A deafening CLANK resounds as my spear collides with the fedora-wearing Fallen's own. Twice Critical boosted all of his attributes to the point I can only physically keep up thanks to [Reinforcement].

Sparks fly at the power struggle between us, making me narrow my eyes and Dohnaseek's smirk widens a smidgen. Even if it hurts like hell, I use [Thought Acceleration] in conjunction with [Observe] so I can scrape any kind of information.

Dohnaseek.

Age: 46

HP: [-78%-]

MP: [-96-]

Race: Fallen Angel.

Sacred Gear: [Boosted Gear (Twice Critical Form) (Incredibly Unstable) (Dormant)]

Dohnaseek is a man with a complex over his strength-

Save the flavor text. I need strengths and weaknesses. Now.

…

Stats:

STR: E (E)

DEX: E (D-)

CON: E (E)

MAG: E(+) (D-)

SPI: F-

LCK: F

Incredibly Unstable Status:

The power/object with this status effect (a sacred Gear in this case) has become harmful to the one in possession of it, becoming hard to use or highly volatile in its functions.

Overusing it to the brink could lead to unexpected or unprecedented consequences.

Well, shit. Did he become some kind of ticking time bomb? Who even let a machine like this, let alone THREE of them, out of proper security's sight?!

I blame you, Azazel.

A second later, [Thought Acceleration] deactivates as I break our current power struggle by simply letting go.

I let myself get pushed, making Dohnaseek widen his eyes and lose his footing at the sudden absence of resistance. I take the opportunity to duck from his unbalanced attack to sweep at his feet with my leg.

'With a curse, Dohnaseek falls to the ground and I quickly get up, spear tip pointing to the ground to impale his torso from above. Of course, it's not that easy, as the empowered Fallen rolls to the side while dismissing his blue spear in the process. He lands prone and gets up with a push and a flap of his wings.

Tsk, so annoying.

''Hoh, you're skillful, I admit.'' He smiles as I [Shadow Step] to his side, sweeping with my spear in an arc to try and cut the arm possessing the stolen Gear. With greater speed than even Freed, my attack is blocked with another metallic CLANG coming from a one-handed sword made of light this time. ''But are you skilled enough?''

My eyebrow twitched as sparks of lightning spread across my weapon. Dohnaseek's eyes widen before parrying my spear to the side and-

''Grkk-'' FUCK!

I land on the ground and roll to mitigate and get up quicker. I practically rag-dolled until I reached where Mittelt was standing above a weakened Raynare, pink spear in hand and pointing at her throat.

The bastard kicked me in the stomach, and even through the armor, I got the air knocked out of my lungs.

I cough, no signs of blood, thankfully. At least I didn't get any internal damage from that.

''Having trouble, Funigami?'' My new ally asks, but my eyes don't move from Dohnaseek's form. There's sweat on his forehead and even when he's smirking, there's no move to try and go for another exchange.

''Could've been better.'' Nodding my head, I take a single glance at the near-death form of Raynare. A question on my lips as water starts appearing all around me in quick succession. ''You haven't killed her yet.''

It wasn't a question, but a statement. She took a glance at the pitiful state of Raynare before smirking with glee. The tip of her spear made a superficial wound on her previous leader's neck, it was no more than a light cut and the spear made no further move.

The unconscious Fallen didn't even flinch, her energy completely exhausted to the point an injury in the neck didn't shake her awake.

''I was going to.'' She responds easily and I can see Dohnaseek already caught his breath. A two-handed sword was in his hands this time. ''You want her alive to take her Sacred Gear, right?''

Two bodies of water surround me. As my MP bar drops, I nod making her eyes narrow, but before she says anything, I change my spear form to the Hellstone Spear. It didn't have a better Attack than the other one, but it was heavy. ''Both the nun and the student. I know how to bring them back.''

Her eyes widening in sudden realization is all I see before I Dash to an already moving Dohnaseek. He took a single glance at the heavy-looking spear before deciding to quickly side-step my charge to cut me from the side.

''Minefield.'' Bubbles, weaker and smaller than the last time I cast this spell surround a twenty-meter radius around us, making the charged-up water surrounding me dwindle and reduce in size.

It's one of those bubbles that appear in front of the Fallen, making him strike the sphere and send his body back with a shockwave.

There's no time to rest for the Fallen as I'm already jumping him from above with a [Shadow Step]. The bulky spear in my hand burns with orange flame as I let gravity do most of the work.

