwing away a ruined bracer, her flowing red hair billowing in the breeze. "By my pride as a Spartan and member of the Crossroads, THIS is where you'll meet your end!" Her words echoed loud, even making the mindless monsters hesitate. After a moment, they charged towards her bent on the kill.

"That…was well said. DIVIDE!"

A familiar light struck the rampaging beasts and like that, their strength was gone. Where they before had the power to crush armor and shatter weapons, now seemed no stronger than the basic anti-monsters. It was child's play for Hecuba to bash them in the head with her shield, sending them reeling. Looking up, she huffed slightly to catch her breath, removing a few strands of hair almost obscuring her vision to her savior.

"Vali? Your timing is…appreciated."

"It took time to get through Dimension Lost," the silver-haired man remarked in his usual stoic self as he lowered down on his glowing wings. "There were more members outside as well, Bikou and Arthur are more than enough to deal with them. Cao Cao was no doubt inside, so I came in alone."

"If you were aiming for Cao Cao, why are you here? He made a path for Issei's house as soon as he got past us." Vali's scowl deepened at the question, muttering under his breath for Albion to be quiet within his mind.

"I made my choice, that is all that matters," he finally answered. "Cao Cao can wait. That, and these creatures," he motioned towards the two dragons clearly confused by their sudden weakness. "They are not normal anti-monsters; Leonardo was nowhere near this level back in Kyoto. Something has changed and I wanted to see it for myself."

"That aura around them," Hecuba saw the same as him. "It's not from Annihilation Maker, but something more ancient…and sinister."

"It's evil," Vali narrowed his vision towards them in anger drawn from his theory as to the source of it backed up by the white dragon seething within him. "Something even Albion hasn't felt in a long time. We can't let these things get away and must track down Leonardo afterwards."

"I'll take the one on the left, if you think you can handle the right." Vali's expression towards her was incredulous, almost insulted before seeing the barely noticeable smirk denoting her jest. She launched herself at her foe as Vali turned to the right.

"You are nothing to me both as a dragon nor a worthy opponent," the White Dragon Emperor extended his hand, armor forming around him, as the creature charged him. "I needed to test this technique out anyway… COMPRESSION DIVIDER!"

A force enveloped the dragon, seizing it in place as it suddenly spasmed. With each passing second, the creature became crushed smaller and smaller like a car in a compactor. Even its wails ceased as after only a few passing seconds, the monster simply ceased to exist, an evolution of Vali's powers he had yet to show anyone able to literally divide it out of existence.

I was keeping that a secret to face Issei next time. So why did I use it now? I could have obliterated the creature in seconds with no chance for it to regenerate.

Perhaps you wanted to end the fight quick and ensure no further injury came to the young lady? Vali immediately dismissed the notion.

She'll need us for the second one, then we…

Vali turned fully prepared to repeat his attack only to see the dragon fall over dead. Hecuba stood overtop its corpse, Monsters Bane rammed clean through its skull. Knowing any decapitation or dismemberment would result in another, she instead opted for impalement going straight for the creature's brain. She had been correct, even such a monstrosity still being limited to the internal organs created by Annihilation Maker. Whipping her hair once more, Hecuba withdrew her sword only for the anti-monster dragon to stir once more prompting her to run it through again.

"It can regenerate," she calmly explained while climbing over its body, now weaponless. "As long as Monsters Bane stays where it is, it can't heal itself or move. You said this creature was something not seen in some time, I imagine the others will want to analyze it."

"…Do what you wish," Vali turned with a sigh, more teasing to follow from within his Divine Dividing at the clearly impressed expression he was trying to hide seeing her so proficient at adapting to the moment. "It seems the Hero Faction's assault has been stymied in the tower. You won't have a better chance for a counterattack against the ground floor."

