High School DxD

Volume 16 Chapter 3

Life.3 Let’s Have the Sunlight Together With Me

By creating a special barrier within the guest room, we exchange conversation in secret.

As long as that magic-circle has been activated on such a big scale, the inside of this castle as well as the outside is in a pre-battle situation. In other words, it wouldn’t be weird for the coup d’état faction to attack this guest room at any moment.

“Well, since the government-faction that teamed up with the Carmilla-faction will be attacking this castle, I’m sure they will concentrate most of their man power for that purpose. But we still need to be cautious.”

That’s what Sensei says.

Like Sensei said, I can’t feel the presence of any soldiers heading towards our side at all.

Though you can already hear the sound of explosions and screams coming from the outside. ......It means that the battle has already begun.

Sensei takes out a single map and spreads it on the floor. It’s a handwritten map.

“It’s a map I sketched in secret. Take a look at this. There is a huge spacious area that is located really deep down in the castle. The basement is deep, but there are four main floors. The Tepes-faction performs their main ritual that is related to the Vampires on the lowest floor which happens to be a ritual area—. Since that magic-circle activated with this castle as the centre point, I have no doubt that they are performing the ritual to extract the Holy Grail on the lowest floor of this castle.”

“And the Khaos Brigade will be down there too, right?”

Xenovia says that and Sensei nods in agreement.

“The higher-ups who were involved with the coup d’état and their royal guards must be there right now. And the place we are heading towards would be there as well.”

Kiba then starts to put marks on the map.

“I got a fair grasp of the range that the soldiers here work at during the past two days in this castle. I think I can prepare a route to go down the basement without encountering that many soldiers just in case. What I mean by “just in case” is that since this isn’t a normal situation now, I am sure that the formations of the soldiers here have changed.”

Oh, so the reason why Kiba sometimes disappeared from the guest room during our time here is because he went to check out the castle. Since it’s Kiba who has god-speed, he didn’t get caught by the soldiers.

“Either way, the ones that we would be encountering are the strong foes that will be at the basement whether we like it or not.”

Kiba fearlessly smiles.

That’s how it will turn out. Since they are performing the important task of extracting the Holy Grail here, Marius and those around him with important roles would be there......along with that Evil Dragon.

So there will be plenty of strong foes in the path we are taking. Well, it does seem like a battle that the Gremory group would usually face.

I make a big sigh and scratch my head.

“We sure do get ourselves dragged into such situations often.”

Sensei puts his hand on my head.

“Well, that’s the reason why all of you made such remarkable growth and attained the firepower and the force to break through obstacles which is fitting for your growth.”

Sensei then says while looking at all of us.

“Our plan is to stop the Holy Grail from being extracted. I might be saying a cruel thing, but in the worst case scenario, we will still capture Marius even if it’s after the Holy Grail has been extracted. The other Vampires besides Marius with a high post......try to keep them alive as much as possible. —So the point is, you can eliminate the terrorists without any mercy. I will allow it. If you are put in a dangerous situation of being attacked by an Evil Dragon, then escaping with Valerie and the Holy Grail is an option too. Don’t push yourself to defeat it. I won’t go as far as to ask you to defeat an Evil Dragon.”

That’s simple and easy to understand. So if an Evil Dragon appears......we can run if we feel that it’s dangerous.

That Crom Cruach is someone I don’t want to fight at all costs. Even Ddraig warned me about him.

“I-I’m going to bring back Valerie!”

Gasper stands up and says that in high spirits.

Everyone sees that and puts on a good smile.

[Of course!]

Our words overlap each other! That’s how it is!

We stand up altogether and leave the guest room with much enthusiasm—.

We walk down the stairs towards the basement.

Thanks to Kiba making a route for us, we didn’t receive that much assault. As we suspected, the locations where the soldiers would normally be on standby has changed. Though we only had two easy battles till we got here.

We can hear the powerful noises of the battle happening outside. There was a lot of damage to the castle due to the battles occurring outside where their attacks have even reached the castle. Well, I doubt their attacks will reach here inside the basement, but the earthquake-like shock due from the battle outside echoes even in here.

After we walk down the stairs for a while, we exit out onto the first floor we reach.

An open space. It’s big enough such that it will be alright even if we go a bit wild in here. Thanks to the lighting on the ceiling we can see till the furthest part of this floor. Though we can still see inside dark places due to being a Devil.

—Then there are lines of shadows belonging to a group of people. There are so many Vampire soldiers clad in armour that they can easily fill half of this floor. Every one of them has a weapon in their hands and their red eyes are glowing so intensely that it looks dangerous.

There are......more than a hundred of them. They are Vampires that were formerly human. Even though their traits as Vampires are weak compared to the pure-bloods, their physical ability is so extraordinary that a mere human cannot stand against them.

Sensei says while creating a spear of light in his hand.

“Now then, who wants to take them on? Since there will be strong foes below this floor, I don’t want to waste unnecessary strength here.”

“Since you have a job to do once we reach the Holy Grail, we will be troubled if we have you waste your energy here, Azazel.”

Akeno-san says. Exactly. Since Sensei is someone who left the front-line, it may be better for him to stay behind us during group battles and command us instead.

Xenovia carries Durandal on her shoulder.

“I would like to release Durandal’s aura here as the signal for the start of our battle, but it would be better that I don’t, right?”

Rias nods.

“Yes, that is something you cannot use consecutively, right? If that’s the case, it would be better to use it against the Evil Dragons.”

See? That’s how it is. Xenovia sure does think like that all the time! When I thought she became skillful in using Ex-Durandal recently, she starts to behave in such way!

Irina then warns Xenovia.

“Xenovia, use your head a bit. I thought you became capable of using techniques, but you ended up fighting with power again!”

Xenovia tilts her head.

“I can’t help it, since Kiba is with us, I can’t help but think that I don’t need to do complicated things.”

Kiba makes a deep sigh upon hearing that.

“......No, I’m going to repeat myself again, but that logic of yours is wrong, Xenovia...... Let’s have a meeting once we go back home......sigh.”

......I can only sympathise with Kiba who is the same [Knight] of the Gremory as her......

Irina apologies to Kiba on behalf of Xenovia.

“I’m sorry, Kiba-kun. Xenovia has been like this for a long time. If we lack in numbers, she’ll come forward to fill in the hole, but she’ll suddenly leave the spot if she knows we have enough people.”

Kiba nods as if he understands now.

“Yeah, I initially thought she was a calm person, but as the days go by, I’ve started to stop thinking of her as such a person......”

Xenovia makes an unpleasant face while signs of rage pop up on her forehead.

“You guys are so rude! Despite my actions, I’m using my head every day!”

That sure isn’t convincing! It might have worked if she said it when we first met her, but right now it doesn’t even sound plausible!

Rias says while putting her hand on her forehead.

“......Well then, what should we do about this situation we are in? Maybe it’s wise to have everyone here take them on.”

—Then two people take a step forward.

“............This won’t be a problem.”

?Well, it means that we have to take them on then.?

It’s Rugal-san and Bennia!

“Bennia! Rugal-san! Won’t this be a bit difficult if it’s only the two of you?”

I have such worries—but Bennia materialises a scythe which is larger than her height within her hand from a different dimension.

?There wouldn’t be any point for you to bring us here if we don’t do our job after all~?

She says that while her tone doesn’t sound too serious—and the small Grim Reaper girl leaps forward!

Rather than running towards them, she slides towards the group of Vampires! That’s a special trait of a Grim Reaper where she fights while leaving behind her shadows due to the incredible speed.

?Here’s the Grim Reaper girl coming through.?

While talking in a light manner, she creates many duplicates of herself and starts to play around with the soldiers! Even they can’t aim their swords at the opponent they are facing! Even if they swing their swords, they simply cut her duplicate; therefore they can’t even harm her at all.

Kiba sighs due to the amazement from seeing Bennia’s movements.

“......You can grasp hold of her shadow with your eyes, but it’s something created due to her incredible speed. It’s a movement where you can’t catch her that easily even if you were to try.”

So it means it’s the same characteristic as Kiba when he leaves behind his shadow due to his incredible speed.

You can follow her with your eyes. —But it’s something where you won’t be able to hit her directly since she can create a blind spot by making the shadow disappear.

In other words, she can do the same trick as Kiba. ......Is Kiba amazing for being able to make a movement similar to a Grim Reaper or is Bennia amazing for having a similar speed as Kiba who is a strong fighter? Though I can also come up with the conclusion that they are both amazing......

?You’ll die......anyone who sees my scythe will all die.?

Bennia slashes the soldiers with her scythe. However, there’s no sign of the soldiers being inflicted with wounds. But the ones slashed by Bennia’s scythe collapse without exception.

The soldiers stop moving as if they had their souls taken away.

Sensei says.

“It’s that death-scythe. Those slashed by that scythe don’t take any external wounds, but instead get their souls slashed. The amount of damage inflicted to your soul will be determined by the person’s strength...... Being able to take down the Vampire soldiers that have been enhanced by the Holy Grail with a single slash shows that Bennia’s potential is something to be reckoned with.”

We also had ourselves attacked with that scythe. Yeah, it was during the time we were assaulted by the Hero-faction in the Underworld. We fought a group of Grim Reapers dispatched by Hades.

“She has at least a strength that is beyond a Mid-class Devil. She does have better movements than those Grim Reapers we fought after the test.”

That is my honest opinion. Her movements are clearly quicker than those middle-level Grim Reapers we fought back then, and her slashes are also sharp.

Nothing more to be expected from the daughter of a famous Grim Reaper in the realm of the dead. Kiba is deeply moved.

“Her speed is also enhanced even further due to being a [Knight]. It’s a good compatibility with her nature. Xenovia, make sure you take a good look at her, okay?”

“......Is that sarcasm?”

Xenovia has her eyes half-shut. No, Xenovia’s movements are also fast. But in terms of speed, Bennia is above her. Though it’s a complete victory for Xenovia in terms of power.

While the Grim Reaper girl is slashing down her opponents, Rugal-san takes off his coat and drops it on the floor. You can easily see his well-trained body even from above his shirt.

“............Here I come.”

After muttering that out, various parts of his body twitch and begin to grow bigger!

His shirt can’t withstand the change of his body that is getting buffer so it starts to tear up while making sounds.

There are sharp fangs growing out from Rugal-san’s mouth and a beast-like mouth is sticking out! His nails grow sharp and ash-coloured fur grew from his whole body!

Oooooooooooooooooooooooo......!

The howl of a beast that echoes throughout the basement—.

It’s a howl that sounds just like a wolf! Even his shape has a form of a humanoid wolf!

Yes, what appears in front of our eyes is—an ash furred beast-man that morphed from a human! So Rugal-san is a Werewolf!?

Rugal-san who has just morphed starts to bend his neck.

[I’ll have myself fight as someone from the Sitri as well.]

There is panic within the Vampire soldiers after seeing Rugal-san who is making a stance against them!

“A Werewolf!?”

“Ku! So there was a Werewolf that reincarnated into a Devil!”

I can’t help but witness their gaze that carries their shock and hatred.

Rias then explains it to me who is confused.

“Since Vampires and Werewolves have been at war since ancient times, they both consider each other as their greatest enemies.”

I see. So the reason why the Vampires from the Carmilla-faction weren’t optimistic with Rugal-san back at the Carmilla’s territory is because they knew he was a Werewolf.

[I am quite used to battling Vampires. So I won’t hold back.]

Saying that, Rugal-san rushes forward and starts to tear up the soldiers as if they were simply paper! I heard this before, but Werewolves are ranked in the top-classes among the beast-men.

“Damn you!”

Even though the soldiers attack him with swords and spears—maybe it’s due to him being tough from the beginning or maybe it’s because of the trait as a [Rook] that has increased his toughness, but they can’t even make a single scratch on him. Instead their blades shatter.

?Brother Rugal is no ordinary Werewolf.?

Bennia says that while attacking.

Then marks appear on both of Rugal-san’s arms! It’s a mark that is identical to those magical equations. Once a fire is formed within Rugal-san’s hand, he simply smashes his fist into it!

A fire-punch! The Vampire soldiers get their whole body burned. It’s so hot that it even melts the armour they are wearing! I can tell that is quite a powerful magical fire!

“So he can also use magic!”

Bennia says to me who is in shock.

?He’s basically a hacked hybrid wolf-guy that was born between a famous witch and a Werewolf that is famous for its ash-coloured fur.?

