AN: Hey guys and welcome to the Twentieth Three chapter of "Switching Sides.".
I want to thank everyone who Favorited, Followed, and Reviewed!
I also want to apologize for the time it took me to update the story and I will make my utmost to make sure the next update won't take as long as this one was. I am also happy to say that the story is nearing its end and that only a few more arcs remain.
I also think that now is the time to officially announce the entirety of the harem in this story. The members of Issei's harem are Yasaka, Kuroka, Ophis, Vali, Le Fay, Rossweisse, and Venelana Gremory.
On another subject, those of you who are fans of "Harry Potter" would perhaps be interested to know that I recently published a new Harry Potter story.
Also, my other stories (mainly the Bleach and Fairy Tail ones) will also be updated in the close future so be on the lookout for that!
My Naruto story that I also announced in the last chapter is also being worked on but it takes a lower priority than the other stories mentioned above.
Now, without further ado here is the chapter. Enjoy!
"..." Talking.
'...' Thoughts.
"..." Quotations.
"..." Attacks.
*...* Actions, i.e., Yawning and Sighing.
(...) Flashback and time skips.
["..."] /{"..."}Talking through the Sacred Gear.
['...'] / {'...'}Talking in the Host mind.
[...] / {...} Sacred Gear Actions and modes.
"..." Sacred Gear evolution trigger i.e., Juggernaut Drive chant.
Absolute Darkness. That was all they could see.
It was as if they were in a deep sleep but without the dreams that usually accompanied it.
Time continued to flow but for them, it felt as if it never did. They felt as if they were hovering in their place, but the feeling of their body was nonexistent as if the only thing that remained of them was their conscious and self-awareness. They tried to will it to move, to give a wave with their hand, to shake their head, to conjure a sound with their mouth, but nothing happened.
They did not know how long has passed since they woke up to the darkness where nothing existed even sound.
Hours, or perhaps it was only minutes passed before something happened.
They heard a chorus of voices, barely above a whisper resounding all around them.
"Wake up. It's time to wake up," The voices told them, urging them to wake up.
But they were already wide awake... Didn't they?
They had little to no time to ponder this as all of a sudden, a brilliant light vanquished the darkness and blinded them.
Upon fluttering their eyes open yet again they were greeted not by darkness but by a void that consisted of a mix of iridescent colors.
They knew this place! After all, how could they forget it? It was the Dimensional Gap. The place where Ophis was born, the place where Great Red lives, and most importantly the place that marked their untimely death.
Bewildered, the two looked through the Dimensional Gap in vigor before they gasped in surprise as they realized that they could once again feel their body.
A brief look downward gave them the answer they were seeking when they witnessed that the body they felt was their Balance Breaker scale mail.
"What is going on?!" They asked themselves in utter confusion.
"You're awake," The two yelped in surprise upon hearing an answer to their question.
Turning around they saw that it was none other than Ophis who spoke but upon seeing who was behind her their jaws dropped in awe.
Ddraig, Albion, Tiamat... They were all there behind Ophis, free from their container and flying around like the majestic Dragons they are.
A question popped into their mind when they saw that all the Dragons were present.
'If they were all here then where was Great Red? After all, this is his home?' They asked themselves.
As if reading their minds, it was Ddraig who answered, stopping midflight to hover before them.
"The Great one is here as well. Didn't you notice that you are standing on something solid rather than floating around in the Dimensional Gap?" He asked, his voice laced with amusement.
Looking down towards the ground they saw that Ddraig was right; they were standing on something solid and that something was Great Red!
"What is going on? How are we alive? The last thing I remember is us dying from Samael curse," It was Issei that asked them the question that burned in his and Vali's mind since they first woke up.
Issei widened his eyes as his answer came for it came not from the Dragons before him but from the one, he was standing on.
"I think I shall be the best one to explain what happened, youngling," Great Red's mighty voice echoed through the Dimensional Gap, instilling a sense of fear into the two emperor's hearts due to the might it held.
"When you and Albion's host perished from Samael curse both your Dragons managed to draw your souls into your Sacred Gears before your bodies were destroyed, giving you a temporary new body in the shape of your scale mail," Great Red began before he was abruptly cut off by Issei.