Different from other exchanges, there isn't a noise signifying the struggle between our weapons. However, there certainly Is a CRACK.

Dohnaseek's two-handed sword shatters at the point of impact with Volcano. The loss of momentum causes the spear to only make a superficial cut through his torso.

He doesn't flinch at the damage and tries to make another light weapon, but I don't give him the chance as I suddenly change weapon forms again, making the Chain Spear appear around my neck. The power of [Reinforcement] focuses solely on my right leg as I spin on my axis and deliver a powerful kick directly into his chest, covered only by hastily raised arms.

The middle-aged fallen is blown away, crashing into multiple exploding bubbles all the way.

I think I just made a dent in his chest.

Huh... Neat.

He ends up crashing into the already destroyed church, making rubble and dust from the recently broken granite disperse all around the building and its proximity.

Putting weight on my leg, I can feel some pain. Torn muscles, probably? Seriously, do I look like I have green hair?

Turning my head, I can see that Mittelt is still holding Raynare's unconscious form at spear-point. So, I finally have some time to check up on Sachi.

I found her just where she landed when my fight with the Boosted Gear thief started. She's knocked out cold (again), and I think that's for the best taking into account her roughed-up condition.

She has cuts and bruises across her arms, probably from the impact, or the friction against the not-so-lush grass. One of her legs looks out of place, and I crouch down to look for further injuries.

[Observe] shows me that her HP bar is surprisingly full, at around 60%, actually. Did the excess energy from Raynare help in some way?

Still, there's one little detail that I'm worried about.

Sachi Genshirou.

Debuff: Paralyzed. Broken Bones.

Shit. Her spine did break when she collided with the damn tree.

''Mittelt!'' I call out, and the petite girl turns to look at me. We're not all that far apart, actually. Maybe a few meters. ''I need you to make sure Dohnaseek doesn't escape!''

''What about Raynare?'' She asks with a frown and some distrust. Not at me, but at the mentioned Fallen on the floor.

''Don't worry about her! I'll take care of it!'' She stares at me blankly, before sighting and nodding at my words of reassurance. Her wings spread once more in the direction of the church. I drop the Minefield around the clearing, its purpose is already completed.

I only take a second to rummage through my inventory. The two dungeons I went through only left me so much in terms of potions…

I need to either get an Alchemy skill or a Shop option, seriously.

Pulling out two small Mana Potions, they don't recover much, but it should be enough along with a bit of HP to heal Sachi. I also take out some water. (You would think that drinking magic water would help…)

I take out the cork and swallow them down, along with a bottle of cold water. A refreshing sensation coursing through my body as my magic and stamina recover.

My hands glow with the power of [Healing Touch] as I start to mend the wounds of a fellow student. Even so, I don't think I can heal her bones. If it was merely a fracture, then maybe, but broken and maybe shattered pieces of bone? No way in hell with my low level.

Healing Mittelt was a lot easier since I only had to repair the flesh missing and close up the cuts.

Maybe I can- huh?

My magical sense alerts me of multiple magical signatures approaching. I tense for a moment, but then…

I recognize them.

''Fumigami-Kun!'' The worried voice of Rias makes itself known as she and her peerage appear from above the treeline. Leathery and black batwings on their backs as they descend on the floor one by one.

Kiba's and Akeno's grim expressions seem to soften up slightly at seeing me. Rias's openly worried frown relaxes into a small smile, and while Koneko's face is mostly as impassive as always, I can see her arms going limp as the tension on her shoulders dissipates.

Man… They get attached fast, don't they?

''About time, guys. One can only beat so many Fallen, you know?'' I smile at them as I get up from my crouching. I already healed what I could from Sachi's injuries.

I couldn't heal the broken spine and only managed to halfway fix her leg, tho.

''Idiot-Senpai.'' Koneko's eye twitches slightly at my greeting, and I think she wants to punt my shins really bad. Again.

Ehe~

-Dohnaseek's POV-

Ah… not a good day to be following orders, is it?

I managed to drag myself through the rubble and into the basement once more. I don't know why, but maintaining this Twice Critical is incredibly taxing. To a ridiculous degree, I would say.

Is it a side-effect of the Sacred Gear Extractor? These things are connected to the soul and only appear at the birth of a human or a half-human, after all.

''Damn…'' A few dry coughs go past my lips. That kick was something else, if I wasn't boosted thanks to the Twice Critical, it would've broken my ribs for sure.

Why is this human even here in the first place? He appeared almost instantly after we started the operation, but I'm sure we didn't have any moles. He didn't even come with the sisters of the two Satans either.

