Highschool DxD: The Prime Evil

by TalonAlpha3

"And the Evil that was once vanquished shall rise anew. Wrapped in the guise of man shall he walk amongst the innocent. And Terror shall consume they that dwell upon the Earth." Aidan Kain was just living a normal school life as a human with nightmares before being sucked into the Devil world as a pawn of Rias Gremory. What further adventures await for this Kuoh Academy student?

41. Chapter 41: Evil at its Prime

I do not own Highschool DxD nor do I own Diablo. All rights respectively go to Ichiei Ishibumi, the series' creator, and Blizzard Entertainment, the company who made Diablo.

---

"Asia, thank god!" Xenovia cried. "I wouldn't know what to do if you were gone. I mean it."

Asia walks up to her friend with a handkerchief in hand and dries her tears. "I'm not going to go anywhere, because I'll always have you and issei to protect me. Right, Xenovia?"

Xenovia smiles and nods, "You can count on me. I'll look out for you no matter what the future throws at us."

Rias walks up behind Asia and wraps her arms around her from behind, pulling her into a tight hug.

"I'm sorry," Asia said looking at Rias.

"You haven't done anything to apologize for," Rias reassured. "I'm just glad you're back with us where we can keep you safe."

Asia nods in agreement, "Yes… I feel the same way."

"I'm so glad Asia's back!" Gasper exclaimed with small tears. "But now my brain's freaking out about all the scary stuff that happened today!"

Koneko pats his head gently. "It's alright. There there, Gaspy."

"Aidan!" Asia soon runs up to the nephalem and wraps her arms around him tightly.

Aidan hugs back, careful not to squeeze the former nun. "Sorry I'm late."

"I believed in you." She said looking at him. "I was sure you would come for me issei. I know you always will."

Pulling back, Aidan places his hands on her shoulders. "I'm so sorry you had to go through all this."

Asia however shakes her head with a smile "I'm fine now, because you're here with me, Aidan."

Aidan smiles, glad to have her back. "Then… let's all go home. Together."

"Yes, but before we leave I'd like to say a little prayer," Asia said walking away for a moment.

Aidan, feeling like she deserved a prayer, replied with a smile, "Go ahead."

Asia soon gets on both knees as she begins to pray in silence, with a golden light encompassing over her body. Strangely enough, Aidan's mind felt connected to Asia's, allowing him to hear her voice.

"Heavenly Father, please hear my earnest prayer. Continue protecting Aidan and help him grow as you always have done. Plus from this day forward until the end of time, let us live together in peaceful bliss with Aidan."

When her prayer was finished, Asia suddenly and mysteriously…vanished in the golden light. Confusion spread immediately to everyone, wondering what on earth just happened. Aidan could then hear her remaining words.

'Swear to me we'll be together forever. I don't want to be alone. You promise, Aidan?'

Those words echoed in his mind, cementing themselves within as confusion and sorrow soon overtook him and everyone else. They had just rescued their dear friend from the clutches of the enemy, only for her to vanish just after being rescued.

From the darkness, behind the shadow of a pillar in the same room the ORC were in and was concealing her presence, Lilith watches with an evil grin of glee. She chuckles at the amusing shock of the ORC, one unheard by them. Her hand for some reason had that same golden light emanating from her hand before it died down.

Before she lingers longer to enjoy the scene of despair, she makes a quick escape back into the shadows, disappearing from sight.

---

OP: Metamorphose feat. Ishida Yoko – Over the Testament (Shinmai Maou no Testament BURST OP)

(As the music begins, a flash of white light occurs as the camera moves upwards to depict a mural showing the entire universe like a tree, first starting with the Burning Hells and their masters, the Seven Evils, as they light up in red. Aidan appears first in a blue background with a bare chest before it cuts back to the mural moving upwards to the middle showing Sanctuary/Earth and all the other realms surrounding it, including the Underworld which light up in green. Then Rias appears in a red background, a bit further back than Aidan yet also naked before it reverts back to the upper portion of the mural, showing the High Heavens and their leaders, the Angiris Council, illuminated in a white glow. Akeno is the last show further back than Aidan and Rias, also naked and with a yellow background. The last image shows the entire mural illuminated in its respective colors.)

Over the Testament (The title of the show is revealed as Highschool DxD: The Prime Evil)

sabireta kono sekai ni habikoru (Aidan is standing on top of Tristram Cathedral, looking out to the sunset over the horizon before he turns briefly to his right to face away from the camera)
gizen to jiko gisei sore ga bigaku ka? (Rias is shown in front of the ORC Clubhouse before she turns around fully and then begins to walk forward)
honne o kakushita koduku na PIERO (The camera cuts to Akeno in her miko outfit at her shrine, her eyes closed before she opens them in a serious expression)
kyou mo kimi wa Poker face (Asia is shown in a church praying before she turns around to the light. The next image shows Kiba leaning his back against a wall, head down and eyes closed, with the spirits of his dead comrades surrounding him in comfort)

kamen hazushite saa kocchi ni kite (The Gremory rune is shown before the background turns black. Rias appears amidst the flames of the Burning Hells soon afterwards with the rune still present)
arinomama no kimi shiritaikara (Aidan's left arm, from his Sacred Gear that was holding Silentium, is corrupted as he activates his Balance Breaker, making him scream into the air as the shadow of Diablo appears above and behind him)

kagayaki ni tsutsumare yasashii kaze ga fuku (Rossweisse, fires a powerful blast of lightning from on high at a group of flying Demons. Xenovia was on the ground as she slams Durandal to the ground, creating a massive quake that topples the incoming Demons in front of her)
sonna sekai o misetakute chikai o koeta (Kiba charges across the rooftops with Sword of Betrayer in hand. The camera follows him where he was charging towards the towering Belial, Lord of Lies. He jumps up to dodge a blast from the Demon Lord before spinning in the air and cutting off one of Belial's horns)

arata ni kizamareru kibou e no ayumi o (Koneko is seen next running across the rooftops as the camera follows her, charging at Azmodan, the Lord of Sin. She lands roughly on one roof before jumping upwards, dodging Azmodan's attack before she runs across the Demon's left arm and delivers a swift kick to his head)
tsugi no PEEJI ni kakishirushi (Rias fires a powerful blast from her Power of Destruction, only to be caught in a blast herself by Azmodan, sending her flying away)

ugokidashita jikan wa New age (Rias is caught by Aidan who smiles at her to which she returns. Then the two lean in for a romantic kiss as they are enveloped in a red power, their clothes also dissipating in the process)

(Aidan is shown in his Balance Breaker, Primal Terror Vengeance, starting at the back as the camera steadily turns around to show him until the last shot shows his left demonic eye. Between each frame, quick-time images appear; the first one being Venalana Gremory, Lilith, and the angel Aurelia in her mortal guise but with her back facing the camera, the second Sirzechs and Grayfia, the third being the Student Council led by Sona Sitri, the fourth being Loki and Diodora Astaroth back to back, and finally the last one showing Sinestra as the Angiris Apostle with the Angiris Council members looking over her, including Tyrael as the Archangel of Justice and Malthael as the Archangel of Wisdom)

(The final image shows Aidan looking to his right at Sinestra in the air, ready to take part in the Eternal Conflict)

---

As the light dies down and Asia Argent is nowhere to be found, all in the room were stunned, wondering what on earth just happened right before their eyes. Nobody could believe it at all. One moment Asia was there, the next she was gone. Here for one minute, gone the next.

"A…sia…?" A stunned Aidan could not take his eyes off the spot where Asia had disappeared.

"Asia?" asked a stunned Xneovia in a hushed voice.

Kiba looked completely tense before he gritted his tenth in anger and confusion.

"Where is she?" Gasper asked, but no one could answer since nobody knew.

"What happened?" Koneko also asked, in confusion just like the rest.

Akeno and Rias were merely staring at the spot where Asia was, unsure of what had just happened.

"I think that's quite enough of this nonsense," A new voice spoke from which a light green magic rune circle appeared.

"Who are you!?" Rias demanded as she saw the rune.

"Dear little sister of the despicable and fake Devil King Sirzechs, who I am is the one and only true descendant of the Great Devil Beelzebub. I am Shalba Beelzebub."

To sum up the appearance of this new Devil in a nutshell, Shalba had the appearance of a handsome man dressed in black armor with a cape. He had long brown hair that goes to his hips with many bangs covering his right eye.

Rias could only glare that became only more intense. "What do you want!?"

Shalba however notices that someone was missing, yet his expression was indifferent. "I see you have taken care of Diodora. For once I thank you, thus a maggot dies. Current Devil King, did he say? Calling the true bloodline was the fool's first mistake. His imagination was his second."

But that is when Rias realized it. "Of course, you were behind the death of the Glasya-Labolas heir, weren't you!?"

"Can you believe the sheer arrogance there?" asked Shalba arrogantly. "Claiming to be the Devil King."

This was enough to have Rias pissed off as she glares at Shalba, ignoring however the fact that her beloved nephalem just went limp over the disappearance of the Peerage's bishop nun.

---

Meanwhile, the battle above between the Three Factions and against Azmodan and his Khaos Brigade seem to either be reaching a stalemate or going in one side's favor.

Azazel and Sirzechs were seen together surveying the battlefield. While they were not so much concerned of the Khaos Brigade, it was their Demon allies they were in league with. Azmodan seemed to be dredging up so many from his realm that they seemed almost endless.

"At this rate, we'll be pushed to exhaustion," Sirzechs stated, noting that the tide of Sin is not stopping.

"Then perhaps we should get Azmodan scared of us then," Azazel smirks.

Just then, a magic rune displaying the emblem of the Old Satan Faction appeared and out came one of the members. He had the appearance of a good looking man wearing the clothes of a noble. His clothes were black with dark red belts and motifs. He also had a cape. He had black hair tied up in a small ponytail and violet eyes. He also had pointy ears and pale skin.

"I am the true descendant and heir of Asmodeus," The man announced. "My name is Creuserey Asmodeus."

"So one of the great masterminds finally shows themselves," said Azazel so casually.

"As a member of the true Satan faction I am sworn to avenge Katarea Leviathan. We are here to make use of the power received from Ophis! We will destroy this land and a new world created for Devils will be ours!"

Whether this turn of events, of seeing one of the direct descendants of Asmodeus here in the flesh, was unfortunate or not is unknown. Azazel however merely smirks while Sirzechs maintains his indifference.

---

Meanwhile back at the temple, Rias walked forward toward Shalba, charging up her power and fury as the dark shadow of Diablo begins to manifest around her. "It doesn't matter who you are, you will still suffer for what you did to Asia!"

Shalba held out his hand as a purple magic rune circle appeared with two snakes on it. "Little sister of the imposter Sirzechs, nothing personal but I think I will kill you."

But the voice of a shocked and stunned Aidan caught everyone's attention, he stumbled forward towards an empty area like he was reaching out for someone. "Asia? Asia? Where did you run off to? You couldn't have… Please, enough already."

"Aidan…" Kiba said rather sadly. "He's lost it."

"Somnus…" Rias said.

"Asia, it's over…" Aidan said. "Diodora is gone... Where are you? Please. Asia!"

"Oh Somnus…" Rias wrapped her arms around her beloved's beck, holding him tightly.

Everyone soon began to feel the same grief, having lost one of their own. Kiba was the only one who gritted his teeth and looked away, while everyone else shed tears.

Xenovia however was more than just heartbroken. Instantly, she was filled with revenge.

"Ahhhh!" She had let out a warcry of pain and suffering, charging towards Shalba with Durandal and Silentium in hand. "I swear I will kill you for what you've done! I'll cut you down piece by piece till you scream for mercy!"

Jumping into the air, the blue-haired Knight tries to slash at Shalba. But she was easily blocked and blasted away.

*BAM*

"Xenovia! No!" cried Rias, seeing her knight knocked onto her stomach as parts of her outfit were now destroyed with both swords sticking into the ground in front of her.

"Don't test me," Shalba said with a bored look.

Gritting her teeth, Xenovia crawls to Durandal before crying in pure anguish "Bring Asia back now! Please she's one of my best friends! She was so gentle and unbelievably kind! Asia!"

This was hopeless. And quite frankly, enough was enough. Koneko, Gasper, Akeno, Kiba, and Rias all prepare themselves to go after Shalba, ready to charge in all at once to make him pay for not only incapacitating Xenovia, but also making Asia disappear. They may not be strong against him, but they had to try.

But just as everyone prepares themselves against Shalba, they saw a left hand raised up telling them to stop. They were stunned to realize it came from Aidan, who had his back turned on them.

"He… is mine…" Aidan growls as he trots forward to Shalba.

"Somnus…" said Rias, seeing her beloved go forward with a dark look on his face that scared her.

Shalba seemed a bit amused as he stared down at the encroaching nephalem. "Interesting, the princess of the Gremory Household has horrible taste. Would the nephalem like to know where that girl went? I sent her far beyond our reality into the Dimensional Gap. The exposure has surely consumed her flesh by now. To put it simply, the bitch is dead."

But Aidan was not interested in a lecture by some arrogant descendant of the original Devil Kings. It would take a lot more than that to break him despite teetering right at the edge of despair and madness. With the Demons involved and guessing that it is likely Shalba belongs to them, he wanted more proof. What he wanted to know is why Asia was even sent there in the first place. It was not just to demoralize them at all, not unless there was a plan behind it.