"What!? You mean to tell me that this is my new body? B-But... I have no feeling in my hand and down... there. How could I ever hope to experience the amazing feeling of a girl's boobs again? Or worst, how would I ever get to experience the joys of sex if I have nothing down there?!" He cried out, causing Vali, and the two Heavenly Dragons to sweatdrop.
With a laugh Great Red replied. "If you would've paid more attention to my words you would've realized I said that the armour is only a temporary body and not a permanent solution. No, while you two were still unconscious Ophis and I did something entirely unprecedented. I, the Strongest Existence, gave her a piece of my flesh and after using her powers on it Ophis, the Infinity Dragon, had conjured new bodies for you. You are our children, born from our flesh and powers. Your appearance will remain the same as it was prior to your rebirth but there is something we have to tell you, something you have to hear,"
Great Red quieted down while Ddraig, Vali, Tiamat landed near Ophis to face the two Emperors.
It was Albion who spoke, his voice hard which showed just how serious the words he was about to say were. "When your bodies were destroyed something unusual happened during the short time before we contained your bodies in the Sacred Gears. Your souls... They joined together. For a brief moment, they became your souls became one and the same; they merged into one soul instead of two. When we drew your souls into the Sacred Gears we managed to separate the souls again due to the natural pull each of your souls has towards your specific Longinus, but it was then that we noticed that your souls were different than they usually were. I suddenly began to feel a pull towards Issei while Ddraig and Tiamat began to feel a pull towards Vali as well,"
Issei and Vali stood there rooted to their spot as they looked at the Dragons with wide eyes and jaws unhinged.
"W-What does that mean?" Issei asked with a voice barely above a whisper.
Ddraig, who heard his partner question, replied. "It means that you bonded on a level unlike before. A part of Vali's soul lives inside you while a part of yours lives inside her. It means that you now have Albion's powers at your disposal as well as while Vali has mine and Tiamat's. It means that you can now communicate with Albion while Vali can communicate with me and Tiamat through your Longinus's. Granted, they're not as strong as the real thing but they are not something to joke about either. In short, you are now united. You two are the Emperors of the Heavenly Dragons and with that title, you managed to bring an end to my and Albion's feud. It was thanks to you that we stopped fighting and instead joined for the same purpose which is to protect our hosts. Just look at each other carefully and you'll see the changes your soul has undergone and the powers you received,"
Both Issei and Vali did as the Dragon said and took a careful look at each other before gasping in surprise.
Issei's scale mail looked almost the same with the large exception of a few things with the biggest of them all being the new pair of Divine Divide's wings that were the same as the original with the exception of their frame which was colored red instead of white. His chest piece remained the same crimson, but his thighs had turned into pale blue while his legs turned to the same white as Vali's scale mail. His hand that hosted the Boosted Gear remained the same as it was during his Third Liberation but the jewel that occupied his shoulder, the same jewel that remained unchanged when he first acquired this mode was now colored blue just like Vali's own jewels while the fires within all the jewels had another layer surrounding it as the layer of pale blue fire that surrounded the original was now surrounded by white fire. Meanwhile, the entirety of Issei's other hand was now colored in white while the jewels on it changed to the same color as Vali's just like it was when he absorbed Vali's broken jewel and acquired the Divide ability back then. His helmet also remained the same with the exception of the spikes that protruded from it which were now colored in pale blue while his emerald eyes were now white.
Meanwhile, Vali's scale mail looked just like Issei's with the exception of the colors being reverted. Her Divine Divide's wings were now red while the frame remained white. Her thighs turned pale blue while her legs and hands turned crimson red while the golden shoulder pieces remained the same gold. Her tail was now pale blue while her helmet remained the same white except for her eyes which were now emerald green.
If Vali had her own body, she would've already been in tears as she witnessed the final and definitive telltale for her relationship with Issei.
They were now united beyond the comprehension of normal humans for they were united in body, soul, and mind.
"What does this mean then?" Vali inquired after getting over her shock.
"Ddraig, my child, do you remember our talk back then when I gave you my blessing?" Ophis asked, seeming to ignore Vali's question.
