Here I present myself with a new translated chapter!

As I initially said, I had planned to take a short break once I reached chapter 60, but I decided not to do it. I think I'll take some time off when I finish translating this arc, which I still have 2 more chapters to go, not counting this one.

The break won't be that long, maybe we're talking about 2 weeks, I think that's more than enough time to correct the first chapters that are very badly translated.

Leaving this aside, it's time for the reviews:

Max0910: Now that I read it carefully, I think I exaggerated a little when it came to setting up that fight. I certainly think that the power of Ophis helped me to keep it somewhat coherent and I thought so from the beginning, but it's true that Cao Cao didn't expect that attack and for that reason it may have been very strange. One way or another, I think it's still acceptable, though as I said, weird.

Vanhellsing9000: Yasaka is not in the harem, so he will never be with Issei. I made it clear from the beginning that I wouldn't add more women. In case you don't remember, the main pairing features Tiamat, Penemue, Rossweisse and Ophis, no one else but them.

Having clarified all this, it's time to begin.

Enjoy!

"Right now we are at the big hospital in Kyoto, where about 96 injured and 131 dead are confirmed. Among them were some high school students..."

Yasaka and Kunou stopped a few meters away from the interviewer. Both women diverted their attention to the people outside the hospital. Their gazes focused mainly on Issei, Tiamat and the Gremorys, as they were the only supernatural beings in sight.

"How are the others?" Yasaka approached, asking Issei, who experienced everything firsthand.

"Penemue and Rossweisse recently arrived at the hospital carrying Azazel. They didn't even talk to me, not that they could say any words either..." Issei clenched his fists tightly, remembering how he could barely witness the figure of his enemy. "Azazel's body was covered in blood."

"Asia suffered a big concussion to the head, but she'll be fine in a few days." Kiba stated, implying that those two were the ones who had been injured the most from the ambush.

"Now that you mention it, I remember seeing that Penemue had a big cut on his arm, but it didn't look like anything serious." Tiamat added, remembering her friend's condition.

"That's a relief. It looks like no one died." Kunou commented, causing Tiamat to lower her gaze.

"Maybe not today, but..." Was the dragoness' comment, managing to get everyone's attention. "His body was barely held together by the cut he had on his waist. If he's not treated quickly, he'll be dead before we know it." Thought the dragoness, remembering the condition Azazel arrived in.

Tiamat couldn't help but give a small sigh of annoyance, only to raise her gaze with an unfriendly expression.

"Where the hell did Ophis get to just when we need her the most?"

Everyone was trying to guess Tiamat's thoughts, but that intention vanished when they saw certain people very familiar to Issei coming out of the doors.

Those people were Matsuda and Motohama. The former was carrying a crutch and a cast on his right leg, while Motohama had a long bandage under his shirt.

Issei couldn't contain his joy at seeing that his friends were okay, so he quickly ran to them.

"Hey!" Issei shouted as he raised his hand as a gesture of greeting, until he was finally in front of them. "How are you guys feeling?"

"I think we came out better than many of our classmates." Motohama stated sincerely, recalling that they did a little tour of the place to recognize the condition of all the affected people they knew.

"Even some of our teammates died, but luckily Murayama and Aika are fine." Matsuda commented, unable to help but feel a little sad after recalling the accident.

"We also saw Penemue and Rossweisse." Motohama added, trying to distract from the sad atmosphere of the place. "I think Penemue fared the worst, but they're both fine." He commented, sketching a small smile, as he knew this was going to cheer Issei up.

And indeed, it did.

"Great!" Issei exclaimed with a smile. "Do you know if they take visitors?"

"They've already been treated, so you can see them without any problems." The bald man stated.

"Okay. I'll see you later then." Issei greeted his friends one last time before entering the hospital.

As expected, the atmosphere inside the place was somewhat...tense, to put it mildly.

It was completely natural. His kind were not the only ones going on this trip, so the injured were many and the health service could not work fast enough to treat everyone with the same importance.

Perhaps for that reason they had given quick treatment to the less injured.

Issei went up to the second floor, noticing how Penemue was alone in front of one of the rooms.

At first he was glad, but that joy faded into the background after witnessing not only her arm completely in a cast, but also the very worried expression that was haunting her face as her eyes remained riveted to the door in front of her.