What the heck is that!? So he’s a Werewolf who is both good in attacking and defending, on top of that he’s good at magic!?

“......Sona sure did make an incredible person into her [Rook].”

It also seems like Rias is shocked at Rugal-san’s traits! Even though he started his attack after Bennia who began attacking before him, he has already taken down more soldiers than her!

He enhances his attack and defence with his magic when it has already been increased due to his trait of being a [Rook]! He doesn’t even flinch against the enemies attack, therefore he’s still unscratched!

His movements are also wolf-like, swift and speedy. Even the opponents he hasn’t attacked—get taken down without anyone remaining by Bennia who is supporting him!

The two new faces of the Sitri-group are showing their reliable battle skills already! No wonder Sona-kaichou said they will become very handy in this land of Vampires!

—Then from behind us, we can hear footsteps from the stairs that lead back up to the surface. The others also realise that. An ominous aura. It’s most likely enemy reinforcements!

[Go on, Gremory-group. Bennia and I will take care of this.]

Rugal-san says that while tearing apart the enemies.

“We can entrust this place to you then?”

Bennia responds to Rias’s word as she swings her scythe.

?This is also the reason we were sent here. Showing the strength of us, the two newcomers, as well as buying time for the main force which will be all of you is our duty.?

[She probably wants us to get used to the battle as a Devil immediately. Our master is quite strict.]

Despite saying that, you sure are showing reliable attacks! If it’s like this, then we can leave the enemy reinforcements to them too.

We nod to each other and walk across the battle field by running through their fights!

We then reach the stairs to the basement! Rias says while turning around.

“We’ll leave this place to the two of you, Bennia, Rugal!”

Bennia and Rugal-san give us a thumbs up.

We’ll entrust this place to you, Sitri’s new faces!

We then climb down the stairs in a rush—.

As we go down the stairs, Xenovia mutters.

“......The increase in battle force of the Sitri group is overwhelming. Won’t we have even more of a difficulty if we were to have another game with them?”

Sensei then says.

“In terms of overall balance in the game, Sona’s side is already above this group. If you simply focus on fire-power, then you’ll have a hard time for your future games, Rias.”

Rias breathes out.

“I know that. I have never once looked down on Sona.”

She’s right. We can never look down on Sona-kaichou. She even showed us that she can control both the Sitri group and the Gremory group in the battle against the group of magicians the other day.

As we go down the stairs, we come out into an open space again.

There are four spacious floors including the deepest floor within the basement of this castle. This is the second one.

The ones that stand in front of us are—.

“They are here. Just like the King said.”

“Yeah, the rumoured Gremory group.”

“They would be good opponents for us that have been strengthened.”

The Vampires are clearly displaying an atmosphere where they are above the rank of the soldiers we encountered on the previous floor. Instead of the soldier’s armour, they are wearing regular clothing, but the pressure coming out from their body isn’t comparable to the other soldiers at all.

“They must be the direct subordinates of the higher-ups of the coup d’état faction. They aren’t pure-bloods, but they are warriors that carry the traits of Vampires strongly.”

Sensei mutters.

So we have enhanced warriors next huh. Now then, who’s going to take them on?

“Either way, Balance Break.”

I wear my armour immediately. It’s probably a good time to wear this. The danger increases as we travel further down the stairs after all.

“Now then, what should we do? Oh yeah, Kiba.”

I give my suggestion to Kiba.

“How about we attack them together?”

Kiba makes a fearless smile.

“There’s no way I can decline after receiving an invitation from you. Okay, let’s dance together with the Sekiryuutei and the holy-demonic sword.”

Alright, let’s take this on with the male-duo.

—It happens when we take a step forward.

“We’ll take the—”

“—first move!”

The ones that run past us are—the duo of Xenovia and Irina! The ones who attack first are the warrior-duo from the Church side!

After they close the distance with the enemies, they start slashing towards the enemies by making a complicated attack by using their holy-sword and the mass produced holy-demonic sword!

“Ku! A holy-sword!”

The Vampire that just whined changes his body into mist and avoids the first strike. —But the strike from Xenovia and Irina doesn’t end there since a holy aura is emitted from their blades!

The male Vampire positioned at the rear morphs his body into a bat and just barely avoids the aura.

“Stretch out!”

Xenovia makes a second strike by changing the blade of Durandal into a whip to slash down the Vampire beside him.

“Nuwah!”

That Vampire couldn’t dodge it and gets hit by it......but he doesn’t receive that much damage from the holy-sword.

Normally, Vampires are weak against holy attacks similar to Devils. Since he didn’t receive that much critical damage from it, it means that they have overcome their weakness due to the Holy Grail.

Xenovia and Irina sigh.

“Hmm, even though we swung our swords softly, I don’t feel good about Durandal not working properly on the Vampires. “

“But they are not opponents we can’t defeat. We can certainly win if we attack them again and again. ......The problem is that we can’t waste that much time.”

Yeah, what we found out right now is that even though they are enhanced Vampires, they are not a threat to us. Except, due to being enhanced by the Holy Grail, there’s no doubt that they are opponents that will be annoying to take on. By including the factors that we are confined in space in the basement and that we are in a situation where we can’t waste our energy, we have to avoid using flashy attacks and attack them with simple attacks instead.

“There’s an option for me to stay behind and fight......but the one downstairs is most likely—”

Kiba looks down to the floor—and it seems like he’s trying to look far below the floor.

Yeah, the one waiting for us downstairs is most likely the Evil Dragon. There’s a chance that it’s Crom Cruach or Lilith who is the other half of Ophis that is always besides Rizevim.

If we have to fight those two, then we will be in trouble if Kiba isn’t with us. ......We don’t even know if we can beat Crom Cruach, or if Ophis’s other half is also downstairs......

We don’t want to waste unnecessary strength here. —But there are several annoying opponents’ right in front of us.

Now then, what option do we have? While we are coming up with the best option we have, Koneko-chan takes a step forward.

“......Please leave this to me.”

Saying that, she closes her eyes and takes a deep breathe.

“......It seems like what Nee-sama taught me would become handy here.”

Then shallow white light starts to appear around Koneko-chan’s body.

It starts to envelop Koneko-chan’s small body, and she also releases her touki as if she’s responding to it.

Koneko-chan has touki around her body and is emitting light from her body. The light eventually becomes massive and bigger. The light starts to mould into a shape.

......The one that appears once the light settles is......an Onee-san who looks like Kuroka!

She’s wearing a white kimono while she has cat-ears and two cat tails growing out!

That Onee-san speaks.

[By gathering the natural ki nearby, I made myself grow by force by synchronising it with my touki.]

Seriously!? T-This is Koneko-chan’s vooooice!

Rias says to me who is taken aback and speechless.

“That’s a senjutsu technique which allows Koneko to grow temporarily so she can use the nekomata’s power with her free will and it is done by taking in the ki outside into her body. —Koneko said it’s called Shirone-mode.”

So she forced herself to become an older woman through the use of senjutsu! And it’s called Shirone-mode!

M-More importantly! It’s huge! Her oppai are huge!

Her breasts have matured so much that you can tell from above her kimono! It’s about the same size as Kuroka! Ah, so when Koneko-chan matures, she’ll turn into a wonderful beauty like this!

Shirone-mode Koneko-chan goes ahead without making a sound just like a ghost.

When she swings her right hand to the side, what appears there is—a big wheel.

The wheel is covered by white flames.

[—Kasha. It’s one of the nekomata’s ability.]

Kasha! I know at least the name of that! Sensei then says.

“Kasha is a youkai that lures the dead to the other world and is called the other form of nekomata. For them who woke up from the dead and turned into Vampires, that flame would become the critical strike due to the technique’s trait. The problem is if it would work on them that have lost their weaknesses......”

Koneko-chan makes many kasha appear in the air and she makes them go flying towards the Vampire warriors that are standing in front of her!

The kasha spins in the air very fast and goes flying towards them very quickly!

“I’ve never seen such an attack, but something like this is—”

He looks down on her attack fearlessly—. Even if he dodges the kasha, it changes its course in the air where it finally grabs hold of the Vampire!

“U-Uwaaaaaaaaaah!”

The Vampire turns into ashes while screaming in agony! Oh, one hit kill!

Her opponents are in shock after seeing that.

“W-Why!? Why did he burn!? We were supposed to have gained a body where fire won’t work on us!”

If they suddenly turn into ashes after they thought they overcame their weakness, then it’s natural for them to be shocked.

Koneko-chan says it mercilessly.

[It’s useless. That fire will not disappear until it burns out the dead. I changed the natural ki it took inside to a power of purification by using my senjutsu. It’s not about weaknesses. As long as you don’t change the reason and the principle of your existence, the fire will keep on burning all of you.]

—Power of purification.

So Koneko-chan gained such an ability with the training she had with Kuroka!

Sensei nods.

“......It’s basically the opposite of Saji’s cursed flame. His flames curse you for eternity with the negative power while hers purify and make you disappear with the positive power.”

The power to purify! Hmm, an ability fitting for Koneko-chan who is strict with lecherous things!

“Then we simply have to attack!”

One of the Vampires that gave up on dodging it tries to attack Koneko-chan directly!

—But, the moment his fist touches Koneko-chan, that Vampire turns to ashes immediately!

[......Right now I am the power of purification itself. You know you will disappear simply by touching me?]

Disappearing simply by touching her! It’s too amazing since its power of purification!

“W-Wow......”

I swallow my saliva and Sensei says to me.

“Even the evil you shouldn’t touch her, you know? You’ll get purified. That works effectively on those who have evil intentions. It will probably work on Evil Dragons too. Obviously the effectiveness will reflect on how well Koneko can use it...... But it seems like against these enhanced Vampires, they can’t even do anything against her.”

Yeah, just like Sensei said, the many kasha controlled by Koneko-chan begin to eliminate each of the enemies.

“Daaaaaaaaaaamit!”

The last one standing turns into ashes and disappears as he screams.

Koneko-chan single-handedly took care of all the Vampire warriors!

After confirming that she took care of all of them, Koneko-chan breathes out. I can tell that she is tired.

“That was amazing, Koneko-chan! Oh, but I can’t touch you so light heartedly......”

Even though I rush to her side, I can’t touch Koneko-chan who is emitting out white light.

Koneko-chan then says it with a red face while wiggling her body.

[......Ise-senpai. ......I’ve grown bigger now.]

“Y-You certainly have......got bigger.”

Of course her height is taller, but her breasts especially grew the most! Uoo, so Koneko-chan is going to turn out to become a beautiful girl like this with such an amazing body in the future! Well, this is something I can’t help but to look forward to!

[......I can’t maintain this form for so long, but one day I will definitely turn out like this and become your bride—]

The light around her disappears after she says it till there, so she returns to her usual loli girl form. She collapses on the floor all of a sudden as if she lost all of the energy in her.

“......Fue.”

Rias embraces Koneko-chan before she collapses.

“Good work, Koneko.”

Rias pats her head.

Anyway, that sure was an amazing growth, Koneko-chan. And the power of purification huh. If she trains harder, it seems like she can damage the Evil Dragons as well.

“It’s her first fight using that form. So she must have used up all of her stamina.”

Sensei gives his analysis.

But thanks to that, it seems like we can go through this area easily.

We then head down the stairs as we hold Koneko-chan.

Part 2

“—!”

Just before we reach the floor below, I catch the presence of him.

......There is a familiar aura coming from downstairs.

The wave of evil aura. It’s so heavy and it feels as though it is gluing onto my skin.

When we open the door to the third floor of the basement, a very loud laughter echoes throughout the space.

[Guhahahahahaha! It hasn’t been that long, Ddraig-chaaaaaan!]

Black scales and silver eyes. It’s a giant Dragon!

“Grendel!”

Yes, the one who is on this floor is the Evil Dragon we fought during the magician’s assault!

[That’s right, it’s Grendel-sama who can’t help but slaughter all of youuuu!]

He emits his wave of evil intent which hasn’t changed from before towards us.

[Since they said I can fool around for a bit, I came here to continue from where we left off last time! Guhahahahahaha!]

......We ended up encountering someone I never wanted to see ever again!

As long as this guy is my opponent, there’s no point in staying in this armour. I have no choice but to use promotion!

“Ise, you still can’t promote to True [Queen] yet.”

Rias stops me right before I was about to say the chant.

“But, Rias! I know very well how strong he is! There’s no way I can go against him head on without using that form!”