"Dorian is still missing," Rossweisse pointed out as she and Seekvaira returned, all the enemies they had pulled to the side bound in a group field they had no hope of breaking out of. Spotting the downed dragon, she quickly started encasing it in a seal of its own so Hecuba could retrieve her weapon. "Everyone else is still scattered…"

"But we have reinforcements downstairs," Seekvaira chimed in. "If we can free Azazel and the other Grigori agents, we will then have enough to secure the tower and help Rias' team."

"That is where I will go next," Vali started. "I…!"

He froze as his body suddenly started to glow, sparks rising all around him as a magic began to envelop him. Hecuba's worry was placated by the fact that Vali was totally calm as if expecting it.

"Volody is still alive, that is good. I wasn't expecting him to reach out so soon, the situation must be worse than we thought over there. This is where we part ways, don't get killed." With that last word, Vali disappeared in a shower of light only to be replaced by Volody slumped to the ground utterly spent and wounded.

"Volody!" Rossweisse approached to heal him, realizing he was already unconscious. "We have to get over there!"

"And we will," Hecuba approached the gaping chasm made from Jeanne's dragon breaking through to the floors below. Gazing into it, she saw it went past the floors below and likely beyond to the basement. Beside the hole, Durandal lay embedded where Xenovia's grip had failed her. "We'll rescue Lord Azazel and his men, make sure Irina and Xenovia are safe…" She gripped the Holy Blade, basking in the released energy as it transformed back into the Legendary Blade of Troy her forbearer had wielded long ago, "…and then we will take the fight to Cao Cao and help the Gremory Team!"

Crossroad Basement….

Gym equipment and other training gear flew across the large basement of the tower as Xenovia continued to grapple with the dragon made of holy Swords. Even without Durandal, Angurvadal was a formidable weapon of destruction, its inborn desire for combat rivaling even Excalibur Destruction. Xenovia fed its greed gladly, performing blow after blow upon the construct, many reducing it to pieces. However, as with in Kyoto, it could reform each time regardless of injury so long as the swords were mostly intact. The young Einherjar kept at it, knowing she was buying time for her partner to deal with the true threat.

"You've been practicing little angel," Jeanne mocked as she swung again with her new weapon, a sword vaguely resembling the rapier she used to carry but more ornate. "To think they'd give YOU the True Excalibur, it's wasted in your hands! You would have been smarter giving it to that Arthur guy, he at least could make real use of it."

Irina fumed a bit at her words, it had been that way many times. Due to her more innocent and gentle nature, she'd been underestimated when studying combat within the Church. Ever since her father had suddenly whisked her away from Kuoh Town to England in the dead of night, she had felt out of place. Xenovia was the one who helped her through that, not looking down on her even back when she was at her most fervent, following the path to reaching God one day. She wasn't about to let her trust go to waste.

"Nightmare!" She called out, her body splitting into a dozen clones each acting separate from one another. Jeanne paused as she stopped, glancing between each one carefully as they charged. "Rapidly!"

It was like a whirlwind of blades as Irina, without warning, activated the second Excalibur skill simultaneously to increase her speed past her limits. To Jeanne's chagrin, each of the clones had substance denoting power Irina accumulated in her time among the Crossroads. Even a new Sword Birth from the ground barely helped, dispersing half of her copies, but the rest moved in. She deflected most, but some got through adding to her frustration with every cut. As her armor started to crack, the inheritor of Joan of Arc's soul grew enraged.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" She roared, seizing one of the holy swords that had been born from her attack and slammed it into the ground. A nova on par with a high-tier angel exploded outward disintegrating the last of Irina's army and blowing the real one into the back wall slamming her head against it.

She can destroy my clones, Irina thought quickly as she rolled to dodge her counterattack. Destruction is too slow; I need an opening and blessing won't help here. Rapidly helps keep me ahead of her and mimic will have its moment. I…I need to use everything at my disposal. She considered the seventh power, but pushed it from her mind. Hold on Xenovia!