Is he an independent? But that doesn't explain how he found out or why is he targeting us.

Maybe… A contracted magician from the Devils? That… is possible.

But why would he out of his way to save and turn Mittelt on us? To take down Raynare but not kill her?

It just seems like a waste of… time.

Time.

Was he… just making time?

''Huff…'' The gauntlet in my arm feels like it's trying to burn my skin off. Such an inconvenience.

I manage to get up on my feet. It's a miracle that this place hasn't collapsed yet, taking into account the state it's in and the demolished upper floor.

The only thing here is the bodies, both the nun and that student, and the charred remains of Kalawarna.

Think… Think… Why would that teenager need time? Leaving Raynare alive, no matter how weakened, is stupid.

She should've been killed for all intents and purposes.

''Where are the damn stairs now?'' I can hear an irritated voice from above. Right, Mittelt, that damn traitor decided to switch teams just to live another day in her pathetic life. I can beat her any day of the week, and with twice as much strength it should be like a stroll in the park.

That is; if I wasn't absolutely exhausted and beaten black and blue thanks to that boy.

Kalawarna was killed, but Raynare wasn't, why? Is it because she's the highest ranking among all of us?

Why didn't he kill me, though? After that kick, he could've easily dispatched me off. So, it must be something Raynare and I have in common.

The only thing I can think of is…

The Sacred Gears…!

A smirk appears on my face. Of course! If he can manage to tear out these Sacred Gears from us and return them to their owners, those filthy devils can step up, revive them, and trick them into being willing slaves by twisting the reality of the matter with words!

To turn such a noble sacrifice in the name of our leader to strength for those filthy beasts.

It's no wonder he associated himself with devils. What a cunning boy…

With my boosted strength, it's easy enough to rip apart the machine containing the brown-haired kid's body.

Just in time for the traitor to rush into the room, a frown on her face and a pink spear on her hands. Ready to end my life just because someone she met just today, and didn't notice how pathetic she truly is, said so.

Disgusting. Like an abandoned dog following someone around just because they gave it some food.

It doesn't matter. You're way too late, youngling.

-Rias Gremory POV-

Finding out Fumigami was alright is a relief.

The rest of the news, however… are worrying, to say the least.

He gave us the rundown of what basically happened, and to say I'm absolutely livid would be quite the understatement. I was first thinking of scolding Fumigami for his rushed and reckless decision, but at this point, I may have to thank him.

Sona and her peerage are currently rounding up the bodies of the stray exorcist, and also looking out for any missing people who are responsible for this.

I made Kiba guard the student and that four-winged Fallen's unconscious bodies. Our resident mage said that she currently has a broken spine and that he couldn't heal her, which is really bad.

Also, add healing magic to the list of 'Zatren Fumigami bullshit magic repertoire', I guess.

She has a good Sacred Gear. Absorption Line, one of the evil dragon Vritra, a Gear that can drain the energy of whoever is hit by the tendril the glove-like weapon has.

…

I'm… tempted to reincarnate the girl. Any help against that bastard is more than welcome, and since Fumigami already said he was going to join up with Sona…

No. I can't just force that on the girl, but I don't think she will reject the idea. She's basically paralyzed from the waist down, and Fumigami said he would try and throw the pitch at her for me since she seemed to have familiarized with him during their time of duress.

As for the other two… One is a nun, which even with a healing Sacred Gear, I'm kind of hesitant to even try and reincarnate. No matter if she's an excommunicated nun. She's still part of the Grigori, after all.

The boy with the Twice Critical may prove to be useful, but I'm conflicted by the bad blood between him and Fumigami… and also Koneko, who I believe will be completely against the idea.

For any of the last two options to be possible, we have to get to them fast. Lest the time for the Evil Pieces to be able to resurrect them pass.

The rest of us approach the rubble that once was the house of 'the maker of angels'.

''Where even are the stairs here?'' Fumigami frowns with impatience, but it's a good thing this place is already run down.

''Don't worry. We will find it.'' The Gremory House magic circle appears the moment I extend my hand, and with a burst of Demonic Power, most of what remains of the stone building is completely blown away and disintegrated.

''Huh. Convenient.''

The stairs to the basement are revealed, and the four of us walk them down. There's some tension in the air, and even if his words don't reflect it, Fumigami looks pretty tense.

Koneko also takes notice since she grabs the sleeve of his coat, which makes him look at my adorable white-haired Rook and nod with a smile.