“You should use your power against Crom Cruach or Rizevim Livan Lucifer who may be waiting for us after this. ......We have no choice but to fight him as a team.”

......Having this guy appear was outside of my prediction. Well, the Vampires of the Marius-faction may be connected to the Khaos Brigade, but I never predicted that this guy would come here since the impact that Crom Cruach and Lilith had towards me was too strong!

No, maybe I should have predicted it. This guy is a crazy Dragon whose only purpose for existing is to fight. So it isn’t weird for him to be in places where it would turn into a battlefield.

Rias gives her signal to everyone with her eyes.

......She must be saying we have to fight him as a team. Yeah, we should go at him as one. Or else, we probably can’t win!

[JET!]

The one who goes ahead first is me. I head towards him at high velocity by spreading out my Dragon wings.

[Oh, oh, oh! Yeah, that’s it! I can’t help but be happy since you simply come at me head on!]

Grendel laughs happily.

There is someone who catches up to my speed and lines up beside me. —It’s Kiba. Several dragon-knights appear near him. The things the knights are holding onto are the demonic-swords Kiba took from Siegfried!

Kiba puts his right hand into another dimension and takes out a single sword which happens to be a deadly dragon-slayer.

—Demon Emperor Sword Gram!

A sword which is called the most powerful dragon-slayer! My Ascalon didn’t give this guy that much effect, but what will happen if it’s Gram?

Xenovia and Irina come after us as if they are following us.

An attack by the four of us conducted at the same time!

“Haaaaaa!”

“Toryaaaaaa!”

Xenovia and Irina make a powerful swing with their Durandal and mass-produced holy-demonic sword respectively, but—.

[Too light!]

They can only make a mere scratch on Grendel’s body!

“......So it’s not enough unless I use that huge aura of Durandal to damage him......!”

Xenovia is biting her teeth hard due to the fact that her attack didn’t work on him.

No, there’s nothing wrong with Xenovia’s attack! This guy Grendel’s defence is insanely high! Even now—

“Oryah!”

[BoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoost!!]

I hit him on the face but he doesn’t even budge. It won’t work if it’s the normal Balance Breaker!

“Haaaa!”

Irina spreads her white wings in the air and creates a huge light in her hand. She then shoots it like that. The torrent of light hits Grendel—.

[Guhahahahahaha! It merely burned me!]

He only received minor damage where he simply burned a bit of his skin.

It had quite the output, but it merely has that much effect since this guy is the opponent!

Kiba who found his blind spot unleashes his Gram!

“Take this!”

His sword that is engulfed by the wave of evil aura gets slashed towards Grendel! The dragon-knights that are following Kiba’s command also have their demonic-swords in their hands which they use to swing at the same time as him!

The dragon-knights’ demonic-swords slash up the Evil Dragon’s body and Kiba cuts Grendel head on where he cuts him from his shoulder to his flank—.

But there isn’t a wound that you can call critical. Blue blood bursts out from his body as well as smoke, but Grendel simply laughs fearlessly.

“—! You are saying that he only receives damage of this degree even with Gram!?”

The one who is the most shocked here is Kiba.

Grendel makes a disgusting laugh when he sees that.

[Guhahahahahahahaha! That hurts! You are pretty good, sword kid!]

“......This is bad, even though I can’t use it to its fullest; Gram which happens to be a dragon-slayer can only damage him that much.”

Even Kiba is putting on a bitter smile.

“That bastard is over-powered in terms of toughness. Like I thought, I need to become the True [Queen]......”

While I say that, arrows made from many attributes start to pierce through him.

If I follow where it came from with my eyes, I witness Rossweisse-san who has many magic-circles activated in the air.

—But she can’t inflict that much damage even with these magical attacks.

“Even the different sort of attributes don’t show any effect. ......No matter how much resistance Dragon’s scales have towards magic, this is too abnormal. He must have received an enhancement against magic on top of his original resistance.”

It must be like what Rossweisse-san said. This guy’s scales are too hard!

The fact of how I had to become True [Queen] to finally be able to punch him proves how insane this guy is.

“......Even though Ise isn’t fighting seriously, I sure hate having someone with a defence who doesn’t even flinch against our fire power.”

It seems like Xenovia is also in confusion. Irina then sighs.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can give effective damage to him since his hardness is too tough. Though it seems like the only thing in that Dragon’s eyes is Ise-kun......”

Yeah, that guy seems really interested in me. That’s because he is directing those dangerous looking eyes at only me.

[What’s wrong, Ddraig!? Come at me with full power! Turn into that crimson state of yoooooours! Or else you can’t even compete against meeeeee!]

......So he wishes for my True [Queen]. Oh well, I am starting to think that I should use that.

If he’s this hard, then we can’t inflict a decisive blow to him. I can promote to that form and create a path for us in order to retreat together with everyone!

When I decided on what I’ll do, Rias says this.

“There is one move in which we can deal critical damage to that Dragon.”

Akeno-san responds to Rias’s words.

“Rias, you must be planning on using that.”

“Yes, Akeno. I’m sure that is the only way. However, I need some time in order to use that. The chances for our victory will increase if we can buy time in order for me to increase my demonic-power.”

She must be speaking about that huge sphere made up from the power of destruction she showed in that training space before! That certainly did seem like it had an outrageous destructive power!

“That will be a piece of cake if it is what you desire, Rias.”

I respond to her. Kiba also lines up beside me.

“Yes, we can buy as much time as you desire.”

“Yeah, if Buchou has a plan, then we should entrust this to her. We can’t afford to waste our strength so recklessly here.”

“Let’s do this, Rias-san!”

Xenovia and Irina also agree to it.

“Then everyone. I ask for your cooperation.”

After Rias says that, she activates the magic-circle below her feet and starts to build up her demonic-power!

At the same time, the power of destruction starts to gather above her head. If that gets bigger, then it will probably turn into that huge sphere.

Alright, then we have to buy her time until then!

“Since I already created a barrier to protect Asia, Gasper, and Koneko, I’ll join too.”

Sensei takes his jacket off and lines up beside us.

The vanguards jump ahead after everyone gathers!

Xenovia and Irina do a combo attack from both the left side and the right side while I go hitting at him from the front! Kiba slashes him from his blind spot and Rossweisse-san releases her magic once she finds a chance.

[Interestinnnnnng! Bring it on! Just come and bring it oooooon!]

Grendel happily takes on the team attack from us where he shows swift movement which isn’t fitting for his huge body! As he takes on Rossweisse-san’s magical attack without even guarding it, he swipes away Xenovia and Irina that are trying to cut him by swinging his arms to the sides. Kiba attempts to cut him while aiming for his feet, but he makes a light jump and releases his flame towards Kiba who is beneath him!

“Ku!”

Kiba slices it in half with Gram. I glide close to the floor to retrieve Kiba and retreat to the place where Xenovia and Irina are.

The moment I dropped Kiba, I touch him and Xenovia to transfer the multiplied power.

“Kiba, Xenovia! I’m going to transfer them! So take it!”

[BoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoost!!]

[Transfer!!]

The moment I transferred the power to them, Kiba and Xenovia’s aura increases!

“—Alright, this will work!”

“Yeah, let’s go! Rapidly!”

Kiba and Xenovia grip onto their weapons once again and resume their attack on Grendel!

The two of them hold onto the “holy-demonic sword + Gram” and “Ex-Durandal” respectively—but they vanish completely and the only thing left is the sound of them cutting through the air!

[Oho! Fast! You guys are crazy fast!]

It seems like even Grendel can’t keep up with Kiba and Xenovia’s speed. It doesn’t even seem like his punch will touch them, so Kiba and Xenovia cut Grendel’s whole body without making a sound!

Many wounds show up on his black scales due to the sword attacks. In terms of the number of attacks and damage done, Kiba and Xenovia are leading him. Obviously it will be the end for Kiba if he gets hit by Grendel since he can’t allow himself to be hit due to his defence.

Even so, the reason why it doesn’t seem like Grendel’s attack will hit Kiba at all is because it doesn’t change the fact that we feel assured about Kiba and Xenovia’s high speed battle.

The reason why Xenovia can keep up with Kiba’s speed is due to the ability of Excalibur Rapidly. No one can stop the blade dance of the two [Knights] who have their speed further increased by Gift!

—The absolute sureness of Grendel’s attack not touching them!

[......What the, what is up with these guys speed......! My attacks won’t hit! Why doesn’t it hit!?]

Even Grendel is showing signs of having difficulty with Kiba and Xenovia’s attack.

There is smoke arising from the wounds on his body. Maybe the attack from “Gram + holy-demonic sword” and “Ex-Durandal” are building up the dragon-slayer’s effect......? Or is there a limit to his resistance against it?

After Grendel clicks his tongue, he jumps back, and makes his stomach bigger by sucking a lot of air in! He’s planning to breathe out fire! He must have given up on attacking individually and decided to attack all of us at once!

Kiba and Xenovia stand next to each other, they then swing their Gram and Durandal down respectively.

“Let’s do this, Xenovia.”

“Yeah, this is the time where we need to use our destructive power!”

The blades of Demonic Emperor Sword Gram and Ex-Durandal get covered with insane aura!

The two of them swing down their swords at the same time as Grendel breathes out his flame!

The wave created from the two legendary swords and a huge fireball created by the Evil Dragon hit each other head on! The moment the two attacks collide, the air vibrates which causes a violent shock that spreads throughout the field.

The wave made by those two takes out Grendel’s flame and envelops his huge body!

[Guoooooooooooooooooo!]

Grendel screams out! The two huge cannon-like attacks that came from Gram and Ex-Durandal! An opponent that is merely strong will go down with that single attack. But—the one we are facing right now isn’t an opponent that is merely strong.

After the attack caused by the wave ends, what appear in the aftermath is—Grendel who has smoke arising from his whole body.

—He’s standing up!

He has blue blood bursting out from all over his body, but he doesn’t show any sign of falling down and—.

He makes a heavy sound and drops his knee on the floor!

It’s working! The attack done by Kiba and Xenovia certainly went through to him! That attack must be quite amazing since that Grendel who is really tough is down on his knee!

“Please move aside!”

Akeno-san’s voice reaches us so we take our distance from Grendel. The three thunder-and-light that has the shape of a Dragon flies towards Grendel and has all of his body electrified!

[Gagaagaagagagagagagagagagagagaga!]

Grendel gets paralysed! After the thunder-and-light ends, Grendel releases smoke from his mouth.

He still has his mouth shaped creepily.

[......That was good! It’s been awhile since I got wounded and paralysed this much! This is insanely entertaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaining!]

Even though he’s wounded all over his body, he stands up laughing despite his burns!

We the Occult Research Club are in shock after witnessing this!

“......He still stands even with that much damage......!”

“......He seems like he’s really enjoying it. So this Evil-Dragon will even accept death as he laughs huh......!”

“......No wonder people say you should avoid fighting them.”

Kiba, Xenovia, and Akeno-san stiffen their expressions at Grendel’s abnormal sense towards battles. This guy even enjoys his own death! I can’t keep up if we have a guy like this as our opponent!

“Then, eat this?”

Sensei creates a gigantic spear of light and releases it by aiming it towards Grendel’s stomach!

[Oho! Bring it on!]

Grendel tries to take it on upfront, but the spear of light scatters before it hits him and turns into many arrows of light which in turn attack him!

So many arrows hit Grendel’s stomach! Oh, a spear of light that can change its form! To be expected from the former Governor! He won’t simply shoot out a normal spear!

[Chi, such a cunning Fallen Angel!]

Grendel complains. He still has a fearless smile despite receiving so much damage to his body.

From there we exchange intense attack and defence against Grendel for a few minutes! All our attacks hit our opponent! But the battle where we can see no end to continues since he doesn’t back down. Even his powerful punches, kicks, and flames come at us—.

“—The solid shield!”

“—The wall that guards us!”

Rossweisse-san and Akeno-san makes a solid guard for us with their defence magic and the trait of a [Rook]!

[Guarding, guarding, and more guarding to shield yourselves! But you are too slow!]

He shows a swift move unfitting for his huge body size as he howls, so other members besides Sensei and Kiba who have god-speed take his hit and end up getting slammed to the floor and wall many times!

“Recover!”

Asia’s healing reaches out to us right away where we avoid danger, but our stamina won’t return even though our wounds get healed. We can see that our mentality and stamina are getting grazed away as we receive his hits.