It was the first time he had seen her like that, so he couldn't help but worry as well.

Issei approached cautiously and sat down next to her. Penemue took a second to look at him, as her gaze was still quite focused on the door.

"How are you?" Issei broke the silence, watching as the Cadre finally seemed to snap out of her transe.

"It's just a scratch, I'll recover quickly. Rossweisse is in the bath, but she barely received any damage thanks to me covering her up just in time." Penemue emphasized her bandaged arm, implying that she had protected her.

"So I guess they finished off that guy, right?" Issei asked. A question that at first one would think would have an obvious answer.

Otherwise, Penemue and Ross shouldn't be here.

Right?

The truth is that Penemue's funereal look did not seem to say the same thing.

After a few seconds, the Cadre regained her gaze to the door to answer him.

"We never had a chance."

That answer threw Issei completely off balance.

"What-what do you mean by that?" Issei asked completely baffled.

"Just as you heard." Cadre closed her eyes after her answer with some regret. "To be honest with you, we barely managed to escape with our lives."

"But how did you...?" Issei focused his blank stare at an empty spot.

He simply couldn't believe it.

"Penemue and Rossweisse fought together, and they didn't stand a chance against that guy..." Issei thought covered in disbelief.

"That guy is even faster than me, and he's a pretty annoying Sacred Gear." Penemue explained, getting Issei's attention back on the talk.

Though there was one point in her last sentence that really caught his attention.

"What do you mean he's a Sacred Gear?" Issei questioned very quizzically.

"We're up against Brand Caingelmon, the Dragon Slayer." That answer made Issei's eyes widen beyond belief. "It was obvious you were the target, that's why he tried to kill you instantly when he could locate you. He doesn't care about the others affected or if he kills a lot of innocent people and even humans, the only important thing to him is to exterminate the dragons." Cadre explained, remembering all the recent events. "As for my words..." Penemue folded her arms, thinking of a correct way she could explain. "Brand doesn't own a Sacred Gear, he is the Sacred Gear. Remember, he was a creation by the Three Factions, so he is not a living being as such. It's a bit difficult to explain, but I think it was clear enough for you to understand." Issei nodded slowly, indicating that he understood the message.

He originally wanted to ask about the Sacred Gear that was Brand to be so powerful as to defeat Penemue and Rossweisse so abruptly, but realized there was something much more important he needed to know.

"How is Azazel?"

Penemue opened her mouth, but no words came out of her. The Cadre closed one again, looking in another direction with great regret.

That simple fact made Issei's skin crawl.

He had never seen her act this way before, and the fact that she hadn't found enough courage to answer him made his whole body jump covered in terror as he expected the worst.

Still, he had hope.

He always had hope.

So he wanted to confirm it.

"Penemue?" Issei placed a hand on the Cadre's shoulder to comfort her, noticing that for the first time she didn't seem to feel any calmer at the touch of the man she secretly loved.

"Issei, Azazel is..." Penemue could barely look him in the face as she began to speak.

"The truth is that he is in very serious condition, and the cut affected various organs..."

Issei's eyes widened slightly.

"We still haven't found the place where Cao Cao hid the Phoenix Tears, so there is no possible treatment that can cure such serious damage..."

Issei's eyes grew wider and wider during the explanation, feeling like a great whirlpool of frightening emotions were pushing him into madness.

But he still had hope...

"That's why..."

He still had them, until the next words brought his world crashing down.

"The doctors didn't give him more than a day to live."

Gestures of concern in Penemue were pronounced as she noticed Issei's face transform completely.

The young man stood up without warning, causing the Cadre to follow him to grab his shoulder.

"Wait, they don't take visitors now." Penemue tried to reason with Issei, but all to no avail as he pushed her hand away in a jerky motion then threw the door wide open.

"Azazel!" Issei shouted, only to freeze completely when he saw him.

The man was connected to various wires leading from the bloody bandages around his waist. His eyes were open, though they were completely devoid of life while his life support was the artificial respiration attached to his mouth.

"I'm sorry, he can't be here." A nurse inside the room tried to grab his hand to pull him out, but was caught by surprise when Issei pushed her hand away with a swipe that hurt a little.