"You wouldn't have sent Asia away if you were not told to do so," Aidan said lowly. "You could have killed her easily, but you sought to bring despair to us by making her disappear to the void. Moreover, you were clearly ordered to send her somewhere far beyond our reach and sight. So I must ask…" Aidan then looks up with eyes filled with hate. "Who do you really work for, Shalba Beelzebub?"

"You should know that by now, nephalem," Shalba retorted while unmoved. "But in case you really want to know, I will say it this way… By Three They Come."

With those four words, that was enough for Aidan to growl like a possessed demon, now realizing who Shalba was working for. His eyes glow red with terror as his skin cracks with demonic power, giving way to the dark influence of Diablo. The black corruption crawls itself back, taking a firm hold in his mind.

And now the dark dormant power building up inside of him from the beginning was about to be unleashed.

---

Azazel looked over to his small, jeweled scepter, looking into the purple jewel on top. He seemed laid back and casual about the whole situation, as if nothing bad was happening despite the demonic invasion by Azmodan.

"Alright Fafnir, I'm gonna need a little backup, okay?" He looks over to Sirzechs and lets him take care of the man in front of them. "Sirzechs?"

Creuserey Asmodeus points over defiantly over to the two leaders of the Three Factions. "Prepare yourself and your artificial existence for death!"

Sirzechs tries to plea to Creuserey, "Asmodeus, understand if Devils are going to flourish, the last thing we need to have is an unnecessary war. Let alone Demons crawling into our home."

But like the rest of his kind, Creuserey would not have it. Arrogantly, he cries, "An imposter who deals with not only Fallen Angels but Angels themselves has no right to speak as a Devil. Only through the power of the Burning Hells can we finally reclaim what is ours by right!"

"So what, we should listen to you!?" Azazel scoffed. "A traitor, someone naive enough to fall for the obvious lies of the Khaos Brigade, which is nothing more than a corrupted organization filled with Demons."

"Creuserey, as the great Devil King, I will eliminate anyone who stands against the current Underworld. Even those who would dare side with the Burning Hells."

Without a moment to waste, Sirzechs activates his powers, enveloping Creuserey in an aura of his Power of Destruction in a sphere. Then, from the bottom upwards, Creuserey's form begins to vanish into ash and dust. Without even using a tenth of his power, Sirzechs had just managed to very easily defeat his opponent.

Creuserey was stunned beyond belief. "Wha-what is this? No, that's impossible!? How can this be!? You're a fraud and yet you defeat me!"

And in an instant, Creuserey Asmodeus was no more, disintegrated into little more than dust and ash. For all his pride and arrogance, like those who came before him, he was nothing more than a little ant in the presence of Sirzechs.

"That also eliminated the snake and power Ophis had placed within him," Sirzechs stated.

From afar, the vision of Azmodan was irritated. He knew he had one other choice if Sirzechs and Azazel were here. Now Azmodan was not one to retreat but in the wake of such power, he had no choice.

"Minions, sound the horn!" The illusion of Azmodan called. "Retreat and make your escape! We will back shortly."

And right on cue, the horns sounded and every Demon that heard them, along with whatever indoctrinated Devil of the Old Satan Faction, pull back to where they crawled out of. Hell portals were conjured up in the back and every vile creature spawned from the Burning Hells went right on through. Azmodan's illusion disappears short afterwards.

"They're retreating," Sirzechs saw.

"No need to pursue them," Azazel said. "We've already dealt a crippling blow to their forces." But that is when Azazel turned around and saw a familiar figure sitting in the air. "Oh perfect. Didn't expect you to show up in person."

"Hello Azazel," A goth Lolita girl said. "It's been awhile."

---

Back at the battlefield at another area, Sona and her three other members were just finished rounding up the Demons that came to them, slaughtering wherever they were. Saji and Issei were together using their dragon powers to strike down the oncoming intruders. Tsubasa was not too far away from them, holding her own. Tsubaki and Sona meanwhile target the Demon sorcerors supporting the troopers.

"Guys, what is your status?" asked Sona.

Tsubasa cuts down another Demon with a sword. "Chopping these guys down no problem."

"All things taken care on this end, Kaichou," Saji said.

Sona nods. "Good. Let's get moving then. We should be—"

*BOOM*

Suddenly, a massive explosion was set off by the feet of Sona and her group, blinding everybody and throwing them off their feet. The blast killed every Demon caught in its radius, leaving a massive yet not to deep crater.

Ten seconds pass by as the dust finally settles, as does the dust and rock flying in the air.

Issei was the first to wake but dust and smoke surrounded his area. His body ached with pain but nothing he could not handle nor not be able to fix.

[Partner!] Ddraig called out. [You okay?]

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine," Issei said as he stands up. "Where are the others?"

Before Ddraig could answer though, what Issei saw next shook him to the core. Saji, Tsubaki, Tsubasa, and Sona were all incapacitated and bleeding. Issei could not differentiate if they were either dead or if they were unconscious and dying. But either way, his fears ultimately gave the way for anger, his mind now wanting to know who it was that ambushed him and his friends.

He then heard a laugh. "Hahaha! What pathetic fools! To think that they could not sense the great Gritareus Asmodeus, second son of the true Asmodeus Clan."

Even with that introduction, it was enough to get Issei pissed. Looking at the attacker, he was not too different from Creuserey. He had the appearance of a good looking man wearing the clothes of a noble. But his clothes were dark purple with dark blue belts and motifs. He also had a blue cape. He had black hair that was straight and violet eyes. He also had pointy ears and pale skin.

Issei wanted to make him pay for that cowardly ambush, of incapacitating his friends. Rage coursed through him, wanting him to desire power. Power with which to crush this scum with his own two hands. He approaches Gritareus quietly, yet every audible step he against the rocky ground was oud for Gritareus to hear.

Ddraig was of the same mindset, understanding what his partner wanted.

Gritareus snorts, "Hmph! So a lapdog survived. No matter. I'll be sure to deal with you swiftly, so that you may tremble at my power."

[Gritareus Asmodeus? Is that what you call yourself?]

Gritareus, still high on his own arrogance, asks, "What about it?"

[You made a poor decision.] Ddraig said as Issei's angered eyes glowed green, growling in response. [And now you must pay!]

A sudden influx of power and aura suddenly exploded forth from Issei's Boosted Gear and his body. A fiery red aura around his body pushed Gritareus back unexpectedly. But when he looks to see, he saw him covered in his Scale Mail in a dangerous red aura.

"What is this?" Gritareus demanded.

Several green orbs making ethereal moans floated around Issei as his power grows.

I, who am about to awaken,

Am the Heavenly Dragon who has stolen the principles of domination from God

I laugh at the "infinite", and I grieve at the "dream"

I shall become the Red Dragon of Domination

And I shall sink you to the depths of the crimson purgatory!

[Juggernaut Drive]

As Issei chanted the incantation, the helmet of his scale mail grew out to become the actual head of a dragon. His arms began to grow and expand their claws, growing larger and sharper. The baited armor claws grew larger and bulkier so much that they crushed the floor around him. The thrusters from his back began to grow and expand, turned into dragon-like wings. They spread out as all the green emeralds on his body glowed.

Then, the Red Dragon lets out a mighty roar that destroys the landscape surrounding it. Luckily, no one was caught in the blast, not even the Peerage. The roar was one of fury and sorrow, of anger and pain. Vengeance soon coursed through it like a maelstrom.

Gritareus, who had protected himself as well, frowned and aimed his hand at the dragon and fires off a blast of magic.

*BAM*

Only for the shot to be absorbed completely into the monster as it charged at him. It's giant teeth crunches down into Gritareus's shoulder.

*CHOMP*

Aidan then drags Gritareus across before tearing the arm out of its socket. Gritareus falls to the ground as the Red Dragon turns around, roaring again.

Gritareus grits his teeth, seeing his arm completely cut off.

"Don't play with me." He cried, calling upon the power Ophis gave him and readying another attack. "Face my light of judgment if you dare!"

One massive beam of light then hammered down onto the Red Dragon. But then, the next thing unexpectedly happened.

[DIVIDE]

A familiar noise spoke up, one that was all too familiar to Gritareus for he knew all to well who had that power.

And this left Gritareus stunned and wide eyed. "No. What was that?"

[DIVIDE]

[DIVIDE]

[DIVIDE]

[DIVIDE]

Gritareus was shocked, "He has Divine Dividing power!?" Gritareus, irritated, jumps in the air. "Why must you insist on standing in my way, Vali!? Die!"

Gritareus fires another blast at the Red Dragon, but as before, it just gets absorbed. Opening its mouth, the dragon blasts back at Gritareus' power, which returns back to him and takes off his other arm. Growling loudly, the Red Dragon lets out another warcry, flapping its wings, and allowing its red aura surge forward, causing a massive explosion of red energy to build up from its body.

"No, you bastard. This creature must be the Dragon of Domination," Gritareus shook in fear.

The dragon roars once again as its chest plate opens up to reveal a green glowing gem. Then, the concentration of power and energy from Red Dragon began to swirl and gather power at the chest of the dragon. Then the voice of Ddraig began to speak as it gathered power.

[BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST]

With Gritareus incapacitated, he was already in the perfect line of fire. His fears plainly showen as he was about to meet his pitiful end.

[BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST]

The build-up of power keeps charging and charging, more than anyone could ever hope to concede or wield. This is the real power of the Red Dragon of Domination. And Gritareus was going to be the first to witness this power firsthand.

[BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST]

Then, all at once, the power was unleashed.

[LONGINUS SMASHER!]

All of the built-up energy was released from the center gem and onto Gritareus, enveloping his form as he disintegrates.

"Damn you, Red Dragon and White Dragon!" Gritareus cried out his final words. "Damn you both!"

As he was consumed by the light, Gritareus' form had vanished, leaving not even a speck of ash remaining. And the Longinus Smasher's beam of light died down.

Growling, the Red Dragon of Domination roared and released even more power than before, shooting in all directions. But that is when it sensed a very familiar presence coming from the temple. A presence all too well. Taking off in flight high into the sky, it roars to go and find the source of that presence.

That presence being a Demon. A certain Prime Evil of Terror.

Unbeknownst to him however, Sona, Tsubaki, Tsubasa, and Saji all woke up and witnessed the whole act, just in time to see their fellow friend and member take off to the skies, wondering where he is heading off to.

---

A vengeful Aidan, consumed by his hatred and rage for the one responsible for killing Asia and for revealing who he was truly aligned with, walks forward towards his opponent. Every step he took was audible, filled with anger, wrath, and a myriad of other negative emotions that consumed every fiber of his being. He could already feel the corruption of his Sacred Gear flow into every vein in his body, the darkness taking a firm hold onto his heart.

"Somnus?" Rias called out worriedly, only for her to be ignored as Aidan continues his walk. His left arm glows to reveal the Al'Diabolos Terror Claws, the soulstone on top of it glowing.

"Rias Gremory…" The voice of Mephisto suddenly spoke out, catching the redhead's attention as she gasps.

"Mephisto?" She realized as she stopped in horror.

"If you value your life and those you care for, then I'd suggest you leave immediately," Mephisto advised, odd for the Lord of Hatred to give to a Devil such as her.

"What?" Rias was confused and wide eyed but was otherwise ignored as the Prime Evils call out to Shalba.

Baal was the first to speak."Foolish slave over there. Shalba Beelzebub, was it?"

The voices of the Prime Evils catches Shalba's gaze who, despite his emotionless look, was actually trembling in fear. In truth despite not showing it, he was stunned to see who it was he was now facing. Who it was he had just provoked.

Aidan's face soon rises, his expression one of pure wrath as his eyes turn to demonic red, his skin breaking to reveal red scales like Diablo's. The black corruption in his veins overwhelms him and the soulstone chunk in his forehead glows.

"You made a grave mistake by mocking us…" Baal informed Shalba.

"And for that, your soul will be ours to torment!" Diablo finishes the threatening statement.

*DOON*

Suddenly, a massive boost of power erupts and encompasses Aidan like a violent flame of Hell. A light of red and black violently shakes the surrounding building structure, nearly throwing everyone's balance off by the shockwave as its aura rises, dying the whole area inside the building a dark red glow. Shalba himself was thrusted back, his back hitting the wall behind him. It didn't knock him off but certainly caught him off guard by such a huge influx of power out of nowhere.

"His aura and power… it's gone wild!" Kiba exclaimed as he shields himself.

"And dangerous," Koneko said as she wraps her arms around Gasper to protect him.

"Somnus!" Rias attempts to run to him, only for a falling pillar to crash and block her way. "What is going on over there? Somnus? Somnus!"

As the smoke clears away, everyone looks to see Aidan in his Balance Breaker, covered in a red and black aura of power that was so wild and unnatural. Eerily, it looked like the Power of Destruction itself, but the dark shadow of Diablo also loomed overhead, looking down and covering Aidan's form.

"What the hell are you?" asked Shalba on one knee.

Soon, seven crystal stones of different colors; red, blue, yellow, green, brown, purple, and orange; float above Aidan before they form together in a shimmering light and become some sort of black soulstone, emanating such darkness and evil.

Aidan's voice, mixed with those of the Prime Evils within him, begins some sort of incantation.

I, who have awakened since the dawn of time,

Am he who was forged by the One, battled for eternity on end in the Pearl

Where terror and hatred tread, destruction follows

Where there is pain, there is anguish; Where there are lies, there is sin

I shall become that whose fate will be shattered

And all of creation will bow to the Prime Evil!

