As promised. ENJOY!
The day had finally arrived, and Issei had to admit, it was less of a hassle than he had imagined. The meeting was scheduled for later today, at ten in the evening. However, in order to make good time and ensure everything was going smoothly, it was decided to arrive at Kuoh Academy at least 20 minutes earlier than that. Still, it changed little as Issei and his group got ready, along with Rias and her peerage, and finally, Sirzechs and Michael, along with their own company.
Ajuka had to depart earlier, as he needed to attend to some things in the underworld, leaving only Sirzechs there to partake in the meeting. But that was alright. Officially, Issei was Sirzech's security detail, along with his guard. This meant a small army of devils, which had joined them today, together with an army equal in size made up of angels.
Michael and Irina walked close to one another, and they joined Issei and the others at the front of his house. The angels and devils were flying high in the sky, but thanks to some good old magic, they were impossible for normal people to see.
"Everything ready for departure?" Issei asked of Sirzechs.
"Yes. We will meet with Azazel of the Grigori and his company at Kuoh. I received a message that they are already there, so we best depart." Sirzechs replied.
"Let's not delay and leave them to wait, then," Michael added, and the group took a quick way there. A magical circle appeared under every single person, teleporting them away to the academy. Issei had to be teleported by Kuroka, same with his entire group, as he still lacked a skill like those long-ranged teleportation circles. He only had his shadows, and he still got a bit dizzy from them at times.
Granted, now it was not the time for dizziness. Oh no…It was not.
"Ah! Sirzechs! Michael! How glad to see you could join us! And I see you brought quite the company as well! I recognize your sister there, Zechs, same with her peerage, but…" His eyes shifted to Issei and his group. "I only know one face from that one." The man before them was a young, tall man with an average build, black hair, golden bangs, and a black goatee.
He wore a V-neck maroon long coat with a wide, open high collar that opened up at the hem. The long coat also featured two black belts around the waist and four black bands on each arm, two of the bands at the wrist and the other two near the elbow, along with grey slacks and brown shoes.
This man, Issei could tell, was Azazel, the leader of the Grigori. And the man next to him? Ddraig told him at once
"It's him, Issei. I can sense Albion. That is the White Dragon Emperor."
"I know."
His skill told him as much. He was a handsome young man with silver hair and light blue eyes, wearing a dark green V-neck shirt with a high-collared black leather jacket over it, burgundy jeans with a silver chain drooping down over them, and black leather chaps with three bands encircling his right calf, and black shoes with black buckles.
[Azazel]
[Level 239]
[Vali Lucifer]
[Level 96 ]
"Lucifer? And a 40-level gap?" Solomon's eyes widened, while Issei felt a bit nervous seeing his supposed rival standing there. "He is a descendant of Lucifer! My word, and that level! He is quite the powerful foe, my student."
"Do not worry. So long as he cannot touch you, he cannot use his [Divide] ability on you, and even then, I can [Boost] us until we match his might or even outdo him. Albion and I always canceled each other out. Still, 40 levels is a lot. Best be prepared, partner."
"I will," Issei replied to them, then he stepped forward. "My name is Issei Hyoudou, and this here is my group. Kuroka Youjou, Asia Argento, Ingvild Leviathan, and I think you know Raynare."
"Lord Azazel." Raynare bowed with loyalty to him.
"Didn't you betray me and went to work for Kokabiel?" Azazel asked her, making Raynare gulp nervously.
"He used me! I swear, I didn't know the full extent of his plans; I just-"
"Yeah, yeah!" Azazel interrupted her. "Look, I don't care what he told you or promised you; know that you had to be tagged as rogue, Raynare, due to your actions. But, if I am to be honest…I am glad to see you are alive and well. And you, Issei Hyoudou, something tells me you are more than meets the eye."
Issei summoned his Sacred Gear, revealing himself. "Does this answer your question? I also know who your companion here is."
"Ah! So you recognize him." Azazel replied with a sly smirk.
But Vali was swift to make himself known. "So, you actually recognize me."
"Ddraig can tell Albion was nearby, so we pieced it together. So, you are the White Dragon of Supremacy. And also…A descendant of Lucifer." Vali's eyes widened greatly, along with Azazel showing some nervousness at Issei's words. "I can tell a lot of things, Vali."
"I didn't tell you my name…" Vali pointed out. "How?"
"Take this as the first show of my power. Last time, I was exhausted from fighting Kokabiel and his group, but now? I am fresh as a daisy."
"Heh." Vali smiled, hearing Issei's confident words. "You are quite something, Red Dragon. If it weren't for the meeting about to take place, I'd gladly take you on here and now."
"Trust me, Vali, the feeling is mutual. Or not. Hard to say, really, I am mostly just riding the wave." Issei replied.
"Speaking about riding waves, we should probably hurry up and catch ours," Azazel stated, looking at the time.
"My Rook, Koneko, will need to take care of our Bishop, Gasper Vladi, since he is a bit too shy when it comes to meeting so many new people at once. I hope that won't cause any problems." Rias said.
"None on my end," Azazel replied casually.
"Then let us be on our way. The meeting place for the signing of the treaty is inside the Dean's office." Sirzechs stated, walking with Michael and Azazel toward the building, followed by Issei and his group, along with Rias, Akeno, and Kiba, as Sirzech's company, Irina as Michael's, and Vali as Azazel's.
It didn't take them long to arrive at the Dean's office, where a table was already prepared for them. The furniture was moved around, leaving them a table in the center of the room for them to use. Sirzehcs, Azazel, and Michael went in the middle, where the table was, while everyone else took to the sidelines, watching the event.
Michael produced the treaty, a simple sheet of paper meant to end all hostilities between the three factions, which had been at odds for centuries with no number. "Today marks a truly joyous turning point in our shared history." The angel stated with an easy smile. "Peace between Heaven, the Grigori, and Hell. Allow me to be the first one to leave my signature."
Michael was the first to sign the treaty, and he passed it on to Sirzechs. "I must say, this turn of events is not something I had expected. That is if the old satans were still in power. I know how my ancestors would have never approved of this, but this is a new era. One which is not meant to be ruled by war. With this signature, hopefully, we can maintain this peace for many millennia to come."
And so, Sirzechs signed the treaty as well, officially forging peace between Hell and Heaven. But one last signature remained to be added, and as the treaty reached Azazel, the fallen angel smiled with glee. "War is real nasty business. Cost us too much and won us too little. For years, I've been trying to push for something like this, but we never saw eye to eye enough to go through with it. But recently? In light of the recent incident caused by my Cadre, Kokabiel, this was necessary. It showed us that an unofficial peace based on an old cease-fire extended indefinitely is too fragile to maintain. All it takes is one crazed lunatic. But now, that worry is behind us! Cheers, mates! For peace!"
Taking the pen in his hand, Azazel made to sign the treaty.
"Is everything ready, demon?" Shalba asked Ignium, the two of them flying high above the clouds above the academy. The demon just stood there, flapping his wings to keep him sky-bound, looking down at the gathering of angels, fallen angels, and devils. He had to restrain himself from smiling.
"My scientist always delivers, Shalba," Ignium stated as he produced some kind of device resembling a circular metal tablet with one button in the center. "One of the many lessons of war. If you wish to crush an enemy that is many, you must first divide them." He pressed the button on the device, then threw it down, falling toward the academy.
The soldiers saw it but didn't pay it importance, and alas, it fell all the way to the ground, but instead of breaking, it bounced once, and then energy gathered around it, creating a sphere.
Shalba smiled with glee as he stared down at his hands, seeing them….double? No, triple! No…He was being dimensionally displaced. "My greatest thanks to your man, Ignium."
Then, the two of them vanished, but they were not the only ones.
"Gaspy, wasn't Issei working on your confidence?" Koneko asked the vampire, who was currently hiding in his box. "How is this progress?"
"I-it is! My box is not in my room!" Gasper replied, and sure enough, the two of them were in Rias' office, waiting for the others to finish with the treaty. Supposedly, there was even a party planned to celebrate this occasion.
"You could at least come out of it; there is no one-" Koneko's body tensed as she sensed something. "What is going on?" She asked, but then she looked down, seeing her body seemingly multiple.
"Koneko?!" Gasper shouted her name, scared by what was happening. "What is going on?! I don't like this!"
"I don't know…"
And so, they vanished as well.
As soon as Azazel's pen was lifted from the paper, having put his signature down as well, the individuals in the room began to see the event unfolding as well. "What is the meaning of this?!" Sirzechs asked, seeing himself strangely shift. "Azazel, Michael!"
"It is not any of our doing, Sirzechs!" Michael replied, experiencing the same event.
"Neither is mine!" Azazel shouted as well. "This is…" His eyes widened in realization. "We are being forcibly drawn into pocket dimensions!"
"What?!" Sirzechs gasped in shock. "How is that possible? And why are we being affected as well? Shouldn't our power protect us from such machinations?"
"I don't know. Usually, beings of power can resist various phenomena that might affect them, but this is not something either of us can resist." Azazel replied. "I can tell just by sensing it."
"Whatever this is, it is trying to split us apart!" Albion said as Vali manifested his Sacred Gear. "Ddraig, can you and your host do something?!"
The Boosted Gear appeared as well. "What do we look like, dimensional wizards?! There is nothing we can do!"
"What can we do, then?!" Issei asked.
"Issei!" Asia shouted, and he looked just in time to see her and Raynare, along with Kuroka, vanish into the air.
"No!" Issei shouted.
"Calm yourself! They are safe, just displaced somewhere else!" Vali shouted at Issei, but the effects of the event were taking more of a toll on him than the others. "Shit! Azazel-" And eventually, Vali vanished into the air as well.
"Brother!" Rias shouted for Sirzechs, but in the next second, she vanished along with her peerage,
"Rias! No! Grrrr." Sirzechs began to flare his power, coating himself in the Power of Destruction to try and prevent himself from being taken. It seemed to work as the multiple shades of the man were retracting back into himself, but his efforts were for nothing. The effects of the event were growing stronger on him as well now, and before long, Sirzechs vanished as well.
"We need to do something! Azazel! Do you have any idea how we can-" Ingvild vanished before she could finish her sentence.
"Fuck! Listen, Issei Hyoudou! Whatever is causing this must have a root! If you can find that root, you can-" Azazel vanished before he could finish his sentence.
"I understand…" Issei muttered before he vanished as well.
"Irina, stay strong!" Michael shouted before he vanished, followed shortly by Irina.
"What just happened?" A soldier asked.
"We lost contact with the leaders!" Another shouted, but he saw one of the devil soldiers aim their weapon at him.
"Is this some trick by your angels?" He asked.
"Michael is gone as well! How can this be a trick of ours when even our leader is no more?" The angel asked back, followed by a fallen angel.
"All of them are gone…Something isn't right!"
"Watch out!" A shout was the only warning the soldiers received as several portals opened, followed by magical projectiles flying at them, striking several and sending them down. "We are being attacked!"
"By whom?!"
"Humans! It is an army of magicians!" Another shouted. "We are being attacked!"
"Humans…" The devil soldier muttered, but he quickly pieced things together as he saw several devil soldiers coming through the portals as well, recognizing their uniforms. "That's the Old Satan Faction! They are a group from hell who support the old ways of our realm! This treaty is not something they'd have left alone!"
"What do we do?" The angel asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" The fallen angel replied. "We fight! You, devil! Can you say with certainty, swearing on the graves of your ancestors, that you and your lot have nothing to do with this Old Satan Faction or this attack?"
"I swear it on my life as well!" The devil added.
"Then that is all I needed. Everyone! Attack back! Our enemies are before us, and with our leaders gone, we must hold on until they are back! Everyone! Charge!"
And so, three factions came under one banner to battle the incoming enemy.
"Where are we?" Gasper asked as he and Koneko found themselves stranded in a forest of some kind, shrouded in mist. "I don't like this place."
"This is…" Koneko got her feline features out and sensed around. "We are trapped. I cannot feel anyone else, but at the same time, the energy surrounding us is not normal. We must be trapped in some kind of barrier."
"Trapped?! But how?!" Gasper asked.
"I don't know. We must see how we can-"
"Koneko, watch out!" Gasper's shout proved itself to be well timed as Koneko was able to dodge an incoming projectile from behind, which ended up striking the tree next to Gasper, spooking him and making him turn into a bat, flying away and hiding among the leaves.
"Come out!" Koneko ignited her fist with fiery ki, demanding the assailants come out from their hiding. She could sense them. Two - no. Three signatures were obvious to her. Since they had been discovered, they decided to reveal themselves, coming out from their hiding place. Three magicians revealed themselves to Koneko, all of them with confident smiles on their faces.
"So, the rumors are true. You can sense it even while we hide our presence using magic. Youkai senses are truly nothing to joke about." One of the magicians said. Koneko took note of all of them, noticing that not only were they all women, but they wielded considerable amounts of power as well.
"I won't ask who you are, but I ask what happened. What is this place?" Koneko asked, getting ready to attack or defend in case she needed to.
"I guess there is no harm in telling you." The magician continued. "This is a pocket dimension generated by our allies in the Snake of Adam."
"The Snake of Adam?" Koneko echoed softly. "They are here as well?"
"Oh?" Another one of the magicians noticed. "You know of them? What a surprise! I thought they were pretty much under the radar. Oh, well, I guess lately, they had been taking more action. Especially with that General of theirs back into action. I only caught a glimpse of the man, but I must say: Meow." She licked her lips.
Koneko found that expression of hers relatively offensive. But the third magician seemed to grow irritated with the antics of the other two. "You two, knock it off! We were told to take care of this brat, along with…With…Where the fuck is the vampire that was supposed to be with you!"
"Likely hiding under some skirt," Koneko replied plainly.
"Hey!" Gasper shouted from the trees, which got the attention of the magicians, but he got back into hiding quickly.
"Well, good to see the intel saying he was not a big threat checks out. Now." The magicians summoned forth their magical circles. "Let's deal with this pussy cat."
Within another pocket dimension, this one resembling a barren wasteland, where the ground was cracked and high above shined a sun burning the earth, Rias found herself there along with her peerage, trapped just like the others. "What is this?" Rias asked, looking around. There was nothing as far as the eyes could see.
Akeno had a communication circle to her ear. "Nothing. We are cut off completely from the outside."
Kiba summoned forth several swords, then took one in his hands. He focused on it, trying to sense anyone else. The sword in his hand was another holy sword made by Blade Blacksmith called Highsense. It heightened the wielder's senses greatly. However, right now, it was doing him no favors. "I can only sense us in here."
"We are under attack." Rias realized. "This is likely a trick played by the enemy, meant to divide us and take us out separated instead of fighting us together."
"If so, then they achieved their goal. We cannot even figure out if this dimension has an end or if it is just an endless sea of wasteland and heat." Xenovia replied, undoing her top buttons a bit. "This heat is worse than summer in the Vatican even."
"Do you think this is everything they have in store for us?" Akeno asked. "An endless wasteland and great amounts of heat?" Rias raised her hand, focusing her Power of Destruction and firing it into the distance. However, her attack just kept going, not stopping at any point or hitting any walls.
"There are no limits. This is a well-crafted pocket dimension." Rias noted, then turned to Akeno. "Akeno, could you find a way to get us out of here?"
"Forgive me, Rias, but I don't think I can. The feeling this place gives out is foreign to me, and I think the very nature of this place might be impossible to decipher in due time."
"In short and easy terms to understand, we are stuck until aid arrives," Xenovia stated. "Kiba, can you at least generate a sword that can produce water? We might be able to use your Sacred Gears to ease our discomfort in this heat."
"That is a good idea, Xenovia," Kiba stated, but then Rias turned around sharply.
"Kiba, I suggest you save your energy." She summoned forth her power once again. "We have company."
A great cloud of dust was rising over the horizon as multiple giant spheres rolled toward them. In total, there were at least a dozen, all gray. They all came to a stop, several meters away from Rias and her peerage, and then they opened and transformed. Everyone was stunned by the sight before them as the spheres morphed and revealed their true forms: Golems. Just like the ones Issei had battled before, but more modern. Their bodies were made of metal, with the exterior shells morphing neatly into armor all across them.
Four-digit hands formed, and their legs had tracks on them to move them along. There was no neck or head, as they only took note of one spherical, moving orb in the center of their chest. However, the worst part was yet to come as other vehicles arrived. This one had a more rectangular shape, but it was not a combat golem. Oh no, the fact it opened and revealed several weapons that the big golems grabbed, the weapons seemingly morphing and integrating into their own bodies, told them volumes.
"Rias Gremory!" The leading golem, which had a coat of red paint on his chest, spoke. "I am the SHAU (Specialized Heavy Assault Unit) model A-1 (Alpha 1). I am under orders to eradicate you and your group."