Issei slowly approached until he was in front of the gurney.

The quiet place was quite eerie, as the only thing that could be heard in the place was the regular sound of the machine indicating Azazel's condition.

Penemue said nothing as she positioned herself behind him to grab his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down. But, she knew perfectly well that nothing she could say or do could calm what Issei was feeling right now.

She felt great pain after seeing Issei's dull eyes. She had already gone through something similar when she lost Ludmiel, so she could understand the pain.

Issei continued to look at Azazel's unconscious body for several seconds, without mediating any words. In fact, not even a sound came out of him, which made Penemue worry even more.

"Before you take my soul, I would like you to know that my name is Azazel."

Issei's hands clenched with great force, until his nails began to pierce his skin.

"You're really bad at fishing, brat!"

Azazel's laughter could be heard in his memories as the young man came out of the water due to being pushed by a fish.

Issei at first was annoyed, but quickly began to laugh along with him.

Finally, those memories pushed him to his limit.

He couldn't take it anymore.

He couldn't stand those tears that began to roll down his cheeks any longer.

And he couldn't hold his voice either.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

A piercing scream was heard throughout the hospital.

Issei dropped to his knees as his wobbly legs lost all strength. His face instantly fell into Azazel's bloody bandages that were now also covered with all his tears.

"WHY?!"

Issei clung to Azazel's body in a poor attempt to stop his suffering.

"WHY?!"

He continued to scream repeatedly. He could not say anything but that one word, as the pain he felt would not allow him to formulate any more sentences.

It did not allow him to formulate any more thoughts.

The only thing he could process was only one feeling.

Suffering and more suffering.

Penemue could only watch in complete silence with a palpable sadness as she saw how Issei did not stop crying and claiming in vain.

She couldn't take it anymore, so she hugged him from behind as she cried next to him.

Rossweisse arrived just in time to see the scene. Her expressionless face changed to one of sadness after seeing what was unfolding in the room.

Issei had always been so cheerful, so the thought never crossed her mind that she could see him drowning in his own crying.

After thirty long minutes, Penemue was at the hospital doors waiting for the brown-haired man who had not yet emerged from the bathroom.

Her face tensed slightly as she noticed the gaze of Issei, who was accompanied by Rossweisse.

He crossed beside her without saying a word to her, the only thing he said was for the Valkyrie to stay by the Cadre because he had something to talk about with Tiamat.

Penemue and Rossweisse looked at each other, their gazes reflected a great deal of concern.

They never thought to see an expression on Issei that would scream out that he wanted blood.

The young man landed in front of a stoic Tiamat, who watched him with folded arms. She was aware of all his emotions, so she simply remained silent, waiting for her beloved's impending request.

"I'm going to kill him." The venom in his voice was so noticeable that it even surprised Tiamat herself a little, though she didn't show it.

"Let me help you."

"No, I'll do it myself." Was the curt, dry reply from Issei, who turned his back to the dragoness.

"Issei..." The dragoness tried to talk some sense into him, but Issei raised his hand to interrupt her.

"I want you to know this..." Issei slowly turned his face away, managing to shock the dragoness herself.

She never thought to see a blinded look of hatred from Issei.

"If you interfere in this fight, I will never forgive you."

CHAPTER 60: REVENGE.

He didn't know how many minutes of searching he had been looking for him.

In fact, most likely by now all those minutes had turned into several hours.

But, as his lack of notion in time made clear, Issei had nothing else on his mind but Azazel.

He was going to avenge him, whatever it took.

And he was going to do it with his bare hands.

Issei stopped dead in his tracks as he landed in front of a building, feeling everything around him change.

"Pocket Dimension." Issei found the answer instantly, knowing that this meant there was a supernatural battle close at hand.

His face automatically turned towards the foot of the large building, sensing how a harassing and corrupting presence was quite close. It was easy to spot, for the stench of blood that the subject gave off was utterly repulsive.

Issei could make out two figures leaning against the wall of the structure.

At that moment, Issei's eyes widened to their widest.

He recognized who was being grabbed by the neck, she was Kuroka.

But the man...

He could only witness that he was a few years ahead of him, always speaking from the human point of view.