"See what I mean? Flailing around like that," Jeanne started the mind games in addition to her savage strikes. "A fragile little girl hiding behind your big boy sword. The wielder of that weapon is meant to rule kingdoms, you can't even stand up to one opponent and are better following like the good sheep you are. I'll enjoy wielding it, that blade deserves to be in the hands of a real hero, not some nobody pitied by that idiot Michael and some naïve Einherjar, I suppose it makes sense growing up alongside such a disgusting perv..."

She never saw it coming, Jeanne was floored as a fist rushed past her sword and clocked her in the face. The Hero Faction swordswoman was thrown backwards barely righting herself before hitting the training labyrinth behind. With a cough, she checked to see blood dripped from her nostrils.

"Don't…don't you EVER insult Lord Michael OR my friends!" The aura around her had totally changed now emanating a killing intent that even Jeanne put her guard up against. "I may not be a descendent of legends like you, or Hecuba and Xenovia to Hector and Ser Roland…but all heroes started somewhere! If you had to be related to someone to be great yourself, there would never be any heroes to begin with!"

Jeanne lunged with her sword, shocked to hear a clang as it was deflected by a shield that wasn't there before.

"Mimic," Irina muttered as she activated a new power. "This can be any weapon I wish for attack or defense. "They didn't have to give it to me."

"You're my Ace," Michael had said the day he reincarnated her as an angel. He hadn't forced it or tried to guilt her; he'd asked honestly with a true look of pride in his eyes that set her heart ablaze. It may have driven those around her crazy when she'd brag about the post, but she couldn't help it. She was an ace of Heaven and no one could take that away from her. "You will do wonderful things; I am sure of it."

"All are capable of more when pressed," Arthur's words were next from when he had turned over the final Excalibur to her. "You, perhaps most of all the younger generation within the Church, cherish the spirit of their laws, not the absolute word of them."

"I am Michael's Ace," Jeanne's face scowled as she repeated those words. "And he saw me as the best to join the Crossroads to build a better future for Heaven. Arthur trusted me with the sword of a Ruler, when I've only ever followed my whole life. Perhaps, it is time I tried something new."

"I'll just make another one then!" Jeanne held out her sword, the collection of holy blades before her coalescing together into a new dragon. This one was larger than the other still fighting Xenovia, their battle breaking the walls around them. It was closer to a western-style dragon unlike her previous serpent design. "Kill her! Devour her whole within your stomach of blades!"

At her command, her child obeyed, rushing towards Irina who transformed the shield she had deflected the attack with back into Excalibur's true form. She did not try to dodge, avoid or block its incoming strike. Instead, she held out her sword, light surrounding it as her four wings exploded with power resulted from her tireless training with those she called friends.

"In the name of Heaven, Lord Michael, the Crossroads and myself…I ASK OF YOU!...!" She screamed with confidence as the dragon collided with her sword in a blaze of light.

Jeanne covered her eyes, even Xenovia and her dragon stopped their quarrel to see what was happening between their partners. Xenovia dared to look through the explosion, seeing a sight that made her stare in awe. Irina had succeeded in impaling the holy sword dragon upon its forehead, causing it to halt its advance on a dime. Unbelievably, the dragon bent forward in a gesture that clearly showed it prostrating itself before the young angel. Jeanne was grinding her teeth loudly in restrained anger, finally able to see the outcome of her attack.

"I SAID KILL HER! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!?"

"Holy swords try to be good, a sure sign of our father's intent." Irina started petting the dragon which had taken to laying down almost like a giant dog in front of her. "But they have to obey their wielders who are strong enough to hold them. Did you ever try listening to the blades you create? You called your dragons your babies, but would a mother ignore her children's pleas?"

"What are you talking about?" She took a step back, clearly unnerved by the sudden shift of control between them. "You…what did you do?"

"Excalibur Ruler," she held up her sword once more. "It has the power to subjugate anything it strikes, I never thought I should use this power to control others. It feels so…wrong."

"So, you're just making it do what you want!? Let him go at once!"