—Long term battle will be a disadvantage for us! As long as we don’t deal a decisive blow to him, he will push us through!

He doesn’t even get concerned at his own damage! This guy will keep on standing up unless we completely eliminate his soul! And he will continue to come at us!

It seems like we can manage this if Sensei and I become serious...... But there will be a hindrance after this if we don’t reserve our energy. But there’s no point if we end up dead......!

I at least want Sensei to go on ahead when he finds the chance......but Grendel makes a cunning attack by breathing out a wide-range fire and swinging his tail at times!

“Anyway, I’ll take one of your eyes.”

Sensei, who found an opening, throws his spear of light and it stabs deeply into Grendel’s left eye!

[Guo! Oooooooooooo!]

Grendel bursts out so much blue blood from one of his eyes! I assumed he would snap by having one of his eyes crushed, but he simply puts on a face filled with ecstasy.

[Alright! This is the thing! A brawl to crush each other won’t happen if it doesn’t turn out like this! This is fine; it surely is turning into a battle to kill each other! So don’t regret even if one or two of you die, you shitty braaaaaaaaaaaaaaaats!]

......This guy’s switch turned on by receiving damage to his eye!

Or rather, I can only think that his attacks have become sharper and his tension rises as he is inflicted with wounds! I sure can’t handle this. A fight like this that is!

It happens when I was thinking what move I should take next.

“—Thank you. It’s alright now. My technique is completed.”

Rias’s voice reaches us.

When I turn around—I witness Rias who has made a giant sphere of destruction.

Rias sighs as she walks towards us with the sphere of destruction.

“I hate it that there are so many enemies where my attacks won’t work on them. However, I can’t show my miserable side to my own servants, can I? —That’s why I also made one. Something you would call a special move.”

“Everyone, get away! Move back behind Rias!”

Everyone moves away from Grendel at Akeno-san’s voice! We move back behind Rias.

“Blow away!”

Rias releases the giant sphere of destruction to the front!

The sphere moves slowly. In a velocity where I feel it is slow. But it is showing its power as it simply moves the air since it trims away the floor.

[Huh? What the hell is that? It’s fricken slow!]

Even Grendel releases an idiotic voice at it.

But—, that sphere starts to have crimson and black aura swirl inside it.

......When I’m observing it to see what kind of effect it has, I can tell that Grendel’s body is being pulled little by little by it.

He also realises that his body is being pulled by the sphere and tries to resist, but it doesn’t work and his body stumbles making him take a few steps forward.

He even tries to resist by getting on his knees......but eventually his whole body moves.

[......Guo!? I’m being pulled!? Such power of attraction!]

Eventually Grendel gets in contact with the sphere.

Then Grendel’s solid black scales—shatter!

[Guohooooooooooooooooooooooo!]

The Evil Dragon screams. The huge sphere of destruction covers the Evil Dragon’s body without mercy!

—! W-Wow! Grendel’s body starts to collapse!

[Chii!]

Grendel clicks his tongue and tries to flee by expanding his wings, but the Dragon of holy-and-light attacks him!

[Gugagagagagagagagagagagagagaga!]

Grendel collapses violently.

Akeno-san who has her Fallen Angel’s wings spread out puts on a smile of a sadist.

“Ara ara, you have to be eliminated here, you know?”

Rias says it while she brushes off her hair.

“There has been a change to my demonic-power due to the influence of Ise’s power. —I might as well name it the “Extinguish Star”. It’s a mass of destruction that eliminates all and it doesn’t have anything like attributes or weaknesses. –Blow away!”

The huge sphere of destruction increases its shine and envelops the Evil Dragon.

What’s left after the sphere of destruction disappears is—Grendel’s aftermath where he only has half of his head left.

It’s terrifying, but Grendel is still alive even when he lost his body!

He even has his disgusting smile despite having only half of his head.

[......I see. It’s exactly like what that bastard Euclid said. That the demonic-powers carried by the kin of the House of Bael can even trim down the Evil Dragon’s consciousness and soul. This really does work!]

Grendel starts to laugh loudly.

[Guhahahahaha! This is nothing since I only have to get a brand new body made again! After all, as long as my soul is safe, it’s possible for me to change my body no matter how many times! The Holy Grail sure is a convenient object!]

......Getting a brand new body? Seriously? So he can revive even in this state as long as his soul remains huh......

—!

I then realise it. I see, I was also the same. Only my soul remained at the dimensional gap, but I returned with a brand new body. So you are telling me the Holy Grail can do the same feat......

Grendel still shows his fangs and laughs fearlessly despite his state.

[But guess what! It might be fun to keep on fighting in this state as weeeeeell! In other words, don’t you reckon the main match will start from here? It might be fun to disappear after biting as many opponents as possible! Guhahahahaha!]

[............!]

Everyone backs down at seeing Grendel who shows no sign of losing interest in battling.

He’s still trying to fight in that condition......! It’s no longer about him being crazy! He isn’t sane! He isn’t normal!

Rias stands in front of us and creates a demonic-power of destruction within her hand.

“Even we don’t want to fight any longer. It’s better for an evil existence like you to get blown away. With my current power, I should be able to eliminate your soul as well. Even though I won’t be able to eliminate you completely, I should be able to stop you from reviving for a while.”

Rias tries to release the finishing blow—.

It happens then.

There is one individual who steps into this area—.

Everyone notices his presence and pressure so we look that way!

......The man who is clad in black is standing there. —Crom Cruach. The Dragon that is said to be one of the strongest among the Evil Dragons.

The man says it as he walks towards us.

“—Grendel. Stand back for now.”

Grendel notices the entrance of the man.

[—! So it’s you, Boss Crom. Chi! I was thinking how far I can go like this! Are you trying to get in my way!?]

“Either way, that body of yours won’t last that long. Hurry and get your body changed.”

[Shut uuuuuup! It was finally getting gooooood!]

Grendel still snaps even with his half remained head. However, Crom Cruach simply gives a sharp glare at him.

“If you want your opinion to go through, then you must defeat me. —That’s how it will turn out, you know? Will you fight me? I won’t mind if it turns out like that.”

[............!!]

Not only us, but even Grendel becomes speechless at the man’s intensity.

After a moment of silence, Grendel speaks.

[Chi. I don’t plan to fight you here. If I have to, I want to do it when I’m in my best condition. Alright, I’ll change places with you.]

......That Grendel actually obeyed him.

It proves how great and how much strength that man possesses.

—!

Then the man disappears immediately. We get shocked and look around us. Crom Cruach appears near Grendel—which is right in front of us without us noticing him.

When the man clicks his fingers, a teleportation magic-circle appears below Grendel.

He’s planning to teleport him!

Xenovia releases the aura from her holy sword as if she won’t let him get away, but it gets blocked by Crom Cruach.

While he disappears within the teleportation light, Grendel howls.

[Oi, you shitty brats! You guys sure don’t have luck. You guys won’t be able to defeat Boss Crom even if you go at him all together. Well, if you survive, then let’s fight again. A battle to death that is, you know? Guhahahahahahahahahahahaha!]

Saying only that, Grendel disappears due to the teleportation magic-circle.

Crom Cruach who still remains says it to us.

“I can’t have all of you go past here.”

......We make our stance. Looks like I have no choice but to turn into True [Queen]. Or else, it seems like we can’t even become his opponent!

It happens when I was about to chant. I can feel a strong presence descending down to this basement!

[—! He’s here, partner!]

Ddraig also reacts! The one who descended down here at high speed destroys the door violently and flies in here!

A flash arises within this spacious field! A bright flash swirls beside me. The one who is standing after the light disappears—is Vali! He’s already wearing his armour.

Vali stands next to me and gazes at Crom Cruach.

“You must be Crom Cruach.”

“Yes, indeed. The current Hakuryuukou.”

Both of them glare at each other speechlessly. An unexplainable battle of aura is emitting out of their bodies and it gets even thicker.

Sensei then says to Vali.

“Vali! You are late. You left the Carmilla’s territory before me, but why did you arrive late?”

It’s exactly like Sensei said. We were informed about Vali before we came here. And I was feeling doubt since he wasn’t here till now.

Then Vali says.

“A lot happened. I was interfered with on my way here. By that man from Lucifugus, Euclid Lucifugus that is.”

—!

Euclid Lucifugus! Is the reason why Vali couldn’t come here till now is because he was facing that man?

Sensei asks him once again.

“Where are Bikou and the others?”

“......The group of Maverick Magicians, “Hexennacht”, was it? I got caught by the possessor of the Holy Cross who is affiliated with them. So they are taking on that woman.”

“So the Holy Cross is also officially cooperating with the Khaos Brigade as well...... I truly am disgusted to hear the relic being involved in such a situation. Now all of the relics among the Longinus are connected with the Khaos Brigade, God of the Bible......!”

Sensei spits it out as though he is truly disgusted.

......So even the Holy Cross possessor from Hexennacht is cooperating with Khaos Brigade! All of them such as the Holy Spear, the Holy Grail, and the Holy Cross are being misused!

......I even want one of them to come to our side! In order for that to happen, we can’t hand over the Holy Grail at all cost!

Vali asks me who is having new determination.

“—Hyoudou Issei, do you have the confidence to beat Crom Cruach?”

“Judging from the aura covering his body......I do realise that he’s insanely strong.”

“At this current point, he’s clearly above you.”

Yeah yeah, I pretty much thought so. I don’t know why, but having this guy tell me something I already know pisses me off.

“You can say that I have a chance to defeat him but at the same time I also don’t.”

......Now that’s rare. For this guy to rate himself low. That proves how strong the humanoid Dragon front of us is.

Vali then continues.

“—But, I......have some business with the one who will probably be present at the place after this. So I don’t want to waste my energy as much as possible. ......I was after this Dragon as well, but that’s a different matter. Right now I need to meet the other one. That’s why—”

So Vali also doesn’t want to waste his energy. So he’s after Rizevim rather than Crom Cruach? The one who is supposed to be his grandfather. I did hear that he holds resentment towards him.

I do realise what Vali is trying to say.

“So you want to fight together?”

“You don’t want to?”

“No, that may not be a bad idea. I was having a hard time in order to save Gya-suke’s friend. The truth is I also don’t want to waste my stamina against this guy.”

I honestly don’t want to fight an Evil Dragon. Peace is the best. My body will be lost if I fight against a brutal Dragon like him.

There’s no way......I can allow something foolish such as to lose my body before having sex with Rias, Akeno-san, Xenovia, and Irina!

Vali smiles while not knowing what was going through my head.

“So we have an agreement.”

Yeah, we sure do. The last time was against Loki.

Sensei then says.

“......If these guys can’t beat him, then there’s nothing else we can do. Rias, we should recover our stamina that we wasted against the guys we fought before. Let’s leave this to the Two Heavenly Dragons. We will have these two use their power!”

“......I would want to fight alongside with them, but it would be better if I take a little break in order to shoot that again. Either way, if the Two Heavenly Dragons are going wild, then our support will become a hindrance to them instead.”

Rias nods reluctantly to it.

After I confirm that, I start my chant. —This is the part where I will give my all!

“—I, the one to awaken am the Sekiryuutei who holds up the truth of the King up-high! Holding the infinite hope and indestructible dream and walking the road of righteousness! I will become the Emperor of the Crimson Dragon—”

“And I will lead you to the path of Heaven glowing in deep Crimson light!”

My armour turns red and is overflowing with strength.

Alright, I’m fully prepared now! I’ll go at my fullest strength against Crom Cruach then!

That guy Vali......isn’t turning silver. Well, I did hear that form of his wastes more energy than this form of mine. So he must be thinking of using that against Rizevim if he has to use it.

“......I’m sorry, Hyoudou Issei. I can’t use Juggernaut Overdrive. Just before, I already wasted so much stamina that I can’t use it now.”

—! Seriously? So he already used up the stamina he needs to change into that form before he came here!

......T-Then, you are telling me he wasted that much stamina in the fight against Euclid......?

“Oh well, let’s somehow overthrow Crom Cruach then.”

......You may be overflowing with confidence, but I think my uneasiness increased instead.

Well, we still have the Two Heavenly Dragons gathered here now. I am sure that both our strengths have increased from the time against Loki!

Crom Cruach smiles happily seeing me and Vali stand next to each other.

“......This surely is amusing. For the Two Heavenly Dragons that had been fighting against each other to stand up in front of me side by side. I won’t get a better opportunity than this. —So I’ll have myself enjoy this as well.”