[Black Resurrection – Prime Evil Reincarnate]

As Aidan chants, his form begins to mutate and change, becoming more and more demonic-like. The lower half of the helmet is forcibly torn open to reveal its demonic mouth which shows its teeth and glowing orange inlet, looking very similar to Diablo's. The arms grow and produce arm blades, along with sprouting another pair of arms underneath that were smaller yet clawed. Those same claws extend their reach and grow longer. Aidan's feet gradually become more demonic, producing three elongated toes with very sharp nails as the grew larger and taller in size. From Aidan's back, more demonic black spikes emerge, along with the spiky tail that appears from behind. The shoulders also include two demonic mouths that scream in unison to the main mouth.

Every time Aidan's body transforms and becomes more demon like in appearance, the sound of flesh and metal being horribly mutilated becomes audible. It was if Diablo was revealing his true form underneath his host.

The demonic being lifts itself up as the black soulstone soon merges with its chest, fusing itself into the armor and becoming some sort of heartbeat glowing every time it pulses. The demon then lets out a mighty roar for all to hear, which shakes the temple like there was a massive earthquake happening.

Shalba however was another story. Being allied with the Burning Hells, he realized just who he was facing. And it was not the nephalem.

"It can't be…" He muttered, seeing that he was seeing the true master and father of all Demons right before him.

To the horror of all, this was no ordinary being that formed as a result of Aidan's anguish and rage.

This was the Prime Evil. Tathamet Reborn.

Merely an echo of its true form and power, but one strong enough to strike fear into the hearts of the strongest of creatures.

*BOOM*

The Prime Evil lets out a demonic roar that would make everyone in the vicinity close their ears at how loud and shrieking it was. That roar was enough for the temple surrounding to explode in a red lightning and flame explosion.

Rias had used her magic to quickly protect herself and her Peerage, but it was so powerful a blast that her shield had cracks, which put a lot of strain on her body. The pressure almost broke her as she realized that unlike the last few times where Aidan was possessed by the Prime Evils, the power was much greater. It was like Aidan had either accepted their power and possession or lost control so much due to Asia's disappearance that he could no longer hold back. She could not tell which was worst.

Once the dust settled, Rias saw her beloved consumed by the dark power and could only utter his name in pure horror and grief. "Oh Somnus…"

Shalba, who had protected himself as well, frowned and aimed his hand at the Demon and fires off a blast of magic.

*BAM*

Only for the shot to deflect completely off the form of the Prime Evil as the monster tackled him. With one arm blade, it stabs into Shalba's shoulder.

*SHIINK*

Aidan then drags Shalba across before tearing the arm out of its socket. Shalba falls to the ground as the Prime Evil turns around, roaring again.

Shalba grits his teeth, seeing his arm completely cut off. "Don't play with me." Calling upon the power Ophis gave him, he readies another attack. "Face my light of judgment if you dare!"

One massive beam of light then hammered down onto the Prime Evil. But then, the next thing unexpectedly happened.

[DIVIDE]

A familiar feminine voice spoke up, one that was all too familiar to everyone. It didn't come from Aidan as he didn't have the power of the Divine Dividing. And it certainly didn't come from Albion.

And this left Shalba stunned and wide eyed. "No. What was that?"

[DIVIDE]

[DIVIDE]

[DIVIDE]

[DIVIDE]

Shalba was shocked, "He has Divine Dividing power!?"

Koneko then realized, "No. He doesn't have that power. And Vali isn't here."

"Which means Sinestra is also here at play, hidden from his sight," Kiba understood.

Shalba, irritated, jumps in the air and removes his cloak. "Why must you insist on standing in my way, Sinestra!? Die!"

Shalba fires another blast at the Prime Evil, but as before, it just deflects off. With one conjured blast of the Power of Destruction from its mouth, the demon blasts back at Shalba's power, which returns back to him and takes off his other arm. Growling loudly, the Prime Evil lets out another warcry, allowing its dark aura and power surge forward, causing a massive flaming explosion which allowed its red and black coat of energy to build up from its body.

"No, you bastard. This creature can't be the Prime Evil. It can't be!" Shalba denied, having not listened to the voices of his demonic masters, the Prime Evils.

Gasper, watching this from far away, tries to help Magnus as he activates his Sacred Gear, freezing the Prime Evil briefly but its power was too great and easily broke free.

"Hey Gasper, did you just try to stop time?" asked Kiba.

"I did but it didn't even phase him," Gasper answered.

Then, the concentration of power and energy from the Prime Evil began to swirl and gather power at the forehead of the Demon. Then the voices of all Seven Evils began to speak as they gathered power, using the same command Ddraig uses in the Boosted Gear.

[BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST]

"We can't stay here, Rias! We're get caught in the blast!" Akeno said as she held onto Xenovia.

[BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST]

Frowning, Kiba nodded. "Let's go. I don't want to leave him, but we must."

"Somnus…" Rias muttered his name, watching the scene as the Prime Evil readies to unleash its final weapon.

"Rias!" Akeno cried out as the red-head was just staring blankly at the scene.

"I'm sorry," Kiba said as he wrapped his arms around the redhead. "We're going!" The Knight shouted as everyone takes off into the air to get away as far as possible.

[BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST]

Then, all at once, all seven voices of the Seven Evils spoke out in unison.

[SEVEN HEADS!]

All the energy built up was soon released from the Prime Evil's forehead, unleashing a terrifying beam of red flame, red lightning, and cackling dark power. All the while seven demonic dragon heads encircle around the beam as it travels towards a trapped Shalba.

Shalba could only scream as he in engulfed by the dark power of Tathamet, his form covered in the power of the attack. Once the beam dies down, Shalba seemed to be no more.

---

Back above at whatever was left of the battlefield that was littered with the many corpses of Demons and the Old Satan Devils, Sirzechs and Azazel come face to face with the goth loli above them. Both of them bore serious looks on their faces, well aware of who this mysterious individual is.

"If we defeat you here are you finally going to let peace win out?" asked Azazel in a somewhat sly tone.

The little goth girl retained her expressionless smile. "How cute, but it's impossible to defeat me."

Azazel chuckles, "Well then, can you clue us into why you're doing this now when you've never shown any interest in this world before?"

"I would also like to know why you are leading a brigade of terrorists who are allied with Demons," Sirzechs occurred, wanting to know the girl's intentions.

The little goth loli looks up to the sky, her look seemingly like she was after something beyond mortal reach. "For a world of silence. All I want is to return to the Dimensional Gap, otherwise known as my home, and reclaim that silence."

Azazel thought to himself in a rather brooding mood, 'The Dimensional Gap is her home? If I remember correctly...'

But that is when Azazel realized, smirking as if his attention was drawn somewhere else.

'Of course, Vali, I understand! I know what you want.'

And speaking of Vali, he too had his own agenda despite being allied with the Khaos Brigade.

MEANWHILE…

Somewhere within the Dimensional Gap, the endless void that stretched across all of reality, four figures held safe in some sort of protective sphere travel across the realm. Comprising of the Vali Team, they were searching for something. Something of great power and held in this vast place for good reason out of fear of falling into the wrong hands.

"Vali, do you truly believe we shall find it here?" asked a bored Bikou. "The Dimensional Gap is almost a void."

Vali responded, "I am confident we will find it. Julian does not give up on a hunt when he is on one, animal or object."

And then suddenly, speaking of the man himself. Julian Shamsiel enters into their bubble via a magic flash. "Found it. Took a while but I managed to find the Gogmagog."

Held in Julian's hand seemed to be some sort of orb that looked like the core of something. But it was really a magic box used to store something that the Team was working for. Gogmagog, or at least one of many ancient golems locked away millennia ago that had the ability to travel in the Dimensional Gap.

"Good job, Julian," Arthur praised. "We finally have what we need. With it, we may have an edge against the traitor. We should get out of here while we can."

Vali however felt distracted, as if he was sensing an unfamiliar feeling course through him. His thoughts then turned to Issei Hyoudou, his rival like he sensed he was in danger. And he was not alone.

"What's wrong?" asked Bikou looking at his friend.

"There's been a change of plan," Vali announced. "We're going to the Underworld."

"Why so suddenly though?"

But then Arthur soon spots something over in the distance, merely floating in the Dimensional Gap. "Is that a person?"

---

Somewhere within the remnants of the destroyed structures and surrounding landscape that was charred like a great war took place, Shalba emerges from the rubble, wounded heavily and on the verge of dying. With his bloody hazy eyes, he looks to see the towering figure above him, ready to end his life. Shalba is now consumed by fear and madness, at least on the inside.

"Go on, nephalem!" The whispers of the Baal ran through his head. "Cut off his miserable head!"

But Shalba bore a strange smile despite his injuries. Despite the inevitable death approaching him. His smile was disturbing, like he knew this was bound to happen to him.

"You've played right into her hands, nephalem," Shalba sneered with blood pouring out of his mouth.

A deranged Aidan grabs Shalba's neck, holding him up high, and says menacingly in a demonic voice, "I tire of Devils and their threats."

But Shalba seemed unmoved. "There are no more threats to make. Lilith's plan is complete."

This caught Aidan's attention and confusion. "What are you talking about?" He asked.

Shalba only smiled, disturbingly. "You should… be wary of the company you keep." He then tries to shout out towards the ORC. "Isn't that right, Rias Gremory? Has he told you about the Daughter of Hatred?"

Realizing what Shalba was trying to do though, Aidan quickly and angrily slams Shalba to the ground and brings his right foot up to stomp on Shalba's head, all of his force crushing it as his skull explodes in blood and bone.

*SQUASH*

An explosion of flesh and blood erupts, splattering over Aidan's body. Shalba's corpse was left twitching for a moment before it limps. The demonic nephalem huffs and pants, silencing the damn fool for nearly speaking the truth.

Aidan, unable to control the primal dark power within him, then lets out another mighty roar, one filled with pain and anguish, but also of rage and fury. For within the tormented mind of Aidan, he was now well aware of who it was that sent Asia to her supposed doom. He was now well aware of who it was that Shalba Beelzebub was working for and how Azmodan managed to invade the Underworld.

How everything to this moment was all orchestrated by one puppet master pulling the strings behind the scenes. And Aidan had become its pawn.

That wrathful anger was let loose in a mighty roar for all of the heavens to hear, however far high they were. In that moment, Aidan lets loose a reckless volley of magic in the form of the Power of Destruction, sending it everywhere and causing havoc and destruction all over. If he cannot live in a world without Asia, then he will destroy it all out of grief and anger. The longer he was in this form as the Prime Evil, the more he was losing his mind, his sanity. And the dark powers were already overwhelming him.

All of this however attracted the attention of one other monster near him. A red dragon with wings as it flies towards him from above, catching the demon's attention.

*BAM*

The red dragon slams into Aidan at full speed, making the two crash and drag themselves across the landscape before they each back off to see who it was. They growl and roar at one another, like two primal beasts, as a clash of titans, a battle of the century was about to commence.

The Red Dragon leaps forth, grabbing onto the Prime Evil's left arm only for it to deflect it and dodge. But the Red Dragon turns and charges again, ramming the Prime Evil into the wall and grabbing its neck. The armor on the Demon was tough to sink its teeth in, almost as hard as dragon scales.

The Prime Evil grabs the dragon by the jaws, freeing itself from the bite and tries to pull the jaws apart like it was trying to break it. When the dragon stubbornly fought back, the Demon lets go of the jaws and grabbed it by the back of the head.

*BAM*

The Prime Evil slams the Red Dragon to the rocky wall. He then tries to hit its head again, but the beast dodges. And the two go into a massive brawl of one another, the dragon trying to sink its teeth into the Demon. The Demon resists as it throws the Red Dragon off of him, trying to get distance from it.

*SHIINK*

An arm blade on the right arm of the Prime Evil suddenly bursts outwards, ready to be used as a weapon. The Red Dragon charges at the Demon, with the latter doing the same.

*BAM*

And with one right hook with the arm blade, the Demon manages to score a direct hit to the head of the dragon, but breaking the arm blade in the process. It was not enough to deter it but enough to at least wound it. The Red Dragon soon leaps upwards and forwards at the Prime Evil, trying to bite down on it. But the Demon holds it back by the throat. Unknown to him, the tail of the dragon wraps itself around it, the Dragon grips it hard and then lifts the Prime Evil before throwing it.

*CRASH*

And making it crash into a massive rock wall. While stunned, the Demon was able to retain consciousness. Unfortunately it had another problem. It was buried under tons of layers of rock and rubble, subduing it beneath. The Red Dragon, desperate to end the fight, lands on top of the Prime Evil. It opens its jaws to bite the head off of the monster.

*FWBOOM*

Before it could even bite him, a blast of power from the forehead of the Demon, that was charged up prior before, sent the Red Dragon flying.

The Demon gets up and out of the rubble and deploys both of its arm blades, extending outwards like they were a part of its body. But in order to wound the Dragon, it needs to find a way to stab it without breaking its blades.

The two struggle and brawl once again as they charge forth, claws slicing and dicing over their forms. Yet for all their strength and power, they were evenly matched, hardly drawing any blood. The most they could do were bruises and scratches, but nothing too damaging. If anything, this fight could last for a very long time, with neither gaining the upper hand. But with the Demons gone, now all that was left was two combatants fight one another in a contest of power and strength, and finishing off a fight that started ages ago back at Tristram Cathedral.

To the others though, this was the first to see them in recorded history. The Red Dragon of Domination battling the Prime Evil.