"They can talk?" Kiba asked in surprise.
"No, they cannot. That robotic voice doesn't seem to hold the same spark of life as the golem Issei fought." Akeno stated.
"Your assumption, Akeno Himejima, is correct. Affirmative, we are merely equipped with advanced military AI." The golem replied. "However, whether you consider me a living being doesn't matter." The golem pointed its weapon at them, and Rias had to admit, the rotating quadruple barrel of that gun didn't inspire a lot of confidence in her.
"Everyone, be ready!" Rias shouted. "This is bound to be a battle."
"Where are we?" Michael asked as he found himself, along with Azazel and Sirzechs, in their own space. Their prison for the duration of the battle. The realm they found themselves in resembled something akin to an empty meadow, verdant and full of life, with a clear blue sky shining above. A soft wind blew throughout the meadow, further confusing them.
"This is a pocket dimension," Azazel stated, but something felt off to him. "But this is…"
"Reinforcement." Sirzechs finished. "I can sense it, too. I've been trying to seep my Power of Destruction into this dimension's boundaries, seeing if I can cause it to collapse. No use. Whoever created this place, they had done so, taking into account all of our abilities to ensure we would not escape."
"Well, yeah, that is a given. But there is something else bothering me. We are the three strongest beings at this event, right?" Azazel asked.
"Not to boast out of arrogance, but yes, that'd be fact," Michael confirmed. "Why is that an important detail?"
"Don't you see? If our enemy aimed to divide us to weaken us, then shouldn't they have shipped our assets into different pocket dimensions? Instead, we are all in one, singular realm."
"Maybe they aim to take us down in one strike?" Sirzechs asked, but Azazel shook his head.
"If that were the case, we wouldn't have been given the time to talk as much as we already did. If they aimed to kill us, they'd have revealed themselves and done so already." The fallen angel corrected. "No, something is not right. It is as if the one who set this up doesn't want us to interfere. Almost like they are protecting us."
"Protecting us?" Michael echoed in utter confusion. "It doesn't make sense! Why would the enemy want to-" He suddenly gasped. "Of course! Sirzechs! During our meetings, you mentioned a certain incident where a high-profile prisoner - a demon - escaped imprisonment, correct?"
"Woah, hold on, a demon? As in, one of the FIRST inhabitants of hell? I was under the impression only a handful you could count on your fingers remained." Azazel replied, looking at Sirzechs.
"That is not a wrong assumption, Azazel; you were just not aware of every demon that survived both the Great War and the Civil War. And yes, Michael, I did mention that. His name is Ignium Ophirius, and he is the current general of the militaristic faction, The Snake of Adam. During the Great War and Civil War, he served as one of Lucifer's fiercest Generals, with a tactical mind that challenged even Ajuka. He alone is guilty of multiple war crimes. The only reason he was not executed like other high-ranking military officers is because we had reason to believe he hid away the members of the disgraced houses that remained on Lucifer's side during the war. Aiding them in recovering numbers by sheltering them. He was subjected to, and I am not ashamed to say it, torture. But he never talked."
"Good Heavens…" Michael muttered softly.
"Is something the matter, Michael?" Sirzechs asked.
"Sirzechs, know I don't say this to lord my seniority over either of you, but out of the three of us, I am the oldest of us all. I stood there, at God's right, when he forged this world. And his angels. I remember Ignium from the days before Lucifer started his rebellion. I recall him well."
"You knew him before he became a demon?" Sir asked.
"I feel a story coming up." Michael shook his head at Azazel's words.
"No, just that I knew him. He was by far the most loyal of us, as that was his main virtue: Loyalty. It was a great shock when he joined Lucifer's side in the war. I haven't interacted much with him, as he was part of the Order of Powers." Michael explained.
"That is part of the Middle Orders. Not exactly up there in terms of power, but then again, demons do not follow the heavenly orders anymore." Azazel stated.
"That is true. After their metamorphosis into the creatures known today as demons, many grew in power more than what they were created with. Ignium is no exception."
"The Powers bore the responsibility of granting humans gifts of Heaven." Azazel began stating. "When a human was decided to be worthy, the Powers were sent to give them powers. Miracle healing abilities and the divine right to rule over others- one could argue that talented humans were those who were gifted by a Powers angel at birth, on divine order from up high. But they also had another duty…"
"They were the ones burdened with keeping evil forces from causing uncontrolled harm. Plagues, wars, and even other races. Before the War in Heaven, the Powers had the duty of keeping those disasters in check to ensure they did not destroy creation. They were not only messages of talents but warriors - guardians."
"I am lost. How does this relate to our current predicament?" Sirzechs asked.
"Because, Sir, Ignium might be the one protecting us."
"What?" Sirzechs replied in disbelief. "Impossible! You weren't there, Michael, but I saw with my own two eyes the horrors he did. There is no way a being such as him would protect us, who are meant to be his enemies!"
"I know it is hard to believe, but it is the only truth that makes sense," Michael replied.
"And why does it make sense?" Sir asked.
"Because, Sir, you forget one important detail: Demons were once angels."
"What is the meaning of this?!" Shalba shouted as he and Creusery found themselves in their dimension, resembling a rocky mountain range. Creusery took a step back in awe and shock at their surrounding area, not expecting this place to be so detailed. However, as he backed away, he bumped into something. Something extremely hot. The heat radiating off of it was enough to make him start sweating, yet upon realizing who it was, he immediately leaped away, and Shalba turned around to see Ignium standing there, staring down at them. "You! Where are the leaders?! The plan was that we'd all fight them and kill them together!"
"And here I thought you lot figured it out," Ignium said, sounding utterly disappointed. "But I guess you do have that contract making you think I couldn't possibly betray you! Here is a correction: That thing doesn't mean I cannot betray you. It just forces me to hold up my end of the bargain. And my end of the bargain was that there was going to be a bloodbath. In those exact words…"
Creusery gasped in realization. "A bloodbath…But whose blood was not mentioned!"
"You…" Shalba grits his teeth in anger as he stares at Ignium. "You dare betray us! Us! We are the true heirs to hell! Your superiors and kings! We three will rule the underworld and sink the world into chaos, from which a kingdom molded in our image shall rise!"
"Three?" Ignium caught on, and then his eyes widened. He was shocked to see something he didn't expect. "Where is Katerea?!" The others heard him and looked around, not seeing their female member. "No…This is impossible; you were each tagged to be dragged into here specifically. She couldn't have known!"
Creusery, however, smirked. "Surprised, demon?! Your men are not as loyal as you think! All it took were some pretty words said to one of them for them to offer me a small favor! They told me how to reprogram the device! Sneaking in to do so was not hard either."
"You reprogrammed it?" Ignium asked the devil. "What did you change?"
"Only what Katerea asked me to change." Creusery's words told Ignium all he needed to know, and the demon's face morphed into one of fear and absolute rage. "Ha! I can read the fear in your eyes! You know you will die today!"
"No…" Ignium said slowly, yet his tone caused Creusery to flinch. "You don't realize the fatal mistake you have committed. I tried to tell you, and I did tell you, time and time again, not to challenge the Dragon Emperors foolishly! If anything happens to Ingvild Leviathan, then it'd be woe unto all of us!"
"You fear for nothing, demon," Shalba said smugly. "After all, the Khaos Brigade assured the Red Dragon won't be a problem for long."
"Arrogance! Foolishness! Unworthiness! Those are the only words that describe the lot of you perfectly! Oh! But who the FUCK am I trying to talk with?! You are as dense as a wall, if not denser! Your heads are so far up your assess; you might as well be eating your own shit!"
"Enough!" Shalba shouted, throwing his mantle to the wind. "Creusery, this is clearly him betraying us! We will NOT waste any more time with empty words."
"Finally! You say something worth my time…" Ignium materialized his sword and sickle, making sure to keep the grip on the sickle and grab the chain, swinging his sword right next to him. "Let's dance."
"Where the fuck are we?!" Issei shouted as he found himself isolated within an urban setting. A city he didn't recognize, with buildings so tall they vanished beyond the clouds. The entire dimension was illuminated solely by the lights cast by the buildings from within, and pitch-black pavement with bright white lines drawn on it contrasted painfully to the eye. Still, visibility proved challenging.
"Your question is a good one. Solomon?" Ddraig called upon the wisest of them.
"This is a separate pocket dimension," Solomon stated. "I recognize the base magic used here, as I used to practice it as well, but this is taken to a whole different level. My, I daresay this is truly on par with a deity in terms of craftsmanship!"
"How do we break free from here?"
"As Azazel told us, this phenomenon has a root. If we can locate it and destroy it, we will be able to escape this place. However, I fear said root might not be within the confines of this realm. No, our attacker is likely the Snake of Adam. Only they could have the resources to create something like this. And as such, I doubt they'd be as arrogant as others to put the root within the same realms they have trapped us."
"In other words, we are trapped in here until we find a way. Could [Penetrate] work to get us out of here?" Issei asked.
"A good question, but unfortunately, not a solid one."
"Solomon is right. In order for [Penetrate] to work, it must hit something touchable. Attacks, barriers, and so on are viable, but even then, it depends on the nature. If we can find the edge of this realm, however, we might be able to break free using it. But…"
"This place is endless," Issei stated with dread as they all concluded.
"The simplicity of the place likely allows it to stretch infinitely. We are caught in quite the predicament." Solomon finished.
"Well, we will try to think of something to help us break out of here. Surely, there must be a way to-" Issei's skills blared at him, warning him. Without wasting time, he dove into the shadows at his feet and avoided a blast of raw demonic energy that was coming right for him.
"Tch." And the assailant revealed himself easily. Issei manifested again on the ground, not far from the point of impact, and looked up, easily seeing his attacker due to his wings casting light, illuminating him. "They did say you are full of tricks. Guess I underestimated you there." Vali stated, hovering over Issei.
"Vali, what are you doing?! We might be destined foes, but that doesn't mean we cannot put that on hold to address the current issue! We are under attack, and we know nothing of the others!" Issei shouted at him.
"Correction: You are under attack," Vali stated.
"Why, that brat!" Solomon raged. "I know I might be judgemental when it comes to devils, but this time, my judgment is anything but rushed!"
"Agreed," Ddraig growled in agreement.
"You are betraying Azazel?" Issei asked, narrowing his eyes and summoning out his Sacred Gear. The sound of him boosting echoed through the place, increasing his power. "Why?"
"Isn't it obvious? Azazel might have taken me in when I had nothing but the clothing on my back, but his interest has always been more on my Sacred Gear than my own opinions! He never truly listened to my wishes! I wanted to meet you - Issei Hyoudou - since the day you attempted to enter Juggernaut Drive!"
"Attempted? You don't mean-"
"A truly clever and foolish move to bluff using the Juggernaut Drive. But, ultimately, you failed to account for the slim chance we might pick up on your power. We have been living in Kuoh as Azazel was monitoring Kokabiel, waiting for the chance to take him down. We were around when you unwillingly announced to us you were as well."
Albion's words brought light to Issei's confusion. "So, that's how long you've known about me."
"And how long I wanted to fight you!" Vali added strongly. "Your unnatural growth rate only grew my anxiety as well. Whatever it is that is pushing you to greater highs so quickly, it only made it so I won't have to wait as long until you become strong enough to be a challenge!"
"Challenge? So, you don't want to attack me on the orders of whoever is pulling the strings?" Issei asked, making Vali smirk.
"They have nothing to do with this. In fact, it was I who requested they allow me to battle you!"
"You are a battle maniac!" Issei realized. But then he grinned. "I assume you also know how to get out of here? I don't imagine you being placed here was random." Vali took out a coin-shaped device from his pocket.
"This little magical device can communicate with the main one causing this."
"So, you are working for the Snake of Adam?"
"No," Vali replied simply, confusing Issei. "Nor am I part of the Old Satan Faction. In my opinion, those guys can go off themselves."
"Then who are you with? There is no way you could have received that device without connections." Issei asked again.
"I will tell you only so much. Outside, right now, a rogue magician faction is fighting the armies brought by the three leaders. With them, soldiers from the Old Satan Faction are also attempting to erase their numbers. However, the Snake of Adam, the Old Satan Faction, and even those magicians are all currently under the same banner: The Khaos Brigade."
"Khaos Brigade?" Issei echoed. "And who sits at the helm of this Khaos Brigade?"
"You think I'd tell you?" Vali asked, narrowing his eyes. "We have been talking for long enough. Summon your Balance Breaker, and let's fulfill the purpose of our existence." Per his words, Vali was instantly covered in his Scale Mail.
"Be ready, partner. This is the day we find out which Emperor shall rule and who shall bow."
"Where am I?" Ingvild woke up by herself within her dimension, a rocky island surrounded by an endless ocean. By far, her pocket dimension was the most restrictive of them all.
"Hello…" Ingvild turned sharply, seeing the only other person in there with her. "Ingvild, right? Let's have a family reunion, you and I." Katerea licked her lips.
"What is this?! Where are we?!" Raynare asked in a rage as she looked around, seeing nothing but trees all over. In fact, everything was trees! Looking below, there was no ground, and if there was, it was so far down it was impossible to see with the naked eye. However, the canopy was not exactly close either, but it was within sight. Light filtered through the leaves, and a gentle wind blew through this realm.
"Ah!" Asia shouted as she nearly fell off the branch she was on. The only places they could stand on were extremely large branches, some close enough to jump between them. For Raynare and likely Kuroka, this was not that important, as Raynare could fly, and Kuroka was more than agile enough to keep her balance on those branches. But Asia found herself in slight trouble as she was not as lucky, unable to fly, and not as athletic as the others.
"Asia, are you alright?" Kuroka asked.
"Yeah. I am good; I just slipped a bit." She replied.
"Try to be careful! Here!" Raynare flew to her. "I will stay close to you. In case you fall, I can fly down to catch you."
"What about me?!" Looking below, the group spotted Irina hanging on using her sword, which she had stabbed into the side of the tree.
"Nya! If it isn't little Miss Righteous!" Kuroka joked lightly, seeing her. "You being there fits you well, down beneath us."
"Help me!"
"Nya! Why should we?! Issei is not here right now to defend you, so listen here well! Your little honeyed words and attitude do not work on me, and we all clearly heard you insulting us!" Kuroka shouted at her. "If you want our aid, then be a good little Christian-"
"I'm Protestant!" Irina shouted in correction, but she felt her sword slip. "What do you want me to say?! You are all sinners!"
"Are you seriously going to side with the same fucks that invaded Issei's home with intend to kill us all?" Raynare asked, making Irina flinch. Raynare narrowed her eyes at her reaction. "So, that's how it is. You think they had an actual, valid point."
"I do not agree with their actions, but…I do believe they were doing what they thought was right. That what they were doing was the right thing to do. How can we seek peace with the unholy? Even now! Knowing that Issei indulges himself in sin so much just…It makes my chest tighten in horror, knowing he will never walk past the pearly gates of heaven! And all of that because of you!"
"Us? You think we are at fault for the way he is?" Raynare laughed. "Please, that guy was a pervert consumed by his lust before we met. Can't say I don't enjoy his touch, however."
"I wouldn't place it past a fallen angel to indulge…" Irina muttered, but Kuroka's fine hearing picked up on that.
"My, you're just so racist, dear." She said, making Irina panic.
"I'm not!"
"Yes, you are!" Kuroka empathized. "Think about it! You are judging us based on our races, yes, and you are even judging Asia here based on her past. You haven't made an effort to get to know us even once! If you did, especially an effort to get to know Issei - the Issei that is alive TODAY instead of the boy you might remember, then you would not be in this situation!"
"They are right, Irina," Asia added. "It is the word of Jesus that we should accept one another. Why seek to punish us and judge us?"
"Because…Because…" Irina found herself at a loss for words.
"They say Jesus once stopped a woman from being stoned to death for a charge of adultery. Didn't he say that should anyone believe they are sinless, they should throw the stone? But no one did. Because they didn't believe themselves better than the very woman they were accusing, this is what I think Jesus tried to teach: What right do we have to judge and punish another being if we are no better?" Asia said, surprising Irina.
"You…You think…I was throwing stones while bearing sin, yet saying otherwise?" Irina asked.
Asia shook her head. "No, I don't think you were throwing the stone. But you were judging us. A fair judgment in some regards, where truth is present but twisted at rest. Miss Irina, tell me: Is this what you believe, that all sinners should be punished, and peace never established, because it is what you believe, or what you were told from a young age by the church?"
"I…I never…Thought of it that way…" Irina said slowly, reflecting on everything that has been said and done so far. "I didn't want to, I just…Everything is changing, and how am I to know what to believe in anymore?"