As for Issei, both him and Ddraig were gobsmacked by Ophis show of affection. The Ouroboros Dragon, a being born from the "nothingness" of "infinite", a being who's the concept of emotions and intimacy are nonexistent since the day of her creation, addressing Ddraig and Issei as their child was the ultimate show of just how much the Emperor's rebirth has changed.
"Y-Yes, I remember our talk Ophis," Ddraig stammered as he thought back to Ophis' words that day.
"The bond you two share grow strong with each passing day, I can sense it. Soon, the two of you shall become one, and for the first time, the world shall witness powers like never before," As if reading his mind, Ophis recited the exact words she spoke that day.
"That day which I have spoken of has finally arrived. Ddraig, Albion, Tiamat; my children, after a long time you have finally become one. No longer are you divided by feuds or the devastating aftermath of a heartbreak and instead you stand together as one with your Emperors whose bodies are made of the flesh of the True Red Dragon God-Emperor and the powers of the Ouroboros in a unity unlike before. You possess powers that have yet to grace the world in the time of its existence and with those powers, you shall bring for a new age. An age where beings such as Dragons and humans shall leave in peace. An age where the three factions shall revel in peace and not wars. An age where the humans will know the truth about the world they live in. But the time for that age has yet to come as great evil still plague this world. An evil that you are tasked to get rid of and remedy the failure of those who tried before you for shall you fail then the world shall succumb to the Apocalypse led by the Morning Star's offspring actions. No longer are you separated by concepts such as "Domination", "Chaos", or "Supremacy" for your new existence brings to an absolute unification of those concepts. You are the Emperors of the Heavenly Dragons, King and Queen of Domination, Chaos, and Supremacy," Ophis spoke, again shocking everyone present into silence by the tremendous change she underwent.
The silence that enveloped the Dimensional Gap seemed to last forever until it was broken by Great Red's booming voice.
"Ophis' words speak the truth. Your new existence, my children, will bring for a major turning point in the universe unlike before. You will face many hardships on your way to facing the true definition of evil. As the Dragon of Dreams, I can see the hardships you'll have to face in your journey as their source still haunt the dreams of those related to it. But I possess no doubt that you shall emerge victorious from this fight as I've witnessed your dreams and the things I have seen within them shows me that your desire to make them come true will be the source of your powers and when you will gaze at the road ahead and lose your spirits as thoughts of your destiny being impossible to achieve surface, it will be the same resolve that shall show you the way,"
Everyone stood still as they digested the words of both Ophis and Great Red. With their untimely death at the hands of Samael, a power unlike before has been created and it was them who possessed said power. The tremendous responsibility that their new destiny and powers have brought did not escape them and they struggled to accept that weight on their shoulders, but they knew that protesting is not an option as both Great Red and Ophis has said that they'll soon face the definition of true evil led by the Morning Star's offspring.
So, with hearts void of doubt and resistance and full of acceptance and determination their rebirth has been complete.
It was Issei who spoke with a hard voice. "So, what now?" He asked.
"Now? Now you return to where you truly belong and begin your first steps towards fulfilling your destiny with the powers bestowed upon you," Great Red answered.
In a last act of defiance, Vali asked. "And why shall we listen to you? I may have embraced my destiny, but it was due to a lack of choice. My destiny, the one I have chosen for myself, was to defeat you and become the True White Emperor God with those I love standing by my side,"
There was silence after Vali's statement, but it was broken when everyone widened their eyes when they heard Great Red, the Dragon of Dragons, chuckle.
"I applause you for your bravery my child as you stand before me and state that which you desire but this came as no surprise of me as I have already seen your dreams and I know that they will not come to pass for the one you love the most will stand valiantly as my vanguard for this is the duty of the Red Dragon Emperor King while his loved ones will stand behind him and support him as he brings to your downfall. My child, the fight you desire to have will bring nothing but tragedy and heartbreak and I hope that you shall make the right choice for I have seen the change in your dreams from those that spoke of our fight and those are closer to being achieved than you think," He said causing Vali to gasp as the full impact of his words hit her.
Seeing as no reply will be made, Great Red spoke again.