Haa… These two are so cute together, I swear.

''Dohnaseek. Let. The boy. Down.'' The moment we step into the basement, we find a Blonde-haired Fallen with twin-tails who is practically dressed in rags, threatening a middle-aged Fallen with a fedora.

The latter mentioned is holding Issei Hyoudou's body by the head with an arm covered in a red gauntlet, yellow details with spikes to the sides, and a round green jewel in the middle.

His other hand is holding a blue sword of light, directly to the boy's throat. I can feel the smell of ozone filling the air as Akeno tenses up. The smile on her face turns slightly dark as her eyes glow with a menacing light.

''Ah, ah, ah. No can do, Mittelt.'' The man speaks as if explaining something to an especially dense child, only with an air of condescendence I quite dislike. ''Don't try any sudden movements now, else there will be nothing for you to reincarnate, will it?''

My eyes widen, and I'm not the only one surprised. Fumigami's face contorts into a frown as his fists close in frustration.

''How unusual of Fallen to play cheap and dirty tricks while cornered like rats…'' Akeno speaks in a sarcastic tone. The smile on her face tightened in disgust.

Koneko stoically nods but makes no further movement.

''Say whatever you want. The boy's chances of surviving lie within my hand, however.'' His smirk widens a smidge as our inaction. ''We don't want the clock running any more than it already did, do we? So, I'll get to the point.''

''Let me leave, and I'll leave the boy's corpse intact.'' The blade on his hand presses against the body's neck. Drawing a few drops of blood. ''I'll take him with me and leave him around the moment I make sure you can't follow. How's that for a deal?''

Absolutely horrible. There will be no time to resurrect Hyoudou if we wait any more time, and we can't even trust his word to be true.

Lastly, the cherry on top of this horrible cake, I don't think the Evil Pieces can even revive him if something so essential to his soul like a Sacred Gear is missing.

Dammed if we do and dammed if we don't.

I really, REALLY hate this feeling of powerlessness.

-Zatren Fumigami's POV-

Now we're in a rough spot again…

I can't help the sigh of frustration from escaping my lips. I didn't kill him in the act before because I didn't know how long would Rias and Co take to get here. All of it to save Hyoudou's life.

And now my actions are the reason he's ending up dead. Permanently.

I know that Akeno and Rias are probably faster than this dude. Hell, I could cast a spell and kill him in a moment. The thing is that none of us can move or cast fast enough to avoid Issei getting his head cut off.

Maybe I can do something, but I'll need to distract him.

''How can we know for sure you'll let him go and not just desecrate his corpse the moment you're far enough?'' Even though I'm asking, I already know the answer. [Lie Detector] rang out the moment he said he would leave Issei's body intact.

Is his ideology twisted enough that he would prefer a young man dying a horrible death, without even respecting the corpse, than to let him reincarnate into a Devil?

Why am I asking myself this? Of course, it is!

''You can't,'' Dohnaseek says with little flair, making all of us frown in disdain. ''But is that really a gamble you would take?''

Oh, I'm taking a gamble alright, bastard.

I don't think my control is good enough to summon water very far from myself, but it should be doable at this distance.

Slowly but surely, water starts forming above the Fallen's head. I can feel Koneko's hand gripping my sleeve tighter, so she and the rest probably noticed what I'm trying to do. The only oblivious person is an exhausted and self-centered old man.

''Do you really think you can escape?'' My eyebrow rises in false amusement, a smirk crossing my face as I put that Lying Skill to work. ''Not only that. While Issei is a classmate, we are not that close, you know?''

I can see Rias skipping a breath at that one. Dohnaseek frowns and seems to think about it for a moment.

While this feels scummy, I really need to bullshit my way through this, so I just keep going.

''I'll go as far as to say I really dislike the guy and with such a weak Sacred Gear… Is he even worth the annoyance?'' I take a step forward, but the confidence and cockiness in my voice doesn't match what I feel.

Dohnaseek takes a step back, the grip on his blade tightening further. ''Not a step further! Or I'll-''

''You will what?'' I interrupt him. Just a bit more time… ''Chop his head off? Go right ahead! You will die the moment you do so!''

I make a gesture with my hand as if to tell him to proceed, and that makes him sweat bullets. His breath becomes ragged as his supposed scapegoat turns useless. His face contorts in desperation and fear, making the previously firm grip on his sword become shaky.

But that wasn't a 'go ahead' sign.

With my open palm pointing at the sky, and my fingers pointing at him, I take my gamble.