"I believe in Issei," Asia replied, surprising Irina. "Not as a god, but I believe in him. I think he will do what he has to do, even if he doesn't want to. I trust him to see it to the end."
"I…" Her sword slipped again. "Help! It won't hold on much longer!"
"Raynare!" Asia shouted, the fallen diving down and managing to catch Irina just as her sword slipped out of the wood. Raynare carried her up to the branches, where she collapsed on the ground, the shock of almost dying having shaken her.
"That was close." She sighed in relief.
"Now you are safe. Got anything smart to say?" Raynare asked her, but Irina simply drew a good breath of air into her chest.
"I'm sorry," Irina replied. "I will also apologize later to everyone else but know that I am sorry. I realize now that what I thought was the right path was just what the church said was right. I wasn't following my own heart, as Jesus preached, and instead followed what others said. Forgive me, Miss Asia, for how we treated you."
"It's alright. Consider yourself forgiven. But…" Asia trailed off awkwardly, catching Irina's attention. "I do think you are the only Miss here, Irina."
"What?" Irina said in confusion, and then, slowly, realization dawned on her. "You-! With Issei?!"
"It was magical," Asia said, blushing. "He was very gentle with me."
"And very energetic," Raynare added. "We all had our fun that night. Pretty sure it was the same night you arrived."
"What…But don't you still hold value in your faith?! Surely, you understand that engaging in such acts before marriage is forbidden!"
"I know, but I don't plan to ever be with another man." Asia declared boldly. "Issei saved me and showed me kindness. I am alright with being a faithful member of his harem and maybe, in the future, bearing his children."
"His-" Irina blushed deeply, hearing such bold words said by Asia's mouth, making Kuroka giggle and Raynare sigh. However, their little talk was soon interrupted by an eerie sound that echoed throughout the woods. It didn't take long to locate the source, either. Several drones flew between the trees, then morphed. They became slim golems with a shining exterior and the ability to fly as they stood airborne around them.
"To the current inhabitants of this realm, you are hereby informed you are trapped here. Per orders, you are to be kept here until further instructions, then either released or exterminated." The golem stated. "You stand before the ALAU (Aerial Light Assault Units)."
"Golems…" Kuroka hissed. "We fought them before. They are the Snake of Adam's specialty."
"Wait, they are not attacking." Irina pointed out. "They are just looking at us."
"But why? It makes zero sense." Raynare stated. "If we are trapped here, it makes us perfect targets to be taken down. Why wouldn't they attack?"
The golem took note of the questions. "We are under orders not to harm those deemed as concubines of the Red Dragon, as not to incite his wrath and cause the Juggernaut Drive to activate."
"Nya! The Juggernaut Drive?!" Kuroka gasped in shock. "Wait a minute, you are telling us you are attacking so Issei doesn't go berserk? But then, where is Ingvild?"
"The Leviathan Heir had been taken to her own, separate realm. Worry not; she is safe. There are no other beings, organic or inorganic, in that realm except for her." The golem replied.
"So, the Snake of Adam fears the Juggernaut Drive…" Raynare stated softly. "And the fact he might care so much for us…It makes sense! Ha! This means we have immunity!"
"Immunity?" Irina echoed but then realized it as well. "That's right! If you cannot harm us, then that means you are here only to guard us! You must be under strict orders not to harm us in any shape or form!"
"Affirmative." The golem confirmed. "However, should any of you engage in open conflict with any of us…We will not hesitate to fight back."
"Is it too much to be asked to be released?" Asia asked.
"Affirmative!" The golem confirmed. "You will be kept here until further orders."
"Wait, you said that based on those orders, we will either be let go or killed!" Raynare pointed out. "Why the contradiction!"
"The nature of the orders depends on one factor: The Red Dragon Emperor being killed in battle."
"As if we will sit here and wait for you to cast judgment on us!" Raynare summoned out her sword of light.
"Raynare!" Asia shouted, noticing the golems aim their arms at them, revealing several gun barrels expanding from them. However, she also saw Kuroka and Irina getting ready for combat. "Everyone…"
"Asia, dear, like it or not, they planned this too well," Kuroka said. "If Issei doesn't make it…We must at least survive to carry his memory forward."
"Kuroka…" Asia nodded her head, taking a stance with them. "If you are harmed, come to me! I will heal you to the best of my abilities!"
"Nya! That's the spirit! Now…Let's have ourselves some fun,"
Outside the dimensions, however, the battle raged on all across Kuoh Academy as the forces of the three factions fought back the attacking magicians. However, in the midst of the chaos, the magicians noticed something. There were no soldiers from the Snake of Adam. They realized they had been betrayed, but it was too late. They had to focus on the battle before them right now.
However…
"Prepare a small force and strike from the east." Ravel had joined the battle not long ago, and she came prepared. She figured something had happened when she was outside the dungeon, the living room, watching TV. She felt the surge of power, and then, when she tried to sense closer, she found Issei's signature missing, along with the power structures of everyone else. She immediately figured something had gone awry, so she decided to pack some Pheonix Tears and went to Kuoh.
And good thing she did.
Sona Sitri and her peerage were also there, further aiding the soldiers, but their enemy didn't come unprepared. The battle was chaos, and Ravel had to take a backseat role in tending to the wounded and helping them employ various strategies and attacks to push their enemy back. The soldiers were not used to fighting together, so past basic formations and attacks, they couldn't organize.
So, Ravel, after a soldier who was a member of a branch of the Phenex House vouched for her skill, took on the role of helping them fight. Currently, they were holding back the enemy and dealing heavy losses to them, but they just kept coming. They were relentless. Desperate, if one were so bold as to call them.
But whatever the cause of their surge in attacks, one thing was for certain. Should they fail, their allies might not have an army to return to.
"Akeno!"
"Right!" Rias and Akeno flew to the sky, aiming down on the golems and unleashing a combined attack at one of them. However, the golem merely crossed his arms, generating a powerful energy shield that successfully blocked their combined magical attack. "Their defenses are strong…"
Kiba was having a better time, however. This proved to be a great opportunity for him to try out his swords better. Using Sword Birth and Blade Blacksmith, he generated two swords. One that rusted any metal it struck and one that enhanced his speed as he held it. Using them together, he was able to blitz past a golem, slashing its leg and causing it to rust. The rust spread, and the golem clearly knew this meant damage, but it wasn't worried. It turned around where Kiba was and pressed the trigger on its weapon - a weapon that resembled a giant rifle of some kind - unleashing a powerful wave of automatic fire.
Another golem was rocking a small, one-handed minigun, using it to try and eliminate Xenovia. However, the girl proved agile and fast enough, even while carrying the heavy Durandal, to avoid the volley of fire and jump high into the air, slashing at the golem. The golem put his arm up to block just in time as Durandal dug deep into it, but he brought his weapon up fast enough to make Xenovia jump away using his arm as a springboard.
Akeno flew around, launching several magical attacks at the golems, yet if they were not blocking directly using shields of energy, they were just tanking the magical attacks. "Tch. Their armor is solid." She stated, but then a sadistic smile spread on her face. "All the more reason not to hold back!" She raised her hand to the sky, and before long, a thunderbolt descended on one of the golems, striking them in the shoulder.
This time, it had failed to defend in time, and the smoke coming from the point of impact told Akeno all she had to know: Damage. The Golem was left disoriented for a bit but then took note of the damage it had taken and locked on to Akeno, raising its weapon. A rocket launcher. Akeno flew away as four rockets were unleashed, coming right for her.
"Akeno!" Kiba shouted and threw his rust sword like a javelin, striking the golem that launched the rockets at the base of the back. The rust quickly spread, and before long, the golem collapsed to the ground, unable to stand anymore. However, it morphed into a spherical form and began to roll in Kiba's direction. The boy, seeing that, summoned forth another sword. "Cool off!" Using it, he froze the ground below the golem, the ice eventually freezing the ball and trapping it in place.
Akeno, however, was being chased by the rockets, but Rias was swift in sending forth multiple arrows made of her power to destroy them. "Thank you, Rias," Akeno replied, then raised her hand, striking and killing the momentum that a golem had built to ram into Rias.
"Thank you as well, Akeno," Rias replied as she began to flare her power, facing her foe. The main golem, who had spoken before, was armed with quite an interesting weapon. It was akin to a bracer, morphed into its arm, with two extensions expanding over its hand, powerful electricity cracking between them.
Wasting no time, Rias launched her arrows at the golem, but he simply raised his weapon, making the arrows go right between the poles. The arrows, and by extension, her power, were being absorbed by the weapon and converted into electrical energy. After he had absorbed them, however, he aimed the weapon at her and fired a bolt of lightning. Rias barely dodged the projectile that struck the barren earth.
"Down with you!" Xenovia shouted from the side as she cut down the arm of a golem, rendering them without a weapon before she slashed at them again, cutting them horizontally at the waist and cutting them in half. The leading golem saw this and fired a strike at Xenovia.
"Xenovia, watch out!" Rias shouted at her, and Xenovia barely had time to put Durandal up to catch the electrical projectile. However, she failed to realize that lightning spreads. From Durandal, it spread to her.
"AHHHHHHHH!" Her scream filled the dimensions as the others realized she had been hurt.
"No!" Rias shouted, then turned to the leader. "Kiba!"
"Right!" Dismissing his blades, Kiba focused. "Balance Breaker! Sword of Betrayal!" Summoning his Sacred gear forward, then summoning another speed-enhancing sword, he blitzed across the battlefield, past multiple golems, and managed to arrive where Xenovia was. There, he brought out the healing sword he used against Freed before and stood close to Xenovia with it. "Here, touch it. Its healing capabilities should work on you as well."
"Thanks," Xenovia replied weakly, touching the sword and feeling the magic course through her body, healing her. However, a golem locked onto them and prepared to fire.
"Oh no, you don't!" Akeno shouted and launched a heavy strike at the golem, managing to blow up its weapon right on its hands, causing the golem to fall back, damaged and made incapable of fighting anymore. "One more down."
Rias joined Kiba and Xenovia at their position, standing between them and the remaining golems. "It is almost like there is no end to them…Almost." She said with confidence. So far, three of them were down, but there were still more. One of the golems once again raised its weapon at them, but Rias spotted this and launched her arrow at its feet, causing it to stumble and shoot its comrade.
The unfortunate golem was blown to bits that were scattered across the ground, and another arrow to the main section saw the golem rendered into scrap. With this, almost half of them were down for the count for good. Seeing this, Rias began to focus. One final blast of her Power of Destruction at full force should be able to pierce whatever energy shields they have and finish this.
But that was a foolish assumption.
"Akeno, get out of the way!" As the golems were preparing to fire again, Akeno flew away from the mass, and Rias unleashed her attack. A wave of red enveloped the battlefield, catching all the golems in one singular strike. When it was done; however, a great cloud of dust was kicked up, and Rias fell to the ground, exhausted.
"Rias, are you alright?" Akeno asked, helping her up again.
"I am fine, just a bit tired. It is not often that I have to release that much of my power at once, and it took a bit of wind out of me." Rias stated, then looked back at Kiba and Xenovia. "How is she?"
"Slowly healing. My sword cannot work miracles, and her muscles are still spasing a bit from the electrical attack." Kiba replied.
"Allow me." Rias stated as she went closer to Xenovia and started to use her magic to heal her while Kiba dismissed his Sacred Gears. "You did well."
"I'm sorry. I failed to count for the possibility of the attack jumping like that." Xenovia apologized.
"Don't worry about it, you did great. Those golems are very tricky to fight, and even taking one out could count itself as a feat worthy of the Red Dragon Emperor." Rias said with a coy smile. "After all, I think he will be proud of your achievement."
"You think?" Xenovia asked, but Kiba had to interrupt.
"Girls? You need to see this." Kiba got their attention right as the dust was settling, revealing six of the golems still standing, with one of them standing before all others, damaged to the point its metallic skeleton was visible.
"How is this possible!" Rias shouted, walking forward as Xenovia got up on her feet again. "There is no being able to withstand the Power of Destruction!"
"Affirmative. But the Snake has long since been aware of the subtle weaknesses of it." The leading golem replied. "The Power of Destruction cannot do anything if there is no energy to fuel it. As such, we are equipped with energy-absorbing technology. However…" He went forward, looking at his fallen comrade. "That amount of energy seems to have overloaded the core of one of us. It won't happen again. Initiating Protocol Bruticus!"
"Protocol Bruticus?" Rias echoed in confusion, but then everyone stared as the golems began to morph again. This time, it was stranger. The leading golem went to one who morphed into its sphere form and shoved its foot inside. No sooner did they do it that the golem below them morphed into a new foot, with metallic components extending upward, lifting them. Another rolled underneath, morphing into the other foot. Two golems leaped up, attacking the arms and creating new, larger ones. The middle golem seemed to expand as well, and then the final golem leaped on the back, integrating itself there and combining with the others.
Once they were done, a featureless headpiece came forth, having only one glowing, red one that he used to stare at them. Rias couldn't believe her eyes.
"Did…Did they just pull a Transformers trick?" Kiba asked, looking at the new giant before them.
"Does it matter?" Akeno asked. "This is not looking well for us."
"No…It doesn't." Rias agreed.
"Bruticus Unit Online." The combined golem replied, and then its arm morphed, bringing forth a larger minigun. "Targets acquired."
"Everyone, scatter!" Rias shouted as she heard fire raining down from above.
"Eat this, you cold hunks of junk!" Raynare shouted as she launched another light spear at the attacking flying golems. Despite their ability to fly and maneuver through the air, they were not who knows what. Light weaponry, as well as relatively decent armor, but not powerful enough to withstand even Raynare's spears of light. Let alone the Ki blasts being delivered by Kuroka and Irina's swings of her sword of light.
Plus, Raynare could fly, so the golems were in for a fight on even ground. Or so they believed.
The golems kept coming. They must have scrapped at least three dozen of them, yet they kept coming! They were like annoying flies, constantly buzzing around them. Worst yet, no one had any idea where they kept coming from! They just seemed to fly in from around them, somewhere. And even if they used light weaponry, the enchanted ammo they used did hurt.
"Gyah!" Kuroka shouted as one of the rounds pierced her leg. "Shit!"
"Here!" Asia rushed to her at once, using her Sacred Gear to provide support in the form of healing.
"Thank you, dear," Kuroka replied as she kept firing. "There is just no end to them!" She shouted in frustration, managing to strike two more right out of the sky and seeing them dive down below. "We must have caused quite a pile down there already."
"That doesn't help!" Irina stated, bringing out a standard-issue light-based gun and using it to shoot several golems out of the sky. "They just keep coming!"
"They are fast and know how to fly well," Raynare stated, flying and dodging their attacks before countering with her own, managing to spear a golem right through and watch it fall to the bottom of the dimension. "But their armor and attacks are not as impressive! Still…"
"Their numbers are insane, nya!" Kuroka finished, sending forth a massive Ki wave that destroyed several golems at once, making them all fall to the bottom. Except for one, which collapsed on the same branch Kuroka and Asia were on.
"Critical Damage! Critical Damage!" The golem unfolded, revealing a bad hole made in its armor on the chest area, showing a pale-blue stone that seemed to act as its energy source. The golem crawled, trying to reach the edge of the branch, which confused them.
"What's it doing?" Irina asked, looking at the golem as it voluntarily fell off the branch, heading to the dark abyss below. "What?!"
"It fell?" Raynare questioned, and then she seemed to realize something. "Could it be?!" She took a plunge dive downwards, slashing away golems that got in her way and sending them back down, but to her horror and relief, there was a bottom to this dimension. One she didn't want to see. There were more golems, an entire sea of them! They were smaller, spider-like, and picked up the golems they were destroying and…Rebuilding them. Fixing them!
What Raynare had found were the FRU (Field Repair Units). Those Golems were made to specialize in repairing other golems, resembling giant white spiders with multiple magic crystals with restoration magic embedded into their abdomen. They used the magic of those crystals to repair the golems, which flew back up to battle them.
"Shit!" She shouted, then threw a spear at one of the FRU, destroying it. However, that seemed to get all of their attention, making them lock on to her. They hissed, and several of them launched webs at her, attempting to capture her, but Raynare slashed at the webs and flew upward, escaping the spiders. "Fucking spiders!" She shouted, reaching her allies. "There are more golems down there, fixing those! We are not fixing a small army; we are fighting the same golems that are being fixed again and again!"
"What?!" Kuroka gasped hearing such news, but now, they had more trouble. "Raynare? Are those golems white with fancy green gems on their backs?"
"Fuck me sideways." Raynare looked down, seeing the spiders climb up the trees. "They should have been focused on fixing the flying ones!"