But soon the Prime Evil ended up behind the Red Dragon, with its tail in its hands. Grabbing the tail of the Red Dragon, it repays back in kind of being thrown into a wall.

*CRASH*

The Red Dragon is thrown into a wall, crashing into it before it immediately gets back up and lunges forward. The two monsters tumble backwards before they separate, yet the Prime Evil slams its fist onto the Red Dragon's head. Undetermined to yield, the dragon charges forth to bite, only to have its head slammed again by the Demon's fist, making it tumble forward.

And then, the Dragon looks up to see an upper cut coming towards it, with an arm blade attached to it.

*SLICE*

And with one mighty swipe to the jaw and throat of the Red Dragon, the Prime Evil watches as the dragon falls to the ground backwards. The Demon, having won the fight and seeing the Red Dragon not moving, turns it back and walks away, triumph in the fight.

At long last, or in a way that was not good to many, the fight ended in the favor of the Prime Evil.

*CHOMP*

Suddenly, the reinvigorated Red Dragon comes from behind and bites down on the Prime Evil's left arm, catching the Demon off guard. They tumble forward together before the two decide that they must end this once and for all.

The Red Dragon opens up his chest armor and gathers a large amount of power into it, with Ddraig's voice saying the word Boost so many times. It was its Longinus Smasher once again, but perhaps with more power than what was used against Gritareus.

[BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST]

Similarly, the Prime Evil also gathers power to its forehead, ready for a similar attack that was used against Shalba. The land quakes and the air trembles around the two powerful beings, ready to end this fight once and for all. A battle for the ages, a longtime rivalry that must be put to an end once and for all.

[BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST]

Both combatants then fired off their most powerful blasts directly at one another at full power.

[Longinus Smasher!]

[Seven Heads!]

At that moment, both beams of pure unstoppable primordial power fire from both sides. And they both meet in the middle head on.

*WA-BOOM*

One massive explosion of energy from the collision suddenly bursts outwards. It was so violent and so furious that even from five miles away, everyone could feel the intense shockwave. It was as if a nuclear bomb had just been set off, if not a bit worse than the ones dropped in the Second World War.

---

Far away at a great and safe distance from the rampaging Red Dragon and the Prime Evil who were battling one another, everyone takes to cover from the shockwave when the Longinus Smasher and the Seven Heads beams collided. It almost threw everyone off their feet, but they were able to hold their ground. Debris flies right past them the size of giant boulders and the air pressure pushes onto them like they were being pinned by a tough brick wall.

This was unbelievable, like it was a battle between two very powerful deities. Thank goodness they were far away and safe, otherwise they would be caught in the blast and there would be way too much collateral damage.

When the dust settled, they could see that neither opponent had given up and were stubbornly back at it again. If this continues, either one of them or both could be dead.

"I wish there was something more we could do than just watch," Gasper stared in horror as he watches both the Prime Evil and the Red Dragon Emperor battle one another like two titanic monsters.

"Yeah, you and me both," Koneko said, watching one of her worst fears come true: losing oneself to power.

"So, what can we do?" Xenovia asked as she pushes past her pain, "Anyone know how we can make Aidan change back to normal?"

"I don't know," Rias admitted honestly and fearfully, seeing her beloved once again become possessed by the Prime Evils. It pained her that she could not do anything.

"I had a feeling it was the Juggernaut Drive."

Gasping, Rias turned to hear the new voice. "Vali, why are you here?"

Vali soon stepped out of the portal, with a smiling Bikou behind him.

"I sensed a change in Issei's power, and I wanted to see what it was," Vali explained. "But I also sensed another power surge quite similar to it. Never thought it was the nephalem though."

Vali soon takes a look at Issei, as the Red Dragon Emperor roars in a fiery red energy surrounding him and firing his Laser Breath Blast while the Prime Evil counters with its Red Lightning Hose.

"Looks like an incomplete transformation," Vali spoke on Issei's form. "As for the nephalem, it seems the Prime Evils have complete control over him."

Rias soon stands up and asks the White Dragon Emperor, "Vali, is there any way to change him back? Anything at all?"

"Both users have succumbed to the power of the past user's negative feelings, or in the nephalem's case the influence of the Prime Evils. At this moment, they are no better than mindless animals. For Issei, in his incomplete state, there's a chance that it will end naturally. If not, he will use up his life force if he dies. As for the nephalem… I think he has something worse: full possession by the Demons. He may not break out of it."

"Either way, you should be worried. Their lives are most certainly in danger," Arthur soon spoke, carrying someone in his arms.

To their surprise, it was Asia Argento, unconscious.

"Asia!" Everyone saw.

"We happened to find her in the Dimensional Gap," Julian Shamsiel said behind Arthur. "She was just floating around there while sleeping. Didn't even react to our presence."

"She is one lucky girl," Bikou said with a smile looking at the unconscious nun. "She would have been exposed to the void, if not for us. A body cannot withstand that kind of pressure and will usually dissipate into nothingness."

Rias soon checks on Asia, but sees that her body feels cold. "Her temperature. She's—"

"Unconscious?" guessed Bikou. "Yeah. She isn't dead. But she isn't alive either. I'd wager her soul must be missing. Who has it, we don't know."

That wasn't good. Asia was here in the flesh, but with her soul missing from her body, it meant she could not wake up. Still, it was better than having her body be reduced to absolute smithereens from the Dimensional Gap.

But it didn't matter as Rias stood up and spread her Devil wings, while looking at her possessed nephalem fighting the rampaging red dragon.

"Rias?" Akeno looked at her best friend, wondering what she was doing.

"If we tell him that Asia's safe, Aidan should be able to regain control of himself," She said.

"Merely approaching either of them will kill you," Vali said, providing the girl with a warning. "I won't stop you. Though I think we need to carefully think on a good plan to separate the two before things get worse.

"I will go with you," Kiba said with a serious look on his face. "Aidan made me promise to stop him if he ever lost control."

Standing to her feet, Xenovia nodded, "Me too."

"Xenovia!" A voice cried as Irina flies down to meet with the others.

Xenovia looks up yet shocked as she sees her friend. "Irina! Are you alright? Where's Azazel?"

But oddly enough, Irina did not answer Xenovia's question as she soon saw Vali looking out at the Prime Evil and the Red Dragon Emperor battling one another.

"Irina?" asked Xenovia was again ignored.

"Well, well," Irina said as she approaches Vali. "What have we here?"

Everyone then witnessed Irina taking out a Holy Sword and attempting to swipe out at Vali.

*DING*

Vali, however, recognizing the ambush from behind, turns and deflects the strike away with his right hand. Oddly enough, the Holy Sword seemed to do little to his skin as they can burn Devils outright. But it turns out this was just a fake weapon in disguise as a Holy Sword.

His expression angered, Vali soon recognizes who was behind the façade, as if he smelled a familiar scent or recognized the aura of the person underneath the disguise of Irina. And he knew the one individual who could try to pull off that kind of cowardly stunt with him.

"You…" Vali growled in pure spite. "Sinestra!"

All eyes went wide eyed and jaws went ajar as everyone turns to recognize who "Irina" really was. For the real Irina to strike at Vali recklessly from behind was not in her nature. The Vali Team were the only ones unimpressed and not surprised, having known full well that Vali's half-sister is nothing more than a backstabbing betrayer who favors subtlety and deception.

A smiling "Irina" dissipates her fake Holy Sword and asks amusingly, "Oh, dear. Was I that transparent?"

(Author's note: Insert Soundtrack: Final Fantasy OST – Ardyn II)

In an instant, Irina's form gave way to Sinestra, wearing her familiar disguise of a blue-haired military general clad in white. Mockingly, she bows slightly to the group as if to be greeted by her presence.

But suddenly, coming right behind her, were her personal brigand of Elder Angels, the Sicarai. These warriors were sometimes referred to as angelic destroyers or destroyers of worlds, their single minded purpose displaying how they lack mercy or forgiveness. By all accounts, they are almost undefeatable. Entire worlds in the Eternal Conflict were destroyed due to these warriors, constantly fighting against the Demons.

Immediately, the Sicarai swarm everyone, Vali included, as they restrain them with their magic and holy weapons in the form of angelic spears. To all the Devils present, the holy magics of anything related to the heavens is poison onto them. Julian, Bikou, and Arthur however was merely held in place by the angelic warriors as his arms were restrained. Asia was left alone on the ground, unattended to given of her unconscious state.

Kiba was hit in the back of the knee before his back was hit, forced onto the ground as the Sicarai hold him down. His head was held down as he is restrained. The touch of these Elder Angels, despite being merely armor, held a trace of angelic magic that was nothing but toxic to the Devils, keeping them immobilized. It was also burning their skin, like touching a hot piece of metal that has been resting underneath the hot sun.

Sinestra soon walks over to Kiba who glares at the Angiris Apostle as he looks upwards to meet her wicked smile with his gaze.

"The game's up, my boy," Sinestra said with a gleeful smile. She then lifts one foot up and brings it down to Kiba, knocking him out of his senses.

*BAM*

"Kiba!" Rias screamed at her fallen Knight, knowing Sinestra is doing all of this just to spite her by attacking her servants.

Keeping up that evil smirk of hers, Sinestra walks over and bends her knees to look at Rias, the latter furious at her mere presence as she is restrained by the Sicarai. Sinestra was unmoved as she had complete and total control over the group.

"Come now. Why not follow your beloved's lead and stop resisting?" asked the Angiris Apostle.

An angered Rias resists as she struggles against the Sicarai's grip. "…Never!"

"You risked life and limb to safeguard the Prime Evil," Sinestra said as she stands up and looks towards the deranged Aidan. "Only to witness him fail so spectacularly. You must be so disappointed."

Rias, knowing what she was about to do, demands, "Don't kill him!"

"I know I am," Sinestra ignored her warning before she goes into a mocking drama. "Oh, what good is a world that only ever lets you down? Why not end it all right here?"

*SHIING*

With that, Sinestra conjures her Armiger, aiming her angelic swords right at the exposed Prime Evil, its back turned away as it was facing the Juggernaut Drive Red Dragon Emperor.

A horrified Rias pleads, "No... you can't…"

Sinestra continues to ignore Rias as she aims her angelic weaponry at the unaware and unassuming Prime Evil, intent to backstab it from afar. Rias could only struggle and hyperventilate a little as she sees Aidan's rear guard exposed.

"SOMNUSS!" She screams.

*WHADIING*

Suddenly, Sinestra's hat was flown off from her head. Almost surprised, she looks where her hat was by her feet before looking in the direction of who managed to throw the blade that was thrown.

It was none other than Julian, who threw his Warg Dire Ulfberht at the Angiris Apostle, aiming for her head yet only took off her cap. Whether it was a warning or intent to kill was unknown.

"My, you two certainly have become fast friends," Sinestra mocks as she approaches Julian.

Picking her hat up, which seemed mostly undamaged despite having a slash mark, she places it back on as she conjures in her right hand some holy magic adorned with lightning. She approaches Julian as he then attempts to telepathically bring back his sword.

"Julian!" Bikou shouted as he breaks the Sicarai's hold and dashes over to Julian.

*BOOM*

In an explosion of angelic magic, Sinestra attempts to blast Julian but instead Bikou pushed him away and took the hit, knocking the Monkey King out of commission as he hits a rock wall.

"Bikou!" cried Vali. But the Monkey King was unresponsive.

"Ahh, now that we've gotten that out of the way, I think it's best if you all remain where you are as good little children while I end this long war once and for all," Sinestra said as she turns her attention back to the Prime Evil.

"End it once and for all?" Julian spat back as he was held at spear tip by the Sicarai. "You just destroyed an entire village along with its church all because you believed there were Demons? Everyone there was slaughtered like lambs and you claim to do this for good!?"

"What did you say?" Akeno asked in shock.

"Oh my," Sinestra mocked a surprise as she looks at Julian. "So you knew. I was wondering why there were survivors. Of course I only sought to target the church because that was where the Demons came from. But then again, why go for the trunk of the tree when it is the roots that have spread and carried such corruption outside its walls?"

Julian could only glare, wanting to blast at the Angiris Apostle with his magic. But with the Sicarai spears pointed right on direct contact and his sword out of reach, he cannot do anything. Sinestra could only keep up her wicked arrogant smile.

"I have to admit, if it weren't for you, Julian, I might have given that bimbo nun of yours a proper cleansing of the spirit. Surely, you understand her turning into a Demon is a fate worse than death, do you? You might have called my action…merciful."

That only set to make him more angry as he screams, "Mercy?! As if you and the rest of your Elder Angels know anything about that!"

Sinestra merely smirks. "You are correct. Mercy is a sign of weakness. It has no place in war. I'd wager that if she turned into a Demon, you'd be trying to save her. Did that lustful rack of hers really indoctrinate you to her beauty? Did she shove those things she called her breasts right into your face just for you to have her like the rabid dog you are?"

Julian finally snapped and growls as he attempts to lunge forward.

*SHIINK*

But instantly, Sinestra conjures some angelic chains to wrap around his neck and body and keep him further restrained. The angelic chains also hindered his magic, making him unable to conjure anything. Like a wild rabid dog on the streets, he could only growl.

"Julian!" Vali yells for his best friend. "Let him go, Sinestra!"

"Hmm, I will not, big brother. This puppy needs his timeout in his cage…" Sinestra walks away, satisfied of drawing out his anger.

"Where's Irina?" asked a demanding Xenovia since Sinestra took on her form. "Where is she?"