''Lacerate.'' The moment I utter the word, the Fallen's eyes widen, but before his weapon cuts into Issei's body further, a single blade made of water comes from the ceiling, separating flesh and bone from the torso. That is to say, Dohnaseek looks like he needs a hand.

A new hand, that is.

''You damn BRAT!'' He roars in pain and fury at his lost limb, and I Dash directly at him, ready to tear my classmate's body from his grasp.

Sadly, not all the gambles are successful.

My eyes widen as I'm blown back by a crimson and emerald aura coming from the Fallen's body. At first, he looks surprised, but then his face contorts in absolute agony as the gauntlet in his remaining arm shines and starts fusing with his flesh.

''What in Satan's name-!'' Rias's exclamation is cut short by the room shaking, as glowing green lights surround the church's basement. My eyes widen as the Twice Critical changes form into a dark red gauntlet, that starts covering the Fallen's entire arm, and it keeps going.

Of course, the first thing that happens in response to pain, is the muscles in the body, especially the area affected, to tighten up and flex.

CRRK.

An unpleasant and cracking sound echoes in the room. The source?

Issei's head is crushed by the screaming Fallen.

Grey and red paste mixed with bone covers Dohnaseek's hand (more like a claw now) and torso. The original protagonist of this word falls to the ground, headless and completely unsalvageable.

''Fucking bastard!'' The Hellstone Spear form appears in my hand a moment later. Koneko's eyes widen in shock at the appearance of the weapon, and both Rias and Akeno look with shocked and angered eyes at the body of a fellow student.

I sprint, rushing in a [Reinforcement] filled charge to kill this piece of scum, but a heavy gauntlet blocks my weapon. An ineffective CLANG resounding as my momentum and attack is stopped dead in its tracks.

What…?

A chorus of voices I don't recognize at first starts murmuring. Some giggled and others were sad; hopeless, even.

Dohnaseek stops screaming… and starts to chant instead.

''I, who shall awaken…'' My eyes widen in recognition as a dark and desperate feeling of pure and unadulterated terror seeps deep into my gut.

His face is an impassive and emotionless shell, probably hiding all of the pain the Boosted Gear is causing to his body. His eyes glow a bright and powerful emerald as the voices start speaking clearly.

''It's happening again…'' ''Looks like it started.''

Oh, HELL NO!

''Rias-Senpai, Akeno-Senpai!'' My desperate screaming seems to take the shock out of the people in the room. Even Mittelt, who looked in shock the moment Issei's head was crushed turned to me. ''Don't let him finish the chant! BLAST HIM WITH EVERYTHING!''

Maybe it was the desperation in my voice or a survival instinct engraved deep within their minds, but they followed my instructions right away.

''Right!'' ''It would be my pleasure~'' I [Shadow Step] back, since the moment I spoke, red magic circles appeared on both Akeno's and Rias' hands. Huge amounts of magical power form just at their fingertips.

''…am the Heavenly Dragon who-'' A massive thunderbolt of energy and quantity that even I can't manage comes out with the boom of real thunder from Akeno's hand, and a massive ball of black and crimson Demonic Power that screams 'danger' is also thrown out thanks to Rias.

The attacks impact directly into the transforming Fallen, making the whole room tremble and shake.

''Stole the principle of Domination from God.'' Yet, that's not enough to stop the now charred and partly destroyed body of Dohnaseek.

''Koneko! Take Mittelt and the Nun's body out of here!'' If my heavy hit with Jinzui didn't affect the bastard, then I doubt Koneko's punches will do it, Rook piece or not.

Mittelt eyes widen in shock and fear at her ex-comrade, and Koneko frowns at me while shaking her head. ''I'm not leaving you guys here.'' There's a resolution in her voice that would've warmed my heart on another occasion, but it's not the time!

''We will be fine!'' I reassure her, but my high tone of voice makes her flinch slightly. Fuck, now I feel like shit. ''We need to go all out before he finishes chanting, but we can't risk destroying the nun's body or having one of you in the crossfire!''

Her frown deepens, and she grabs my arm, pulling me down and unexpectedly giving me a chaste kiss on the cheek.

''Don't you dare die, Schizogami.'' She gives me a heatless glare before quickly taking apart the machine containing Asia's body and grabbing Mittelt by the waist, who exclaims a 'hey!' but doesn't protest further.

''I won't. I promise.'' I nod at her with seriousness. The weapon in my hand changed to the Agreas Crystal Spear.