The ki around the humanoid Dragon has increased. ......He’s prepared to battle.

I jump ahead from the spot, move through the air in a zig zag, and release a kick from his side!

“Oryah!”

My kick which has its power increased along with my shout captures his flank—but he dodges it by doing a light step and releases his punch to my back!

“Kaha......!”

I got myself punched in my back! I can feel plenty of shock even from above my crimson armour and got myself smashed to the floor!

......The damage isn’t that serious, but it carries so much impact just from a single jab which he did with his bare-hand! Isn’t this guy seriously the worst opponent to have?

—Then, Vali who went behind this man creates a magic-circle within his hand.

“—Take this.”

His incredible demonic-power is shot like a cannon! The man makes a giant Dragon’s wing appear on his back and envelops his own body! So he’s planning to guard against the demonic-power attack with his wings!

Vali’s demonic-power hits his wings! Normal guys will simply be down with that! That’s how dense the attack was!

After the dust settles down, what I witness is a man who blocked the attack with his wings.

......From the looks of it, he didn’t take any damage at all. Even Vali makes a sarcastic response seeing that and says, “Oh my oh my”.

Oh well, let’s make our next move then!

“Vali, I have a plan. Support me so my attacks will hit him.”

“Hou, that sounds interesting.”

Vali agrees to my suggestion.

After he agrees, Vali flies ahead where he closes the distance with Crom Cruach right away and starts an intense battle with him.

I fly close to the floor and point one of my cannons located in my left wing at him. I then transfer the power to the Ascalon equipped in the left gauntlet! Next I increase the power of dragon-slayer and transfer it to the cannon!

Crimson Blaster that has the power of dragon-slayer added to it! It’s an attack that comes from only one cannon, but either way, I’ll see how far I can go with this attack!

To begin with, this is a technique I came up with as a counter measure against Grendel during my True [Queen] form. A technique I was originally planning to shoot against that rock hard Dragon! Though I need to shoot it while I focus my energy and keep my aim steady in order to prevent this basement from being destroyed.

Vali shoots a mass of demonic-power, but Crom Cruach simply swings his arm to the side without any effort and reflects it.

—Then, the bullet of demonic-power that got reflected starts to draw an arc in the air as if it has a mind of its own, and this time it flies ahead from his blind spot. So that guy Vali is controlling the bullet of demonic-power! He sure is skilful!

However, Crom Cruach even uses the force he creates from his spin kick to kick it away! But this is the part! He doesn’t have a proper stance since he has been blocking all of Vali’s attack!

I grab the cannon with my left hand! I send my power to the cannon!

“Crimson Blaster + Ascalon!”

[Fang Blast Booster!!]

The crimson aura that has been focused is shot out from the cannon and heads directly to the opponent!

I won’t be able to laugh if he has no damage, but how is that!?

Crom Cruach makes a giant Dragon’s wing grow out from his back once again and makes it cover his body rock solid!

My Crimson Blaster hits him! A cannon shot of aura where I didn’t hold back at all envelops the humanoid Evil Dragon.

After the flash that was created when it hit him settles down, what appear in front of my eyes is—.

Crom Cruach who has one of his giant wings torn from its roots! If I look carefully, there is crimson smoke coming out from the right side of his body. Due to the cannon shot, his skin is torn, and I can see black scales underneath it.

The skin of half of his face is also torn, and what became visible is a Dragon’s golden eyes and sharp fangs. Well, taking off one of his wings is a huge achievement. I’m so glad. For the technique I came up with as a countermeasure against Grendel to be so effective.

If it’s like this, I will be able to damage him the next time I fight Grendel.

......But I have realised it within this short battle.

—This guy is an opponent who is in a different league from me.

Even though it was a Crimson Blaster from one of my wings, he is still standing as if nothing happened even though he took a hit with the power of a dragon-slayer added to it......

So it’s exactly like Vali said. He’s an existence who’s clearly above me at this current point. I won’t even be able to become his opponent if I’m alone. He can even dodge the attack I just did.

“Putting that Sekiryuutei aside, I guess the Hakuryuukou still hasn’t unleashed his full strength yet. Why don’t you unleash it? ......No, maybe you can’t? Just before, you did say you don’t want to waste your strength.”

I also question him by pointing my fingers at him.

“Why aren’t you also revealing your true form? You are originally a huge Dragon, right?”

Yes, I am sure that this guy is simply taking the form of a human. His real form must be a giant Dragon.

I can assume that he’s a Dragon who is the same size as old-man Tannin and Grendel.

Crom Cruach laughs with his nose.

“If you are asking me whether there is a difference in strength between my original form and this human form, then there isn’t much. This form is more convenient to use at small things. Though my original form is better in terms of intensity...... ......But that was a good attack. However, you still lack the firepower to break through me who is called the Darkness Dragon.”

......I also realise that really well. But even for me who is called a power idiot to be told that I “lack in firepower”. If that’s the case, I want to ask him how much power output I will need in order to fight him toe to toe.

Vali then says.

“Due to the interference of Christianity, I did hear you were destroyed due to the lack of the current people of your land believing in your existence, but I never thought you would get resurrected by the Holy Grail where you attained this much power.”

Crom Cruach puts on a dubious look at Vali’s words.

“Destroyed? No, putting the other Evil Dragons aside, I have never once been destroyed. Though it is true I left that land due to finding the intrusion of Christianity an annoyance.”

This time Vali tilts his head.

“You never were destroyed? Then what have you been doing till now? Don’t tell me you took Hyoudou Issei’s attack earlier without any enhancement and with only your natural body?”

Crom Cruach then gives a straight answer.

“—I simply went around observing the human world and the Underworld as a part of my training and experience.”

“—! So you were working hard training your body and intelligence in the human’s world and the Underworld!”

It seems like Vali is really shocked. But—he simply laughs.

“Kukuku. Hahahahahahahaha. I see, no wonder they call you the Dragon that governs battles. Seems like there was a Dragon who craved for battle even more than myself. I presume the reason why you are with Rizevim is to fight strong foes, right?”

Crom Cruach smiles at Vali’s words.

“I want to see the place where Dragons would reach at the end.”

“So you are a similar type as me. I’m even more interested in you now, Crom Cruach.”

......Similar types huh. I sure hate this. Guys who only think about battles...... I’m guessing this guy also takes no interest in women, right? No way, I really don’t like this!

And guys like that always end up taking interest in me! Give me a break already! I’m alright with simply having an ecchi and fun life with the Occult Research Club girls!

Well, putting that aside.

He didn’t get destroyed nor did he get enhanced by the Holy Grail. Then the reason why that attack worked is simply because he couldn’t overcome the power of dragon-slayer.

Ddraig then tells me.

[But, partner. He simply has damage to that degree with no enhancement at all. Despite the fact that you are in your crimson armour form. He sneaked into the human’s world and the Underworld even after Albion and I were sealed into the Sacred Gears to continue training himself. To be honest, I can’t actually calculate how strong he is now. He hasn’t revived after being destroyed, and continued to live and train himself in this era. There is a chance that he has reached the Heavenly Dragon class. ......So it isn’t wise to battle him now.]

Even though you are saying that, we can’t progress further if we don’t defeat him, you know?

Shit......like I thought, I may have to fight him together with everyone. While having Vali fight under a good condition. Though my biggest concern is if he will actually listen to me......

Then I can hear the conversation of everyone behind me.

“So it’s useless even with Ise and Vali.”

“Looks like it, Xenovia. If it comes, even we have to go forward!”

“Of course, Irina.”

Looks like those two are eager to do this and aren’t even drawn back by the energy they wasted in the fight against Grendel.

“.........So this is the feedback of using Gram in actual battle. To be in this state simply because I can’t fully use Gram......”

Kiba is breathing violently and his hands are shaking. He’s even bleeding from his nose.

So the side effect of the Demonic Emperor Sword has shown up on his body already! We can’t force Kiba to overdo it now!

I want to let my comrades get through here while Vali and I make some opening, but Crom Cruach is proving to be a more superior guardsman than Grendel. He has his attention on all of us present here.

Asia says in a worrisome voice.

“For Ise-san and Vali-san to have a hard time in battle......!”

—Then, Sensei rests his hand on Asia’s shoulder.

“Chi, we can’t afford to waste any more time here! Asia!”

“Y-Yes!”

“We’ll use the last resort! Call him! Call Fafnir!”

—! Y-You are going to call him!? Will that Pantsu-bastard be useful under this situation!?

“Y-Yes! U-Understood!”

Asia agrees to it obediently and activates a magic-circle glowing in gold, the Dragon Gate.

“—Respond to my voice, the Golden King. Crawl on the ground and receive my reward! Please come out! Gigantis Dragon! Fafnir-san!”

She says the chant for the summoning, so the magic-circle glows even brighter.

The one who appears after the light flashes is a huge Dragon with golden scales.

This is the first thing the Dragon says.

[......Opantie time?]

—! Hmm, already from the start aye~. My mood is down already.

“No, it isn—, I-I mean it is! It is opantie time!”

Asia tries to say no but she then says yes!

“......What the, what happened!?”

Vali becomes curious so he turns around.

“D-Don’t be concerned about it, Vali! You shouldn’t be concerned about him!”

I feel like I can’t let Vali see it, so I try to stop him from turning around.

[Albion, do not listen to him! You will die, your heart will that is!]

Ddraig warns Albion.

[W-What do you mean, the red one......? Don’t tell me its breasts!? Is it breasts!? Haahaa......I can’t breathe......]

Albion seems like he’s in hyperventilation! Looks like they are having difficulties as well!

[N-No, it’s something else which is also horrible...... Fafnir is no longer the Fafnir we knew a long time ago!]

Ddraig sure says it in a cruel way! I see, so Fafnir-san from a long time ago was different!

Sensei says it to Fafnir.

“Fafnir! When I had a pact with you, there was an item I gave you right? There should also have been a replica of the magical bullet of Tathlum among them! Bring that out! Since we have Crom Cruach here, the object which comes from the same mythology as him should work!”

Hmm, so an item used for a pact. If I recall, I heard Sensei gave different sorts of things to Fafnir when he had a pact with him. It’s really supportive to have an item that can be used against Crom Cruach!

Fafnir responds to Sensei’s request.

[Okay. But, I, want a certain thing.]

“Pants right! Alright, Asia! Give your precious pants to him! If we can borrow Tathlum with that, then it’s a cheap bargain! Fuhahahaha! Back at the time when I had a pact with him, I gave him tons and loads of my collection! So Asia can use different sorts of legendary items simply with one pair of pants!”

“Y-Yes!”

Asia starts to look through her pochette and takes out a single pair of pants.

However, as soon as Fafnir sees the pants, he makes an unpleasant face.

What the, why are you feeling dissatisfied!? Aren’t Asia-chan’s pants treasures!?

[—No. I, am not in the mood to wear pants.]

A lot of the members here are shocked to hear his response and our eyes are about to pop out!

—So it’s not pants! Does it depend on his mood!?

“Seriously!? T-Then what on earth do you want!? Asia’s bra!?”

Sensei who is having the biggest shock of the day. Looks like that’s how unexpected this is for him!

“H-Hey Azazel! Asia is not a lingerie shop you know!? Her pants and bra aren’t things we can give so easily!”

“She is right! What do you think a maiden’s underwear is!?”

Rias and Akeno-san start criticising Azazel! The love those two have towards Asia who they adore like their little sister is very strong!

However, I come up with an idea!

“No, Sensei. If my prediction is right, then it has to be a pair of pants that she just wore! If I was Fafnir, that’s what I would choose!”

How about that, Fafnir!? The thing you want must be pants that are—.

[I want Asia-tan’s school swimsuit.]

............

T-That’s what he wants huh~. I sure can’t predict that~. You are such a perv~. I give up now~. Seriously, you should just get destroyed, you pervert Dragon King!

Except, this isn’t a beach or a local pool! This is the Vampire’s castle you know!? Even we haven’t brought a school swimsuit with us!

“You idiot! There’s no way we have a school swimsuit here—”

By talking over me, Asia lets out a shout mixed with her cries.

“I have it! I have brought it with me!”

A school swimsuit is taken out from a pochette! The charming point of it is her name “Asia” that is printed on it in hiragana! She also wore it when we were using the pool!

[What!?]

Everyone here is shocked to hear that! Why is a school swimsuit popping out from there!?

Xenovia grabs Asia by her shoulder and ask her seriously.