"Oh, you mean that Angel?" asked Sinestra. "Let's just say I wanted to help deepen her faith to her pitiful religion. So I left her over there."

Pointing over to the distant, Xenovia looks to see a cross in the distant, standing on a hill with its prisoner attached to it. And on that cross was Irina, with nails driven through her hands and feet, her halo made into a crown of thorns and placed on her head forcibly with blood pouring down her head. She procured a side wound from one of the Sicarai's spears.

Irina was unconscious and bleeding profusely. Even her angelic wings were tied and bound to the cross. If anything, Sinestra made a mockery of Irina's faith in the most horrendous ways possible. Rossweisse meanwhile was also on another cross not too far from Irina, but instead of being nailed, she was tied to it with angelic chains.

"Irina!" A shocked Xenovia screamed with tears.

"She was hardly able to put up a fight, as did that Valkyrie," Sinestra sounded disappointed. "For being reincarnated into a Younger Angel, her power was not all that impressive. What a waste, truly."

Xenovia struggles against the grip and tries to break free to get back at the Apostle, but is only held firmly down even tighter, her head practically being pushed to the ground and feeling it being crushed.

"You bitch!" She cried. "I'm gonna kill you!"

Sinestra was unmoved by her empty threat and merely ignored her. She looks back to see Aidan trapped in the possession of the Prime Evil.

"Seems like the Three Brothers have complete and full control over Somnus," She said as the Prime Evil battles the Red Dragon. "While not a true Prime Evil, it is still immensely powerful in its own right, enough to be even with the Red Dragon. If it had the other four souls, then not even the Twin Heavenly Dragons combined could stop Tathamet."

"What are you talking about?" asked Rias, her expression like she just heard this new bit of news.

But it was Sinestra who was surprised. "Oh? He did not tell you?" She sighs in realization before she smirks in amusement. "What a fool he is. To think he can protect those he cares for by keeping you all in the dark of his real motives. Predictable."

"What are you even saying?" asked Koneko, struggling against the grip of the Sicarai holding her down.

"Do you recall that contract that Somnus had that night?" Sinestra asked with a smile. "The one that was so late at night?"

"What do you mean?" asked Akeno. "What do you know of it?"

This is where Sinestra finally reveals the truth. As ever, she loves seeing people give in to despair. It was not just amusing; it was also satisfying to watch. Oh how she loved seeing people write in pain in one form or another, especially creations of the Demons.

"There was no contract," She revealed. "He was heeding the call of Destruction. The call of Baal in the deserts of Aranoch. And while you all believed he had two Prime Evils all this time, in truth he had all three of the Brothers. Hence his transformation."

"What?" Akeno was shocked with wide eyes. "What do you-?"

"He never told you, I see," said an amused Sinestra before she sighs rather disappointingly. "How pathetic of him. Even after gaining your hearts for him, he is still keeping so many secrets to himself. I cannot help but think that maybe death would have been a much quicker option for you all to take rather than let him be saved."

Akeno, Xenovia, and Koneko really wanted to break free and tackle the Angiris Apostle for that insult but because of the Elder Angels holding them down and incapacitating them, all they could do was grit their teeth and snarl at her. Which rather helped them well in a sarcastic manner of speaking. Truth be told she was more than a match for them combined yet she sees them all as nothing but a waste of her time. While tempted to kill them off, it wasmuch better to see them give in to their emotions, allowing for a quicker kill.

"He gave in to their call when the nun girl had disappeared," Sinestra continued. "His despair providing the gateway into his heart, down to his very soul to be infected by the demonic taint. A pity that you fools could not see it coming."

She soon turns over to Rias with a smirk, for what she was about to say next was something no one could ever thought to hear coming from the deceiving nephalem.

"Permit me to make a suggestion," Sinestra said to Rias. "Rather than follow this flotsam and float away to a watery grave, why not come with me?"

Rias looks briefly at the demonic Aidan, still fighting the deranged Issei in his Juggernaut Drive.

"What do you say?" Sinestra asked, still displaying her powers while extending a hand of help.

"What the hell do you even want?" asked a venomous Rias.

"Simple really. I give you the chance to save your beloved after I have weakened him. In exchange, your friends may live. If you fail, then I will finish what I started so long ago. And on another note, I will not interfere in your desperation, even if you are killed."

It was a very tempting offer. Have the Angiris Apostle whittle down Aidan's power and have Rias save her beloved from the influence of darkness. Or refuse and watch as her beloved becomes lost permanently. With Rias incapacitated by the Elder Angels along with the others, there really was not much of a choice. If she was to save Aidan from his own darkness and tell him that Asia is alive and well, she needed to make a decision. Otherwise, there may never be another opportunity.

Rias, deciding to make the hardest decision despite the risk, responds, "Alright."

Everyone looks at her in shock, seeing their leader make a deal with the enemy. Sinestra however smirks, interested to see how far this will take the Gremory heir.

---

With the bargain struck, Rias is freed from the grasp of the Sicarai as she soon empowers herself in a red aura, unfolds her wings, and takes off. The rest could only watch in anxiety as they watch her take off to the battlefield.

Sinestra looked amused, seeing the Gremory heir take off like she was so desperate to save her beloved. She then turns over to Vali.

"Dearest brother," She called out to a spiteful White Dragon Emperor. "I'm afraid I will need your help on this one."

"You'll get no help from me," Vali venomously said. But Sinestra keeps up her smirk.

"Come now. In times like these, isn't it wise to set aside petty differences and seek a common goal?"

Vali hated her expression with such passion that he would have wanted to just spit at her. First she had betrayed him and stole his power, then she appears and holds everyone captive, incapacitates Bikou, taunts and enrages Julian, crucifies Irina, and now has the audacity to ask for his help? Fat chance he thought to himself. There would be no way he would ever work with someone like his treacherous half-sister. Not after all she has done to him and everyone else.

"Vali please," Koneko pleaded with him. "I'm begging you to do whatever you can to save Rias and Aidan-senpai."

"Can you help with the power of the White Dragon Emperor?" Akeno asked of him. "Do you think you're strong enough?"

To Vali, he was indeed strong enough. But the mere sight of his sister before him, mocking and restraining him, could only make him put his pride as a Lucifer on the line first. Admittedly, she knew he was right in that she needed the help to take care of the Red Dragon and the Prime Evil. And only the siblings, no matter their history, can do this.

Sinestra soon calls out to the Sicarai holding her brother, "Release him." The Elder Angels obey yet keep their spears pointed at the White Dragon Emperor. And their distance from him. "Consider my offer. Once you've accepted it, you'll know what to do next."

Sinestra soon takes off with her Elder Angel wings, white in color.

"Angiris Apostle: Balance Breaker."

Sinestra is soon engulfed in her armor, the same armor she wore during the Kuoh Treaty summit. But that is when she raises her scythe, Elun'tara in the air and begins to chant as Heaven's light shines down upon her.

I, who have awakened since the dawn of time,

Am the One who created the Prime Evil, battled for eternity on end in the Pearl

Where terror and hatred tread, valor and wisdom follow

Where there is despair, there is hope; Where there is corruption, there is justice

I shall become that whose fate will be fulfilled

And all of creation will be loved by the Diamond Warrior!

[Dying Ascension – Diamond Warrior Reborn!]

In a flash of white light, Sinestra emerges in a form that looked almost god-like. While still retaining her armor, it was also crystallized, a perfect color of a pearl that gave off a white glow that would leave angelic beings awing at the sight and creatures of darkness screaming in pain and for mercy. Her wings also became feather-like but instead of actual feathers, they were comprised of a strong white metal. Around her crystallized form, golden bands stretched across her pauldrons, braces, helmet, and chest. Five Latin words that detail each purest virtue of good and order, held by the Angiris Council, were adorned across her body.

It was almost like everyone who witnessed it were looking at God himself, reborn.

The Angiris Apostle, having taken on her version of the Diamond Warrior reborn, soon flies over to the battlefield, zooming past Rias.

Vali, after seeing his sister display his power, decides that for once, his sister was right. If they were going to contain the situation, he needed to play his role.

"Vanishing Dragon: Balance Breaker."

With his armor activated, he flies off towards the Red Dragon Emperor currently fighting the Prime Evil.

[What are you planning to do, Vali?] asked Albion curiously.

"I need to separate him from the nephalem and then contain his power a bit," Vali answered as he witnesses the Red Dragon Emperor's power grow even stronger to match with the Prime Evil's.

[You have to touch the opponent to use Divine Dividing.] Albion said. [I don't recommend that right now.]

"You know what they say. An eye for an eye, a dragon for a dragon," Vali smirks. That's when he decides to chant his Juggernaut Drive spell.

I, who am about to awaken,

Am the Heavenly Dragon who has taken the principles of supremacy from God

I envy the "infinite" and I pursue the "dream"

I shall become the White Dragon of Supremacy

And I shall take you to the limits of white paradise

[Juggernaut Drive!]

Consumed in a bright blue light, Vali's Scale Mail armor takes on the form of a white dragon in armor. Soaring above and past the Gremory heir and his treacherous sister below him, he dives straight for the Red Dragon Emperor, whose attention was still on the Prime Evil. This left Vali the perfect ambush opportunity as he accelerates before…

*BAM*

The white dragon slams himself into the Red Dragon and drags him away from the battle, far away from the Prime Evil. The Red Dragon attempts to point blank blast at Vali from its mouth but his head is kept still and away from the White Dragon.

"Issei Hyoudou, tell me. Are you not my rival and sworn enemy?" Vali asked, only to get a roar as a response.

*CRUNCH*

So Vali bites into the Red Dragon Emperor's neck, penetrating through the armor and bleeding the maddening beast. The two dragons continue their struggle from afar while Sinestra prepares her ambush at the Prime Evil.

As for Aidan, he senses another new yet familiar presence as he turns to see Sinestra charge at him. Roaring a demonic roar, the Prime Evil unleashes the flames of the Burning Hells with a slam to the ground as each fireball charges towards the Angiris Apostle.

Blocking the attack with her scythe Elun'tara, Sinestra charges in with her angelic Armiger, with Aidan doing the same with a demonic version of his Armiger.

While Vali tackles the deranged Red Dragon Emperor and escorts him away from the Prime Evil, Sinestra impales her Angelic Armiger into the demonic nephalem and incapacitates him as her face gets up close and personal. She then stabs her scythe Elun'tara into the Prime Evil and drags him through the air to separate him far from the Red Dragon Emperor. They flew across the skies of the Underworld, ancient enemies battling once more for the fate of creation.

"Somnus… brother…" Sinestra called out to mock him. "Are you not my rival and sworn enemy? Or is this really all you can do to keep up with me? Haahahahaha!"

Only a demonic roar was heard for Sinestra's answer but that only served to piss the demonic nephalem off. In response to this, Sinestra jams Elun'tara into his chest.

*STAB*

Smoke, ash, and sparks emanated from the wound as the Prime Evil screams in pain. Separating herself from the nephalem, Sinestra soon unleashes a volley of her heavenly Armiger down to Aidan, which slams him all the way to the ground.

*BOOM*

In the chaos of the impact of the explosion, Sinestra reverts back to her Balance Breaker state. And just in time as the Prime Evil tries to unleash another Seven Heads blast, but that is what Sinestra intended as she brings out her right hand and begins to halve his power.

[DIVIDE DIVIDE DIVIDE DIVIDE]

The power however was not going all the way down, but Sinestra did not care. As she continues halving the power of the Prime Evil, she notices the Red Dragon getting some help in the form of the Oppai Dragon song. Sinestra could only scoff at such a pathetic therapeutical solution to save the Red Dragon Emperor, for in her mind, the only cure to a rampaging monster is death.

[CONSUME CONSUME CONSUME]

After a few more seconds, the power was all gone, leaving a defenseless and powerless Demon that Sinestra could kill at any time. The demonic aura around the deranged nephalem also died down. However, a bargain is a bargain as Sinestra soon witnesses Rias fly past her and down towards Aidan, still trapped in his Prime Evil form.

"Somnus!" Rias flies down towards Aidan who was still entrapped within his form as the Prime Evil.

"I leave the rest to you, Rias Gremory," Sinestra said as her armor vanishes, leaving her only with her wings. "Do try to save him, if you can." She then takes off, leaving the Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess alone with her Cursed Nephalem.

"Somnus! Come back, Somnus!" Rias pleads as she lands right in front of its armored head and grasps the face. "Somnus, please come back to me."

But the demon suddenly moves which forces her back. Standing to its feet, the demonic being roars again, but rather than one out of rage and wrath, it was one out of sorrow.

---

It was dark. Cold, like he was someplace else. All he could see around him were like fields of wheat but there was no sunlight nor moonlight. Just pitch blackness surrounding him in the wheat field that was barely illuminated by the fireflies.

"Wh—Where am I?" asked Aidan as he looks up. "I—I remember…"

He could remember something, a golden light enveloping someone far away. Next thing he learned, he found himself on the brink of despair, slowly giving in to the darkness of his soul.

But why did he do it? Why did he allow himself to be possessed again? What made him fall to the edge of madness and allow him to be swallowed by the shadows of evil itself? What made him give in to the temptation to power at the cost of his soul, damning him to a fate no one would ever want?

Just then he hears a voice echoing out in the dark area. It was a quiet voice but one he could audibly hear as it echoed.

'My name is Asia Argento. Please call me Asia.'

"Asia?" asked Aidan, but he could not see her form.