Just like that, three people have been taken out of the approaching destruction.

My eyes turn to Dohnaseek once more, who has been getting peppered and pierced by Rias and Akeno's constant barrage of attacks.

His body looks more like a piece of charred and broken-down flesh than a man, even if it somehow retains a humanoid shape.

And yet…

''It's always been like this.'' ''You're right, it always had been.''

''I laugh at the Infinite and fret over the Dream.''

He's not stopping.

His body is slowly contorting, mouth breaking and forming into a maw filled with teeth. Arms and legs getting bigger and more reptile-like, with claws at the end of each finger. Lastly, a spiked tail of crimson scales bursts out of his back in a gruesome fashion.

What do I do…

How do I stop this?!

''I… may have a solution, Partner.'' The red gem on my spear brightens up as the spirit's voice makes her presence in the room known.

Jinzui!

''What is it, Jinzui?!'' I ask in desperation, my eyes laser-focused on the rapidly growing form of the disfigured Juggernaut Drive.

The basement's ceiling threatened to burst open at the Red Dragon Emperor's growing form.

''You need to break some of that armor off… and get some blood from the boy.'' She explains the desperate gamble that her idea is, and before I can protest, she continues. ''If you can manage to get me that, I may be able to make a Weapon Form that can damage it.''

It's basically a suicidal move. If that thing grabs me even for a moment; I'm a goner.

But what other choice is there?

I rush in, targeting newly formed armor on its flesh. The abomination of a dragon tries to swipe at me, but it's slow. My superior speed lets me get away from the destructive power of its claws that break apart concrete like paper.

This is close enough!

''[Meteor Thrust III!]'' The glowing beam of light impacts the beast directly into its torso. A beam that would've previously evaporated the Fallen only managed to make the monster roar and a few shards of armor and scales to tear and break off the main body.

That's all I need.

I throw myself out of the way of its powerful tail. The swipe hits one of the basement's walls instead. The sound is like a massive cracking whip of metal, making whatever was on its path to practically disappear under its destructive power.

Grabbing the destroyed shards and scales, I shove them into the spear's gem.

Finding Issei's body is a lot easier. In one of that thing's attacks, the headless corpse has been thrown and splattered amongst one of the walls. Broken flesh and bones that once belonged to a teenager marring the floor.

''I'm sorry, Hyoudou.'' Swallowing down my disgust against myself, I take off one of Issei's fingers and shove it into the greedily devouring spear.

Conditions for the 'Human Meat Spear' have been met.

Conditions for the 'Human Blood Spear' have been met.

Conditions for the 'Human Bone Spear' have been met.

Conditions for the 'Human Skin Spear' have been met.

Conditions for the 'Dragon Spear I, II, and III' have been met.

Conditions for the 'Dragon Scale Spear' have been met.

…

Come on… Come ON!

Conditions for the 'Red Dragon Emperor Spear' have been met.

YES!

Red Dragon Emperor Spear.

Equip Bonus: [Attack Up (Large)]. [All Stats Up (Large)]. [Growth Up (Medium)]. [Dragon Buster(Skill)]. [Unmastered].

Equip Effect: [Armor Piercing (Large)].

I instantly change to this new Weapon Form.

The spear is tall, a leather-covered handle red in color with green veins coursing through it. The tip looks like an arrowhead, only that it is much bigger. There are black and crimson details around the middle, where the originally crimson gem has been surrounded by a green glow that irradiates pure power.

Jinzui I could kiss you right now!

A loud BOOM tears the ceiling open, the massive form of a dragon reaching the surface, and I can see Rias and Akeno's attacks becoming less and less effective over time. To the point, they're doing basically no damage whatsoever.

''I shall become… The Red Dragon of Domination…''

''Akeno-Senpai!'' I call out to the half-fallen since Rias's Power of Destruction seems to be doing a bit more of an effect in slowing down the monster's chant.

The black-haired girl is at my side with just a short flight, her form sweaty and exhausted. The previous sadistic smirk on her face turned into a worried frown. ''I hope you have a plan, little Kouhai…''

I nod with seriousness and explain. ''I need you to take me high into the air, and throw me at its remaining hand. The one with the gauntlet.'' It doesn't take a genius to note that it sounds more like an attempted suicide than a real plan, and Akeno frowns, a rejection about to come out of her mouth.

''Please, Akeno!'' Her eyes widen. At my tone of voice? The desperation in it? Or maybe because I used her first name with no honorifics. ''Trust me. I'll win.''