"Negative." The leading flying golem stated. "Per their protocol, since they had been discovered, keeping hidden is no longer an option to provide support. The FRU units have hereby been switched to offensive capabilities!" The golem morphed and sped right toward Irina, firing its weaponry at her, but the girl managed to skillfully deflect the bullets, slashing off a wing from the golem.
The golem spun around wildly but then morphed, taking a humanoid shape on the branch. It raised its only good arm, aiming a mounted gun at Irina and opening fire. However, Irina leaped away, dodging the hail of bullets. Before the golem was able to correct his aim, he was struck from the side, pushing him to the edge and falling to the abyss below.
"Thanks, Asia." Irina said with relief, receiving a warm smile from Asia. However, her smile turned to concern as she saw the others struggling to keep up.
"Fuck! They are too many!" Raynare complained, throwing spear after spear at the spiders in an effort to reduce their numbers.
"I agree!" Kuroka shouted, striking the tree with her palm to summon pointy roots that killed the spiders, but more were coming. "Nya! Now, they must be in high numbers!"
"Look!" Raynare shouted, indicating to several spiders that they were recuperating the ones damaged and healing them. "They are fixing one another!"
"Can this get any worse?" Kuroka asked, but as if someone heard her, the leading golem returned, fixed, and landed on the same branch as Asia, fixed on her. "Asia!"
"Oh no, you don't, you fucking- Shit!" Raynare was stopped as several webs wrapped around her legs, pulling her down. "Let me go!" She slashed with her sword, but the spiders bound her arms as well. "Let me go!" She shouted again.
"Raynare!" Kuroka shouted her name, blasting some of the spiders away as they were trying to wrap her in a cocoon, but there were too many. They began to surround her, and no matter how powerful or plentiful her attacks, they just kept coming.
"Priority: Eliminate the healer." The leading golem held its weapon at Asia, ready to fire. The girl, however, simply prayed.
"Please…Anyone…"
"Help us."
Fierce roars broke the silence.
"Partner!" Ddraig shouted at Issei just in time as Vali charged right at him, and Issei wasted no time in putting up his [Crimson Barrier], managing to block Vali's attack. However, Vali kept using his [Divide], reducing the power of his barrier until his fist pushed through and almost hit Issei. The key word is near. Thanks to his training, Issei was fast enough to dodge and side-step to the side, using his wings to boost his [Dragon's Leap] further, putting distance between him and Vali.
However, Vali was swift in changing his flight direction and managed to charge right at Issei, who barely had time to put up his guard as Vali thrust his punch right at him. The announcements of their Sacred Gears rang everywhere, but Vali's had an advantage from what Issei saw. From his observation, his stats were getting halved every time [Divide] was being used, but his own Gear saw them returned to higher values. Vali was unable to reduce his power because he could just recover it!
However, his stats were not the only things being affected. He was losing Mana, Ki, and even Demonic Energy! Vali was sucking up his energies, except for his stamina, but the rate was not consistent. The first time, they were halved cleanly, but now, he was losing random numbers.
"Partner, Albion is unable to hold on to all of that energy and power! Same with his host, they expel the excess through the wings as fast as they can to keep using [Divide]!" Ddraig explained.
"The wings!" Solomon realized.
Understanding what they meant, Issei pushed Vali back using his [Shield-Breaking Punch]. He struck his helmet dead-on and caused him to be dazed for a bit. Following this, Issei manifested his Gear's katana form and channeled his [Air Mastery] through it.
"What the- Vali, watch out!" Albion warned Vali loudly, just in time for them to fly upward and escape a deadly slash of wind that would have seen the wings cut off.
"Fuck!" Issei swore as Vali managed to dodge that, but once in the air, Vali summoned forth multiple magical circles, all aimed right at Issei.
"Die!" He shouted, launching multiple volleys of raw demonic power at him, but Issei simply sank into his shadow again, vanishing as the attacks hit. "He disappeared again!"
"Shadow magic. I knew I recognized the trick. He is using shadows to teleport around. Considering the urban setting of this realm, he has plenty of places to hide as well. But the katana from earlier is not normal."
"How so?" Vali asked his partner.
"It was the Boosted Gear. I could sense it!"
"What? You don't think he has developed a Sub-Species Balance Breaker already, do you?" Vali asked Albion.
"I don't know. We must- TO THE RIGHT!" Reacting to Albion's words, Vali was able to just barely dodge a bolt of lightning that came his way, making his eyes widen in shock.
"Lightning?!"
"Stay put!" Issei shouted as he flew through one of the buildings, but something was coming from him. A winding stream of a very obvious hot substance.
"Lava?!" Albion gasped as Issei launched a stream of hot lava at them, but Vali once again just flew away from it.
"Damn it!" Issei swore loudly. "Why are you not standing still already? Did you get cold feet?"
"Albion…Those were…"
"Youkai arts…It is true; he is an anomaly. We also extracted demonic energy from him, but he is not even 1% devil. He smells…familiar, however. Still, this is not the time for that! Right now, getting close is dangerous!"
"No…It is what he wants us to think!" Vali argued as he charged at Issei again, and as he got closer, he dismissed his wings, charging in with only his natural speed. Seeing this, Issei was taken by surprise, and then Vali made to strike him with his fist, but Issei skillfully deflected that fist, followed by punching Vali in the face with a counter. Due to making contact, the power of Vali's gear once again activated, and he raised his palm, blasting Issei away into the nearby building with as much energy as he could spare. "He is good but not good enough to put me down."
Issei rose again from the rubble. "Damn you!" Issei shouted as he launched several volleys of his [Demonic Blast] at Vali. Yet, the devil simply put his hand up and used [Divide] to constantly half the power of the attacks and replenish his reserves. Seeing this, Issei decided to use something else. Stopping his attack, he dove into the shadows again, but this time, Vali was ready.
Vali sensed around for Issei's signature, and when he surfaced, he turned around to him sharply. "I got you now-" Vali declared, but as he tried to move further, his body just…Locked up. 'What…Is this."
"More Shadow Magic." Albion summarized. "This is a paralysis spell based on shadows."
"Indeed," Issei stated, a tendril made of shadows impaling Vali's shadow, which was below him. "This is one of my newer spells. Now…" Summoning several magical circles, Issei aimed them all at Vali. "Let's see you half those in time!" He launched an all-out assault on Vali, but to his dismay, Vali was still able to use his Gear. But that was ok.
"What?" Vali gasped as Issei was merely using his spells as a smokescreen, allowing him to get in close and begin striking Vali without mercy. [Furious Fist] was activated, and Issei was unleashing his all against Vali, whose armor began to crack. He finished the combo with a powerful [Shield-Breaking Punch] right to the head, causing his helmet to crack and break, causing shards to fly all over. Vali was sent back several feet, trying to find his balance again.
Vali hunched himself over, taking deep breaths. "Damn!"
Issei's punches, as far as Vali could tell, were heavy. The fact he was able to deliver so many in such a short interval of time was crazy, but he didn't mind. If anything, he liked this. He was starting to smile, showing that he enjoyed himself. As Issei stood across from him, however, barely scratched, Vali couldn't help but wonder when the last time he faced such an opponent was.
Issei interested him greatly. An anomaly, wielding the Boosted Gear and attacking him with a most brilliant and varied set of abilities. It was quite something. However, he also realized that he was currently losing. Quite badly. He was taken by surprise by Issei's arsenal of skills, but now, that surprise element was fading. Fixing his Scale Mail, Vali then directed some of his demonic energy toward healing himself.
"Healing, are we?" Issei asked, doing the same with his abilities.
"You are a great opponent," Vali admitted. "You truly push me right now! Few could boast of being able to do that anymore! But that being said, I won't hold myself back anymore." Suddenly, Vali flew up high, spreading his wings. Issei, seeing this, spread his wings, giving chase, but Vali flew at the speed of light.
The ability of his Gear, which Issei couldn't currently counter effectively.
Once he was high enough, however, an announcement played out from his Gear.
[Half Dimension!]
Issei suddenly felt himself grow heavily disoriented as the surrounding area seemed to shrink around him. He saw the building lose half of its height, but upon looking, they still had the same number of windows. They got smaller. Worst yet, his power had been divided in half!
"He is using Half Dimension! It is an ability that temporarily halves the size of objects and beings, in addition to halving the power of all affected beings and adding it to his own. It is an annoying ability but easy to counter. He cannot move while performing it!"
"Roger that!" Issei replied to Ddraig, and then he began using his Sacred gear to the max, charging at Vali. His ability activated three more times before Issei was able to reach him, but upon trying to strike him, Vali put his hand up and conjured a barrier that saw Issei's fist halted. "Shit!"
"You are not the only one with barriers! Now perish!" Vali shouted back as he blasted Issei with pure demonic power, sending him toward the ground. However, Issei managed to catch himself and then looked up, his helmet hiding his grin. Vali noticed it too late, but Issei had wrapped his [Water Whip] around his ankle, and with one pull, he smacked Vali into the side of a nearby building.
Following the crash, Issei summoned forth his [Explosive Demonic Energy] and began to fire upon that exact location with reckless abandon. His barrage was merciless, blasting debris in all directions and doing everything to ensure Vali was either down for the count or dead. In his assault, however, he failed to notice when Vali snuck behind him and delivered a hard elbow strike to the back of his head before grabbing his wings and pulling on them roughly to attempt to rip them off.
But Issei was quick to retaliate, activating his [Hollow Casting]. When Vali saw the sphere in Issei's hand, he realized what was coming and immediately abandoned his attempt to cripple his enemy, not wishing to be struck directly with a deadly spell. Issei turned sharply in his direction, however, and then noticed a shadow closer to Vali. Using his magic, he sank into his shadow again and appeared right next to Vali, but the White Dragon summoned his barrier.
A barrier that saw itself pierced at once by [Penetrate]. Vali was stunned by this, but not for long, as the fist connected with his head again. But this time, he held firm and delivered a strong counter to Issei's stomach before attempting to strike him with the elbow in the back. Issei used his shadow again, however, and dodged the strike.
Vali stared at Issei, seeing the Red Dragon slightly hurt but quickly healing. "Healing Magic…"
"This is not going to be a fast battle. They seem to be holding on well." Albion remarked.
"That it does seem to be the case," Vali replied, then prepared for the next assault from Issei. "But I wouldn't settle for an easy fight."
"Die!" Shalba and Creusery shouted together as they fired a combined stream of demonic energy at Ignium, yet the demon stood unmoved.
"You think this will so much as reach me?!" The demon shouted, and sure enough, their combined attack was burning away a mere 2 meters from the demon, dark flames eating away at it. Ignium then threw his sword at Creusery, impaling his shoulder and pulling him in, throwing him into the nearest rocky formation. Ignium pulled his sword back swiftly as he saw Shalba charging at him, energy blast in hand.
However, Ignium merely swung with his sickle and made Shalba dodge, which was followed by the demon raising his leg and kicking Shalba in the side of his body. The sound of bone breaking was audible everywhere as Shalba went flying right into the rocky ground. "Pathetic," Ignium stated, but then an unholy roar split the silence. Looking back at the source, he saw Creusery charging at him in the form of a mighty bull.
Ignium reacted to this, attempting to leap upward, but Creusery read him, jumping up and almost goring Ignium through. The demon caught the horns of the bull and spread his wings, flying high and intending to drop Creusery from up high. Realizing this, Creusery morphed into a bird and flew away from Ignium, going to where Shalba was located just in time for a swarm of flies to fly toward Ignium. The demon, however, simply snapped his fingers, incinerating them all. "King of the Flies?" Ignium muttered, recognizing the ability of the Beelzebub House.
Shalba prepared to engage Ignium again, the demon dropping to the ground. Creusery took the shape of a stallion and charged at Ignium. The demon swung his sword at the stallion, but it leaped above him, morphing and twisting into a tiger that pounced on his shoulder, biting into his neck.
"Gah!" Ignium grabbed Creusery's heat, making it heat up until the devil's head caught fire. The devil once again changed forms, becoming a large monster resembling a 3-headed serpent. Creusery's heads charged at Ignium viciously, but Ignium simply summoned forth a wall of fire around himself, causing them to back away.
"Ugh! Too hot!" Creusery shouted as he felt the heat radiating from Ignium's fire. However, the demon wasn't done. The fire enveloped him like a sphere, and he dropped down with it violently to the ground, sending a wave of fire all over the dimension. The fire burned away at the rock, not just melting it but turning it into ash. Everything around Ignium was burning.
"Eat this!" Shalba shouted as he used the flies summoned by his ability to summon hundreds upon hundreds of magical circles, all of them launching an endless storm of attacks upon Ignium. Yet, the demon was unfazed as his fire surrounded him, burning the attacks before they even reached him. "How is this possible?!"
"He is burning away all of our attacks!" Creusery added.
"And he has barely broken a sweat…" Shalba stated, tightening his fists in frustration. "I don't care if those are single-use; I will use Ophis' snake to kill him!" Focusing, Shalba brought forth the power bestowed upon him by Ophis, feeling it course through him. Around Ignium's shield of fire, more and more flies appeared, summoning 100-fold the number of magical circles they had summoned before.
"Oh?" Ignium said with a slightly impressed tone.
The blasts came down right on top of him, blocking the view of the heirs. "Yes!" Creusery rejoiced as they saw no trace of him left, but then, out of nowhere, Ignium appeared again behind the Asmodeus Heir.
"Creusery!" Shalba shouted, seeing Ignium being Creusery as he swung his weapon, severing Creusery's arm. Had Shalba not warned him, his head would be rolling now.
"GAHHH!" Creusery shouted in agony as he held his bleeding stump. He swiftly used his ability to grow a new arm, yes, but the pain was real. Creusery grits his teeth at Ignium, then charges at him with impressive swiftness, trying to overpower the demon using speed. Still, Ignium simply raised his hand and slammed it into the ground, sending a wave of fire that knocked Creusery off-course, making him stumble and roll on the ground.
Ignium made to attack again, throwing his sword at Creusery, but Shalba intervened, catching the weapon. Ignium, narrowing his eyes, ignited the chain. The fire traveled to Shalba's own hands, forcing him to release the chain as his flies fired at Ignium, but once again, the fire just appeared on the attack itself and ate it up!
It was burning away their attacks before they could touch him.
"Nothing we do works!" Creusery shouted in utter frustration. "If we get too close, he'll burn us to a crisp, and even if we attack from afar, he is just burning our attacks! Just what the fuck is he?! We are Ultimate-Class Devils! Fuck that, we are above that now with the power of Ophis on our side, yet he is making light work of us!"
"Haven't you realized it yet?" Ignium asked, approaching his weapons to one another and turning them back into tattoos, letting them settle on his body. "You two cannot defeat me because we, demons, are not devils! We are the superior race! The most skilled craftsman created us! We, who were given life by the highest of powers, were made in perfection, and in perfection our might remains! We are the lost sheep! We are the sons and daughters that dared rise against our heavenly Father! We are DEMONS! And you? You were born from the sin we have indulged ourselves in…And now you dare strike against me? Ha! I am technically your uncle! But oh well…" A black flame began to rise around Ignium, making the two devils step back in fear. "It doesn't matter. You die today."
A wave of fire rose behind Ignium, taking the shape of a great cobra. The two devils watched in disbelief as they could sense the power behind that construct. Ignium spread his arms, almost like he was inviting their departing souls to give themselves into him. Then, the snake charged at them, maw open wide. Shalba send his flies at it, summoning barrier after barrier, but not even the obstacles of Ajuka Beelzebub himself could stop this!
Yet, as it approached them, Creusery grabbed something from his pocket, throwing it to the ground. The moment the fire engulfed it, almost reaching them, it was soon put out. "What?!" Ignium gasped in disbelief. "No…"
Right there, on the ground, he saw the issue. A cross. A holy item. "That was giving me some bad itching," Creusery stated, a light chuckle escaping his lips.
"What did you do, Creusery?" Shalba asked, slightly confused.
"While you and Katerea were mostly planning, I did some research on demons. Turns out they have a critical flaw. We devils can resist holiness of lower intensity as we grow in power, but not demons. To them, even a small cross is like a complete counter!" The devil boasted, grinning at Ignium. "In fact, I think he cannot even get close to that cross without his entire body starting to suffer!"
"Why, you…" Ignium said slowly, fire erupting all over his body. "You dare bring that here? The two of you remain devils. You cannot exactly use holy items yourselves."
"Maybe, but we don't need to. We only need to throw this stuff on you and watch you die!" Creusery shouted once again and changed his body, creating large claws on his hands. "Come on, Shalba. We have work to do."
"Yes. We do." Shalba stood up again, the two of them facing Ignium and once again believing in victory. Ignium merely narrowed his eyes at them.