'To make lots of lifelong friends, to get to know them well and do cool things. To care for each other and have fun. That's my dream. Aidan, I know it was short, but I was blessed to have a friend like you. You made me happy.'

Then, in the area of the wheat field surrounded by the fireflies lied the still and sleeping form of the nun in question. Aidan was shocked, seeing Asia here, wondering why she was even here in the first place. He trots over to her slowly, as if he had just been reunited with her. Confusion rang through his mind, wondering what was going on. Of how or why he found Asia in this darkness, sleeping alone in the wheat field and surrounded by the dim light of fireflies.

"Aidan…" Asia called out, relieved to see her best friend stumble to her.

"Asia…" Aidan grasps her left hand and brings her upwards into his arms, cradling her to comfort her that it is alright and that she was safe in his arms.

But as he looked into Asia's eyes, she could only display regret. "Forgive me. I vowed that I would follow you wherever you go on your journey, only to end up being a burden. I never thought Diodora would try to abduct me and reveal he was in league with the Demons."

Aidan looks away in contemplation, trying to understand. "But he did. Diodora fooled everyone so he could take you from me." He looks back to Asia and attempts to reassure her. "Everything that happened, it's all his fault!"

"No! Listen to me!" Asia sat up. "It's my fault. I'm the one who made you the Prime Evil! And now I am dead. This was divine retribution for my sins! What began with me healing Diodora in the beginning ends now in damnation for me!"

But Aidan would not have it as he grabs her shoulders. "You have no sins to atone for, Asia!"

Cradling her in his arms, he could feel despair gnaw at him into every fiber of his being. Asia despite being bathed in golden light was slowly whittling away.

He could only cry out to the Heavens, "Auriel! Answer me! Why have you burdened us with this fate of despair!?"

He was only met with silence as Asia's life began to deteriorate further. "Asia!"

But in the next moment, Asia's body starts to give off a dark miasmic looking mist that looked as if she was dying when in fact it was something much worst. Her skin was beginning to show signs of red coloring and deformation. Her fingernails were getting long and elongated, sharp like knives. Her eyes were also turning red, no longer having that green color. She was also beginning to sprout demon horns on her head.

Aidan soon realized what this was: demonification. Unlike him or any other being like Kokabiel who became Demons due to possession, this was demon magic at work. Like Asia was infected by a blast of pure Demon curse magic and was slowly dying from the affliction. This was something a lot worse than death, something no mortal, not even an innocent little nun from the Church, should ever go through.

"No! Asia, please!" cried Aidan as he tries to use his demonic magic to save her by absorbing it into him. But it only made the process of her demonification worse.

Asia soon pushes him away, back onto his back as her once beautiful and pure form of a young and innocent little nun girl slowly twists into an abomination of a Demon. A true infection that all of the faithful fear the most. Not from Devils, but from Demons, the progenitors of Evil, of sin.

Asia cries out to Aidan, "In the name of the Lord above… fulfill your duty, Aidan, and cleanse me for my sins with your blade!"

Aidan was appalled and horrified to hear such a request. He stands back up, looking at his dearest beloved friend. "Asia…"

She requests as the demonification begins to worsen, "Kill me!"

Aidan then felt something in his right hand, a simple angelic knife crafted of the Heavens and used to kill Demons, especially mortals who became as such. Was this the right thing to do? Must he kill her, his closest friend? Was it worth the price to pay? He could not find an answer to it all.

"That's right! Kill her!" The image of Raynare, in her pre-corrupted form as a Fallen Angel, walks behind Aidan and taunts him. "Put that monster out of its misery, just like I did."

Aidan, knowing what was deemed right and merciful for Asia as death would be better than Asia becoming a Demon, raises the blade above him, ready to end her life. But upon seeing her face filled with fear and sorrow, he hesitates.

He could not do this. He didn't have the courage to kill Asia like this, Demon or not. It just wasn't right. She should not have to die a second time like this, not even by his own hand. Even if fate demanded it, fate be damned. He could never let this happen to him nor to Asia. If only there were a better way to purify Asia of becoming a Demon but there wasn't under these circumstances.

"I… I can't…" A hesitant Aidan said as he shakes his head, lowering the blade. "All I wanted was to save her, give her a happy future."

Raynare laughs as she comes up to Aidan to his right, her form now changed into her demonic self. "Just like how you saved your beloved by becoming Diablo's host, only to leave her in despair by sealing yourself away?"

"Please, Aidan…" Asia pleads with her arm stretched out to him. "You must live…"

A despairing Aidan, with his left arm stretched out, replies in sorrow, "I can't… Not without you…"

Once more does Raynare laugh as she kneels down to Aidan's level.

"Come," Raynare said as she grasps the hand holding the angelic knife in Aidan's right hand. "Why not give the lady what she wants?"

"No!" Aidan cries, realizing that Raynare was trying to push his hand down to kill Asia.

Aidan struggles and resists with all his might, trying to prevent the knife from repeating history. Raynare could only laugh in arrogance, seeing the hard struggle of the nephalem as her form took shape from Fallen Angel to Demon, just like what she was all those months ago. Aidan was not going to let her kill Asia through his hand, and he was especially not going to be reminded of how he failed to save her that terrible night. Not now, not ever.

With one final roar, Aidan rips the knife away from Raynare's hand and throws it aside, suing all his strength that he could.

But even then, Raynare could only chuckle as she used an alternative method of "mercy."

"Allow me," Raynare then said before she conjures up fiery barbed light spears above Asia, their tips pointed down to her.

"Stop!" Aidan pleaded as he realizes what she is about to do. But Raynare cared little.

*SHIING*

"NOOOOO!" Aidan watched as Asia was impaled by the spears and then disintegrated into ashes which were carried into the wind.

Once again, Aidan could only witness to his horror a girl he could not rescue. The same girl whom he had met and befriended in the beginning. The one he wanted to protect along with the others. The one blessed by the Archangel of Hope and chosen as her host to spread hope to all beings.

And now, she was dead.

Raynare could only look in satisfaction as Asia disintegrates. "Once again, you failed to save her." She then walks away back into the darkness, smiling gleefully at Aidan's despair as she continues to watch. "No surprise. A monster can do naught but destroy."

As Raynare leaves, she laughs in triumph, her amusement of seeing Aidan in despair of Asia's passing fulfilled. In the end, she got the last laugh.

Aidan was now left alone, in pure despair and grief. Tears fell from his eyes as he grips the dirt with his hands hard. Raynare's words had struck him hard to the core, forcing him to accept that Asia was, once again, gone. Though he had managed to save her from Diodora Astaroth's machinations, he could not save her from someone like Shalba Beelzebub. And now Raynare again, for the second maybe the third time.

Vengeance soon overtook his sense of rationality.

"I'll never forgive you, Raynare," Aidan said as he stood up, anger visibly shown on his face as his rage intensifies. "This monster may not be able to destroy you, but I'll see to it that I destroy everything you built!"

With a howl of great fury and sorrow pouring out from his heart, Aidan screams as demonic power courses off from him in the form of powerful waves of fire and smoke. His body glows red and white as his darker side slowly takes form. The surrounding area of flowers quickly wilt and turn black as corruption spreads.

As Aidan soon begins to speak, the features of Diablo slowly begin to warp and mutate his body. It looked as if he was no longer holding back the dark influence poisoning his soul. With Asia dead, all that remained within him was vengeance and wrath.

"Hear me, gods and angels above! Hear me, devils and fallen angels below! No longer shall I supplicate you for pardon. No longer shall I sojourn toward the light nor the darkness. Nay… the path I intend to tread is paved with blood and chaos. No longer shall I seek your guidance. This path is mine to tread alone."

As Aidan finishes speaking, his face becomes demonically twisted in demonic features with such hate and evil that he did not bother holding back his laughter. The black corruption covers his face as the soulstone chunk in his forehead glows bright red with power. Smiling and laughing like he were drowned in madness; his mind was now made up. If he truly was meant to become the Prime Evil, then he will gladly take it up. A future without Asia Argento has now become a reality.

And this life he will destroy entirely, even if his friends go against him. This false reality will burn away, and Hell shall rise in its place.

---

Roaring even louder as the darkness and corruption overtake him, the winds begin to pick up around the Prime Evil.

"Somnus, look at me!" Rias shouted, trying to get to her beloved. "Don't you recognize me?"

Watching from above, Sinestra holds her scythe Elun'tara, ready in case things get out of hand and she is ready to kill her rival.

"Strange…" She noted on her deranged rival. "It feels as if he is no longer resisting."

"Tathamet…" The strange goth Lolita girl appeared. "He stirs once more."

Sinestra smirks, not even going to guess as who spoke. "Well look who decided to show up."

Running up in front of the demonic and possessed nephalem, Rias spreads her arms out wide. "Somnus, calm down! Listen to me! Listen to the sound of my voice! Somnus!"

Rias kept begging and pleading but she was knocked off by the demon's violent roar. Then she sees the long elongated and spiky tail come thrashing down to her. Rias jumps to avoid being smash by it but that is when she is caught by the Prime Evil's strong clawed hands.

"Somnus, please!" Rias pleaded. She had to reach through to him. She lost him before, she was not going to lose him again. Not now, not ever. If he was going to die, then she will die along with him. Nothing will keep her away from her beloved, not even death.

The demonic nephalem holds her up close to eye level, as if it did not know what to do with her.

"Somnus, I want you to be in my life," She said. "You gave it meaning that I never knew existed. You must come back to me. For everyone. For our child. Or I swear I will disappear right along with you."

Looking down, Rias' eyes begun to well up with tears. "Please come back… Somnus!"

As Rias lifted her head, the tears begin to spill before flying off and landing on the face of the Prime Evil.

But unbeknownst to Rias, down by her abdominal area, a strange glow emanated. Pure and uncorrupted yet very strong. It was giving off a pixelated yellow glow, somehow gaining power slowly but surely, as if it was responding to the distressful situation Rias was in.

Sinestra notices this and widens her eyes, realizing what it was. "Somnus…" She said in shock. "You did not…"

---

Aidan's darkness slowly consumes him as does his insanity, spreading around him in a thick black void of shadow. If he intends to destroy everyone and everything due to the loss of Asia, then he shall do just that. All places will burn and Hell will be victorious in the Eternal Conflict.

"Somnus."

A voice in the darkness, one all too familiar, made Aidan turn his head to the source. Up above, he soon saw what looked to be Rias, staring down at him from the window in the ORC club house. Voices then, of the two of them from the past, soon echoed across the room.

"…Silly boy," She said, looking at his face before leaning herself into his chest. "You gave up your whole life, just for me."

"Yeah," Aidan said, taking her right hand into his left as they dance slowly to the tune of the song as it foes into the second verse. "It feels like a lifetime ago that I held you in my arms."

"…You may have broken this engagement, Aidan, but I promise you that there'll be a new engagement that'll be brought up, believe me. If you keep doing this…" She stopped when Aidan's right hand cups her left cheek, making her gasp a little and look at him with wide eyes.

"As long as I live, I will always protect you. No matter what. And I will never again leave you alone. Not in this life. Not in the next."

The next voices emerged from the time when Aidan comforted Rias during Open House.

"Hey Somnus, can I ask you something?" She asked with her head muffled by the pillow. "Are you happy to have met me? I'm happy to have met you, Somnus. I truly am. A life without you is a life I do not want. I do not want to lose you again."

"I do not want to lose you again as well, Rias. A world without you is a world I would never want to live in. That's why—"

Aidan didn't get to finish as he saw Rias sit up before leaning in to press her lips onto his. It caught him off completely, making him blush brightly, sitting in shock for a moment. But soon enough, he gives in and applies a little bit of pressure from his end to hers to meet her feelings. They break off the kiss for a moment and stare into each other's eyes. At this moment in time, it was not the nephalem and the Crimson-hair Ruined Princess in each other's arms, but rather just Aidan and Rias. Two high school students.

That is when those magical words that the two spoke on their first date echoed, reminding Aidan whom he had meant to her.

"I love you, Rias Gremory."

"I love you too, Somnus. I have always loved you. And like you, I cannot bear to live in a world without you in it."

A bright red light appeared behind Aidan, turning to face it when his eyes went wide to see Rias fly slowly towards him with her arms spread out.

"Rias... it is you..." Aidan saw as he embraces her into his arms, feeling the darkness be cleansed away as the void shadow is brought about by Rias' warm light.

Rias' tears soon flow with joy, relieved to see him with a clear mind. "You came back to me. Oh, Somnus, you came back. Somnus. My nephalem is back."

Aidan slowly yet brings his right hand over his chest to feel his heartbeat, wondering if this is real. And it was. "I am… alive…"

"Somnus, I thought I'd lost you..." A relieved Rias hugs him gently again, tempted to rush in and grip him hard. But knowing how much he struggled against his rampaging power, she held back.

Aidan hugs her back, thankful that his beloved girlfriend had managed to bring him back from madness.

"Rias, my love... you never gave up on me. I owe you my life... everything that I am. For I see now what I had become, so weighted down by despair and anger. In that moment of losing Asia, I had chosen to be a slave to fear... a thrall."

Aidan's expression was downcast and melancholic, yet Rias listened in. She wanted to hear every thought expressed out by her nephalem as she stays by his side, listening in on his struggles. Aidan soon turns his head over to Rias.

"Shalba sought to use this weakness against me... But what he and his demon masters never understood is that the nephalem do not exist to rage and war with other beings... they exist to bring harmony. Within the world... and within us. I have seen the truth - and my chains have been broken."