“Why, Asia!? Why do you have a school swimsuit in there!? Were you planning to have a swim!?”

Asia answers with a sad voice.

“......It’s because I was told to take it with me before I came here from Sona-kaichou.”

[Most likely, what Fafnir would request for his next treasure would be your school swimsuit, Asia-san. Back in that pool, the golden Dragon King had an abnormal gaze on you. There’s no mistake that the thing he wants the most right now is a school swimsuit. —So take it with you. It will surely come in handy.]

It’s back then. It’s back then when he said an utter rubbish thing which was, “I, want to drink the pool water that Asia-tan swam in”.

Since back then, this perverted Dragon King has been craving for Asia’s school swimsuit.

And Sona-kaichou saw that coming! She predicted it! She knew it!

Rias mumbles hard. Where she looks really jealous.

“......To be expected from Sona! To be able to read that far ahead......! Can I even surpass Sona!?”

Xenovia then releases a scream of admiration from beside her.

“To be expected from the student president! What calm and accurate advice!”

“I’m so going to admire Sona-kaichou~!”

Even Irina has tears flowing out from her eyes due to being emotionally moved.

What the heck. This sure is horrible! You know we are in the middle of a battle against a legendary Evil Dragon!?

“So Fafnir wants to have a swim.”

And it seems like Crom Cruach has a wrong misunderstanding~!

Rossweisse-san sighs.

“Now, there is nothing else I can say. –Simply one word, horrible.”

Yes, it truly is......

“I will give it to you!”

Asia who made her mind up hands her school swimsuit to Fafnir.

Fafnir brings his huge face closer and—.

[Asia-tan school swimsuit munch.]

He starts eating the school swimsuit—. He’s munching on it!

[Smooth, and fresh taste.]

I can’t stand this Dragon King anymore! Someone, bring a dragon-slayer which can actually kill him!

Albion’s voice becomes even more serious.

[......P-Pants......pants, bottom, butt! I am not a Ketsuryuukou......!]

[Get a grip! Get a hold of yourself, the white one!]

Ddraig tries to bring some sense back to Albion. Albion then says with a husky voice.

[......Listen, Ddraig. This isn’t the place to say it, but......]

[What is it, Albion?]

[—You are not the only one suffering from Oppai Dragon. I am also in pain.]

[—! Uu, the white one! Y-You have come to understand me......!?]

Huh, our Ddraig-san, for some reason starts crying due to being emotionally moved......

[Yeah, of course I have. Breasts and butts, why do we who were called the Two Heavenly Dragons have to suffer from such things this much? At one point I held a grudge against both you and Hyoudou Issei, but Hyoudou Issei and Vali aren’t the only ones at fault here. —Most likely it is that this era is bad for the Two Heavenly Dragons.]

[Uu, I know! I can understand that! Yes! This era is too bitter for us, the legendary Dragons! Even Fafnir is in that state!]

......Is it me or are those two having a mutual understanding with each other?

Both of them share their opinions with a teary voice.

[Yes, let’s have a discussion till our hearts are healed.]

[Yeah, that may be a good idea. ......I see, so I wasn’t the only one suffering.]

Huh, is it me, or does it seem like there’s a settlement of some sort happening between those two......?

“......They act as though me and Vali are at fault here.”

I make my argument just in case, but Ddraig’s speech towards me is cold.

[I’m sorry partner. Let me speak to Albion for a while. This discussion is really important for me right now.]

[Yes, I also want you to leave me alone for a while as well, Vali. There are things that only Dragons can come to understand.]

“I see......oh well. By the way, what’s up with that situation?”

Vali who is quick at thinking points his finger at Fafnir.

—The legendary Dragon that is eating a school swimsuit.

“Don’t ask. There are things even I have a hard time answering.”

Seriously, don’t ask me about it. I’ll cry...... I also need to give aftercare to Asia’s heart afterwards too. Our legendary Dragons make too much trouble.

Xenovia and Irina embrace Asia.

“......Since I have married Ise-san, I want five children. Ufufu, geez papa, for you to play “eroge” again, you really are a naughty papa......”

“Asia started to escape from realitttty! Uu, Asiaaaa!”

“Asia-san, get a grip of yourself! The wound you have isn’t serious!”

......Asia! I’ll punch Fafnir afterwards, so please endure it for now!

Fafnir who has finished munching opens his mouth wide.

[Aan. The surprise and shocking item of this week, now launching.]

What appears from his mouth after he says that is—a huge barrel like thing.

Sensei takes that in his hand and places it on his shoulder. It’s like a bazooka cannon.

“Fufufu, this is the replica of Tathlum. Now then, I’ll have myself shoot this to see how much it will work against Crom Cruach!”

Sensei aims at his target, and a bright shot comes out from the barrel!

After it gets shot out, it moves around in a zig-zag in the air as if it has the mind of its own where it eventually goes ahead flying towards Crom Cruach!

“Hou, Tathlum huh. It brings back memories. The magical bullet that will hit for certain. And it’s impossible to avoid it. Back in the past, it would have been a threatening thing for me. However, for my current self—”

Crom Cruach makes a stance with both his arms. —His arms get bulkier very violently, and they turn into the arms of a gigantic Dragon!

Against the replica bullet of Tathlum coming directly at him from the front, he makes a stance with the palm of his hands as if he wants to squash a fly.

The moment he tries to capture the bullet—the bullet of Tathlum changes its course and avoids being captured by Crom Cruach’s hands by going below him!

At the point of his chin where there is an opening—the bullet of Tathlum hits him while making a violent sound of explosion! At the same time a golden bright flash envelops the whole space around us!

Due to the brightness I close my eyes.....and what appears in my eyes after the flash disappears is an Evil Dragon who has explosive smoke coming out from his head.

......Did it work? The bullet of Tathlum has hit him perfectly. Now then, how much damage does he have?

What shows up after the smokes disappear is—Crom Cruach who has stopped the bullet of Tathlum by biting it with the huge mouth of a Dragon!

Sensei sighs as if he is shocked.

“......So he stopped it......”

After Crom Cruach spits the bullet of Tathlum to the ground, he changes the form of his face and arms back to that of a human.

The damage he got till now is merely on his clothes and his wing.

Crom Cruach speaks after taking a breath.

“............It’s time. Looks like this is it.”

He turns around and leans on the wall nearby. His motivation to fight also disappears completely.

Vali who becomes dubious asks him.

“Are you going to quit?”

“I was told to buy time for at least ten minutes. —I sure would like to fight seriously the next time I meet you.”

After that, Crom Cruach stops talking and becomes silent. The intense battle we just had ends so abruptly as if it didn’t happen.

After we look at each other, we left the scene quickly.

He doesn’t even come after us.

When I take a little glance at him, he is gazing at Gasper......

......Evil Dragons, no, I think there are many things I can’t come to understand about Dragons.

Part 3

We go down the stairs.

“Valerie, I’ll be there soon!”

All of a sudden, Gasper is walking ahead of us. He must be feeling that Valerie will be right below.

When we go down the stairs even further, a huge door made of stone with gorgeous ornaments appears right in front of us.

We open the door grandly.

The interior is like a ritual place itself, so there are bookshelves full of creepy statues and scrolls at various parts of the room.

“......Gas......Gasper......?”

When we look towards the direction where we heard Valerie’s voice—there is a bed placed above the huge magic-circle that is drawn on the floor, and Valerie is laying above it.

The magic-circle is already emitting a creepy glow, and then the light starts to envelop Valerie.

“Valeriiiiiiiiiie!”

Gasper screams out her name and approaches the magic-circle, but he cannot get closer to her due to the barrier blocking his way.

Gasper catches sight of a man—Marius, who is controlling the spell inside the magic-circle.

“Stop! Please stoooooop! Please don’t bully Valerie any more than this! Please release heeeeer!”

The bastard Marius shows a disgusting smile towards Gasper’s painful wish.

“Yes, that’s why I’m trying to “release” her. Look, very soon I will be able to take out the Holy Grail that has been eating up both her mind and soul~.”

“Iyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

She releases a very loud scream, and it looks like something is trying to appear from her body.

“Ku!”

“We can’t cut it!”

Xenovia and Kiba try to cut through the barrier of the magic-circle, but they can’t even make a scratch.

I also try to punch the barrier by putting a lot of my energy into my fist, and then Marius says with a disgusting smile.

“Oh, please refrain from making unnecessary attacks. If it affects the spell, then both the Holy Grail and the possessor won’t remain safe. It’s also useless even if the former Governor has some plan. I have been in contact with this Holy Grail more than anyone, and have researched about it. I’m fully aware of the method to take it out more than anyone else.”

Sensei activates a small magic-circle within his palm and starts to check Marius’s spell, but he soon ticks with his tongue.

“Ku! This protect code is......the one that belongs to the God of the Bible! Why do you know a code which even I don’t know!? Is this also part of the information given to you by Rizevim!?”

Marius smiles at Sensei’s question.

“He shared a lot of information with me. Thanks to that, my research on the Holy Grail progressed even further where I was able to revive the evil creatures that were supposed to be dead back to this world. On top of that, it seems like Valerie’s Holy Grail has more outstanding aspects than all of the Holy Grail possessors till now. She’s especially splendid at getting rid of the weaknesses of creatures as much as possible.”

......So the reason why the Vampires were enhanced and the Evil Dragon’s resistance to the dragon-slayer is due to Valerie being strong in that department.

Marius then stops the control of the spell.

“Fufufu, thanks to that, I have finished this safely.”

The spell of the magic-circle emits a strong light—enveloping Valerie!

......A memory which is like a nightmare flashes back in my head. ......It’s the same thing that happened to Asia when she had her Sacred Gear taken out from her by Raynare!

“I will use my dragon-shot then!”

Rias stops me as I make my stance!

“Stop, Ise! We won’t know what will happen if the spell goes wild by using a powerful attack recklessly!”

“B-But! We can’t allow this kind of thing to happen again......!”

I don’t want to see this kind of thing......!

While I can’t aim my fist to the target, what appears from Valerie’s body is—a small cup. A small cup glowing in gold—. That is the Holy Grail which happens to be one of the Longinus as well as a relic.

“......Aa......”

Valerie loses her sense of being alive completely by having her Sacred Gear taken out, so she lies down on the bed lifelessly.

Marius takes out the Holy Grail from Valerie and holds it up high.

“This is—the Longinus “Sephiroth Grail”. And it happens to be a masterpiece where it already comes with the requirement of unleashing Balance Breaker.”

......The magic-circle’s spell ends as well as the barrier which also disappears, so Gasper runs to Valerie’s side.

“............This is strange. For taking out a Longinus, this is......”

Seeing this scene, only Sensei makes a strange expression. ......There seems to be something bothering him.

By embracing Valerie who is lifeless, Gasper calls out the name of his saviour.

“......Valerie......”

Valerie opens her eyes as if she responded to his voice and looks straight into Gasper’s eyes.

Valerie strokes Gasper’s face who is crying.

“......You sure are a cry-baby, Gasper...... ......You have been crying all the time since you were little......but you have become stronger now, right......?”

Gasper takes her hand and cries out.

“......I’m sorry......I......wasn’t able to save you......”

“......No, you did save me...... At the very end......I was able to see you again Gasper..... ......My only friend......and family...... ......Hey, Gasper......”

“......What is it?”

Valerie looks up to the ceiling—.

No, she’s not looking at the ceiling. She must be gazing at the place even above that.

“......I really wanted......to see the sun......and if I were......able to go picnic with everyone......”

“......You can see it. I will take you there. Let’s also go and have a picnic as well.”

......Are you telling me something like this has to happen again......?

Asia who can’t endure this situation hugs onto me. She is shaking very sadly. ......That’s because Asia also has experienced this before as well......

I......also have experienced this. I can’t endure looking at Gasper who is going through the same experience as I did......

After Valerie strokes Gasper’s cheek, she puts her hand on Gasper’s chest.

She says this as if she’s talking into him.

“......There is......your other self in here...... ......So I need to ask him for a wish for the very last time......”

She says it in a voice where it’s about to disappear.

“......I also wanted to speak to you too...... You are also Gasper as well, so you have to talk to everyone else as well...... ......There is a place for you where they will acknowledge you......”

Valerie’s hand loses strength and drops down.

“......I wish you can get along with everyone......”

Those were her final words.

“............!”

Gasper shakes his head many times and hugs Valerie’s body.

......A scene which is too sad to see. But there is one person who takes an improper action by clapping under this situation.