"You two are some of the biggest fools I have ever encountered."
"Who are you?" Ingvild asked as she took a step back, putting distance from herself and the person with her in this realm. Katerea, however, simply looked at her up and down, analyzing her.
"Don't you know me? Figures, seeing how you were asleep for quite some time. I am Katerea Leviathan." The devil introduced herself.
"Leviathan? Like me?"
Katerea scowled at those words. "Yes, it'd unfortunately seem to be the case."
"What do you want with me? Why did you pull me into this dimension?" Ingvild asked, getting her guard up.
"Isn't it obvious? To kill you." Katerea summoned her magical circle, aiming it at Ingvild. "You are a mistake! The Leviathan blood, mixed with unworthy human blood! It doesn't help that the demon seems to have plans for you to replace me potentially! I won't allow it! But if you are dead, well…That is another story."
"I won't let you kill me that easily." Behind Ingvild, focusing on the power of her Gear, the water began to rise, taking the shape of a long serpentine being. "Ever since I awakened, I've been training hard to learn more control of my power. My Sacred Gear included. You want to kill me, but can you?"
"Why, you little- Die!" Katerea shouted as she fired her blasts of demonic energy at Ingvild, but the girl was prepared. Using [Sea Serpent of the End] together with her Sacred Gear, Nereid Kyrie, she summoned the water around her, casting [Water Barrier] to protect herself. This defensive maneuver blocked Katerea's attacks, and then Ingvild cast [Water Serpent].
The spell charged right at Katerea, who summoned her own barrier to block it. However, to her surprise, the serpent of water split, going around her defensive barrier and attempting to strike from the sides. Katerea jumped, seeing this, avoiding the attack. Then, from the air, she fired several volleys of energy at Ingvild, trying to take her down, but Ingvild was using water with utmost skill.
"Thank you, lich," Ingvild said internally as she recalled a conversation she had with the lich in Issei's dungeon.
"You wish for access to the master's water magic skills?" Morul asked Ingvild as she found him in the hallway. "I can understand how they fit, but your training has been progressing well, hasn't it? Why do you wish to acquire such abilities when you can develop them yourself?"
"Because while my abilities have been improving, I struggle with creating new spells utilizing my water magic. I want to do this in order to push myself in the right direction." Ingvild replied, but Morul felt like there was more. "I also wish to be of more use to Issei. I have so much raw power, yet I can barely make use of it myself. I don't want to become a dead weight to them, needing to be protected when I can defend myself."
"Hmm. I understand, child. Very well. I will offer you master's water magic spells. All of them are recorded in the library. But tell me, Ingvild…If you gain those spells, are you going to stop improving?"
"Never."
And she held her word. Issei might be powerful, but among them all, Ingvild held the monopoly on water magic. Water was her element and source of her power! "Hydra!" Ingvild shouted, summoning forth the [Aqua Hydra]. Katerea was taken by surprise by this powerful spell, and she failed to counter it properly. One of the heads caught her and threw her into the water. "You will not escape! [Charibdis!]"
Upon calling on it, the water around her began to twirl and twist, becoming a deadly vortex. Within it, Katerea was struggling to find her strength and escape the deadly current, but for naught. She was pulled to the bottom of the water, and as Ingvild's spell vanished, she believed Katerea was already defeated. She sighed in relief.
"That was a bit scary."
However, it was far from over. As Ingvild turned to try and leave, the water surged upwards, and Katerea landed behind her, eyes bloodshot with rage. "You insolent brat!" She charged at Ingvild with great speed, kicking her in the stomach and sending her stumbling across the small island. "You think you can just drown me and be done with it?! Fuck you! You cannot kill me!" Summoning her magic forth, Katerea launched a stream of water toward Ingvild. But Ingvild knew it was not so simple.
The water changed shape, becoming more like a spear. Ingvild's eyes widened, and she summoned forth the [Water Dragon's Cradle] spell to protect herself. While the spell was successful in stopping Katerea's first attack, it failed to stop Katerea herself from charging through it and attempt to blast Ingvild at point-blank. However, Ingvild managed to get several tendrils of water wrapped around Katerea's limbs and neck, pulling her away and throwing her backward.
Yet, Katerea was not letting herself go down easily. She summoned forth multiple streams of water, their tips morphing into spears. Ingvild, however, knew she had to step up her game. Especially since she noticed Katerea charging at her. Ingvild's eyes widened as Katerea was right in front of her, her attacks closing in on her from all directions. She didn't have time to summon her spell again in time.
She only had one solution.
"That is good conviction, child." The lich said to Ingvild. "But you need more than that to be useful to our master. Ingvild, you possess a Longinus-Tier Sacred Gear. There is power unmatched in that alone. You need only reach deeper."
"How deep?" She asked.
"As deep as the blue ocean, dear."
She didn't get much practice with it, but as Katerea approached, the lavender hue in her eyes that indicated her Gear was in use grew stronger. "Balance Breaker!" Ingvild shouted, catching Katerea by surprise as a great release of power erupted from Ingvild. Lavender light surrounded the entire dimension, like a mist above the water.
"What?! Balance Breaker?!" Katerea gasped in surprise, then watched as the water began to rise behind Ingvild, taking the form of a man. In his hand, a trident formed as well, and Katerea recognized the figure. "Poseidon?"
"No. This is my Balance Breaker! [Balad for the Sea King!]." True enough, Katerea could swear she was hearing voices singing around her, but when she looked, there was no one. The figure standing behind Ingvild, however, with its lavender glowing orbs of light serving as eyes, pointed its trident at her. "I don't wish to constantly beg for Issei's aid, even when I know he'd give it to me without a second question. I want to grow stronger by my merit as well! This is the result of my training!"
"Impossible! Your Sacred Gear isn't an Avatar-Type! How could you-" Katerea stopped herself as realization dawned on her. "It is not an Avatar-Type. You are not summoning an actual living being! That is just another construct, isn't it!"
"It is. The real power of my Balance Breaker is another." Ingvild confirmed with a smirk, and then Katerea watched as Ingvild's body began to shift. That was right…How could Katerea forget?
[Sea Serpent of the End]
(Hereditary Skill) [Sea Serpent of the End] (Level MAX): This Skill is present within all members of the Leviathan Clan, allowing them to control entire oceans of water to drown cities or do other things like shape them into various constructs. Thanks to the user's training, they can now use the full might of this skill! As such, they can now transform into a great serpentine sea dragon, resembling the original Leviathan! However, the user can choose to select a turn as well.
Scales grew on Ingvild's arms and feet, as well as on her face, and gills formed on her neck. A long fin grew on her back, and her nails elongated into claws as her teeth became fangs. Ingvild's eyes turned to slits as she then started at Katerea, who realized what she was doing. This Balance Breaker of hers was using its dragon-manipulating aspect, singing a song that empowered her!
It wasn't just greater control over the water…it was a direct addition to the Leviathan's ability, empowering it further! Katerea couldn't believe her eyes, nor could she believe it when Ingvild charged at her, delivering a strike to her stomach and releasing a blast of demonic energy, sending Katerea into the water.
"Gah!" Katerea shouted in pain as the strike left her stomach heavily bruised. "Why you-"
"What is it, Katerea?" Ingvild asked, approaching her by walking on the water. "Can't keep up with me? Use [Sea Serpent of the End] as well, and even the odds!"
"You little shit, don't patronize me!" Katerea raged, quickly replying to Ingvild's words. "I haven't inherited that ability!"
"And you call yourself better than me?" Ingvild asked coldly as watery tendrils began to form around Katerea, threatening to trap her.
But she was not out of tricks now.
"I am better. I have Ophis' power at my call, after all."
"Stand still, you damn Youkai!" One of the magicians shouted as they launched several magical projectiles at Koneko, only for her to dodge and maneuver around them skillfully. She has been doing this for a while now, mostly running around and occasionally delivering a counterattack to them. However, all three magicians were still very much alive and able to fight. "There!" The magician sent a fireball, where she thought she had spotted Koneko, but ultimately, she only blew a tree to bits, causing it to fall.
However, this event proved to be fatal for Koneko, as the tree fell in her direction, making her leap away to dodge. Due to this, her position was revealed. "There!" Another magician shouted, launching another spell at Koneko, but she was able to leap away, retreating to the trees again.
"Koneko, what do we do?!" Gasper asked, terrified, hiding among the trees in the form of a bat.
"I am thinking," Koneko replied, trying to come up with a way to defeat those magicians. Individually, she could take them on, but not together. And although she had aid of her own, Gasper was too afraid to fight back. She had to try and do this by herself.
And she has one idea. Turning around sharply, she focused, summoning forth her abilities. Just like her sister, she has an affinity for earth, and using that affinity, she punches the ground with strength, causing it to shake.
"Woah!" The magicians were caught off-guard by this, allowing Koneko to charge at them, jumping from tree to tree, and eventually managing to score a strong hook on one of the magicians, making her stumble back. However, she was caught by her comrades.
"You damn-"
"Here!" One of the magicians put her hands on the ground, summoning a magical circle under Koneko. Surprised, Koneko tried to jump away, but the magical circle exploded in the very next second. She screamed as she was sent flying through the trees, eventually hitting one with her back roughly.
"Koneko!" Gasper shouted, seeing her hurt, and flew to her, seeing her slowly get up. "Are you alright?"
"I am fine. Just shook." She said, slowly getting up. However, the magicians encircled her, and before she could move, she was restrained with a magical circle to the tree. Gasper, spooked, hid before the magicians could spot him.
"You gave us quite the workout." One of them admitted, but another was not keen on speaking. Instead, they summoned a lightning spell and shocked Koneko, drawing her screams. Gasper, terrified, still hid in the tree.
"That's for punching me!" The magician said. "Now, where is that vampire that was supposed to be with you? We are tasked with taking both of you out."
"Oh, don't worry about him, sisters. The fact he has left this kitten to fight all by herself shows how much of a threat he is." The magician summoned forth fire to her hands. "Now, let's finish the job here."
"Go fuck yourselves," Koneko said, insulting them, but the magicians merely giggled.
"Oh dear, still got a tongue on you, huh? Don't worry. This kitten is bound to eat her tongue soon enough." Her flaming hand approached Koneko's face slowly.
"No…I need to do something." Gasper said to himself. "Miss Koneko is…She is in danger! I need to help her! But how? I don't want to fight! I don't…I don't want to fight! What if I get hurt? I hate seeing blood! I hate fighting! I hate it! But I also don't want to see Miss Koneko be hurt…Oh, what do I do?"
A memory came to him. Something he and Issei spoke about during his last training session. He was curious about what Issei felt when he killed those people, and he only told Gasper one line.
Ruthless is mercy upon ourselves.
In life, bravery has no meaning if there is no fear to stand against it. When fear is present, courage becomes so much stronger. It has more meaning. After all, if there is no fear, what is courage? Likewise, mercy is not something that should be freely handed out. There will be those you can afford to be merciful toward and those you cannot show mercy in any shape or form because, eventually, they will bring disaster upon you.
This is why ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves. We spare ourselves from their wrath. The pain they will bring us later. And right now, Gasper had to find that within himself. Those magicians were going to hurt Koneko; all the while, he cowered in fear! This is not what Issei was trying to teach him! This is not what others expected of him. When he breaks free from here, what would he tell them? The reason Koneko was harmed was because he was too afraid to act.
He wouldn't be able to face them if that were the case. He had a powerful Sacred Gear, with power over time itself! He was a descendant of none other than Dracula himself! There was so much potential in him if only he dared to find the courage to fight!
Reaching into his pocket, Gasper pulled out a small vial. A gift from Issei. His blood. He didn't want to drink blood…To him, it was horrible, but right now, what he wanted didn't matter! What mattered now was Koneko being safe, so without delaying anymore, he drank the blood in the vial. His eyes shot open at once, and the glow made everything freeze.
"What?" When the magicians took notice, Koneko was already gone from where they bound her. "Hey, why'd you-" And they gasped. From three, only two had remained. One of them was on the ground, a dry husk. They stepped back in fear as they heard the sounds, looking above them to see countless bats staring down at them.
And Koneko, being on a tree branch, is safe. "Gaspy?" She called out to him, a bat landing on her shoulder.
"Don't worry, Koneko. I-I won't hide anymore! I promise! I don't want to see my friends be hurt, and I know Issei would never forgive me if I cowered while you were being harmed." Gasper told her his bats were keeping vigil over the magicians.
"Gasper…Did you drink that magician's blood?" Koneko asked, seeing the corpse. Yes, a corpse. Gasper drained them until there was nothing left.
"I-I did. Issei once told me I needed to be more honest with myself during one of our training sessions. A-and I won't deny it anymore! I am a Dhampir! I am part vampire! And as such…Blood is my sustenance!" Gasper declared loudly as his bats began to circle the magicians.
"What is the meaning of this?!" The magicians gasped, figuring their spells at random to kill the bats. However, it was like every single bat escaped in the nick of time from their attacks. They swiftly realized, however, what they missed. What they dismissed as not being a threat was far from that! "Forbidden Balor View…" The magician muttered.
"I won't let you harm us!" Gasper declared. "Not anymore! I don't care what I have to do! For the sake of everyone…I will become ruthless, to grand mercy upon me and my friends! To save everyone!"
Gasper's flock of bats locked their sights on the magicians. "You-" And promptly froze them in time.
"I can keep them frozen for a fair bit," Gasper said, but Koneko, seeing him about to go to them, stopped him. "Huh?"
"Don't. Let me do it." Koneko said, jumping down and preparing her fist. In the next second, she drove her fist through the chest of one of the magicians, spilling blood everywhere on the ground. Gasper was shocked to see this.
"Miss Koneko!"
"You did well, Gaspy. And Issei taught you well, especially helping you grow this much. But you don't have to kill if you are forcing yourself. You don't need to paint your hands with blood. Let me do it." She repeated, then went to the second magician. She brought her fist up again, ready to end her, and before long, her fist went through her body as well.
Gasper released the effects of his Gear, and the magicians dropped to the ground, dead. "It's over," Gasper said softly, flying to Koneko and taking back his human form. "Are we safe?"
"I don't sense anyone else." She stated. "We are most likely the only ones left here."
"And how do we get out?" Gasper asked again, but Koneko had only one reply.
"We hope the others can figure it out."
Azazel had to admit they were in a pickle. "Give it up, Sirzechs." He told Sirzechs, who has been blasting the dimension in all directions with his power in vain attempts to break it down. "It is clearly fashioned to take any amount of Power of Destruction and still stand."
"Got any better idea?" Sirzechs asked with a raised tone of voice, but he noticed his behavior quickly and corrected himself. "I'm sorry, I'm just…My sister is out there, taken as well, locked in what could be a similar dimension, and who knows what foes she is facing! And I am trapped here, safe and sound, unable to reach her. Unable to reach anyone."
"I share your frustration, Sirzechs," Michael admitted. "But there is little we can do here. Whoever created this dimension, the genius behind it, took every precaution."
"Hmmm." Azazel hummed in thought, then spread his wings. Six pairs of jet-black wings revealed themselves, and he took off in one singular direction.
"What is he doing?" Sirzechs asked.
"He might have an idea. Azazel is one of the smartest beings there is, so he surely thought of something." Michael added. They stood there for a couple of minutes, a time when Azazel eventually returned. "Did you find anything, Azazel?"
"The dimension stretches out endlessly. Infinitely, I could say. But there is something I took notice of." The other two perked up at his words. "As I was flying, I couldn't help but get a sense of Deja Vu every thousand miles or so. I tried to tell myself it was in my head, but then I started to think: What if it wasn't? Then it hit me. I took two blades of grass, one from one location and another from a similar place. I mostly went with my gut here, but the strange thing is that the two blades of grass were identical to the smallest detail."
"Is that all? You just compared grass." Sirzechs said, frustration clear in his voice.
"No, what I confirmed is that this place is not stretching infinitely the way we think it does. Take it like a computer program or a game. Minecraft should be a good comparison here. You see, we currently are within a chunk, a designated, loaded area where we can perceive things and exist, where time moves. Our presence loads those chunks when we get close. This realm is essentially made up of one chunk that is being copied and pasted endlessly in an effort to keep us in."
"I won't pretend to understand your words fully, but I think I get the general idea. You mean that the area we are in is cloned endlessly, creating this realm?"
"Correct," Azazel replied to Michael. "However, the areas, or chunks, that are here only become loaded, or exist, when we get close. Otherwise, there is only a blank space there."
"And how does this aid us?" Sirzechs asked. "You seem quite invested in this, but knowing how this realm works doesn't answer the question of how we can escape."