"It is time for you to return my children. Once you pass through the portal you should regain feeling in your new body and Ddraig, Albion, and Tiamat shall return to their confines only this time they return willingly. We wish you luck in your journey and know that we shall always be with you," He assured them before he opened a portal from the Dimensional Gap for them to pass through.
With a last look towards those who have given them a second chance, whose bodies and powers course through their veins, their creators and new parents, the new Emperors of the Heavenly Dragons went through the portal.
While time seemed to be forgotten to those in the Dimensional Gap, it has been a week since Issei and Vali were last seen by their teammates as they entered the portal.
In the first day, they thought nought of it and instead wished them well in their noble rescue of Ophis. But as days gone by and there was still no sign from either of them they grew concerned and it was not much later that panic and despair joined with the concern.
At the end of the third day it was Arthur who uttered the words that they all dreaded to hear, his face ashen and his voice quivering.
"T-There's no chance that they survived in the Dimensional Gap for this long. Only powerful beings like Ophis and Great Red can survive a prolonged stay in the Dimensional Gap as every other being who is not protected will be vaporized from existence especially after two whole days. Add to the fact that they were facing Shalba Beelzebub and who knows what else,"
An anguished cry resounded through the room before a black blur bolted from the room followed by a blonde one.
Bikou stood to follow the two devastated girls but a hand on his shoulder stopped him from moving.
"Leave them," The Pendragon heir whispered softly as he observed his sister leave to join the girls. "They need time to grieve and you invading that time will only cause more harm than good. Let us grieve in our own way and let them grieve in theirs," With that, he motioned for Bikou to follow him as the duo left to drown their sorrow in alcohol as they exchanged tales of the brunette who managed to change their lives in such a short time.
"Why?! Why does it always have to be him?!" Kuroka bawled as she entered the safe confines of her room.
"Because it's always the good ones. They are the only ones who are willing to place their lives on the line selflessly for the sake of others while the wicked do so for their personal gains," Yasaka replied.
Hearing the Youkai's words and the truth in them caused Kuroka to snap. "But it isn't fair! After everything that he has been through. All the heartbreak, all the sorrow, you would think that some good will come his way. I just cannot do this anymore! He was my everything… He was my anchor to this world, the light that fended off the darkness in me… He was my best friend, my lover, he held me when I was at my lowest and supported me when I was at my highest. He filled the hole in my heart caused by Shirone. And now… Now he's gone! Never will I be able to hear his voice or feel his touch, never will I be able to see his face when he flashes that brilliant smile at me or the eyes full of love whenever he looks at me," She choked out between her sobs.
Yasaka looked at her best friend and a part of her family with eyes full of sorrow as the same pain the Nekoshou felt was mirrored by Yasaka.
She wrapped Kuroka in a tight embrace before she whispered comfortingly in her ear.
"You are wrong, you know. You still have us to help you get through this and we will not allow you to give up for you have so much to live for. Know that Issei will not be gone from this world as his very legacy grows inside you. I can feel it, the powers your child holds are truly remarkable and in time he will surpass his father. I know the pain is overwhelming Kuroka and giving up seems so much easier but it's not. Think of your unborn child and the family you still have around you and do your very best to move forward,"
"How can you say this?" Kuroka snarled. "How can you tell me to try and move forward when his death is so fresh? I think of the way Issei died, not aware that his child grew inside me, and it fills me with self-loathing as I think that if only I told him then perhaps something would have been different,"
"I am not telling you to move on for it is not something that is possible. We can never move on from Issei's death. What I meant is that you should not allow the grieve to take you down and instead continue to live. Raise your son to be great as his father was. Honor his memory by telling his child about him. Issei wouldn't have wanted you to sink into despair for him. No, he would've wanted you to continue living just like wishes for the rest of us," Kuroka's sobs only grew as she listened to Yasaka.
Finally, after managing to relax a little, Kuroka spoke. "At least Issei died with someone who loves him by his side. I may have never expressed it, but you and Vali are my best friends. It pained me when I saw the love she held for Issei and how he couldn't reciprocate it, but I never said anything because it wasn't my place. I just hope that in their last moments they managed to make things right and allow themselves the happiness they deserve,"
Yasaka flashed Kuroka a watery smile as quiet settled down in the room. It wasn't long after that a devastated Le Fay entered the room followed by an equally broken Kunou. No words were said, and no gestures were made as the two girls joined the embrace of Issei's lovers and together they grieved for their loss.