"I couldn't do it," Irina clarified. "I mean, I didn't want to force my will on others, so instead I compelled it to answer my question. Is this what you want? They said no."

The dragon turned to look back at Jeanne with more emotion in its eyes than she had ever seen. Ever since awakening her Sacred Gear, Jeanne had created thousands of blades wielded both for herself and later for Cao Cao. Even after obtaining her Balance Breaker when facing the youkai ruler, the previous year, it had never occurred to her that they may be sentient.

Is…is that why my Balance Breaker manifested as my ability to create the dragon? Were my swords trying to find a way to communicate with me? No, that can't be…I refuse to believe it! She's tricking me, though she shouldn't be strong enough to fully subjugate anything, much less ALL of my holy swords!

Releasing a scream of frustration that echoed through the basement, Jeanne plunged the sword in her hands into the ground. On command, her second dragon started to light up, the power within them building to an apex that could not be stopped.

"If they won't kill you, I'll make them!" The possessor of Joan of Arc's soul proclaimed a moment before the dragon exploded.

Shards of metal and scraps of holy swords flew across the room, one even cracking Jeanne's own armor, so deep was her uncertainty she didn't consider dodging. She was smirking, thinking how many pieces the angelic ace must have been blasted into. Her jaw dropped as the light dimmed and smoke cleared…revealing Irina still standing. She was covered in cuts, her Church battle suit shredded and leaving more bloody skin visible to the world. All the same, she was still standing holding aloft Excalibur, a single tear running down her cheek.

"I didn't just use Excalibur Ruler on your dragon, but EVERY Holy Sword you create as they are all connected. Even with such an underhanded trick, they did their best to not hurt me. It's only thanks to that that your attack failed."

"It may have failed, but look at you!" Jeanne advanced surely with powerful steps. "You've lost a lot of blood; you can't possibly beat me like that even with Excalibur."

"You are right," Irina staggered to a knee. "But don't you understand, I freed ALL of your holy swords from your dominion. I did not come down here alone after all."

Jeanne didn't realize her meaning until it was too late. Her first serpent dragon made of holy blades reared up behind Irina having used pillars and debris to mask its advance. Xenovia, covered in bruises and injuries of her own, yelled out in excitement as she stood atop the construct. She was not commanding or controlling it, only using it as a means of transportation. The embodiment of Jeanne's Balance Breaker was barreling towards her, maw open just as it had done to her foes in battles past.

"D-disperse!" Jeanne shouted in an instant, disabling her Balance Breaker and causing the sentient mound of swords to crumble before her very eyes. It was too late, however, as while the dragon was stopped, the momentum it had carried the azure-haired woman atop it right towards her.

"Without Durandal to temper it, Angurvadal hungers greedily for battle! That, and I've never felt this strong!" Xenovia proclaimed with a golden aura surrounding her, the same Dorian wielded when using the strength of Asgard. "This connection between our pieces, I can feel the power of Asgard he wields!" She slammed her weapon, runes all aglow, down upon the ground releasing an unfathomable torrent of energy towards the now-defenseless Hero Faction woman. Her scream was loud but instantly drowned out by the resulting explosion. It was finally over, the inheritor of the soul of Joan of Arc lay unconscious on the ground with her armor shattered and skin charred. The battle had ended.

"Irina!" Xenovia dropped her blade in order to barely catch her a moment before her partner and friend would have collapsed to the ground. "Can you move?"

"Not…really," she groaned looking up with a smile. "I guess I wasn't much of a ruler yet, collapsing like this."

"I would follow you into battle any day," Xenovia smiled with a wink, only then realizing she didn't have the strength left to hold her up, having been exhausted keeping the holy sword dragon busy for so long. After only a few seconds, they both collapsed beside one another.

"Michael's Ace," Irina muttered as darkness too her falling into an exhaustive slumber. "Michael's Ace…Dorian's Ace…someday, I'll be the greatest angel in Heaven and show everyone else that I…" She did not finish as she slumped down with a contented goofy smile spread across the entirety of her face.