Marius Tepes is putting on a smile as he holds the Holy Grail with one hand.

Marius then says it to Rias fearlessly.

“Rias Gremory-sama, please shoot me with your power of destruction.”

Rias has veins pop out on her forehead when she hears that and gathers so much demonic-power of destruction within her hand that it’s too dangerous.

“......Yes, I won’t hold myself back. Even I can’t endure this any longer.”

The demonic-power of destruction is shot towards Marius!

“Blow away!”

It’s so strong that it’s dangerous to take that on without guarding against it.

No, even a normal defence will be useless. That’s because you will be blown away along with your action of defending against it.

However, Marius shows no signs of taking such action, therefore he allows himself to be covered by the demonic-power of destruction.

......What’s left is the Holy Grail that is floating in the air and the lower half of his body. The upper half of his body has been extinguished completely.

It ended already......? That’s what I thought for a moment before the lower half of his body starts to build up muscle from the area where it is gone and starts to form a shape. What appears there after a while is Marius who is completely revived.

He looks exactly the same as before Rias blew him away with her demonic-power of destruction.

Marius moans while he takes the Holy Grail that is floating in the air into his hand again.

“Yes, please look. I also have the trait of being able to recover immediately. This is due to the Holy Grail that was pulled out from her body being able to unleash its power without any resistance like the time when it was inside the possessor. When I had my upper body blown away, I thought even my soul would be erased......but as long as a fraction of my soul remains within my lower body, it seems like I can revive from merely this much damage.”

......So this is the Holy Grail’s ability! He can still revive even though his upper body gets blown away!

......No wonder Grendel talks crap like “he can get a new body if his soul remains”.

Seeing this situation, someone claps. It’s neither us nor Marius.

From the dark places of this ritual area, many shadows appear.

“—Just as I thought.”

“Your regeneration ability has improved.”

“You are just like a Phoenix.”

The ones who show themselves are all middle age men or men who reached past their middle age. Everyone behaves with dignity.

They are most likely pure-blood Vampires. They must be royal or ones with closer standings. All of them must be the ones who sided with Marius.

Marius smiles at the appearances of these men.

“Oh if this isn’t my dear uncle. The preparation is set. What will you do? Do you want me to further strengthen you now?”

Marius asks. The men say it as if they are speaking to us.

“Vampires who are the eternal residents of night were beings with many weaknesses.”

“The sunlight, a cross, and holy water...... Despite being a more superior species than a human, we acknowledged their prosperity due to having those weaknesses.”

......Do they want to say that Vampires are the best?

I sigh as I listen to them, but they speak even more nonsense.

“We will recreate ourselves into a new being that will surpass Vampires by using the Holy Grail!”

“And by replacing the humans, we must conquer this world. By being conquered by us who are the superior beings, the humans will be able to receive their actual desire where they will become our livestock!”

......Livestock huh. I wonder how far they need to look down on others. Just like the blood lines of a small group of Devils, they can’t help themselves but to appear really important and look down on others.

One of the men sighs as if he is grieving. The higher-ups continue to speak.

“Even though we couldn’t help the increase of our livestock that has been left alone, it surely was a long time till we got here.”

“I agree. However, the world will change to the state which it was supposed to be now.”

“The only thing left is to eliminate the current King and Carmilla in order to start a new world. Then we can move onto the final phase of our plan where we will recreate all of the residents of this country.”

“Even though this country was able to get the Holy Grail, that King of ours was urging about maintaining the current situation and rejected the idea of the Vampire’s evolution. He was too much of a fool.”

Marius nods his head and directs his smile to us.

“—And so, well, the higher-ups that followed me have such opinions. I only care about continuing my further research on the Holy Grail.”

......This guy is also crazy in his own way. For that purpose he brought the Khaos Brigade into this country, he stirred up all of these geezers, and then made them start a coup d’état.

All of this just for the sake for his own research on the Holy Grail—.

And he even killed Valerie who he deemed as worthless now.

Azazel-sensei narrows his eyes.

“......You guys sure are having a rough attitude right now, seriously. But you know, a Longinus is truly an outrageous masterpiece. Just having someone born with it can break the principle of this world.”

Sensei looks at me and Vali.

“......Me too?”

I point at myself. Sensei puts on an expression where he looks shocked.

“You might not have realised it, but you broke many kinds of principles.”

Well, that may be true if you put it that way......

“......Having people like you in possession of that Sacred Gear will be dangerous. I will have you hand that Holy Grail over to us. I will also allow a battle to start here depending on your answer.”

Rias warns Marius in such way.

“You people are also using the Sacred Gears and Longinus as you like too...... Don’t you think we can’t come to understand each other simply due to the differences in what we value and the culture we have?”

Sensei replies back to Marius’s words.

“Then I will have you hand that to us Grigori. The research about them is our speciality. We can do things from keeping it safe and even seal it away. If you really don’t want to, then you can even hand it to Odin or Zeus. Anyway, that thing is dangerous. Due to its traits, it’s something we need to keep our eyes on or keep it away. But I guess there’s no way you will listen even if I say this much.”

Even Sensei is smirking at his own words.

Marius simply makes a faint smile. Obviously there is no way he will hand the Holy Grail to us so honestly.

I also say it to him after taking a step forward.

“Just give it back to us already! We are all sick of your Vampire’s ideal, pride, and values! That Holy Grail is too dangerous to be used in your ideals!”

I can’t allow them to misuse it any longer! If we can’t talk some sense into them, then we have to take it by force!

While leaving me behind who is getting pumped up, the Vampires says it to Rias and Sensei.

“Sister of Maou and the former Governor of the Fallen Angels. Even the world of Devils has noble blood standing at the top while others simply follow them since the ancient times. That was how the truth was supposed to be.”

“Your kind also used the humans as your source to live. In our case our food happened to be the humans but we shared the same idea.”

“Rias Gremory-dono, since you are also a pure-blood noble, you should be able to understand us. The difference between the nobles and the other—”

?Fufufu......fufufufufufufufufufufufu......rubbish......this is too ridiculous......?

A creepy laughter echoes throughout this ritual area and interrupts the Vampires performances.

Everyone looks around the room and gathers their gaze at one point.

—It’s Gasper.

There’s a black aura coming from his body and it eventually covers various parts of this room.

Gasper who stands up slowly has his eyes glowing dangerously which I can’t possibly think comes from this world and he uses them to glare at Marius and the higher-up Vampires.

?The nobles......and the other beings besides them......??

The ritual area—eventually gets tainted with darkness.

There can’t possibly be anyone who can stop him here—.

?Show me the power of the so-called superior beings all of you are speaking about—?

Darkness......it’s jet black......and dark...... The room gets swallowed by darkness where it consumes everything, and it turns into a field where you can’t sense even a glimpse of light.

There is also a change to Gasper who is the one that created this darkness.

His whole body gets covered in darkness which makes him lose the shape of a human, and he starts to take the form of a creature.

Both his arms gets longer and thicker where there are sharp claws growing out from them. His back gets bigger where many wings grow out from it. His legs also have reverse joints.

His head also forms into a shape that makes it appear like a Dragon. He has many sharp fangs growing out as well as a horn, and his red eyes glow very creepily.

?Koooooooooooooooooooooooo......!?

A beast like howl echoes throughout this world of darkness—.

......What appears there is huge creature that is about five metres tall and has an aura of darkness emitting out from its whole body.

......You are telling me this is Gasper’s true form......?

I—no, we, the Gremory group, can only watch as our body shivers.

Vali is the only one who crosses his arms and watch silently......

“......This phenomenon is......”

Even Azazel-sensei who has rich knowledge of the Sacred Gears puts on serious eyes at this situation.

“T-This is......!”

“What on earth is this!?”

Even the Vampire’s higher-ups have their voice shaking at seeing that appearance.

Only Marius remains calm and looks at Gasper very carefully as if he’s trying to analyse him.

“......Please calm down, uncles. This must be the true form of Gasper Valdi that Euclid-dono reported to us about. However, there is nothing for all of you to fear about. It will be a laughing matter if we, the Vampires that have evolved, were to lose against a power possessed by a mere half-blood.”

The higher-ups who were told such can only nod their head strongly.

“I-I see. That’s right.”

“We are Vampires who have attained a transcended power due to the Holy Grail. For us who have moved to the next stage, we can’t possibly lose to a mere half-blood—”

Then one of the Vampires gets swallowed by a huge mouth which resembles that of a crocodile that was born from the darkness down low—.

?What was that about......the next stage??

Gasper who is laughing hard......or should I say who he originally was.

From the various parts of the room, black creatures I have never seen before appear. A three headed-Dragon, a butterfly that has the form of a lizard, a creature that is like a Dragon and a flower, and a single eyed giant...... Such creatures appear from the various parts of this field of darkness and they start to walk towards the Vampires.

The Vampires are shaking after seeing this scenery. Only Marius is acting calm, but one of the men makes an angry expression and starts to create bugs and beasts from his body as well.

“A technique like that isn’t just your ability only! A mere beast born from the darkness can’t possibly —”

Swish. The man who just shouted out gets taken away by a bird monster.

He gets surrounded by monsters at the location he is taken to, and then—.

“S-Stoooooooooooop!”

He gets eaten without being able to do anything—.

......What the heck is this. ......Gasper, are you doing this......? Can you even create terrifying things like this as well......?

So this is Gasper’s true power and also his true form—.

I can’t keep myself from shaking, but the monsters of darkness increase and corner the Vampires as they cover this field.

But the monsters don’t show any sign of hurting us.

“Hii!”

“I-It can’t be! Our powers won’t work despite the fact that we evolved!”

“W-What is this!?”

“What on earth are you!?”

The Vampires resist desperately, but the monsters come back from the darkness no matter how many times they are defeated.

?Do you know why your Vampire’s powers aren’t working properly? That’s because I stopped your power that has been strengthened by the Holy Grail.?

He’s stopping their ability!? H-He can even do a feat like that!? T-Then it’s normal for those Vampire geezers to be having a hard time!

They finally get their legs caught, and then the darkness covers them to make sure they can’t change their body.

“Ku! A disgusting “imitation” from the human’s womb to gaaaaaa!”

“Don’t come any closer! You low liiiiiife! W-We have noble blood......and we have so much history and tradition that you can’t possibly imagine—”

?—Do it, eat them.?

The higher-ups of the Vampires get eaten by the monsters of the darkness with that signal.

Due to this extreme scene, Asia closes her eyes and blocks her ears.

After the higher-ups of the Vampires are all eaten by the monsters of the darkness, a single man starts to clap.

Marius is even putting on a face filled with confidence even while under this situation.

“Marvellous. Lately there have been many half-bloods born with abnormal powers. They are mostly Sacred Gear possessors......but you are very exceptional among them. I see that you have a potential that rivals the Holy Grail. How about it? Will you help me with my research?”

His ambition for his research must be insane since he can ask that under this situation.

But Gasper’s reaction is simply that of anger.

?............You mean like what you did with Valerie??

“Does it make you angry? Well, please hear me out. To begin with, the research about the Holy Grail is—”

A sound of the wind. Gasper stretched out his arm and swing it to the side.

Marius can’t react to it due to its speed and gets his left arm blown away.

“Oh, oh my...... You sure are rough. However, something as mere as this is pointless against my body that has been strengthened by the Holy Grail—“

But his left arm that is supposed to grow back doesn’t even though the Holy Grail is glowing in gold.

Even Marius becomes curious at this, so he tilts his head.

“............Huh? What the. My arm isn’t growing back...... Did the power of the Holy Grail weaken? It can’t be. Then what on earth......”

?............?

Gasper swings his arm to the side with force again while being silent.

Marius jumps away from the spot and tries to dodge it, but a crocodile-like mouth appears from the ground again and bites on to his leg.

Gasper’s arm reaches him and destroys his right leg.

“Ku!”

Marius falls on his buttocks.

“......So you took my leg this time. But this is nothing—”

Even though he makes the Holy Grail shine, his leg doesn’t heal. Even his arm that was blown away earlier hasn’t healed yet.

Even Marius starts to change his expression at this and speaks out his doubts.

“......Why? Why doesn’t it heal? Both my arm and leg! Why doesn’t it show any sign of healing yet!? There also isn’t a change of Vampire happening to me as well! Why can’t I morph into a bat, a bug, or even a beast!? Is this also because I have my whole ability stopped!? This can’t be happening! Unlike my uncles, I’m directly holding on to the Holy Grail so something like stopping my ability can’t be happening......”