It was two days later, five days after Issei and Vali entered the Dimensional Gap, that they all met in the Main Hall.
The same line of thoughts passed through their minds as they gazed at the pathetic state they were in and how Issei would not wish them to be that way.
"You all know why we're here right?" Bikou asked, his voice harsh.
Seeing their collective nod, it was Arthur who took off where Bikou left. "There is no doubt in my mind that Cao Cao and his new friends had a hand in Issei's death. It's clear that there are much bigger forces here at play than what we initially thought, and we shall do our utmost to discover everything we can, so we could avenge Issei's death," He spoke with eyes blazing with determination.
"That's nice and all, but how are we going to find that bastard?" Kuroka growled.
Arthur chuckled. "That's easy, they'll attack the Underworld in the next couple of days," He said much to everyone's bewilderment.
"How exactly do you know that huh?" Kuroka asked accusingly as she jabbed a finger at Arthur's chest.
Unfazed by the accusation, he spoke. "I know this because that's what they'll do. Cao Cao always wanted to prove that humans were transcended to the supernaturals as evident by his creation of the Hero Faction. So, think, if Cao Cao was indeed behind Issei and Vali's death then what will he do? He will take that as a sign that his agenda was true and will attempt to enforce it even further by attacking a place like the Underworld after he announces his recent achievements as the definitive proof as a slight against the supernaturals,"
"That… Makes complete sense actually," Yasaka spoke as she and the rest just stared at Arthur with wide eyes.
"So, what should we do? I think we should prepare ourselves, so we could kick ass," Bikou proclaimed with uncontained glee.
"Nyaa, as much as I resent it I agree with the monkey," Kuroka taunted.
"Hey!" Bikou huffed indignantly.
Ignoring the banter, Arthur voiced his support of Bikou's idea and told the rest that they'll meet again in the Main Hall in the following day to go over the possible plans to execute the plan and for the meantime, they should train.
Another two days filled with endless training and planning passed before Arthur's theory proved to be completely true as in the middle of the day signs of the Underworld being attacked made their way to them.
"It's time, Cao Cao and his friends have begun their attack," Arthur spoke to everyone as they gathered in the Main Hall.
During their time planning it was decided that Kunou would accompany them to the battlefield but she will have to remain hidden from sight and close by to any of them.
At first, they wanted to leave Kuroka behind to guard Kunou due to her pregnancy but after the Nekoshou's vehement resistance they decided against it.
On the other hand, Yasaka went ballistic when she found out that her daughter will have no choice but to come with them and it took at least a hundred promises by her daughter to remain hidden at all time before she regained her cool.
As everyone got ready for the fight ahead of them, the same thought went through their minds.
They'll fight as valiantly as Issei and Vali did, and they will make them proud as they get their vengeance on those who were behind their untimely death.
And with a final battle cry, they went to the Underworld.
Chaos. That's the best way to describe the way the Underworld looked upon their arrival there.
There were forces of each of the Three Factions fighting as a united front against the horrors that Cao Cao and his accomplices unleashed.
There were Dragons flying around the Underworld setting fire to the various buildings and forests that once stood proudly in their full glory.
Then, there were the abominations. It looked as if it was a fruit of someone's nightmare coming to life. Some of them stood on two feet while some stood on all four which made their appearance to heavily resemble that of a Chimera. But the similarity to the Chimera was not the worst thing about those abominations. No, it was the fact that they were also mixed with parts of different creatures.
Then, there was the "Jabberwocky" as the United Forces of the Factions named called them, who were the biggest monsters there while the other twelve monsters who were different than the Jabberwocky were named "Bandersnatch" by the Forces.
It looked as if the fighting was already being going for quite a while as the damage was far too great for it to just have recently started.
The Capital City of the Devil side, Lilith, was already in half ruins while most of the forces protected it as the civilians evacuated.
"Clearly, they are thinking with their minds," Arthur noted, his gaze impassive as he scanned his surroundings.
Upon the curious looks he received by his comment he sighed before he launched into an explanation.