Hyoudou Residence…

"You talk too much" Volody opened a magic circle beneath his feet with what little energy he still had. "Ve knew you'd come eventually and vere ready. Good luck everyone, I already connected the path to him."

Before being able to ask what he meant, the Russian Baba Yaga disappeared to be replaced with another man. His dark silver hair was tussled by the magic and blue eyes focused squarely on Cao Cao.

"Vali!" Issei called out seeing his Heavenly Dragon rival. "You were here too?"

"Close enough to realize when Dimension Lost consumed you. Good work Volody, Le Fay would be proud. Cao Cao, it has been quite some time since we met face to face. As I see you chose to ignore Le Fay's warning in Kyoto, I can only assume you desired this conflict with me."

"This is quite surprising," Cao Cao had to admit. "Your team must have grown strong indeed to enter this place so freely."

"I chose them, that should be a given," he spoke with utter confidence in their powers. "They currently battle in the Crossroad Tower next door. They are outnumbered, yet you are outmatched, and coming here with only Georg? You have grown so unbearably bold."

"Not bold," he explained with a smirk. "I merely knew that Georg and I would be more than enough, your presence here doesn't change that."

"It must be that 'dragon eater' your three musketeers told us about in interrogation," the White Dragon Emperor continued. "They did not know the details, but let me guess. You acquired a powerful Sacred Gear user who specializes in dragon slaying, am I wrong? The title certainly screams of a self-proclaimed hero."

"You claim to know what a true hero is?"

"No, I found the very concept nothing more than a fantasy to those trying to justify their goals. However, I've recently met one who may fill that role in time, if she doesn't already." There was silence at those words, even Vali seeming uncomfortable at uttering them. "I have no interest in such a claim."

"You are wrong on both counts," Cao Cao shook his head. "The Dragon eater is a codename we assigned to one that already existed long before the Hero Faction and is far from human. Mankind did not create it, the vaunted God of the Bible did."

"May I?" Georg asked, Cao Cao nodding to his subordinate.

"It is time, both Heavenly Dragons are here, Ophis is here and neither Azazel nor the Crossroads can arrive in time to delay us. We couldn't ask for a better scene, open the Jar of Hell."

"The Jar of Hell to devour the infinite," Georg proclaimed enthusiastically. "Hold out your gift," Cao Cao raised his hand, the strange Olympian seal upon it Rossweisse saw in Kyoto began to glow brightly emitting an ominous aura that even Vali narrowed his eyes at. A chill ran through the room followed by a pressure matched only by the gods they had met in their battles.

"I-I don't like this," Issei muttered. "I feel like something is looking at me."

"Not just you," Ophis explained. "It is an intent directed against everything dragon." Ddraig confirmed her words sensing it as well. The fact Ddraig and even Albion were unnerved by the growing magic circle spoke volumes as to what could frighten Heavenly Dragons that made Heaven and Hell quake at their passing.

"Everyone group up!" Rias started formulating tactics, wrapping the power of destruction around her hands. She had practiced with her brother and felt she could command her new form but couldn't use it freely lest she run out of energy too fast.

The magic circle finished drawing power from Cao Cao's mysterious seal, an immense shape appearing from it. First to emerge was a head, a torso, then finally revealing black wings and…

"Is that a cross?"

"Th-that is…!" Catherine's eyes went wide recognizing, to an extent, the shapes before them. "The snake of Eden!?"

The being now before them almost eluded description, so abominable was its appearance. The lower half resembled a snake or possibly an unknown species of serpent Dragon but the upper portion was clearly a fallen angel complete with a pair of black wings. The horrific amalgamation was nailed to an enormous cross with every portion of its body bound to it, even the wings could not move. Strange symbols were etched across its surface that sizzled when it pulled on them, streaks of red stains covered its eyes.

"A crucifixion?" Asia made a sign of the cross with a silent prayer. "Th-there's so much anger from it. Cat, is this the serpent that cost us paradise?"