He gives a smile of finality, now at peace with his inner conflict and his emotions now kept in check.

"Now, I'm all that I once was... and more."

Rias smiles at her beloved. "Well, You're certainly more talkative..."

As Rias held her nephalem, the red light around the two grew, pushing back against the shadow before it gave way to other people stepping forward. There was everyone from the Occult Research Club, the Student Council, Sirzechs and Grayfia, Venalana and Zeoticus, the nephalem Johanna, Alrik, Li-Ming, Valla, and of them looking at the nephalem with smiles on their faces, as if they were proud of him.

Suddenly, another figure came in, small and short in stature but it hugged both Rias and Aidan below their waists.

And it could have just been Aidan, but he also swore he saw a petite figure in the hug. A young female child resembling Rias with red eyes and long white hair styled in double buns with a strand of hair braided on her right side. Her attire consists of a white collared tube top with a dark skirt over a pink skirt fastened by a large brown belt. Furthermore, she wore white opera gloves and thigh socks with brown loafers.

She only bore a smile as she said these two simple words of affection.

"Papa… Mama…"

---

As Sinestra witnesses the action take place, she has decided that enough was enough. Though disappointed that Rias did not die in her struggle to call forth Aidan from the Prime Evil, she can be patient. The day will come for her to fight the Prime Evil but not now for today. She can always wait for another opportunity to arise. After all, with the power of the High Heavens and having been rendered immortal as the Angiris Apostle, she has all the time in the universe to wait and be prepared.

Signaling the other Elder Angels with her light in the sky, the Sicarai release their captives and take flight, rallying over to their leader before ascending upwards back beyond the skies. Back to the High Heavens. While it is possible Sinestra may once again face punishment and judgment of her actions of interference by Imperius, her justification will be simple: Azmodan and his demonic invasion into the Underworld. Imperius may retort that the Underworld is not worth saving while Auriel and Itherael may say otherwise, but it mattered little.

Sinestra takes this moment to speak to herself. "One day, Somnus. One day. And when that time comes… you will fall."

It could have just been her, but she sore she heard a very faint whisper in the wind, like it was Aidan speaking right back at her in the tiniest voice possible.

'Not as soon as yours.'

---

Darkness gave way to light as Aidan's eyes flicker as his vision returns. And the first sight he saw was Rias, her head hanging over his as the two lovers gaze upon one another. But she wasn't alone as the surrounding members of the rest of her Peerage gathered around their fellow companion.

"Welcome back," Koneko and Gasper said at the same time.

"Good to see you again," Kiba smiled at his blood-oathed brother.

"Aidan," Xenovia said his named while staring down at him with a smile.

"How do you feel?" Akeno asked.

"I… I feel… fine, I think," Aidan said as he sat up. But that is when he sees Issei being held up by Ravel, walking towards him.

"Issei?" asked Aidan. "What are you doing here? And why are you… being held up like that?"

Issei could only answer, "Long story."

FLASHBACK BEGINS…

While Sinestra fought to weaken Aidan and Rias went on about saving him, Vali meanwhile had managed to also weaken Issei to the point only a deranged monster filled with sorrow and madness remained.

This was hopeless. All the Red Dragon can do is wail in terror. Sona and her team were healed by Odin but when they later learned the truth of what became of Issei, they were all stunned and shocked. Having rallied to his location, they see him like a deranged animal that had been caged for too long. If this continues on, Issei will perish from his own madness, body, mind, and soul.

"Wouldn't it be okay if we just show him Oppai?" asked Saji. Normally, that was the best method, but no one was willing to admit that

"Not if he's in that form," Vali said. "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."

"There is!"

A white-winged angel flew towards us while speaking over Vali. In the form of Irina who had been freed from her crucified state. Accompanying her was Ravel Phenex, strangely enough.

"Haa, I finally arrived," She sighed before she catches sight on her childhood friend. "Wait, that's Issei-kun!? I heard it from Michael-sama and Azazel-sama, but such a serious thing was actually happening!"

Getting shocked and to be in high spirits. Like always, Irina has such strong emotions.

"Irina, why are you here?" asked Sona. "And Ravel Phenex?"

"I heard of the situation," Ravel explained. "I came to help however I can."

But that is when Irina pushed forward the holographic projector. "The fact that Issei went into a dangerous form is already known by the VIP's 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 me here is Odin-sama! He sure is amazing! The God from the North! And he has a huge beard!"

Her spirit was so high that it destroyed the atmosphere here.

"I don't actually get it, but if it is something prepared by Sirzechs and Azazel, then we can depend on its effect," Sona said.

Sona took a breath, and then pushed the button. Then, a huge holographic vision appears to the sky. Ah, Issei also looked that way. Then something which surpassed our anticipation appears from the vision.

"Oppai Dragon! Now starting!"

When holographic Issei, in an armored form, appears on the vision and says that, children gathered around him.

"Oppai!"

Children in the vision around him said that loudly. Issei and the children started dancing. Then a casual music started. Issei and the children started to dance along with it. Letters appears on the sky and soon the title and the lyrics of the song appeared. Everyone had their eyes pop up at the shocking realization of what this was.

"WHAT IS THIS?!" They all exclaimed.

The Song of Oppai Dragon

With its lyrics written by Azazel. The composer written by Ajuka Beelzebub. And the choreography compiled by Serafall Leviathan.

THERE IS AN OPPAI-LOVING DRAGON LIVING IN THE EDGE OF A CERTAIN COUNTRY.

THE DRAGON GOES FOR A WALK WHEN THE WEATHER IS GOOD

DRAGON DRAGON OPPAI DRAGON

GROPE-GROPE SUCK-SUCK PAFU-PAFU

THERE ARE SO MANY TYPES OF OPPAI

BUT HE LIKES THE BIG ONES THE BEST

THE OPPAI DRAGON ALSO FLIES TODAY

IN AN EDGE OF A CERTAIN TOWN, THE OPPAI DRAGON WAS LAUGHING

EVEN IN A STORMY DAY, THE OPPAI DRAGON BECOMES HAPPY BY PRESSING OPPAI

DRAGON DRAGON OPPAI DRAGON

CLICK-CLICK ZOOM-ZOOM IYAAAN

HE HAS SEEN LOTS OF OPPAI, BUT HE LIKES BIG ONES THE BEST

OPPAI-DRAGON ALSO PUSHES TODAY

Everyone was dumbfounded. They didn't know how to respond. But that is when Sona then understood. This is most likely the video taken at that television studio. Looks like the filming when only he was asked to come was a children's music program.

And the name of the song is "The Song of Oppai Dragon"! They filmed it by having Issei using his Balance Breaker, and made him dance with the children.

Seeing this video, she was really shocked. And the ones who made the songs are…. The Four Great Satans, her sister included. What are those people seriously doing!?

"This is just horrible," She said.

But that is when everyone starts to hear something from Issei. "Uuu….oppai…."

Issei held his head down and he actually said a proper word! But the word oppai of all things? No, he isn't proper after all!

"He responded!" Saji saw.

"No, he actually responded to a song like this…." Sona concluded.

"Shidou, can you play the music one more time?" asked Tsubaki.

"Yes! Leave it to me!" Irina said.

The resume button for the holographic projectile is pushed.

THERE IS AN OPPAI-LOVING DRAGON LIVING IN THE EDGE OF A CERTAIN COUNTRY.

THE DRAGON GOES FOR A WALK WHEN THE WEATHER IS GOOD

DRAGON DRAGON OPPAI DRAGON

GROPE-GROPE SUCK-SUCK PAFU-PAFU

THERE ARE SO MANY TYPES OF OPPAI

BUT HE LIKES THE BIG ONES THE BEST

THE OPPAI DRAGON ALSO FLIES TODAY

"Uuu….Oppai….. Grope…grope….. suck…..suck…." Issei started to groan while holding his head down.

IN AN EDGE OF A CERTAIN TOWN, THE OPPAI DRAGON WAS LAUGHING

EVEN IN A STORMY DAY, THE OPPAI DRAGON BECOMES HAPPY BY PRESSING OPPAI

DRAGON DRAGON OPPAI DRAGON

CLICK-CLICK ZOOM-ZOOM IYAAAN

HE HAS SEEN LOTS OF OPPAI, BUT HE LIKES BIG ONES THE BEST

OPPAI DRAGON ALSO PUSHES TODAY

"….Z-Z-Zoom zoom…..Iyaan….push….."

Issei's finger is making a posture of finding something! Sharp claws have disappeared from his fingers.

But that is when Tsubaki realizes it.

"Now, Ravel! Your nipples are what he is looking for!"

"Eeeh!?" She was totally shocked.

Ravel gets so shocked that her eyes were about to pop out with words! Tsubaki continues without any care.

"Issei reached Balance Breaker by pressing your nipples. Then the opposite effect must work as well. We couldn't approach because he was covered with a dangerous atmosphere. But it is a different story if Issei started regaining his consciousness with the song!"

"B-But will Issei really revert back from Juggernaut Drive with my nipple?"

"He will! It's impossible with me or Kaichou. Roles like these suit you better."

Tsubaki had put on a face of reluctance, but the things she is saying is…nipples this and nipples that. That is just absurd. And a complete embarrassment for her as her face turns red.

Ravel glances at Vali, but Vali had sweat coming from his forehead and looked away. It seems he doesn't want to get involved with the group any longer.

Ravel took a deep breath, and she looks like she is determined to save her crush. "Okay."

She walks towards Issei. She doesn't have the slightest hesitation in her steps! Is that really okay Ravel!? Is it me or lately you don't think twice when it is about Issei!? While the song is getting repeated, Ravel shortens her distance with Issei, and she finally stood in front of him.

She unhook the buttons of her uniform and then her bra. Nobody was able to see from this angle so Ravel could at least have some privacy.

"M-My…..O-Oppai…."

Issei found what he is looking for and then takes his shaking fingers towards Ravel's breasts. During that, the song was played again.

DRAGON DRAGON OPPAI DRAGON

CLICK-CLICK ZOOM-ZOOM IYAAAN

HE HAS SEEN LOTS OF OPPAI, BUT HE LIKES BIG ONES THE BEST

OPPAI DRAGON ALSO PUSHES TODAY

Next moment, Issei's armor disappeared and he was released. Unconscious as he fell into Ravel's arms but alive.

"…Are Ravel Phenex's breasts like a control switch for Hyoudou Issei?" Vali asked with a serious face. It was a question no one could answer unfortunately.

FLASHBACK ENDS…

Aidan adjusts himself to sit up as he starts to get his bearings. But that is when he sees something in Akeno's arms. "Asia?"

"Vali and his allies rescued her," Kiba explained. "But we can't get her to wake up."

Aidan turns to Kiba in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Her soul is missing," Vali explained. "Without it, she'll be stuck in this state for a long time. Luckily, I know whom we can call to fix this up."

Aidan did not need to guess. "Auriel. I assume you have the means to summon her?"

"I do," Vali said. "We can use An'Naresh, the girl's Braid of Yearning, to send a signal to the High Heavens. It can alert the Archangel of Hope and have her come here in an emergency."

"Let's do it, then. We may not have much time."

*ZIING*

With a beam of light shining upwards toward the sky the clouds soon parted to show an Elder Angel departing below, a being of light everyone knows. All except Gasper and Xenovia, whom the former hides behind Koneko out of fear of the light despite being a Daywalker vampire. As for the latter, it felt like she was looking at the light of Heaven again, her feelings of her faith nearly reignited.

"You bear the mark of one of my chosen," Auriel said. "Who are you to call upon the Archangel of Hope?"

"Auriel, we are in need of your help," Aidan explained. "Asia was taken to the Dimensional Gap. She was rescued but she won't wake up. Her soul seems to be missing."

Auriel floats herself over to the comatose Asia and places a hand on her body. She then examines her fallen disciple with a wave of her magic, her metallic hand scanning over Asia's body. But as her wings flutter, she realized what the problem was.

"The young nun will rise," Auriel said. "I am not finished with her yet."

"Then you know who has her?" asked Rias.

"I do," Auriel answered as she floats above the group. "This will only take a moment."

With light illuminating from her body, Auriel uses Al'maiesh to dance and twirl like she were performing some sort of ritual. She soon calls out in a loud voice, enough to be heard from the other side of reality, the name of the one who currently has Asia's essence.

"Morrigan!" Auriel calls out in a burst of light illuminating outwards in a ring before it dissipates.

With a voice that loud calling to the Otherworld, where all the Celtic and Irish deities live, a burst of purple flame magic followed by the sound of crows cawing appears right in front of Auriel. And from that burst of magic and crows emerged what seemed to be a woman dressed in a red cloak and black dress. She carried with her some sort of wooden staff which was nothing special in terms of appearance. Her face was beautiful, as if looking directly into one of the many manifestations of death, pale skin with blue eyes and black hair. On her left shoulder was one of her many crows, her favored pets, and symbols of her many shapeshifting forms.

When Morrigan looks upon Auriel, the Celtic Goddess of Death bore the look of irritation by her calling.

"You got a song that would wake the dead in Tír na nÓg!" An annoyed Morrigan exclaimed. "What do you want, angel?"

Auriel, showing an expression of disdain despite being faceless, gets straight to the point. "You have taken what is mine. Release her."

But Morrigan smirks, knowing whom the Archangel of Hope was speaking about. "You have been keeping this one from me for a long time. A very, very long time. I'll be denied no further."

Auriel however was not interested in escalating things. "Know your place, goddess of graves. Or I will put you in one."