"The forces are not driven by their emotions despite the destruction and carnage all around them. Instead, they do as they should, and they focus on protecting the populated areas while the innocents are being evacuated,"
"Enough about that!" Kuroka growled. "We should focus on finding that bastard Cao Cao and his buddies,"
"I agree with Kuroka on this one. We came to kick ass and not talk," Bikou added.
With that, Kuroka and the rest began their search.
As they scanned the Underworld they saw the Gremory peerage as well as the Sitri peerage engaging members of the Hero Faction, mainly Georg, Heracles, and Jeanne.
Seeing as they had no intentions of interacting with their old comrades the group continued while hoping for once that both Gremory and Sitri will emerge victoriously.
A few minutes later they saw "The Strongest Queen" engage in a brutal fight against one of the Jabberwocky and appeared to be winning.
And then, they saw it.
It seemed to look like a human but other than the shape it looked nothing like one. Instead, it looked like a condensed Power of Destruction, the same as that of Rias Gremory. But it wasn't the same as that of the Crimson Princess. No, this was much more powerful and much wilder as it looked to be spreading explosively and involuntarily from his body.
It took them a few moments but once they pieced the pieces together they realized with a startled gasp that the humanoid figure was none other than Sirzechs Lucifer.
Beside him stood Azazel who looked to be a bit awed by the sight as well but also relieved for some reason as if he came to realize something that made him be much at ease.
Before the two stood a skeleton dressed in attire worn by high priests and a creepy aura.
He had no eyes, but his empty sockets glowed causing it to look as if he did have eyes.
"Hades…" They all heard Arthur muttering with utter disdain causing their eyes to widen as the identity of the skeletal man was found out.
Hades, the God of the Realm of Dead. Just the mere thought of him made them all shudder. But what was he doing here? Why was he facing off against the leaders of the Devils and the Fallen Angels?
And then it hit them like a ton of bricks. Hades was here because he was a part of Cao Cao's group. They were filled with rage as they looked at him knowing in their hearts that this man had a large hand in Issei's death.
They wanted to destroy him, to break off his skeletal figure and spread the pieces worldwide as to make sure he will never be reborn. They wanted to see the eerie glow in his eye sockets die.
But they knew that he was entirely out of their league. They knew nought about him other than his title and name and to make matters worse he was a God!
It was a defeated sigh that the group left the scene as they muttered a silent good luck to the two leaders.
It took them some time but, in the end, they had managed to find him.
He was standing atop of a mountain that had a clear view to Lilith and the ongoing war in the once glorious Capital City.
He looked the same as they remembered him from the times before his defection only now his face was that of a war-hardened man instead of the ambitious leader he once was.
He was not alone as another man stood beside him. He looked to be a middle-aged man in his 40's with dark silver hair and beard, and hazel eyes. They couldn't help but compare the man to how Vali would've looked like should she have been born as a male. His aura felt bottomless and creepy. His appearance mimicked that of Sirzechs as his attire was the same with the only difference being the color which was silver.
The two seemed to be in a heated discussion clearly not noticing them before the silver-haired man abruptly stopped his words and began to laugh.
"It seems as if we have some company, Cao Cao," He said, his voice excited as if he just won a prize.
Cao Cao turned around and widened his eyes as he saw his old comrades.
"So, I see that you weaklings have survived," He sneered at them. "Such a shame. I would've killed you back when I killed all the other weaklings, but fate deemed it not to be, but it also seems as if that time came now," His grip on his Longinus tightened.
"It's rich coming from you Cao Cao, seeing as you fled like a coward when we fought," Yasaka jeered as she glared at the raven-haired man with hate-filled eyes.
"You should've seen it as a blessing that I was needed elsewhere at that moment or else you wouldn't have stood here today,"
Yasaka snarled and went to attack him only to be stopped by Kuroka.
"Why are you stopping me?! They caused Issei's death! You should help me kill them instead," She growled at the Nekoshou.
Kuroka remained unfazed by Yasaka's outburst and instead answered in a calm voice.
"Nyaa, you are no fun Yasaka. Clearly, he wants you to recklessly attack him like you were about to do and what fun would it be to kill him if you were wounded first?"