Catherine could only nod as a haunting voice screeched from the tormented being's lips revealing rows of blood-covered dripping fangs. The pain, suffering and resentment emitting from it could be felt by everyone in the room, but among the dragons most of all. It was jealous of the freedom of those standing before it, a right it had been long-since denied by judgement against its crimes. Its darkened aura flared upon seeing them that threatened to fill the lobby. The former knight of Diodora stepped forward, her lessons within the most sacred halls of the Vatican coming to light.

"You…you freed this beast from Cocytus!? The poison of God judged as the first crime cursed by his very name. The one who brought the hatred of God upon their entire kin for enticing Adam and Eve, Samael!"

The first man and woman, Adam and Eve, even Issei knew that story from the bible during Asia's prayers. The 'snake' who tricked them into eating the Fruit of knowledge and thus were driven from paradise. God's fury at being forced to cast his children out earned the serpent his fury and by proxy all dragons. But it looks nothing like the texts, what he originally a fallen angel or dragon?

A new voice from behind clarified some of the Dragon Emperor's internal questions.

"The being that took all of God's evil intentions, his ire and hatred into its very body. Of course, God was sacred and was incapable of expressing evil, but so high was his sorrow that even what could not exist still manifested as a poison that infected that serpent leading to what you see now, sealed into the deepest circles of Cocytus to prevent from spreading…the ultimate dragon-slayer without equal."

"Zepar!" Akeno called out, throwing her arms around the man she loved who emerged from a portal to explain more of what they were witnessing. Thrud and Le Fay were with him itching for a fight, the Valkyrie-goddess even more so after witnessing the monstrosity before them. Le Fay was wobbling, the teleportation delaying their arrival due to the Hero Faction's defenses having taken a lot out of her. "Are you okay?" She spotted injuries from his past battles.

"I will live and am thankful to see you are safe. Dorian assumed Lord Hades had some connection to the Khaos Brigade, it explains much of past events. Considering Samael's imprisonment is his jurisdiction, the is beyond any doubt. But the question is why."

"Simple negotiation," Cao Cao's confident smile turned to the fallen angel. "As you can see it is still heavily restricted, but I have the power to summon and command him. The old bones seemed to think he was using us, quite frankly I don't care what his machinations were. He no doubt thought I couldn't use this release seal without his help, fortunately we have allies even he is unaware of."

"I knew he hated Olympus working with other myths, but to think he'd go so far!"

"I doubt he'd have sided with us for such a petty reason," Cao Cao tutted at Issei. "Samael is an entity beyond what this natural world can understand, releasing him to us, even like this, screams of desperation. He wants us to use him, so we shall. Even your Holy Ascalon is insignificant as a dragon-slaying tool compared to him. Less than a toothpick."

Ascalon's a toothpick in comparison?!

"Our goal today is far more straightforward, nothing so grand as to slay every dragon…but to take as much as we can from one." The room realized his words too late as he clicked his fingers towards the young girl in the back. "Samael, devour her."

"Look out!" Rias called out as a black object shot past the team, enveloping Ophis even as her eyes widened in surprise.

A putrid tongue-like tentacle spanning the room had exploded from the cursed creature's body and wrapped around her so utterly that she could no longer be seen. Issei and Kiba leapt first, a holy-demonic sword and Ascalon swinging together in an attempt to sever the appendage. To their dismay, the upper half of Kiba's sword vanished upon making contact with the unnatural tendril. Even Ascalon was deflected, its dragon-slaying aura completely depleted leaving it cracked and damaged. Catherine pulled back before swinging, certain that her weapons would share the same fate being instruments of Heaven. Kiba tried again and again with new swords, each one of different abilities and designs, all disappeared upon making contact with Samael.

"Half Dimension!" Vali summoned his Balance Breaker, the shining wings focused solely on the tongue dragging Ophis closer and closer to its mouth. To his great frustration, it had equally no effect as if the creature was beyond the very laws governing the world around them. "Then this!"