"Tell me where the White Dragon Emperor is." The guy plunged his magic sword even deeper into Kuroka's arm, getting the woman to gasp as her arms fell completely limp.

The man wore a tattered black robe, his dark hair was completely disheveled and his dull blood red eyes instilled absolute terror.

The man's seriousness deepened as he tightened his grip on Kuroka's neck, causing the Nekomata to spit blood as she was pressed harder against the wall.

"No one who has been involved with the Dragons has the right to live. But if you tell me where he is, I promise your death won't be painful." Brand declared with an eerie gleam in his eyes.

Issei most likely would have thought a little better of making a surprise attack now that the man was distracted, but when he recognized the pink sword that doomed Azazel his mind could think of nothing else but to unload all his fury and chained rage on the man who had caused so much pain in him.

"BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND!"

"EXPLOSION!"

The loud scream and red flash alerted Brand, who turned his face in an instant. His eyes widened slightly at the surprise of meeting someone he hadn't expected.

Still, the man would never be overwhelmed by anyone, let alone a dragon.

Issei's katana came at a great speed straight at his head, only for Brand to create another pink magic sword in his other hand, deflecting the attack in one swift motion.

Issei didn't even have time to react. The clash of their swords had taken such an abysmal difference in strength that it completely overwhelmed him. The Sekiryuutei couldn't help but spit out a large amount of blood as his body spun at a deafening speed, burying himself in the cement as his katana flew away.

Issei dropped to his knees as best he could, becoming completely motionless as he saw the metal blade was right in front of his eyes.

"I thought you would have already run far away after our encounter." Brand commented in his always dead, emotionless tone. "Can you tell me what led you to such a ridiculous decision?"

Ridiculous.

That word echoed in Issei's mind like a devastating storm.

"You..." Issei clenched his fists tightly, denoting a look he had never given anyone before.

His eyes gave off an amount of fury, rage, helplessness and sadness that swirled together to create a great whirlwind of hatred that was solely directed towards the person who looked at him completely indifferent.

"Do you want to fish again?"

Issei started to get up at a slow pace after the memories.

"Everyone here is very fond of you. I might be like an older brother to you while Ddraig is like your father."

"You...!" Issei hissed again while still continuing to pull himself upright.

"No matter which way you go, I will always support you. Mind you, if I notice you straying into madness, I won't hesitate to kick your ass to bring you to your senses."

Issei's teeth clenched with troubling force as the image of him and Azazel arranging the Sacred Gears came to his mind.

That was the last memory before he exploded.

"YOU KILLED HIM!"

All his emotions and desires to crush him accumulated in one place: his fist.

So it was completely ridiculous for him to see how the man caught his punch as if it was nothing with only one hand, to then knock him down on the ground after using a devastating suplex.

Issei spat some saliva, and just when he wanted to get up, he grunted in pain due to the foot that stepped on his head with a force he didn't know.

"You mean that wimpy one?" Brand wasn't teasing, he was completely serious. That was proven due to the fact that his lack of facial expression didn't change one bit, not even when he pierced Issei's arm with his sword.

"Is that why you came looking for me?" The man asked again, noticing Issei's eyes widen as he felt all his strength vanish from one second to the next being accompanied by the pool of blood that was beginning to surround him.

He barely found the strength to turn his face slightly, noticing how all of his magic was leaking from the cut that strange weapon had given him.

"Don't you dare mock him..." Somehow, Issei was still still finding enough strength to speak, as that strange ability was causing him to pink the state of unconsciousness, plus all his limbs felt numb from the lack of magic that was excised from his body from one second to the next.

"I am not mocking, it is the truth. Now, answer me before I kill you." Was Brand's curt reply, noticing how Issei was beginning to grit his teeth.

"Don't make fun of him."

Azazel placed his hand on Issei's head, smiling at all the Cadres present.

"I know that he will at some point be someone unstoppable."

Azazel fixed his gaze on Issei, giving him a toothy smile.

"The only thing I hope is that I get to witness that moment when it comes!"

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOOOOUUUUUU!"

Issei roared with a hatred that surprised Kuroka herself, even though she was in the same state and unable to move.

"Revenge."

It was the simple word of Brand, who was surrounded by a frightening bloody aura.