Yasaka sighed and nodded knowing that Kuroka was right.
Cao Cao laughed. "It seems as if the cat grew a brain. I never thought that this day would come," He taunted.
Kuroka, being who she is, could not help but come with a snide retort. " Nyaa, it also seems as if the little boy with the big spear has gained some courage. I don't know if it's your spear that is compensating for some size issues down there or is it your new buddy that holds your hand that gave you your courage. I just hope that courage was not the only thing you gained and your lame fighting skills also improved if only slightly,"
Cao Cao became beet red be it from rage or embarrassment they couldn't tell but it was his friend that answered.
"As much as I enjoy seeing Cao Cao become flustered like that, I think that killing you would bring me much more enjoyment," He sent a powerful beam of Demonic power at them that they managed to dodge at the last second.
"Oh, you're on!" Bikou gleefully uttered before he went to attack with his staff only to be blocked halfway by Cao Cao's spear.
They fought one another, each struggling to gain the upper-hand as each time Cao Cao attempted to use one of his Longinus' powers Bikou struck with his staff which caused him to cancel the attack and block the hit.
Meanwhile, Kuroka and Yasaka were engaging the silver-haired figure with all their might.
Yasaka transformed into her Nine-Tail form and began to try to hit him with her appendages and her fire while Kuroka, using her Senjutsu, launched her own attacks from afar while also using her clones to help her to occasionally lung at him with the intent to strike him with her claws.
But nothing worked. Each attack was proficiently countered even Kuroka's poisonous mist and clones were disparaged as if it was nothing more than a mere bug to an elephant.
Same happened with Yasaka as each time she tried to strike him with her appendages he dodged her.
The attacks that did manage to strike him did little to no damage while his attacks did a considerable damage to the two Youkai.
A quick glance around showed Kuroka that Arthur had also joined the fight as he and Bikou engaged Cao Cao. But just like them, they appeared to be at a heavy disadvantage.
Meanwhile, Le Fay and Kunou were at the back, the latter being guarded by the former who also covertly used her magic to help them as much as she could.
One thing passed through their minds as they each fought their own battle. Things were not looking up for them.
It was quite a long time afterwards that the fighting has finally ceased between the two forces.
Kuroka and the others were all immobilized due to the heavy injuries they suffered from the battle. Wounds and blood littered their bodies as they struggled to keep standing and even conscious knowing that once they welcome the blackness it will remain forever.
Meanwhile, Cao Cao and the silver-haired figure stood although with difficulty. Their attire ripped in some places while wounds and blood also littered their bodies although much less than their opponents.
"I… It's not over!" Kuroka cried between her panting as she struggled to remain standing.
"Ah, but it quite is, silly kitten. You are barely able to stand let alone remain awake and you think you still stand a chance against us?" The silver-haired man taunted.
"W-We will avenge Issei! Even if we die we will make sure he will be avenged before we join him!" Yasaka wheezed.