He becomes shocked at seeing his wounds.

—That’s because his arm and leg are getting devoured by something black from his wound.

“......M-My wounds......are being violated by the darkness......? The darkness is stopping my regeneration......? No, something like this can’t be happening......! Are you telling me you are even beyond the Holy Grail?”

?What’s wrong? If you are going to regenerate yourself, then be quick. I can simply just blow that part away again.?

Gasper approaches him step by step.

Marius starts to panic, so he tries to calm Gasper down.

“W-Wait. Calm down. ......I know! How about I make a clone of Valerie for you with this Holy Grail! I can also use some method to find her soul! This isn’t a bad deal right? So go back to Japan by taking the clone with you. You should be satisfied with that!”

His words become something that ticks off Gasper even more. Gasper then says it with a small, but heavy tone.

?......Don’t speak anymore. The possibility of Valerie reviving and the reason for you to survive isn’t the same. –You should just die here.?

Gasper closes the distance even more. Marius tries to run away even by crawling on the floor.

There isn’t even a glimpse of the confidence he had earlier in his expression right now. Only his despair became stronger.

“G-Go away.”

He puts the Holy Grail forward and shouts towards Gasper.

“Go awaaaaay! You disgusting half-blooooooood!”

All of the monsters created within this space surround Marius.

Vali says one thing when he sees this.

“Rias Gremory, you will most likely have restrictions on using your servants in the near future. And I’m not talking about Hyoudou Issei but that. —Gasper Vladi is even more of a dangerous existence than Hyoudou Issei.”

“............”

Rias can’t say anything back to Vali.

Gasper stands in front of Marius and says this to him directly.

?—You are the only one I can’t allow to have even a fraction of your body left in this world. Have your soul devoured as well and die.?

Those words become the signal, so all of the monsters jump towards Marius. —In order to eat him.

“A, a, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Only his scream echoes throughout the room—.

Part 4

In the lowest floor of the basement, which happens to be a ritual area, the darkness field start to disappear.

After all of the higher-ups that had to do with the coup d’état were consumed by the darkness, the darkness covering the whole place starts to disappear and the only thing remaining there is Gasper who turned into a monster.

Sensei rushes to Valerie’s aid as soon as Marius and the other Vampires died, and he activates a magic-circle to check her condition.

“......There is something which is bugging me.”

Sensei has been feeling doubts about the result of this spell since before. Sensei who has been checking her body for a while stops his hand.

“......I see, looks like I can answer my suspicions.”

“What do you mean?”

Rias asks. Sensei then points at Valerie.

“It seems like this girl’s Holy Grail was a sub-species from the beginning. Another Holy Grail exists when there was originally supposed to be only one. So there is another Holy Grail inside this girl. I did find it weird. Even though it was an extraction for a Longinus, it was too quiet. In my research, I have come to the hypothesis that an extraction of Longinus would be flashier.”

[—!?]

Everyone becomes shocked at Sensei’s words just now!

Seriously!? So her Longinus is a sub-species and there are two Holy Grails!?

“B-But, I thought there can’t be more than two of the same Longinus?”

I ask Sensei. This is what I was told at least. So it means the gauntlet of Sekiryuutei besides mine can’t exist at the same time.

Sensei nods.

“Yeah, that’s right. So this is what happened. I think it is a sub-species where the two of them are considered as one. Since nothing like this happened before, I need to check more thoroughly. —Anyway, she hasn’t died. After all, the remaining one miraculously remained in her body. So she will return to her original state if we return back what was stolen. ......Seriously, I can’t come to understand the Longinus possessors at all.”

At Sensei’s confession he made as he sighs—

[Oh.]

Everyone makes a sigh of relief.

I’m so glad! So it’s not like Valerie died! Shit! Since that scene happened right in front of me again, I......I’m just glad...... I was about to hate how powerless I am to have Gasper and Valerie experience the same sadness as me.

“I’m so glad......”

Even Asia sheds tears of joy.

“Bring that Holy Grail to me.”

Sensei begins the spell to put back the Holy Grail into Valerie that was stolen by Marius.

However, for her to have possession of two Holy Grails......is it due to that influence that her mental state was really bad?

As I think such things—I give my gaze to Gasper who has turned into a black beast. The changed Gasper who watches the procedure of Valerie getting revived.

“Amazing......”

When I say that as I gulp down my saliva, Gasper laughs in a small tone.

?I thought you would have known, Sekiryuutei.?

Known......? What does he mean?

While leaving me who is finding that dubious aside, Rias asks him.

“......You are not Gasper, are you?”

?Yes. I am Gasper. Except, I can say that I am Gasper, but not Gasper. What possessed this boy when he was in his mother’s womb is a fraction of Balor’s consciousness that has been broken.?

Hearing that, Sensei changes his expression due to the shock.

“Balor!? You are telling me you are the Evil God Balor from the Irish mythology!?”

Balor? Evil God? There’s also the word Balor in Gasper’s Sacred Gear, right?

“Sensei, is there a relation between Gasper’s Sacred Gear and that God?”

I ask. Sensei answers me with excitement.

“......Balor is the most famous God to have the evil eyes. He’s also famous to be the God who controlled Crom Cruach. I hear that the Sacred Gear was named as “Forbidden Balor View” as a reference to him. ......But, I can’t believe that the actual Balor is actually residing in it. Is the reason why Tathlum from before didn’t respond to Balor was due to being a replica of it?”

?That’s why I’m telling you that I’m a fraction of Balor’s consciousness. I already lost my divinity and only my power of evil remained. The actual Balor was killed by the God Lugh after all. I am Balor but not Balor. I am “Gasper Vladi”. Sacred Gears sure are interesting things. They can possess anything from legendary Dragons and monsters to even the power of an Evil God. The God from the Bible who created the Sacred Gears truly must be a terrifying being.?

......I-I don’t get it, but it seems like Sensei does understand so he nods his head saying, “I get it now~”.

W-Well, I will ask him to explain it to me in a simpler way afterwards.

“What did you mean when you said I should have known just before?”

?When you went berserk, the kin of the Old Maou did get his time stopped for a moment right? That’s because I got myself linked with your sights. See, just like this—?

—!

What I’m seeing now instantly changes. Hey, am I looking at......myself!? What appears in my sight is myself! Myself in the armour form!

?Just now, I changed my sights with yours. That’s why you can see that scenery through my eyes.?

......W-Wow...... S-So he can even do such a thing. If I think about it, I did hear that I used an ability that is like Gasper’s against Shalba when I went berserk using Juggernaut Drive at him. Though I thought that was a part of Sekiryuutei’s hidden powers...... So Gasper’s power awakened along with Sekiryuutei’s power.

—Ah, my sight went back to normal.

Kiba who has been listening to that beside me acts as though he is convinced.

“So that phenomenon back then was due to the fractional power of both Ise-kun and Gasper-kun’s......!? To be able to resonate with the Juggernaut Drive...... Is it something plausible since it’s the Two Heavenly Dragon and the Evil God that once controlled Crom Cruach......!?”

Leaving beside Kiba who is all but shaking, Xenovia and Irina approach Gasper timidly.

“A-Are you really Gasper?”

“You kinda became bigger......so I was scared.”

Both of them are already used to this form as if they had forgotten the fear they had just a moment ago. Well, even I became used to this appearance...... Since a lot happened, my senses are getting weird.

Gasper who doesn’t show any response to the two girls’ goofiness walks towards Valerie.

Gasper’s hand that is all changed starts to pat Valerie’s cheek that is lying down.

?For some reason, I felt that I needed to save this girl who is in possession of the Holy Grail. Very strongly, that is. That was a feeling different to my other self who is feeling indebted to her. ......Is this my gratitude towards her? I don’t know very well about it myself, but most likely, she had been using her power unconsciously even before it awakened completely. Even the fraction of Balor’s consciousness that became me is something she summoned by using the Holy Grail......and did she create me with it......??

“You are saying that what gave birth to Gasper was Valerie when she was a child......? So the reason why Rias was able to reincarnate Gasper was due to the fraction of Balor that had lost its divinity...... And is the reason why Gasper was born with “Forbidden Balor View” due to being attracted by Balor’s power......? It sure is like a joke to have the actual being reside in it despite being something that was an imitation of it. Why didn’t Crom Cruach show any strong response to him just before? But, that is—”

It seems like Sensei is coming up with many ideas and is now muttering.

Gasper then tells Sensei.

?This form—is at least something created due to the fusion of the Sacred Gear and the Balor inside me. You can say this is the Balance Breaker, but also isn’t. Yeah. —I might as well call it the “Forbidden Invade Balor the Beast”.?

So you are giving it a name! There are times when something like a name is sent from the Sacred Gear to the brain......but if it’s someone who reaches the sub-species Balance Breaker, I did hear that they reject those names and put a name they thought up on their own.

Though the one who named my True [Queen] is Sairaorg-san.

Sensei looks at the condition Gasper is in once again and mutters.

“......This may be something which you can call as a Longinus class soon. No, it already is in a level where you can call it as such. It already became a Sacred Gear that is different to the “Forbidden Balor View”.”

Seriously!? So it will become the fourteenth one!? There has only been thirteen Longinus till now but it doesn’t mean that they are restricted to thirteen of them. It simply means that only thirteen of them have appeared in this world till now.

That’s why it isn’t weird for there to be a fourteenth one. But are you telling me that it’s Gasper......?

Rias asks Sensei as she breathes in.

“......Are you telling me it’s a new Longinus......?”

“Well, I will check for more details once I get back to Grigori.”

That’s what Sensei simply says.

—Then the darkness of Gasper who turned into a beast fades away.

?......Oh my, looks like I’m at my limit. I will leave the rest to all of you and sleep for a bit.?

The darkness starts to fade away, but as he returns to the usual Gasper, the other Gasper speaks as he smiles with a big beasty mouth of his.

?All of you from the Occult Research Club, I am an existence that will taint everything in darkness. However, I promise that I won’t hurt any of you at all costs. I did watch over all of you through my other self.?

The other Gasper looks around at all of us.

?Rias-buchou, Akeno-san, Koneko-chan, Yuuto-senpai, Asia-senpai, Xenovia-senpai, Irina-senpai, Ravel-san, Rossweisse-san, Azazel-sensei, and the Sekiryuutei—Ise-senpai. After all, all of you are my precious comrades—?

After he finishes saying that to us, the darkness completely disappears and Gasper falls on the spot unconscious.

Rias embraces Gasper who is back to his original form. She has tears in her eyes.

“......I know. I don’t care what you are. You are my servant after all. Right, Gasper......”

Seeing such an emotional scene, all the members here nod their heads while having teary eyes.

Yeah, Gasper is our precious comrade! He is my precious junior!

While I think that strongly, Sensei declares that the spell to revive Valerie is completed.

While emitting a bright flash, the Holy Grail that was stolen from Valerie returns to her body.

“She should open her eyes with this......”

Since Sensei says that, everyone watched over her...... But she shows no sign of waking up. Sensei becomes dubious and start to check her.

“......That’s strange. She is breathing. But only her consciousness isn’t coming back......? Is there something else missing?”

Sensei tilts his head at this situation, but a voice belonging to a different person echoes.

“Ah, perhaps her consciousness that has been lost once already won’t return unless you put this back in her as well~.”

Vali makes an expression filled with rage at the appearance of that person.

“—I really wanted to see you, Rizevim Livan Lucifer!”

The one who appears in front of us is an old man who talks in a weird manner and with a foolish laughter.

And next to that old man— a single cup that resembles the Holy Grail floats in the air. Everyone opens their eyes wide seeing that!

The man—Rizevim continues to speak as he puts on a smirk.

“Yeah, the number of Holy Grails that Valerie-chan possesses is—three in total. So it’s a sub-species Longinus which is so extraordinary since it comes with three in one package~. I already allowed myself to extract one of them out before~. Though it seems like Marius-kun didn’t realise there were several of them~. It sure makes me laugh coming from a self-proclaimed researcher of the Holy Grails!”

—! There are three......Holy Grails!? And he already took one of them out!?

Rizevim who is laughing vulgarly stops and gives his greeting to Vali.

“Uncha? Uhyohyo~! It’s your grandpa Rizevim here you know~? Now then, our fun time will start from here~. So all the good kids listen to this old man here, okay?”

—His evil intention is about to begin.