"Wrong!" Azazel put a finger up. "It answers that question exactly! Usually, in games, if there is an error preventing chunks from loading, it could be due to the system overloading. However, we don't have that issue here, as there is no way for us to overload this place. However, if we were to land in unloaded chunks, we could manage something. Those unloaded areas should be the solid border we need to strike to break free from here!"
"But you just said they load when we get close," Michael stated. "I assume our attacks become unloaded and vanish if they step into this area, correct?"
"Correct and incorrect. As I flew, I saw the damage done by Sirzech's attacks. This means our attacks actually LOAD the chunks. But it could be a temporary response to the changes brought to it." Azazel replied. "If we were to do something, like summon a barrier to isolate a part of the chunk in an unloaded state, it could essentially allow us to create a weak point in the system."
Sirzechs rubbed his forehead. "I am lost in this conversation. However, I get the feeling you have a plan."
"More like the right tool for the job," Azazel said as he took something from his shirt. A lance-like golden dagger with a purple jewel at the end of the handle. Michael's eyes widened seeing it.
"What Sacred Gear is this?! I don't recognize it from the database!"
"I meant to tell you about them after the summit when we start sharing our toys, but I guess this is as good of a time as any. This here, Michael, is an Artificial Sacred Gear. My best men and women, plus myself, worked days and nights to figure out how to produce them."
"You made a Sacred Gear?" Sirzechs asked in utter shock. However, Azazel shook his head.
"It's Artificial. I am afraid I found myself failing miserably at replicating the true powers of a real Sacred Gear, no matter the amount of research. Currently, we are still working, but we have managed to develop a good method so far, meaning we can begin producing those bad boys. Not anything like this one, though. This is my Down Fall Dragon Spear! An Artificial Sacred Gear I made by forging a pact with the Dragon King, Fafnir, for his power! It is one-of-a-kind due to that element alone."
"And this can help us? How? If my Power of Destruction cannot do anything, how can a Sacred Gear do something? One not even a Longinus to boot." Sirzechs voiced his doubts, but Azazel merely replied with a chuckle.
"This bad boy can produce wicked, powerful barriers. But first…Balance Break!" Powerful light erupted from Azazel, blinding the others. As the light died down, Azazel revealed himself, wearing a golden dragon armor that resembled the Scale Mail with purple jewels and wielding a two-pronged spear made of light in his hands. " Down Fall Dragon Another Armor!" He declared loudly.
"My word, they can even utilize Balance Breaker?!" Michael said in utter amazement.
"This won't last long!" Azazel stated. "We must act now! Aid me!"
"What?" Four powerful roars echoed as the golems found themselves under heavy fire, both figuratively and literally. Asia stood dumbfounded as she saw what had come to their aid alongside everyone present. But the aid they had just received was aid well received. "Dragons?" Asia muttered softly, and sure enough, four dragons had appeared out of pure white magical circles and began to attack the golems left and right.
The first one that Asia took notice of was a dark blue dragon with diamond-shaped scales and a light-blue underbelly with piercing red eyes. It stood on all fours, with four yellow horns growing from its head. When it opened its maw, however, instead of fire, volleys of lightning came out, sending the golems flying in all directions.
And those that were sent flying were being swiftly picked up by the next one. A long, serpentine dragon with emerald-green scales and a yellowish underbelly, sporting a yellow mane of fur growing around its head and long extensions from its face, like a mustache, stretching as long as Asia was tall. Its gray eyes were fixed on the golems, and despite not having wings, it flew around through them with amazing speed, summoning violent gales of wind that slashed the golems in bits.
But knowing they could fix themselves, they had to be brought into a truly unfixable state. The next dragon was the largest of the group, with a bright red underbelly, oceanic blue scales, and wings that matched this model. It roared as it crushed the golems coming at him under his feet, and even using his tail to knock them back. It breathed out a fire on them, melting them down, but then, as it stopped using fire, it began to spew out ice-cold water that hardened the now-disfigured golem. Its mismatched red and blue eyes tell Asia exactly who this is.
And lastly, using its claws to grip the bark of the trees well stood a large yet slow dragon. It has brownish scales mixed with gray ones and a dark gray underbelly. The way it looked reminded one of a rough mountain surface. Its tail was shaped like a mace, and it seemed to have poor eyesight due to the scales around its eyes. However, as the golems fired at him, the dragon didn't move. Its scales tanked the bullets perfectly.
The golems at least believed this one to be an easy target, but then it surprised them by jumping between trees with impressive capability. At its assumed weight, such a feat shouldn't have been possible, but Asia knew better. The reason the bullets couldn't pierce his scales and why it leaped to her, specifically, and began to attack viciously every golem that got too close. "Aegis?" She called out to the dragon, who turned around and let out a small roar. Asia's face brightened with a smile. "Everyone! Those are my dragons!"
"Your what?!" Raynare gasped as the serpentine dragon finally reached her, releasing her. It looked down on her, arrogantly sticking their nose out. "Oh…Yeah, this one is Nado."
"Fuguo! Rassei!" The other two replied to their mother's call, roaring out in response to their names being called. "They all grew up so big!"
Kuroka and Irina went to Asia, with Kuroka starting to explain. "Nya! Issei's dungeon must have accelerated their growths! Dragons can grow their bodies as they grow in power, which explains why they look like teenage dragons."
Fuguo continued to plague the golems in fire, as Rassei did the same in lightning. The flying golems found themselves especially in danger as Nado was hunting them down one by one, biting them in half or slashing them with the wind. Aegis, however, stood near Asia, offering protection. "To think you have four dragons…" Irina said in amazement.
"Abort! Abort!" The leading golem shouted, getting the few golems left to begin actively avoiding the dragons and enemies before them. "Retreat!"
"Like hell, you will! Get them!" Raynare ordered the dragons, and with a powerful roar, Fuquo, Rassei, and Nado began to focus their powers in one singular attack. Wind, Lightning, Fire, and Water were combined, the sphere rising high above them. Then it was launched at the flying golems, the might of the element swallowing them and destroying them, resulting in a great explosion that saw one of the trees start to crumble down.
It was falling toward Asia and the others. "Shit! Out of the way!"
But Aegis had other plans. The dragon began running toward the tree, then using its ability, it altered its weight, becoming light as a feather before it leaped right at the tree, then reinforced its body with its other ability. As he made contact, he altered his weight again, making himself heavier than a mountain. The force of the impact saw the tree being sent stumbling in the opposite direction, but Aegis, being unable to fly, began to fall, roaring out for aid.
Luckily, Nado came to his aid, creating a tornado under him. Making himself lighter again, Aegis was able to land safely on the ground, where the rest of the FRU units were. Nado roared, but Aegis roared in reply to him. The words were clear. Those were his. The FRU units rushed to attack the dragon, but Aegis stomped the ground, making it erupt in hundreds of rock spikes that impaled every single remaining golem.
And Raynare saw it all.
Everyone soon descended to the ground floor with the aid of the dragons. "You did it!"
"Damn!" Raynare said in astonishment at the level of destruction. "Remind me not to upset you!" Aegis gave a small roar in reply. It then went to Asia, pushing its nose against her. The girl knew what it wanted, and she began to scratch its chin, which was arguably the only place not covered in rock-hard scales.
"There, there, good job! All of you." The dragons all lowered their heads for their rewards for a job well done. "I am so proud of you all! I know Issei will be, too! When he sees how big and strong you all grew, and when he hears how well you fought, he will be so proud!"
"Nya! Quite! But…How about did they get here?" Kuroka asked, and luckily, Irina had an answer.
"Are they your familiars?" She asked Asia, who nodded in confirmation. "Familiars are usually called to their master using Summoning Magic! Perhaps we cannot get out, but they could get in thanks to that!"
"There are cases of familiars who came out unsummoned to protect their masters." Raynare pointed out. "They must have sensed you were in danger and rushed here to protect you. So, overall, good dragons."
"Can they get us out as well?" The dragons all perked up at Irina's questions but then lowered their heads in shame. "Oh…I see."
"They are not exactly Heavenly Dragons able to collapse dimensions." Kuroka pointed out. "Even Aegis here, who has the most potential to become one, is unable to do anything, nya."
The dragon in question smacked the ground with his tail in response to that statement, likely to show its annoyance with having his flaw pointed out. "Let's hope the others are safe," Asia said.
In the meantime, within the barren wasteland that Rias and her peerage were trapped in, they had less luck in dealing with their enemy. "Akeno!" Rias shouted for her queen, and Akeno was swift to encase the golem's legs in ice. However, this didn't even slow it down, as the ice broke immediately as it lifted its leg.
"You cannot escape," Bruticus stated, lifting his arm and morphing it into a three-barrel rotating gun. It began to fire it at them, the fire rate arguably slow, but the ammo was large and powerful. Each shot was like an artillery shell being delivered at them, but Rias was able to defend herself in the only way she knew how. If her ability couldn't work effectively as an offense, then by shaping it like a dome around herself and the others, she had effectively created a powerful defense.
A shield of destruction!
"Resistance is futile!" Bruticus added, ending his assault and reaching behind himself just as another weapon was revealing itself. A large cannon manifested, and he aimed it at Rias' shield. The blue glow inside the cylinder told them all they needed to know.
"Scatter!" Rias shouted, and everyone ran away as the shot was fired. Despite the decent distance they got before it landed, the entire group was still caught in the shockwave created, throwing them all over the place. Xenovia was using Durandal to help herself up, and Kiba was using the Sword of Betrayal. Rias was helping Akeno up after she got up herself, but the golem simply aimed its weapon back at them.
But Kiba had a plan. Summoning multiple explosive short-swords, he threw them at the golem, watching them embed themselves into its armor before he summoned forth the detonating sword and detonated the swords. Most of them were on the forearm, and once they exploded, the golem's weapon was thrown off-course, firing instead in the distance.
"Insect!" The golem shouted, revealing a small weapon on his shoulder. It locked onto Kiba, launching an explosive at him. Kiba was able to avoid it, but the sand and dust that got caught in that blast were instantly turned into glass.
"It's no use!" Xenovia shouted. "Its armor is too strong, and its arsenal is superior!" She charged at the golem and slashed at its leg. But just as she said, the attack from Durandal had barely made a noticeable gap in the armor. She then jumped up, landing on the golem's back, and attempted to stab Durandal into the machine.
However, Bruticus revealed another nasty surprise as its back opened, revealing two thrusters there. As it flared them to life, the heat caused Xenovia to be thrown off, landing roughly on the ground. The golem turned around, aiming its grenade at her, but Kiba managed to rush to her just in time to save her.
"Thanks," Xenovia told him as he put her down, and then they watched as Akeno rained down spell after spell at the golem. But it had little effect. The armor was too powerful. Not to mention that any attack from her power of destruction saw all of Rias' attacks nullified! "That thing is powerful…"
"Strong armor, strong armament, and it can somehow nullify Rias' ability. I agree; that thing is not exactly a walk in the part. But I think I have an idea." Kiba pointed to a section of the golem with his sword. "See there? Every time Rias attacks it, it nullifies her strikes, and that part lights up. Whatever it is that allows it to do, it must be there!"
"So? What is your idea?" Xenovia asked.
"Whenever it uses those grenades, the heat turns the ground to glass. Glass which can get very slippery if wet." Kiba's grin told Xenovia everything she needed to know. "I doubt that thing can get up easily."
"Likewise. Akeno! Rias!" Xenovia shouted, grabbing their attention. "We have a plan! Draw out its grenades!"
Bruticus, however, heard that. But it couldn't figure out what she meant. As such, he aimed his grenades at Xenovia, who raised Durandal, and as the grenade came close to her, she managed to strike it back at the golem before it went off. Those were not grenades that triggered on impact, but rather, they were timed. The golem simply timed them right when sending them out.
Thanks to this, the grenade flew at the golem's legs, where it exploded, causing the dust to turn to glass. A shard had even pierced through its leg, where sparks were visibly flying. A weak spot, but not enough. Kiba summoned forth two of his swords and quickly crossed them. "Have a drink." He said coyly as water poured out from the combined swords, landing on the feet of the golem. The being tried to move, but the thick layer of wet glass saw his balance thrown off.
"NOW! STRIKE IT!" Akeno heard her and launched a powerful wind-based spell at the golem, managing to make the giant collapse on its back. Or so it seemed. The thrusters on the golem activated, pushing it up slowly. "NO!"
"I got this!" Kiba shouted, throwing more explosive blades at the golem. One of them struck the grenade launcher, and when Kiba detonated them, it caused the launcher to blow up. There was a loaded grenade in there. The resulting explosion seemed to have done damage as the golem finally collapsed fully.
"Error!" Bruticus shouted, unable to see from the soot covering his visual feed.
"Take this!" Xenovia leaped up and managed to stab Durandal into the chest of the golem. Bruticus, receiving the error, immediately reacted.
"NO!" He morphed his arm, revealing a small cannon, and fired it.
"Xenovia!" Rias shouted as Xenovia was struck dead-on, sending her screaming into the air. Bruticus, likewise, got up, pulling Durandal out of itself and throwing it away. It hovered its hand over the wound Xenovia had managed to inflict, realizing what he had lost.
"Rias! Now! Xenovia destroyed whatever it was that was blocking your attacks! Do it now! Obliterate him!" Kiba shouted as he threw his rust blade at the golem, causing his leg to start rusting slightly.
"So that was your plan," Bruticus commented, aiming its gun at Rias. However, an arrow made from the Power of Destruction saw its entire arm severed from the rest of the body. "Ugh!" the giant golem covered his wound, sparks flying everywhere.
"I see. You really are helpless now." Rias began to glow a crimson red. "I think I have just enough energy to take you out in one strike."
"GRRRRRrrAAAAHHHHH!" Bruticus shouted, then punched the ground, morphing. "I am the jewel of the Snake of Adam's artillery!" The golem successfully morphed its back, bringing out a heavy-duty cannon that he aimed right at Rias. The blueish glow within was emanating devastating levels of power, but Rias was not scared. "Final…"
"Last…"
"JUDGMENT!" Bruticus shouted.
"SUN!" And Rias did in kind, releasing a new technique she has developed. She released a constant stream of her power, which cut through the golem's attack. Yet, the Final Judgement attack released by Bruticus contained too much energy to destroy it all, resulting in the attack striking all around Rias but not her. The destruction itself was protecting her.
And so, her attack, Last Sun, eventually pierced the golem's own. It not only caused the golem's attack to stop, but now, the entire body of the golem was a gaping hole where the middle golem, the one that acted as Bruticus' torso and head, including the one that was on the back, once were. The golem collapsed, nothing more than a hunk of junk now, giving the victory to Rias.
Rias, however, dropped to her knees, exhausted. Last Sun required a lot of focus and equal amounts of power. Plus, this battle had not been kind to her reserves. But there were more important things to consider now.
"Rias!" Akeno shouted, getting her attention. Rias rushed to where they stood, seeing Xenovia unconscious, with her nose bleeding. "I tried to use what little healing I could, but she is not improving!"
"Let me see!" Rias began to use her demonic energy to heal Xenovia, but it had little effect. Kiba, as well, was using his sword to try to heal Xenovia. "Damn that golem…" The damage done to Xenovia, that weapon he used on her, didn't do as much damage on the outside as it did on the inside. Rias could tell. Xenovia was in grave danger.
"GAH!" Creusery shouted as Ignium once again slashed away at him, resulting in a grave wound being drawn across his chest. However, as Ignium was not paying attention to him, Shalba snuck up behind him and threw a bottle of holy water at the demon.
"Fuck!" Ignium swore, then took flight above, spinning strongly to get the holy water off his body, not to mention heating his body to a great temperature to make it evaporate. The stuff burned like acid! The fact that those two began to employ holy things as weaponry against him proved to be effective, but Ignium knew those things caused them some grief as well. Not as much as him, but enough. He was growing impatient.
"Creusery, get a hold of yourself!" Shalba shouted at his colleague, seeing him once again heal and get up. "What else do you have?"
"Not a lot. The fucker is weak to holy things, true, but he is cunning. I only have this left. Everything else? Around here, or destroyed." Creusery handed Shalba a silver cross. Picking the item up made Shalba's skin start to crawl, and he felt as if fire ants were biting under his skin, but he held the cross strongly. It had a stake-like end to it. "If we can stab him with that, we can win!"
"Then that is what we will do." Shalba and Creusery charged at Ignium, with Creusery turning himself into a monster with multiple serpentine heads. A Hydra. Ignium narrowed his eyes at the sight and grabbed his weapon by the chain in the middle. His sword and sickle slashed the heads of the creatures one by one, yet as Shalba drew close, a silver cross in hand, Ignium quickly pulled his sword back, managing to stab Shalba's hand from behind.