"Just stop. You have been defeated. Just accept it and move on and join your friend. I remember the first time I saw a supernatural. I was just a small child living in poverty with his parents and my big sister. I used to be a believer, I still remember the many times I prayed to God that he will help my family to escape the poverty and to allow us to live a normal life. But it was not to be. Instead, my sister had grown very ill and my parents could not handle the stress of taking care of her and eventually they collapsed. Being the naïve child, I was I continued to pray with all my heart thinking that the hardships we faced were a test made by God to judge us. But then it happened. One day a strange man appeared, his behavior and attire were strange as if he was not from where I lived but I could not pinpoint from where he was as I have never seen something like that before. It wasn't until feathery wings emerged from his back that I realized that he was an Angel and that my prayers were finally answered. I still remember the look he gave me, it was one of sinister glee as if he was a little child that just got a candy from his parents before going to bully his siblings. I remember how his smile never went off his face even when he massacred my parents as if they were nothing but lowly animals. Even when his wings turned grey he continued as if he was in a trance. I remember hoping that this monster will go away and leave my parents alone and my prayer seemed to be answered as another man came and killed the monster who slaughtered my parents. Apparently, it was not enough for the man who I later discovered was a Stray Devil as after he finished the Fallen Angel he set his sight on my sister and I. My sister was the first to go as the sight of a "pathetically weak human" disgusted him. Just when the Stray Devil made his way toward me at an agonizingly slow pace I prayed one last time. I prayed for a way to be useful and make sure that the same tragedy that struck my family will never happen again. I wished for a way to make those who sinned against me to repay. It was when I made this final prayer that a brilliant light flooded the room vaporizing the Stray Devil and the dead body of the Fallen Angel as the True Longinus appeared in my hand for the first time. This is why I hate the super-naturals so much for they are nothing but monsters. When I laid my hand on the True Longinus and learned more and more about it I came to the conclusion that even God was disappointed in the way his offspring turned out and he bestowed the task of their extermination on me knowing that I was worthy enough to complete this task and that I will never waver in my path nor will I ever spare any means to achieve it. Seeing you lying defeated at my feet fills me with the same glee that Fallen Angel had when he killed my parents for my goal is proven to be right. It is not the duty of men and women to bow to the super-naturals, but it is the duty of the super-natural to bow to us for we are the true children of God. He deemed us worthy while you shamed him with your corruption and wickedness. But he knew, he knew that us humans cannot hold a candle to you, so he gifted us with tools of his own creation. He gifted us, the humans, with the Longinus'. As you spend your last moments lament about the fact that you could not stand a chance against the might of the human-kind as we are God's chosen,"
He spat at them and turned around to leave with the silver-haired man.
'Issei… Vali… We failed you… We could not avenge you… Now, now we will join you. All of us, even your unborn child, will join you and Vali in the afterlife. I just hope that you will find it in your hearts to forgive us,' Kuroka thought as the blackness continued to consume her vision.
"I love you Issei… Now and forever," Kuroka uttered her last words before she allowed the darkness to consume her.
"I love you Kuroka… Now and forever," Kuroka heard a familiar voice replied causing her to overcome the darkness and snap her eyes open before screaming in utter shock at the sight before her.
There he stood, the same man she fell in love with. The man whose child grow in her womb. The same man who is everything for her in life.
He stood, all might and powerful while Vali stood behind him keeping vanguard.
He was the same as he remembered but at the same time, he looked entirely different. Both he and Vali were clad in their Scale Mails, but they were not the same as she remembered. Instead of being Crimson, Issei's Scale Mail was now a combination of Crimson, White, and Pale Blue while Vali was the same.
She smiled widely as she comprehended the impact of the changes.
After all this time, they had gotten their happy ending before they set off to their new life together.
Shocked gasps beside her made her realize that everyone else also witnessed Issei and Vali's shocking arrival.
Issei gave them all a radiant smile before he turned to Vali.
"Vali, can you make sure they are healed? I have some pests to exterminate," He said, his voice harsh as he spoke.
Vali tore her gaze from the silver-haired man and nodded at Issei before making her way to her friends to heal them.
"Remind me to break Shalba when I next see him," The silver-haired man asked Cao Cao.
"Shalba is dead," Issei replied.
"I see. That's a shame, but I guess it's better you did it rather than me," He shrugged.
"Enough!" Issei bellowed. "You have hurt my friends and brought them to the brink of death and for that, I will never forgive you! I used to see you as a friend Cao Cao but now I realize that you are nothing more than a traitorous coward,"
Cao Cao did not reply and instead continued to look at Issei impassively.
"And you!" Issei turned his attention to the silver-haired man as Vali, who finished healing everyone came to stand beside him. "I know who you are! All the pain and suffering you have caused are unforgivable! I want to make you pay for your actions, but that's not the reason why I burn with unrestrained rage when I gaze at you. No, it is because of what you did to your granddaughter! Someone that I love dearly, someone who had trouble accepting my love thinking that she is broken and is undeserving of me. She wanted to get rid of her demons before she even entertained the thought of us being together but that was not meant to be as we died before she could've done that. But we were given a second chance in life and now we are back more powerful than ever, and I will make sure to stand beside her and help as she finally vanquishes the horrors of her past. Know that you will die hated and unloved with your goals torn asunder. Know that your name will never be remembered. For this is your end… Rizevim Livan Lucifer!"
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