She looks conflicted but nods after a moment before gently grabbing me and quickly ascending Into the sky. The form of the Juggernaut Drive almost seems to eclipse the whole clearing, and the transformation isn't even over yet.

''Rias, back off!'' The crimson-haired girl looks at me in shock and worry but doesn't object as she leaves the scene, flying over where I can see Sona and her Queen and Bishop, along with the rest of Rias's peerage.

It seems they moved Raynare and Sachi to a safe distance, too. Perfect.

''It's far enough, Akeno.'' The girl of the same name stops ascending, and tighten my grip on Jinzui. Sheer and potent electricity start gathering at the tip of my weapon as I push my all into it. Not only that, but a fine layer of water surrounds the sharp part of it for an extra piercing.

''Now… Throw me!'' I exclaim, and there's only a little hesitation before Akeno uses her increased strength from her Queen piece to throw me as hard as she can to the Dragon Emperor.

''Please be alright… Zatren-Kun.'' Is the last thing I hear before I'm dive bombing, spear at the front like a missile.

Momentum builds up as I accelerate through the air. The wind hits my face and hair, ruffling my clothes all the while.

Just falling and hitting him won't be enough. I need more force somehow!

Gritting my teeth, I try to move while diving, and it forms the result I wished for. This is going to make me soo fucking dizzy, but it will be worth it!

Spin in the air. That's what I do. As if I was some kind of drill.

This shit better work!

-Koneko's POV-

Senpai…

Does this idiot have a death wish or something?!

I was already worried when Akeno-Senpai was floating him into the air. The moment she threw him?

I wasn't strangling that cow just because it was Schizo-Senpai's idea in the first place!

The monstrous and deformed form of the Fallen keeps growing. A green Jewel in the middle of that thing's chest. A body covered in red scales-like armor, but… It's just all wrong,

The horns, the draconic wings, and even the arms are all the wrong size. There are patches of brittle armor with protrusions of scales all over. One of its wings is a smaller size than the other, having cracks all over from the spine to the wing itself. The glowing green orbs that are present in the 'healthy' wing seem to be either absent or shining and dimming at random intervals.

Finally, that arm.

It's lacking one of its arms, probably the one Zatren-Senpai cut off, but the other one?

It looks like a mass of cancerous tumors. Red armor covering red and irritated flesh. An emerald gem in the middle of a deformed reptile claw, pulsing and throbbing as if it was a heart of some kind. Veins of the same color covered the gauntlet of what Rias and Sona barely recognized as the Boosted Gear.

To think Hyoudou was the Red Dragon Emperor…

I… Won't say I will specifically miss him. I wasn't close to him at all. But, that doesn't mean he deserved to die by the selfishness of others…

''Is that Fumigami-Kun?'' Sona's Bishop voice makes me focus on the scene once more. Apart from the 'dragon', there's a shining comet of blue lightning falling directly into the direction of that abomination.

My eyes widen, and I can feel my heart skipping a beat in worry.

''Don't you dare die, Schizogami''

''I won't. I promise.''

I can hear a collective gasp from our group and that Fallen girl as the spinning meteor that is Senpai collisions with the Dragon Emperor's deformed arm. But, even with all that power… It's not nearly enough.

When it seems the attack will be successfully blocked, a shout rings out in the middle of all those murmurs and voices chanting in the background.

''[DRAGON BUSTER]!'' A shockwave of energy pulses from the point of impact between the dragon abomination and Zatren. The trees and rubble around them are blown away by the intense clash of power.

My fists tighten, nails scraping against my palms.

''Zatren-Kun…'' ''Fumigami-Kun!'' ''Fuck that geezer up, Fonigani!''

…

''Senpai… Please…'' Flashes of a black-haired woman cross my mind. Two cat tails on her back, and an annoying tone of voice every time she talked.

''Please don't leave me alone too…''

The moment the light fades…

''I shall… drown you into the crimson depths of purgatory…'' The monster looked a lot worse. Chunks of armor and flesh fell to the ground. Yet, the gauntlet on its arm kept itself up. Glowing a sickly grin mixed with bloody crimson that promised absolute destruction.

It can't be…

S-Senpai…

''Jugger-'' ''[MIRROR SPEAR III]!''

A shockwave more intense than before explodes once again before the chant is fully complete. The two forces keep colliding with one another. A huge CREACK sounded all across the clearing. Then… Silence.

Wait… Silence?

The voices stopped-

BOOM!