"GAH!"
Shalba's scream was music to his ears as he dropped the cross, and then Ignium opened his fist, releasing a powerful stream of fire that engulfed Shalba. To protect himself, Shalba began summoning thousands of flies to block the flames from reaching him, but he was losing power swiftly.
"DIE!" But Ignium failed to see Creusery as he snuck up behind him, having manifested his body from the waist up from one of the severed stumps.
"GAHHHH!" Ignium screamed in agony as the cross glowed red-hot, and golden vein-like patterns spread over his body. Ignium swung his sword wildly, almost decapitating Creusery.
"Ha! Close, but not close enough, demon! Now die!" Creusery shouted, but Ignium was not listening. After all, it was not him for whom he was swinging his sword. Ignium swung his sword and made it slashed the cross off of him. With the top part gone, the effigy no longer resembled a cross, which de-sanctified it. Ignium took labored breaths of relief as the pain left his body. "Fuck!"
Creusery regrouped with Shalba once again. "I cannot believe he is still alive…"
"I am alive, yes…" Ignium confirmed, landing as well. "But I admit. I don't think I can use my fire again in this form…Too weak to keep it under control like this."
"What do you mean?" Shalba narrowed his eyes. "You mean to tell us you were not even using your full power?"
Hearing him, Ignium chuckled. "That is right. Had I wanted to, I could have erased the two of you from existence right where you stand."
"Are you shitting us?! You mock us, even now?!" Creusery raged. However, Shalba realized something.
"No…" His hand was burning. The contract sign was burning. "No…No, no, no!"
"Looks like they are done outside," Ignium stated with a grin.
"They are retreating!" A devil soldier shouted in jubilation. Sure enough, the magicians brought by the Khaos Brigade were starting to run away, opening their portals to escape with their lives.
Ravel let out a sigh of relief. "Now to find the others."
"What is going on, Shalba? What have you promised this demon?!" Creusery asked in a panic, not seeing Ignium's sick grin.
"H-he…For the continuation of his quest, I promised him that we will sire heirs." Shalba stated, but hearing him, Ignium was quick to interject.
"To be precise, I said you will willingly offer your aid in keeping your bloodlines alive. This means you HAVE to give me a little something. A pair from each."
"Shalba…You made a promise on my behalf?! You son of a bitch, you sold me off!" Creusery shouted at him. But then he looked back at Ignium, who brandished his sword once again. Now he understood. Ignium was letting them live until the contract reached the part that favored him. His payment. "Wait! You cannot get what you want if you kill us! And there is no way we'd willingly produce heirs only to be killed after that!"
"You think me stupid?" Ignium asked, unamused. "I don't even need you two alive! As I said, Shalba here agreed to offer your aid, and that means I can take your…jewels of reproduction for myself."
Creusery grew pale as a ghost hearing that line, covering his crotch in absolute terror. "Y-you are sick in the head!"
"Still, I did make sure to add a 'what if' to the contract. In case you lot refuse to give me my due, I am allowed to take it by force." Ignium took a step forward, and finally, the two truly realized the danger they found themselves in. Yet, Shalba took notice of something he had said.
"Wait…What do you mean by form? And what do you mean by control?!" He shouted at the demon, but as they did, all they got back was Ignium's grin. Then they began to see it. A tail erupted from Ignium's back, covered in black scales with the orange glow of fire between them and with a forked, deadly tip. But Ignium wasn't done. His entire body was smoking, and his skin was literally burning off. "No…"
"He can shapeshift?!" Creusery gasped but then sneered. "As if! My shapeshifting is superior!"
"He isn't changing forms like that!" Shalba realized, but Creusery did not. "Creusery, this is…"
Ignium's weapons melted with his body as his legs withered away, becoming one with the tail. His size grew, and then the skin on his arms ruptured and fell all around. A protrusion formed on his nose, like a horn growing. Yet, just as it seemed he was stopping, the two heirs had a bad surprise. Ignium simply leaped out of his skin, tearing it to pieces, and stretched his massive body. The two heirs were shocked by this. Before them now stood a giant, black cobra with a golden-orange glow between its scales and a hood with golden markings on the inside. The golden eyes of the snake glowed strongly, and the horn growing from its nose upward stood to remind them what they faced.
On its back, a large pair of demonic wings almost made it look like a dragon, and the heat from it alone was enough to make them back away.
Ignium was done playing…They realized this now.
"Creusery…Run!" Shalba finally had enough. The two heirs began running away from the demon just as Ignium unleashed a wave of pure dark flames, chasing them. The fire soon took shape, becoming small snakes in turn.
"Why are we running? I can turn even bigger than that!" Creusery told his colleague.
"His power…Is impossible! We are Ultimate-Class beings, enhanced by Ophis' power, and he was still not taking us seriously!" Shalba stated, his voice almost breaking as he spoke. "We are NOTHING to him! NOTHING! What kind of…What monster could create such a being is beyond reason!"
"There is no way out of this realm, Shalba!" Creusery shouted, constantly pressing the device they had to depart from the dimension. He should have figured out that they were given fakes.
"Then we are…" They turned around just in time to see Ignium's massive body coiling all around them, cutting off any hope of further escape. He had them surrounded.
"We are fucked." Creusery stated, and the fire erupted wildly, filling the realm in screams.
"Eat this!" Issei shouted as he delivered yet another critical strike to Vali's stomach. Still, instead of letting the shockwave carry him away, Issei flew with him through several buildings, ignoring the drain he was putting on his reserves with his Gear's ability. Once he was through, he threw him away.
But Issei was feeling the toll of constantly having to use his Gear to ensure his stats didn't drop because of Vali's Divine Dividing. However, he was also taking bits of everything else he had except Stamina. Issei was running low on mana, demonic energy, and even Ki. If this kept up more, he might not have enough to keep going. He was nearing the point of exhaustion. But…
"Bwah!" Vali spat blood on the ground as he got up, his helmet half-broken now. They have been breaking one another's Scale Mail constantly during this battle, but Vali definitely took more strikes. Technically, Issei was a master in martial arts. He could strike effectively and with deadly precision. The fact Vali was still standing was a testament to his durability. His eyes fixed on Issei, defiant against him, yet pleased. "I am not done yet!"
"Then come! What are you going to use now?! [Divide]? [Half Dimension]?" Issei shouted, wondering what trick Vali might try next. However, as he stood tall before him, Issei narrowed his eyes at him.
"No, no…you are worth nothing less than the best I have to offer!"
"Forget it, Vali! It's not worth risking so much!" Albion shouted.
"You don't mean-" Ddraig realized what Vali was planning as well. "Partner, be ready! He might go into Juggernaut Drive!"
"I, who am about to awaken…" Vali began, and Issei prepared himself as he felt the pulse of power. Yet, before Vali could get another word out, something seemed to happen. The world around them was starting to…crack. "What?!" And this seemed to interrupt Vali's chant. "Impossible! This place was supposed to be nigh-indestructible!"
"The dimension is falling apart…" Issei stated, but he didn't let himself be distracted. Instead, he locked his sight on Vali. He swiftly summoned another bolt of lightning to himself, then, as Vali was not paying attention, aimed it at him. However, as the walls of the dimension came undone, Issei's eyes wondered…And what he saw sealed everyone's fate.
"Now!" Azazel shouted as he focused the power of his Sacred Gear into the far distance, trying to wrap barriers around what normally cannot be caught. However, they managed to do it. With a grin, Azazel gestured to Michael and Sirzechs, who flew to the location. The land manifested itself, but an orb of pure white remained floating in the air.
"This is what Azazel meant!" Michael stated, generating a sword of light.
"Allow me," Sirzechs said as he let his hand pass through the orb. Then, with one pulse of his power, he saw the orb crack and the entire dimension. "You kept me here long enough." And with another pulse, the whole dimension collapsed the white outside everywhere. But it didn't last long, as the three of them saw their bodies being once again displaced.
"It worked." Azazel vanished first, followed by Sirzechs, and lastly, Michael managed to leave the dimension they were trapped in.
Just as the dimensions broke apart, Ignium attacked the two heirs. His fire descended upon them wildly, creating several tendrils that bound them. "GAHHH!" Creusery screamed in absolute agony as Ignium swiftly castrated him, the fire moving and acting like blades. Shalba simply looked in horror, knowing he was next, and unlike Creusery, he couldn't regenerate himself using his ability!
But as the dimension fully fell, Ignium heard something that made his heart sink. He looked around immediately, seeing everyone within the Kuoh Academy Campus. They just appeared from thin air as the demon saw the device, destroyed and in shambles, on the ground. But that was not what terrified him the most. No, what he was more terrified about was what the Red Dragon Emperor was currently staring at.
What everyone was staring at. The dimensions didn't just displace someone from space but from time as well. Meaning that all dimensions fell at the same time. "NO!" Ignium shouted, seeing the scene, knowing full well what they had just invited onto their heads.
"Shalba!" Creusery shouted as he recovered, managing to escape his bindings and rush to Shalba. However, before he could reach him and escape using teleportation magic, Ignium was still able to strike and cut off one of Shalba's testicles. The contract was complete.
But this frustrated Ignium to no end, but there was nothing he could do now. He had bigger trouble to take care of now.
Those mindless brats just did the one thing he specifically told them NOT to do.
"Asia!" Rias shouted, bringing Xenovia to Asia as fast as she could. "Help her!"
"Oh my!" Asia rushed to Xenovia, her dragons growling at Ignium but slowly backing away from Issei as they saw him motionless. Everyone just stared.
"Hahahahahah!" And laughing like a maniac, with a spear of water going through Ingvild's chest, was Katerea Leviathan herself, with her body partially transformed, much like how Ingvild's was. "Who would have thought?!" She pulled her weapon out of Ingvild, dropping her corpse on the ground. "Ophis' power awakened the power of Leviathan that was dormant within me! And most importantly, I AM THE ONLY LIVING HEIR OF LEVIATHAN!"
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Kuroka shouted from the top of her lungs as she launched a great wave of energy at Katerea, but the devil merely dodged the attack.
"You are, you stinking cat?" Katerea replied, aiming her hand at Kuroka and attempting to summon forth a watery projectile. However, her attack was interrupted as a red blur of a projectile smacked right into her, knocking her to the ground. "Gah!"
"You…" Issei growled with absolute rage; all the while, Vali tried to charge at him, but a wall of black fire blocked his path.
"Vali, whatever you do, do not use [Divide] on this fire! We cannot take in this power without risking death!" Albion warned Vali, the hybrid looking to the side to see the giant form of Ignium beginning to coil around him, entrapping him. "The demon, Ignium Ophirius."
"The General of the Snake of Adam…" Vali said softly.
"Vali Lucifer…" Ignium spoke. "Go. This is no longer your battle. It's over."
"It's not over until I say it is! I can still-"
"Sorry to say, buddy, but I think the big snake is right." Next to Vali, two new faces appeared, one of them being a young man with short light-brown hair, brown eyes, and an athletic build, with a clear monkey tail, dressed in ancient Chinese armor with a circle around his head.
"Bikou…"
"Your opponent is no longer focusing on you, Vali. The tides have changed. I can sense great power swelling in him." But the other was different. They had darker skin, along with long, jet-black hair tied in three braids behind their head, reaching their lower back, with bright-red eyes and a red dot on their forehead. They were dressed in old Hindu garments, with their wrists and ankles covered by golden bracelets, and they were walking barefoot.
"Ajay…Why are the two of you here? Where are Arthur and Le Fay?" Vali asked, looking between them.
"Ophis sent us," Bikou replied, then walked to stand in front of the demon. "Sheesh. Good thing they did; this guy gives me the creeps!"
"You are not going anywhere!" Sirzechs shouted as he and the other three leaders flew above them, looking down at them. "You are all under arrest!"
"You fool!" Ignium shouted, fire enveloping his body and surging toward the three, stopping mere meters away from them before Ignium revealed himself again, back in his humane form. He shoved his head in Sirzech's face, speaking with authority. "Can't you see? Look!" He grabbed Sirzechs by the head and twisted it so he looked at Issei. "It's coming…"
The others looked at Issei as well, seeing him simply standing still. Facing Katerea. "No…" Michael said softly. "He is right, Sir…We must get everyone away, post-haste!"
"You-" Sirzechs turned himself back to Ignium, but the demon, to his surprise, remained there. "Why did you protect us?"
"That is not something worth asking now!" Ignium shouted, and then he turned to Vali. "Go! Don't make me repeat myself."
"Let's go," Ajay said, opening a portal as Vali dropped his Balance Breaker.
Vali looked at Issei, seeing beyond him to see Ingvild down on the ground as well. He closed his eyes briefly and inhaled deeply. "We will settle our score later, Issei Hyoudou." Then he vanished along with his team, leaving the others there.
"So, Vali betrayed me…" Azazel said slowly, letting out a sign. "Now I am disappointed. But why are you sticking around?"
"You three need to go as well." Ignium didn't reply to Azazel; he simply barked an order at them. "Once he enters Juggernaut Drive, everyone here will be at risk. He seems to be trying to hold his rage back, but I can sense the curse taking over. Go! Take everyone and go!"
"What makes you think we will-"
"Understood."
"Michael!" Sirzechs shouted in protest to Michael's obedience. "He is the enemy!"
"Not now, he is not. I can see that. He speaks the truth, Sirzechs. We might be able to survive what is coming, but your sister and the others? They cannot. We need to go and ensure they are alright! We must also retreat back our armies and hope they won't be caught in the sights of the rampaging Red Dragon!"
"What about after? Once he is done with Katerea, he will-"
"Deal with me." Ignium interrupted him. "I will try to restrain him, see if I can maybe knock him out so he can revert to normal. If not, then I will keep him restrained until his life is snuffed out."
"You are going to face the Juggernaut Drive?" Michael asked, receiving a nod from him. "Ignium…I wish you luck." Then, the three leaders left, going to the ones on the ground.
"Here!" Michael offered to carry Xenovia. "We must go now!"
"But Issei is-"
"There is nothing we can do!" Azazel shouted, but Kiba was faster than they expected, managing to charge past Issei and recover Ingvild's body, bringing it to them.
"Ingvild! If we bring her back, she might be able to calm him down!" Kiba shouted, presenting his idea as he put the body down, her blood staining his clothing.
"First, we have to take distance!" Sirzechs reminded, picking up Ingvild's body. "Come on!" And everyone flew away, letting Issei deal with Katerea.
"Ha!" Katerea, however, simply laughed. "To think they took the body. Why? She was nothing! An unworthy half-breed who simply got lucky to be found by the Red Dragon here! Becoming his whore was all she was good for!"
"Shut up!" Issei shouted, clenching his fist. "You think you have a right to say such things?! Who do you think you are?!"
"I am Katerea Leviathan, knave! Your better!" She stated loudly. "You should be thanking me! I got rid of her, and now, there is no more shame upon the Leviathan name to be had!"
"Shame? SHAME? Of course, of-FUCKING-course, that's what you'd think about! You devils of the so-called Old Satan Faction - I heard how you treat your own even if they have a sliver of human blood in them! You sicken me!" Issei shouted. "But don't you dare think you will survive today!"
"Oh? And you are going to kill me?" Katerea asked with a cocky grin.
"You idiot girl!" Ignium shouted, not daring to get closer. "Katerea, I warned you!" Katerea sneered at him. "I told you not to challenge the wrath of the Red Dragon!"
"Shut it! You hold no right to lecture me, you traitor! I will kill this useless boy here, then I will be coming for you!" She raised her hand, showing the emblem of Ophis. Then, on the vast horizon, a great amount of water rose to the skies, forming into a colossal wave. "Thanks to Ophis, I awakened the power to use [Sea Serpent of the End]!"
The giant wave came right at them. Everyone was retreating, seeing the giant incoming wave; only Katerea, who was standing with her back facing it, Ignium, and Issei remained steadfast. But Ignium knew Issei was not doing it because he was brave. He had gone silent. And Ignium could practically smell the rage. "Red Dragon…I don't know if you can hear me now, but I warned her. Unleash your rage."
Katerea's grin was swift to start faltering as waves of power erupted from Issei. "You…" Issei growled, yet the power wave erupting from him was not fading.
"What is happening?" Asia asked, her dragons taking cautious steps back. "What is going on over there?"
"Something very bad," Azazel replied simply. Everyone, including the armies, was not far, far away from them. Far enough to be safe.
"Issei! Calm yourself!" Solomon shouted.
"Listen to us, partner! We can defeat her as we are; there is no need to go that far!"
"She killed Ingvild! Unforgivable! I won't let her get away! She will die! She will die! SHE WILL DIE!"
"I, who is about to awaken,"
"It started"
"Looks like it will start."