"That's what drove your entire species towards doom, and that's what drove you to your death as well."

"SHUT UUUUPPPPP!" Issei screamed through a sound torn between hatred and uncontrollable crying.

"Ridiculous." Was all Brand said as he removed the sword from Issei's shoulder, then lifted his foot.

Issei's eyes mirrored the sword being placed over his head, feeling incredibly helpless as he couldn't even lift a finger.

"Don't worry, that despair will disappear once my sword goes through your skull." Said the man without a hint of pity or sadism in his words.

To him, this was simply work.

Just as he was about to bury the sword in Issei's head, he looked up in some amazement as he noticed a considerably powerful aura approaching him at an enormous speed.

A few meters away from him Rossweisse appeared, creating her icy path to the confused gaze of Brand who couldn't follow a completely arrhythmic movement as the Valkyrie moved from left to right at an impressive speed.

"Let him...!"

Rossweisse clenched her pointed gauntlet with great force as she flexed it backwards.

"In peace!"

Brand's face contorted involuntarily as the devastating blow landed on his cheek, deforming his face momentarily until he was finally thrown backwards, being accompanied by a great shockwave.

"Rossweisse?" Issei looked at her in utter amazement. "What are you doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Rossweisse gave little hops as she clenched her ice gauntlets tightly. "Protecting you!"

Issei could only open and close his mouth at such a statement.

He didn't want anyone to come, but he couldn't say he wasn't grateful for her concern.

Brand's shadowed face spat blood to the side as he twisted his neck numerous times from the recent blow he had received.

His expressionless face changed for the first time as he lifted it up, denoting a look and smile that were covered in madness.

"You're the woman from before!" He exclaimed, seemingly happy.

"On this occasion, I'll be sure to shut you up." Ross stated calmly, then launched into her icy way.

"On this occasion, there's no such woman to save your hide." Brand countered the Valkyrie's assertion, still holding his psychopathic grin.

Rossweisse ducked her head as she saw the sword about to slice her throat, dodging it fruitfully. Brand's grin widened as a magic dagger appeared in his other hand and struck instantly, leaving no time for a reaction, apparently.

Rossweisse's eyes widened slightly at what she witnessed. Her legs did a 180-degree turn in one swift movement, so her body was left floating upside down and the ice path created by such action became a wall as she managed to parry the attack of the man, who couldn't help but wipe the smile off his face as he raised his gaze to focus again on the woman who already had one of her gauntlets half a centimeter from his head.

Issei's eyes widened as the man's head bent downward from the hard frontal blow as Rossweisse positioned herself behind Brand. He hadn't been able to make out what happened after the Valkyrie had dodged the man's sword because of the great speed they had used.

But the important thing was that Rossweisse had won the clash.

Right?

Brand raised his face as he rubbed his nose to remove the traces of blood that kept emerging from it.

The man's seriousness was replaced by a ghoulish grin as he listened to the Valkyrie fall to her knees, trembling.

"Ho-How?" She looked down at her gauntlet, noting how it was dripping blood from an opening that had clearly been punctured by one of the man's weapons.

"You're fast, but not so fast that you can see my faster attacks like the other woman could." The man stated with a grin, his eyes widening as he watched Rossweisse's face turn pale at the massive magic removal. "I'll have fun with you later." He stated, focusing his gaze on Issei as he raised his sword and slowly approached.

"Priorities are priorities..." He commented with an aura of death as he raised the sword above Issei's head.

"Issei!" Rossweisse shouted in utter despair as she felt her body not responding adequately.

Just as they were about to blind Issei's existence, everyone was completely shocked when a white glow appeared at a particular point.

"DRAGON SHOT!"

Brand had no choice but to jump as he noticed how the mass of white magic was heading straight for him. Issei's eyes widened as he noticed how a part of his armor was destroyed, but his entire body had been left intact thanks to the newcomer's tremendous precision.

Brand fixed his gaze on the new arrival. An involuntary smile emerged from his face after seeing who it was.

"Sorry..." Said Vali, who had one of his fingers raised that was steaming.

"But I can't let you kill any of them."

END OF CHAPTER!

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

To be honest, I don't have much more to talk about. Hope to see you soon with the next update.

Thank you very much for reading!