Vali fired a wave of demonic power into Samael's torso, the attack disappearing within. Taking his lead and following Rias' commands, the entire peerage opened fire simultaneously. Rias exploded into her Destruction Form causing the lights of the room to dim, even Cao Cao took notice. Unleashing a volley of her own, Zepar also fired javelins of light, a Dragon Shot from Issei, a Kasha wheel from Koneko's nekoshou form while Le Fay opened fire with magic and even Ravel tried to assist with her Phenex fires, nothing so much as caused the tentacle the slightest scratch. As they attacked, the putrid gulping sound continued to emanate from within as if it was savoring the trapped infinite dragon.

"What is it doing to her?! How is that possible as the strongest being in the world?" Issei donned his full Balance Breaker armor and promoted to Queen ready to charge in closer.

"Forget Samael!" Zepar warned him. "If it can so easily incapacitate Ophis, neither you nor Vali can risk touching it. We have to go to the source, that means…"

"Cao Cao!" Issei jetted towards the Hero Faction Leader just watching the organized chaos before him. Despite Ascalon's damage, the holy aura had begun to restore itself, bringing it down hard as he clashed with the True Longinus. As he did so, the rest of the team advanced, Georg creating seals across the floor of explosions and traps to try and split the defenders.

Georg waved his hands, directing Samael to come between them, showing his control of the creature. He winced as a lightning-infused axe came down upon the fallen serpent's hide. The energy was absorbed, but the sheer force of the attack made the monster shudder. Thrud had jumped ahead of the team alongside Honda who were acting as the frontline tanks against a counterattack. He couldn't be sure, but he almost thought the Valkyrie-goddess was glowing.

"I made some progress Akeno," she smirked back at Rias' Queen showing the layer of Sage Art energy enveloping her body. "How do I look? I think I could take a bit of punishment…" Raising her hand, the lights of the room flickered as all the electricity in the room was drawn into it. Exploding outward, Gullbjorn was soon enveloped in the lightning of her family. "You take him, I'll handle the big beastie."

"This could be problematic against so many," Cao Cao admitted as he saw the forces moving around him. "Fortunately, no one was able to relay my secrets and so you are woefully unprepared." Swinging his spear, he forced Issei to jump back for some safety before raising it high. "Balance Breaker: Polar Night Longinus Chakravartin! It may be incomplete, but it's more than enough for the likes of you."

A ring of light appeared overhead as seven orbs appeared nearly the size of bowling balls encircling him. Issei couldn't help but think how it was the quietest Balance Breaker he'd ever seen with virtually no fanfare or explosion of power. He might not have ever guessed it was one were it not for the announcement of its name. All the same, Issei was frantic that he couldn't tell what its powers were just by looking at it.

"With this, I shall become the ideal ruler of Heaven on Earth," Cao Cao announced with a step forward. "Defeating both Dragons, who made the original Heaven tremble so in the past, would be a fitting first act."

"Be careful Lord Issei!" Ravel called out from the back lines. She was no true fighter, a fact she was well aware of and stood in the back to support alongside Asia protected by Catherine. Even so, seeing him hurt caused the Phenex daughter to take a step forward."

"Please stay back there!" Issei called out while preparing to clash with Cao Cao again. "Support us with Asia, you're my precious manager, I promised your mom I would keep you safe and I'm going to do just that!" He barely caught the glimpse of her cheeks turning red but had no time to process the meaning. "CAO CAO!" He screamed, bringing Ascalon down which the Hero Faction leader tried to parry. Using a riposte move Catherine had shown him, Issei dipped his sword underneath the True Longinus hoping to catch him off guard. "What…how?!"

One of the spheres had dipped into the path of his weapon, but rather than simply being blocked, Ascalon was wholly shattered down to the handle leaving only that in Issei's shaking hands. The Red Dragon Emperor barely leapt back to avoid the spear's counter-slash.