Morrigan was not put off by the threat, rather amused by it. In her mind, she knew that in terms of power, Auriel was the weaker one given that she is an Elder Angel and Morrigan was a goddess, albeit their power difference is only slightly. Auriel could not even so much as destroy her, no matter how much light she uses to outshine her darkness.

That did not mean however, to the Celtic goddess of death, that the Archangel of Hope was to be underestimated. Morrigan is fully well aware that power aside, Auriel has an eternity of combat experience per taking part in the Eternal Conflict. And Auriel also had backup, in the form of those who now witness the bargain between Elder Angel and goddess. With the Heavenly Dragons, Devils, and nephalem backing up the archangel, Morrigan knew better than to take chances.

Aware of this yet unthreatened, Morrigan merely grows her smirk.

"There comes a time, Auriel, when we all must die…" Morrigan chagrinned. "Even hope."

If Auriel had a face, she would be glaring right now at Morrigan. Though what Morrigan says is true in a sense, the Archangel of Hope was in no mood for the Celtic goddess' games. Luckily for her though, Morrigan does keep true to her word.

"But I am feeling generous. Take your little friend. I'll be seeing you again in good time."

Soon enough, Morrigan disappears in a puff of flames and ravens cawing. But true to her word, a spirit, hued in a blue light, appears huddled in a ball. It was Asia, sleeping like she were a newborn. With her soul now back to her, Auriel condenses it into a ball of white and blue light and slowly and carefully passes it over to Aidan, who uses his powers to catch it, flowing between his hands.

"Restore her spirit to her body," Auriel tasked. "My angels call me back to my Garden. Send Asia Argento to me when she finds her hope again."

Auriel soon ascends back into the Heavens as the clouds part and the light shines, making her disappear in the light.

With her spirit in hand, Aidan slowly brings it over to Asia's still cold body and gently lowers it. The ball of light enters into her body in her chest, making her body glow a bright blue briefly before it dissipates. Her skin that was once cold and pale brings warmth back in, restoring her senses.

Aidan reaches over to shake her gently. "Hey, Asia… are you alright?"

Slowly, the nun's eyes opened, and she stared at Aidan in confusion. "Aidan? What happened?"

Before Aidan could explain, he was moved out of the way by Xenovia, who practically tackled and hugged the smaller girl.

"Asia!" She began to cry and babble much to the nun's confusion. But she soon comforted her best friend, allowing the tears to fall on her.

It was a tearful reunion for the ORC, seeing that both Bishop and Pawn are now back, once again saved from their own inner darkness. A victory against the Demons one would say, with the repelling of Azmodan's invasion and of the Khaos Brigade's forces.

"Aidan. Take a look," Vali called him over.

"What is it, Vali?" asked the nephalem.

"This is what I wanted you and Issei to see," He said, not taking his eyes off from what looked like a hole in the sky. But it was not so much fo clouds parting but rather a tear into reality itself. And something was shaking.

Something was coming. Something big. And it soon honed into view in the form of a ghostly image.

And out of it bear the visage of what appeared to be a massive red Western dragon with a horn on its snout and two sets of wings on its back. Its overall length measures around 100 meters. And it was massive, bigger than Midgardsomnr.

"It can't be!" Rias exclaimed behind Aidan.

"Dragon of Dragons, he is often called DxD. The True Red Dragon God Emperor. Great Red," Vali said, soundingly respectful and envious at the same time.

"Great Red?" asked Issei. "DxD?"

"Holy hell…" Aidan said. "He's huge."

"He chooses to live in the Dimensional Gap and flies around for all of eternity in there. Ophis wants as well. My goal is to defeat him."

Vali then stretches out a hand towards the dragon and grasps his fist, as if he caught the image in his hand.

"For real?" asked Issei.

"To become the True White Dragon Emperor. The White Dragon God Emperor. Someday I will take down the Great Red."

Issei and Aidan looked at Vali like he was determined. He had a goal, a dream. And that was to defeat the Great Red. That sounded worthy indeed.

"Great Red, it's been a while," A voice soon spoke up. The voice of what sounded like a child.

And speaking of a child, a tiny figure sat that bore the appearance of a cute young girl with long black hair down to her hips and gray eyes. Her ears differ from a normal human's as they have pointed tips, although her long black hair makes this feature difficult to notice. Her dark grey eyes have reptilian slitted pupils. As for what she wore, it was a Gothica Lolita fashion complete with a purple coat and white bloomers.

"What the?" Aidan was shocked to see her.

"Who is that!?" asked Issei.

"I didn't see her until just now!" Xenovia said with her widened eyes.

"Meet Ophis," Vali introduced with his eyes still on the Great Red, like he was aware of the presence. "The Dragon God of Infinity, Ouroboros Dragon."

Rias looked shocked upon seeing the dragon god in the flesh. "Wait, what did you say?"

"No, the bad dragon is her?" Gasper looked a little freaked out.

"So, that's leader of the Khaos Brigade," Koneko said with her fists raised, like she was ready for a fight.

But Ophis, uninterested and keeping her eye on the Great Red like Vali, points her finger over to the Great Red and says, "One day, one day soon I'm going to obtain my silence."

Then Vali had something else to say. "Also one other thing. Ophis and the Great Red were the only witnesses to the eons long struggle between Anu and Tathamet."

This was perhaps the biggest bomb drop of them all.

"What…did you say?" Aidan was totally shocked.

"Impossible…" Rias was stunned, seeing one of two witnesses to the beginning of everything.

"The Diamond Warrior," Ophis spoke without expression. "The Prime Evil. The Eternal Conflict. They mean little to one who seeks the silence."

Both Vali and Issei were standing side by side as they continue observing the Dragon of Dragons soaring above them from afar.

"Tell me something, Issei." Vali said as he looks at his rival.

"What?" Issei asked.

"Do you want to defeat me?"

Issei was slightly confused before he answered, "Well yeah. I still don't want you dividing Rias or Akeno's boobs in half, lest you piss Aidan off. Actually I don't want you dividing anyone's boobs."

Vali chuckles, "You are such a bizarre little man. Get strong, Issei. Don't you dare let me down."

While the two Dragon Emperors talk to one another, Julian stands next to Aidan, observing the Great Red flying through the sky, the Dragon of Dragons having not a single care in the world of who was watching it.

"Hell of a view, isn't it?" asked Julian.

"In my travels with Uncle Deckard, it was said in the various Churches that the Dragon was a symbol of the Devil. A creature meant to appear alongside the Beast at the End Times," Aidan said. "The Great Red was both a symbol of great power, and of great fear."

"At least to the humans since they don't know the real truth," Julian noted.

"No one I knew had ever seen the Great Red with their own eyes. My uncle would have surely wanted to have seen it. But to see it now… I don't know what to think."

"It may not seem like much, but a nephalem is witnessing the Great Red, right now. I'd say that is a first in recorded history."

Aidan smiles a bit, "Perhaps. I remember when I was little, Uncle Deckard would always tell me stories about various dragons. Imagining the wonders of their existence. But according to him, he thinks that the dragons come from the primordial power of Tathamet himself. Tathamet, the Prime Evil who is also called the Father of Dragons."

Julian however was not so sure. "Don't you think that is a bit overexaggerated?"

Aidan would agree. "There's no proof of how the dragons came to be, unfortunately. So either my uncle is getting more senile, or there may be a small sliver of truth to it. I keep telling him that Tathamet's age and appearance don't have anything to do with dragons, but he is adamant on it for some reason."

"Like you said, he may be getting more senile by the day."

As Aidan watches the Great Red fly by, he then asks Julian this question. "So what do you think of Vali's goal of wanting to take down the Great Red?"

"I'd say that is a damn fine goal himself," Julian answered. "If he ever does become the White Dragon God Emperor, I'll be watching and supporting him. What about you? Wanna take on the Great Red?"

Aidan chuckles and shakes his head. "Heh. Nah. I'm not one to look for strong opponents to challenge them. And taking on the Great Red is a suicide mission; one I am not prepared for. I'll keep going the way I am, figure out how to get this cursed Sacred Gear off of me."

Aidan clutches his left arm softly, reminded of the curse he took on himself and now wanting to wish for its freedom. He then asks Julian, "How about you? Got someone strong on your mind that you want to take down?"

Julian smirks, "Oh yeah. Plenty in fact. Gods, dragons, everybody. Including the Sun Dragon Hyperios and even Tiamat herself."

"Tiamat, huh?" Aidan was a bit surprised. "That is quite a challenge I'd like to see. Just don't get burned up."

"Trust me. I got all the time in the world to figure out how to take her down. But she isn't the only one."

"Really? Who else is on your list?"

"Thanatos, definitely. Along with that monster Typhon. And Lugh as well. I also want to face the original Sun Wukong."

"Sounds like you got your work cut out for you."

Julian laughs. "Nah. I just simply have too much time on my hands. I'll face each of them one day but for now, I'd rather take care of some unfinished business."

Aidan could only grunt as he and the best friend to the White Dragon Emperor continue watching the Great Red fly by in the skies.

---

After Vali and his team left, along with Ophis, everyone was just standing around talking as the rest of the friends and allies begin to show up. Taking a moment, Aidan pulled Rias off to the side and sighed.

"Rias…" He said. "I'm not too sure on what happened when I lost control. But… I'm so sorry. Can you forgive me?"

Shaking her head with a smile, she kisses her beloved. "Already have. You said it before, you are all that you once was and more."

He chuckles in response, "Yeah. And I am certainly more talkative— wait. Something is…"

*ZING*

Suddenly, a sharp ringing pain echoes in Aidan's mind. One so hard it felt like he just got a massive nail hammered into his head.

"AAAGH!" Aidan clutches his head and closes his eyes, his yell loud for all to hear. Rias was shocked and stepped back in surprise, having this sudden event happen out of nowhere.

"Somnus? Somnus, what's wrong?" asked a frantic Rias.

Everyone comes over to see what is happening. All they could see was Aidan clutching his head in pain, hearing a noise they do not hear. Struggling against the anomaly that afflicted him.

That was when Kiba realized. "Someone's attacking him."

He was right. No normal being could attack Aidan's mind like this. But who it was, nobody knew. All they could do is figure out a way to sever the connection, provided if they can.

"ARGGHH! I will... not... serve you!" He yells as he clenches his head tighter.

"Someone is tearing into his mind!" Akeno saw. "We have to break their connection!"

Aidan then begins to hear voices in his head, a charming seductive female voice that sounded as if it was angry at him. It sounded demonic, making realize that a powerful Demon was attacking him.

"You were to herald my coming. Instead, you defied me! A failure. Like those who came before you!"

"RAAAaaaarrGGHHHH!" Aidan could only scream louder and louder as the attacker grips his mind even harder.

"Aidan, resist them!" called Rias. "Do not let them win!"

"Fight, Aidan!" Kiba encouraged. "We're with you!"

Whether he heard their voices or not, Aidan could only hear one voice that was tearing into his mind, sundering it from within.

"I will claim what is mine! If you shall not obey, she will suffer!"

*FWOOM*

Aidan's eyes suddenly roll backwards as he collapses, falling to the ground like a rock with a resounding thud.

"Somnus!" Rias cried, cradling her nephalem and shaking him to wake up. But he would not respond.

---

Okay, this chapter was a huge hassle to deal with. Let's face it. The Juggernaut Drive episode is perhaps the best episode of season 3 but also the most action-like, especially if I was adding my own twists to it.

To sum it up, Issei and Aidan both unlock their power of juggernaut drives, with Aidan's being similar. Sinestra too uses hers that was similar to Vali's since she stole his powers and modified them to be of her own use. The Khaos Brigade is defeated and driven back, along with Azmodan's invading army, everyone gets to see Great Red and Ophis, and it all ends with a particular Demon attacking Aidan from afar. That assailant will be the main antagonist of the next three chapters, alongside an old returning foe.

Perhaps the most difficult part of writing this chapter of Issei vs. Aidan in their juggernaut drive forms. I had to use Kong: Skull Island as a reference for the fight because it just felt like a perfect inspiration to use. It could have been written out better but I am not a perfect writer so go ahead and blame me on the poor writing of it all. It was not my best fight scene to write I admit. But I also wanted to establish the friendly rivalry Issei and Aidan have, given of how similar their Sacred Gears are.

Sinestra finally returns, in a fashion very similar to Ardyn Izunia from FFXV. Let's face it, though. She is deceptive, clever, pragmatic, and ruthless at heart, ironic for one aligned so heavily in the light. At least she is not a zealot like her Elder Angel allies. Still, everything turned out alright for her part, except what she had to behold in Rias' womb when rescuing Aidan.

And spekaing of Rias' womb, yes she is still pregnant. In the early stages at least. So she can still move round and fight without straining herself too much. And the child did play a role in the dream for Aidan, being that little figure at the end that called out its parents' names. For the appearance, well... I'll jsut say this: go look up Arata's kid.

As for Auriel and Morrigan, I was inspired from Battle for Azeroth when the loa Rezan demands the loa of death, Bwonsamdi, to give back the king's soul. Auriel and Morrigan have a bit of a rivalry with one another but I will into go into details as to how it was.

Next chapter are the three anime-only episodes. These will perhaps be the most difficult ones of this season given that they are not mentioned in the manga nor light novel. And it may take a very long time to write considering how I got other life issues to deal with for the rest of the year. I'll do what I can but no promises.

Like, favorite, follow, and review at your leisure! If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.