The wave began to surge forth, no longer pushed back by Issei's power. Whispers began echoing around him as the gems on his armor glowed brightly.
"Am the Heavenly Dragon who has stolen the principles of domination from God."
"It was always like that, no matter what."
"That's not right; it was like that every time."
"Ise, no!" Kuroka shouted, trying to go to him, but she was stopped as Kiba and Raynare caught her. 'Let me go! I need to go to him! He is about to go into Juggernaut Drive!"
"We can see that!" Raynare shouted. "But there is nothing we can do! If he doesn't kill you by mistake, that bitch will kill you on purpose and make the entire ordeal twice as worst! Stay put!"
"She has a point, Kuroka. If more of us fall, Issei will only get worse."
Kuroka could only watch.
"I laugh at the "infinite", and I fret over the "dream"
"The one the world seeks…."
"The one the world rejects..."
The wave hit in full, swallowing both Issei and Katerea, yet Issei wasn't fazed. He just stood there as the entire campus of Kuoh was being swallowed by the water.
"I shall become the Red Dragon of Domination"
"It was always power."
" It was always love."
"You guys choose destruction no matter how many times!"
"D-Draig! I cannot reach Issei anymore! Those whispers…What are they?!"
"I'm sorry, Solomon…It's too late."
"Ddraig? Ddraig, can you hear me?! No…No, no, no! I need to stop this!"
It was too late.
''And I shall sink you to the depths of the crimson purgatory!''
It was far too late.
As the chant completed itself, the water surrounding Issei parted ways as he flew out of it, but now, to all who were watching, he was changed. The Scale Mail had seemingly fused with his body and grew in size tenfold, converting Issei into a monstrous form. Possessing claw-like growths on the hands and feet, as well as horns and a fanged mouth on the helmet, in addition to giant wings and blowing great winds when they were flapped, this was the full release of the Juggernaut Drive.
"Ha!" Yet, Katerea, who was flying above, merely laughed even as the Juggernaut roared out in absolute fury. "Is this what the demon fears? A mindless beast? With this power in my hands, I will sink you to the bottom of the ocean! In fact, I will sink this entire island!" The mark on her hand glowed brightly, and blue energy soon enveloped her.
When the light died down, Katerea had morphed into a long, serpentine dragon that swam through the water. Ignium, who was watching, knew what this was full well. The final chapter of the Leviathan bloodline's power. It allowed them to take a form similar to that of the original Leviathan. "Drown!" She shouted as she opened her mouth and began to charge a devastating attack to destroy Issei, but even in the Juggernaut, Issei's fighting instincts were strong.
Sensing the attack coming, the Juggernaut opened his maw and charged its attack, which struck Katerea just as she released her own, causing her to topple over in the water. 'Ugh! You…" Giant waves rose from the water surrounding him, and Issei watched them morph into various monsters coming at him. Yet, he simply roared out and exploded with power.
[Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!]
The water was pushing away greatly, exposing even Katerea, in her draconic form, to the water. And that was her end. Issei's chest opened, revealing a cannon of some kind that charged up and had it aimed right at her. Without the water, Katerea was struggling, and due to lacking experience in using her new form, she was not able to turn back fast enough.
"Wait, WAIT!" She shouted, but her words fell on deaf ears.
[LONGINUNS SMASHER!]
The deafening roar of the cannon ripped through the ground and water and caught Katerea's head dead on.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Her screams filled the air as she was turned to dust, her lifeless body collapsing into the water, which had begun to recede. But things weren't done. Issei roared out again to the sky, and Ignium saw him turning his head to the others.
"Not on my watch, Red Dragon," Ignium stated and charged right at Issei. The dragon noticed him too late before Ignium threw his weapon around his neck, using the chain to ensnare him and then fly behind him, pulling him back and choking him. Ignium pulled the chain with as much strength as he could muster, channeling heat through it and burning Issei at the exact same time!
Issei roared out in pain as the chain seared the flesh on his neck, but he turned around sharply, managing to break the chain off. Ignium skipped a step back from this, being left with the two halves of his weapon. However, dark fire swallowed the chain, fixing it. "This won't do…" Ignium said, looking at Issei, who was now focusing his attention on the demon. "I am not your enemy, Red Dragon! But I won't let you harm the innocent ones watching you die slowly like this. If you are to go, then go alone, and don't drag others with you!"
Ignium punched the ground, summoning forth a giant wave of fire that boiled the water around them to vapors. An entire lake's worth of water was gone in just a moment, yet Ignium wasn't done. Issei opened his maw to fire at the demon, yet chains made of fire wrapped around his mouth and closed it shut. Ignium returned his weapon to its tattoo state and summoned forth more and more dark fire, surrounding not only Issei but himself as well in a growing inferno.
But he was barely doing any damage to Issei. Ignium then summoned forth several large spheres of dark flames and launched them at Issei. However, upon seeing them, Issei spread his wings, taking to the skies to dodge them, which annoyed Ignium. The bounds on his mouth came undone as well, and he fired his shot at the demon right away.
Ignium launched fire at the incoming blast, and the two attacks met in the middle, resulting in a devastating explosion that scorched the entire area. For a moment, Ignium was worried they might destroy Kuoh, but preserving the secret of the supernatural took priority. Since the start of their raid, they had been battling inside a special barrier, generating a separate space where they could go as nuts as they wanted to!
"Fuck!" Ignium shouted as he got up, his top ruined. He threw it away, yet, seeing Issei still raging and unable to stop him properly, the demon realized he was going too easy on the boy. Yet, he couldn't transform again. Demons were limited, as they could not take their true forms more than once a day. It is simply too much power being released and sealed away again at once, exhausting their bodies.
And Ignium was pretty tired already. He needed a bit of aid. "Tadeus!" He contacted the main HQ. "Sent the Arsenal, now!"
Upon giving the order, a portal opened behind Ignium, dropping a large rectangle onto the battlefield. Then it opened, and several things flew out, going to Ignium. His chest was covered first, and over his heart, a red glow began to shine. The chest plate in question covered his torso fully, expanding like water over him before turning solid. It bore a silver color, and when Ignium extended his arm, another such device came to him.
Liquid at first, it morphed and formed, generating a gauntlet of some kind around his arm, followed by his other arm being covered by one as well, but his palm was left exposed. His legs were covered, and lastly, his neck. The armor that seemed to have been made for him covered him in armor fully, except for his head.
Then Ignum clenched his fist, generating a spear from the liquid metal. "This is the Arsenal, Red Dragon. It hasn't been tested yet, but I guess this should do for its maiden battle." Thrusters formed on Ignium's back, which roared with fury as the demon charged right into Issei, striking him dead-on in the chest and pushing him back right into the main building of the academy.
Issei, however, swatted at Ignium like one would a fly the moment he put distance between them, allowing the Red Dragon to get up. Ignium rolled on the ground, but he was quick to get back up, summoning his weapon to him once again. He threw the sword and wrapped it around Issei's arm, then pulled violently. However, his plan was another.
He generated a stake with his armor and shoved it into the ground, tying his weapon to it. Issei pulled as much as he could, but the chain was not giving in, allowing Ignium to take a knee and generate a large cannon on his shoulder, which he directed with his left arm. A visor was generated before his left eye as well, allowing him to aim.
However, before he could fire, Issei opened his chest.
"Fuck!" Ignium swore as he dropped the cannon, letting it return to liquid and punching the ground, erecting a wall of fire before him to protect him as the power of the blast went by him. However, his fire was growing too powerful. Ignium grits his teeth as he tries to endure the attack while also maintaining control, but the holy things thrown at him by the heirs weaken his control over his fire.
Which was not a good thing.
Luckily, he was able to put out the flames just as the blast ended, but his eyes narrowed further. Issei didn't break the chain but ripped the stake Ignium had placed into the ground entirely! The Red Dragon swung the long chain around and aimed for Ignium. The demon, however, generated two hooks tied with chains from his armor and dodged his weapon coming at him by jumping over it, then hooked it, letting it pull him into the air.
Once he was high into the air, he opened his wings to stay air-born, then aimed at Issei, generating a futuristic cannon on his arm and fired, striking Issei dead in the shoulder.
"Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit!" Tadeus Crowley was typing away at his terminal so fast one might think his power was speed! However, he was merely under a lot of stress. "This data is crazy! The Arsenal is special, as it feeds on thermic energy - amounts of heat only the General can generate from his body without being boiled alive! It was made especially for him, yet-" Another error appeared before his eyes. "This prototype version is still inferior! If he pushes it too far, it could break down! Fuck! Who put him up to this? Fighting the Juggernaut Drive, of all things?! Madness!"
"Should we prepare for extraction?!" Marakus asked, the five colonels watching from several screens in Tadeus' lab as the action unfolded.
"Wait for his order! I trust he is not that big of a fool…" Tadeus added, and so, they all kept watching.
"Ugh…" Solomon got up slowly as he felt his head split, using his staff to support himself. "What happened?" He asked himself, looking around and seeing nothing but an empty, white space. "This is Issei's mindscape, I know it, but…Something is not right."
Solomon tried to sense around and even yelled. "Ddraig! Issei! Can you hear me?"
"They cannot hear you." Solomon turned around sharply, seeing a gallery of some kind with multiple cloaked figures standing there, and only one looking at him and even talking to him. It was an old man with a long, gray beard. "No one can hear you, Solomon."
"Who are you, and what are you doing in this realm?" Solomon demanded strongly.
"We had always been here. In the deepest corner of Issei's mind, since the day the Boosted Gear awakened. We are the past users of the cursed Sacred Gear that has us trapped here." The man replied, and Solomon had pieced things together.
"You are the origin of the Juggernaut Drive's curse!" Solomon said loudly. "The Juggernaut…Issei!"
"He is lost. And he will join us here soon enough." The old man looked to the side, showing Solomon a vision of the outside, seeing Ignium generate countless chains he was using to attempt to restrain Issei as he rampaged. "The demon is powerful, but it matters not. The result will be the same."
"No…No! Listen here, you! Release Issei from this curse at once!" Solomon demanded.
"Why?" The old man asked. "Even if we do, one day, he will summon our power again! You'd only be delaying that, which is unavoidable. Best he fades now than later."
"And what gives you the right to decide that?!" Solomon shouted, not holding his temper back. "Issei is a brilliant young man with his life ahead of him! Greatness awaits him!"
"Awaited him. Not anymore." The old man corrected Solomon. "He won't survive. He will die. It is his fault. The love he held for that girl, Ingvild Leviathan, triggered his rage upon seeing her die. It is always love that proves to be the greatest weakness of us, every single generation! No matter our will, we always bow down to the desires in our hearts and, ultimately, to the wrath born of this love."
"Madness! Absolute madness!" Solomon shouted. "If you think I will allow you to ruin Issei's future, think again!"
"And what can you do, Solomon? You have no power here."
Solomon's eyes narrowed dangerously at the man. "That is where you are wrong. I have all the power I need!" Solomon struck the ground with his staff, causing the world around them to ripple. "If you won't allow Issei to live, then fuck your permission! I will do what I must to ensure he lives!"
"You interloper!" Another previous wielder shouted. "What are you doing?"
"Ensuring some outside aid. What Issei can do, I can also do! Hear me, Ignium Ophirius!"
Outside, Ignium's eyes widened as he heard a voice calling to him from within his mind. He was currently on Issei's head, in close proximity to the Red Dragon, pulling with all his strength on the chains he had created to keep Issei restrained.
Then, the world around him turned black, only to then brighten itself again as he woke up in a green field, surrounded by pillars of dark fire that slithered around like living snakes. In this realm, he lacked the Arsenal, but before him stood quite the unexpected visitor. "Solomon? How is this possible?"
"You know of me, demon? Good, then I need not introduce myself and lose time. Listen, I need your aid."
"My aid?" Ignium asked. "This place…A mindscape! My mindscape!"
"Indeed. I pulled you in here because I need your aid to save Issei." Solomon stated.
"You have a plan to save the boy?" Ignium asked. "And what makes you believe I will help? I am not exactly an ally of yours, old man."
"You restrained him. You ARE restraining him when in your current position; you can kill him just as well." Solomon stated, having read Ignium like an open book. "Aid me, demon!"
"And what makes you think I will?" Ignium asked once again.
"I can see the cross in the sky," Solomon told Ignium, and sure enough, in the sky of his mindscape floated a golden cross. Ignium narrowed his eyes, angered by the old man for learning that detail. "I know you want to."
"Fine! You, Solomon, have a deal."
Ignium's hold on Issei tightened once again as the demon began to unleash his power. "I will burn this power away!" He declared, and nearly instantly, Ignium and Issei were shrouded in black fire. Issei roared out in agony as the flames got him, but this was merely a distraction. Ignium loosened his hold of Issei, taking distance and leaving him to burn. Using this window of opportunity, he contacted Tadeus Crowley again. "Sent me Sleepy Hollow! Now!"
Looking up at the sky to see a rocket flying above them. It was a small one, but Ignium leaped upward and grabbed it, taking what was inside. Sleeping Hollow. The Sacred Gear recovered from the Bismark! Issei was still on fire, and so Ignium began dropping down toward him, holding the gear.
"Focus…" Ignium said as the gear glowed. Finally, he crashed into Issei's chest, pushing him down. Raising the Sacred Gear in his hands, he shouted. "Balance Breaker!"
He pushed the gem down on Issei as purple mist not only surrounded him but also forced itself through his nostrils and mouth, weakening him. Making him sleepy. Once he was out cold, Ignium took distance, flying up high. "This better work!"
"It will!" Solomon stated, having maintained the connection.
"You will do nothing!" The past users stood up, a crimson aura surrounding them all. "You will not stop this, Solomon! You haven't the right to! We will not let you! Never!"
"It is no longer in your power to stop me!" Solomon shouted back and struck the ground hard with his staff, a magical circle appearing below him. The roar of a dragon echoed throughout, and Ddraig appeared, breaking through the white wall before the past wielders. His eyes, however, were red, afflicted by the power of the curse as well.
He attacked Solomon, yet a barrier protected the wise king.
"What?!" The eldest of the users gasped, shocked by such a thing.
"Issei…Ddraig…Forgive me." Solomon looked up, a pillar of light erupting from him to the sky. Ddraig seemed to be affected as he roared out and began to topple over. "I, Solomon, seal away this accursed power! In the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit! May God give me the strength to see this labor through!"
"Stop!" The elder of the users shouted. "If you do this, then Issei Hyoudou will lose the power of the Boosted Gear! We will take away its power in revenge!"
"Selfish to the end!" Solomon shouted at them, and then he raised his cane high, golden energy gathering at the tip. "Issei…I release you from the hold of this curse!" And struck the ground with it, swallowing everything in a brilliant golden light.
"!" Issei woke up with a startle, and he stood up, disoriented. "What…" His voice, however, was distorted, and he looked at himself. He saw that he was in Juggernaut Drive. "No…Ingvild!" He didn't pay attention to Ignium, however, and his attention was on Ingvild at once. That was good.
Ignium's armor was starting to break apart. "Tadeus…You have work to do." And so, he teleported away.
Issei, however, flew to the others, who, upon seeing him, took steps back. "Ingvild!" But hearing him talk gave them hope.
"Issei!" Asia shouted his name, glad he was back. "You are in control!"
"Ingvild!" Issei shouted her name again, which made everyone step away. Issei then saw her, motionless and wounded beyond belief. "No…" He hovered his giant claw over her.
"There is nothing we can do, Red Dragon." Michael pointed out. "We cannot reincarnate her."
"Reincarnation…Her Draconic Piece!" Issei was swift to extract Ingvild's bishop piece. Right now, however, he didn't even know what was going on. His mind was still so very foggy, yet his gut told him to do this. Once her piece was in his palm, he began to boost and transfer as much power as he could into the Draconic Piece. Then it happened. The piece morphed, gaining a dark color at the bottom.
Then, he lowered it down to Ingvild. Everyone watched in utter amazement as the piece entered her body, and power surged forth like a wave. Her wound, once so disturbing to look at, closed, leaving behind not even a scar. And slowly, her eyes fluttered, opening. "I-Issei?" She called out weakly to him.
"INGVILD!" Asia shouted, rushing to her.
"This is a miracle!" Michael stated, however, behind them, Issei swayed back.
"Shit…So…Tired…" He promptly collapsed on the ground, his body returning to normal. However, the damage was done. Due to his use of Juggernaut Drive, he permanently lost 5000 HP points. Luckily, thanks to his HP amount, the amount was manageable. But the rest of the consequences were not.
"His Gear…" Azazel took immediate notice. "The gem of the Boosted Gear…Is gray."
The Boosted Gear…Was damaged.