"Be careful you idiot!" Vali called out while avoiding Samael lashing out blindly at he and Thrud as Honda pounded on its hide. "That is a sub-species Balance Breaker, it's not the same one it had in the past but is unique to Cao Cao! It has seven abilities, one for each orb!"

"Seven!?" Issei turned incredulously. "Isn't that like cheating?"

"That's right, there is a reason it's the strongest Longinus that a pure human can possess. I know of three, the first being the power to destroy any weapons that touch one!"

"Issei, we'll go together!" Rias announced as she turned. "Catherine, protect Ravel and Asia, you two heal anyone injured. Honda, your armor is not considered a weapon and should by pass his ability."

The suit of armor nodded, balling up its fists as the devil-Dullahan ducked past Samael to stand beside them. The entirety of Team Gremory whom had faced Sairaorg's team and were now considered the strongest young peerage stood united against the Hero Faction Leader. Behind them, the others tried to contend with Samael and delay Ophis' devouring.

"So, you did find some of my abilities? A pity," Cao Cao shook his head. "That one was Cakka Ratana, no weapon can surpass it. Even one forged from impossible items would crack beneath its power."

Rias did not allow him another chance to move as she unleashed a way of destruction energy, Akeno merging her own holy lightning as they had done against the Midgardsormr clones. The roaring dragon formed of black lightning roared as it thundered through the room towards the waiting opponent who only raised his hand.

"Itthiratana…" A second Orb unleashed a wave of light that enveloped the room yet only focused on the women. Their explosive combination attack fizzled out and died before reaching him. All save Issei, Zepar, Honda and Kiba were covered in it, yet when it disappeared, they seemed no different. "That should balance things in our favor more."

Rias' destruction form fell away, even Akeno's wings disappeared leaving both standing there with blank expressions. They raised their hands again and again but nothing happened. Worst yet, Asia found herself unable to heal, Le Fay's magics had vanished and Catherine failed to activate her Holy-Devil form.

"That's what he used on Ms. Suzaku and Yasaka in Kyoto!" Zepar informed the team. "It can seal the power of women temporarily! I had no idea its effects were so widespread."

"Issei, Kiba, Honda…" Rias started, clearly knowing she had to give the command that they had to fight in their stead but couldn't finish. Her friends and servants knew her well enough; she didn't have to.

"Don't worry," Kiba promised while reforming his sword once more. "We'll find a way, but please stay back until you get your powers back…with Asia unable to heal any injuries we take won't be treated right away."

"We'll take these bastards down," Issei's resolve was only heightened realizing he was one of the few still capable of fighting.

And the danger falls to us, Issei glanced to the two, each nodding fully aware of what he meant. If we can take the hits while the others are out of it, that isn't so bad. What about Thrud…?

"Nice try, but magic powers have nothing to do with these muscles!" The battle-manic woman yelled as she clocked Samael once more with her axe. The Norse lightning had disappeared, but the strength behind her swings was mostly unaffected. If nothing else, she could still fight and had the power to back it up. Catherine used this to embolden herself, realizing even without her transformation, she was still a swordswoman through and through.

And so it was the women of Team Gremory fell back trying to formulate what could be done with no powers. Instead, the men stepped forward with Zepar still locked in battle with Samael. Cao Cao gave them time; his overconfidence desiring to utterly defeat them and claim an even greater victory. Georg could barely move while controlling the great beast, leaving the battle to his superior.

"Defeating all of you in this place, it will show the world what our faction is capable of. None shall get near Georg while I stand, and by the time this is over I will have sent you all to oblivion myself."

The Crossroads stand strong in their tower while those in the Hyoudou Residence face the best the Hero Faction has to offer and a creature whose roots reach back to the beginning of the Church. Can they gather their forces together to repel them before the power of infinity is lost forever? Until then, I hope everyone stays safe, Reads and Reviews...but most of all Enjoys! :D