The sound of an explosion, followed by the screech of a metal-like material snapping and getting crushed resounds the moment Senpai's attack fades.

Looking from another perspective, the collision seems to be like that one paradox.

An unstoppable force against an unmovable object. The all-piercing spear and the all-defending shield…

There's no winner in the paradox since it's… Well, a paradox.

But in this case…

The spear won.

The malformed arm of the fallen is shattered into chunks and pieces, which vanish the moment they're separated from the being as a whole. A green light with a touch of crimson in the sky approaches and disappears the moment it reaches Zatren-Senpai, before disappearing like it was never there.

And then he falls.

With a stomp on the floor and a flap of my wings. I rush to that dumbass before he can hit the floor and hurt himself even more.

The moment I catch him, relief feels my being as I feel his heartbeat through my hands, and the life surrounding him through my senses.

He's roughed up, bleeding, and with parts of his skin bruised and burnt. Especially the hand he used to grip the spear. I'm actually surprised how his coat seems mostly intact.

He's in bad shape overall.

But he's alive.

''You idiotic Senpai,'' I murmur. Something hot and wet trailing down my face. He looks at me with a little smile and tired eyes. His previously tense body went limp at my steady grasp.

''Sorry…'' He… apologizes?

''For what, you dumbass?'' I shake my head while raising an eyebrow at him.

''Making you cry.'' His hand goes to my cheek, cleaning and wiping the tears, and I can't help but let out a snort of exasperation. ''Also…''

I descend to the floor, where the disintegrating body of that Fallen can be seen among the destruction and rubble.

''What is it?'' My voice is soft, but I'm afraid we may have missed something.

''Our date… I was thinking this weekend, maybe?'' His dopey smile and the little wink following his stupid question would have looked a lot better if he wasn't in such a poor state.

…

''Fine. Now stop saying dumb things and rest, Schizo-Senpai.'' Why does my face feel hot all of a sudden? Damn you, Schizogami…

''Yay~'' His smile widens a bit as he celebrates like a little kid who has been given candy, only to fall unconscious a moment later. The spear never leaves the grip of the victorious warrior.

Haa… Seriously, such a troublesome Senpai…

I… guess I can get used to it.

-Bonus Scene: ? POV-

You really changed this world quite a bit, didn't you?'' I ask with a slight of amusement. It's way too different for being so similar. Such a strange Gamer System, too.

You said the next one needed a bit of spice to it. I just delivered by your standards of 'fun'.

''Yeah, Yeah.'' Rolling my eyes at the little screen, I can't help but think how cheeky this thing has gotten since the last time I interacted with it. Is a few thousand years that much of a time for a few lines of code to get like this? ''Still. You changed something.?''

What could you possibly be talking about?

''The Boosted Gear.'' I point at the obvious. ''Even with God's System all over the place. It shouldn't have gotten that out of hand. You messed with it.''

…

''You also let him unlock a Weapon Form he should only be able to use with around… C-tier Stats? Why did you make them letters again?'' Really. Numbers aren't that hard to comprehend, you know?

It does get a bit funky after the hundred-thousands, though.

So what? It all adds to the experience, doesn't it?

''Well… You may be right.'' I can agree with that. After all…

What is a game, if not a way to have fun?

.

.

.

Author's Note:

Now THAT is the closing of an arc if I ever saw one!

I know what you're thinking. ''Zatren is not NEARLY as strong enough to actually beat Juggernaut Drive.''

You, my dear reader, are ABSOLUTELY right!

If this was a regular Juggernaut Drive. MC and basically EVERYONE would have been absolutely smoked.

However, this isn't regular J.D. This is a bastardized, half-baked, (and glitched the fuck out) Juggernaut Drive. That plus 'Dragon Buster' Is what won this shit.

For those who don't know (This is if I remember correctly). Dragon Buster is a Hero Skill from Ren, The Sword Hero from ROTSH. This thing allowed him to punch way above his level because his enemy was a dragon. This shit does 'fuck you' levels of damage to them. I think it should be on the level of a dragon-slaying weapon (for this version, at least.)

TDLR: This thing didn't hold a candle to a TRUE Juggernaut Drive, and Armor Pen combined with Dragon Slaying element for the win!

(Also, a bit of System help on the side. You know how it is.)

Well. That's that. First Arc ended, baby!

I wanted to add something else. I was thinking of MAYBE making a discord server, so you guys can talk to me directly about your opinions and can easily and freely ask me questions. Tell me what you think about the idea.

Now then; Have a great weekend guys!