Chapter 313 - Divine Dividing
When the explosion subsided, everyone froze for a moment, then stared at the two figures in the center with stunned expressions.
"This is the battle between them?" someone muttered, swallowing hard, their eyes wide with lingering horror.
It was terrifying.
Even those who had witnessed Vali and Mahiro's earlier clash found the destructive power of Apollon overwhelming.
Despite the barrier containing the explosion's aftermath, its sheer force instilled dread.
"Even the Two Heavenly Dragons rarely unleashed attacks of this magnitude," an angel remarked.
A survivor of the Great War, he had been fortunate enough to avoid death and witness the original Two Heavenly Dragons in battle.
Back then, their desperate struggle had disrupted the Three Factions' battlefield.
"It feels like the gap between me and Mahiro keeps widening," Rias sighed.
When Vali unleashed Juggernaut Drive, she had been shocked and feared Mahiro couldn't withstand it.
Yet, Mahiro revealed this devastating trump card.
Rias felt both disappointed and elated.
She had thought reaching Ultimate-Class would bring her closer to Mahiro, but the distance only seemed to grow.
"Mahiro-kun never fails to surprise, just like always," Akeno beamed.
Mahiro always exceeded expectations.
"So strong," Koneko murmured, her eyes flickering with a competitive glint.
"Is Mahiro already this powerful?" Sona said, falling silent for a long moment.
'They're both monsters. Can Cao Cao really defeat him?' Jeanne wondered inwardly.
The combat prowess displayed by Mahiro and Vali made her feel inadequate.
Cao Cao had tasked her with recruiting Mahiro to the Hero Faction, and if he refused, Cao Cao would personally intervene to take him by force.
Jeanne admired Cao Cao's strength as the strongest Longinus host, but after witnessing this battle, doubts crept in.
What would happen if Mahiro's terrifying arrow targeted Cao Cao?
"Thankfully, it's contained," Sirzechs glanced at the shattered barrier and ruined buildings.
He sighed, then smiled wryly. "Mahiro really knows how to cause a mess."
But his tone carried a hint of amusement, as if he found Mahiro's chaos endearing.
"Michael, are you alright?" Sirzechs asked, glancing at the fading golden light around the archangel.
"I'm fine. Maintaining the barrier just took some energy," Michael replied, shaking his head.
Sirzechs had borne the brunt of the effort, but even so, Michael had expended considerable power.
"It seems the battle between the Two Heavenly Dragons has a victor," Sirzechs said, looking at Vali, still floating in the sky.
"A rare generation where the Two Heavenly Dragons settle their rivalry so early," Michael remarked.
In the past, hosts of the Two Heavenly Dragons clashed hundreds of times without a clear winner after their first encounter.
"This generation is unlike any before," Sirzechs noted.
Vali, with lucifer bloodline, and Mahiro, capable of slaying High-Class foes without relying on a sacred gear, far surpassed previous hosts.
When Mahiro received the system prompt, he exhaled in relief and smiled.
Apollon was his strongest attack yet, and as expected, it had defeated Vali in Juggernaut Drive.
In the sky, Vali maintained his defensive posture, but he had lost consciousness.
No matter how Albion called, he didn't respond.
Residual demonic power kept him aloft.
A faint sound emanated from Vali—the armor.
Cracks marred its once-pristine surface.
With a sharp crack, the armor shattered completely, fragments falling from Vali's body to the ground.
Only Divine Dividing's light wings remained.
Vali's body was covered in scars.
Apollon's strike had pierced the armor, leaving him gravely injured and on the brink of death.
Mahiro prepared to deliver the final blow.
Though he knew Vali was aligned with the Khaos Brigade, not a true enemy of the Three Factions, Mahiro had no interest in bonding with him like Issei did in the anime.
More importantly, he needed Divine Dividing.
But before Mahiro could strike, a figure intercepted him, clad in golden armor with twelve black wings spread wide.
"Azazel, what's the meaning of this?" Mahiro demanded.
Azazel had used Fafnir, one of the Dragon Kings, to craft the Down Fall Dragon Spear, a Sacred Gear rivaling a Longinus.
In its Balance Breaker, the Down Fall Dragon Spear's armor amplified Azazel's power as a Satan-Class being, nearly matching a transcendent's might.
Mahiro knew breaking through Azazel's defense wouldn't be easy.
"Hey, Red Dragon Emperor, how about we call it quits?" Azazel's voice, slightly strained, came from the golden armor.
He chuckled awkwardly. "You've already won, and Vali's in no shape to keep fighting."
"Azazel, are you trying to save Vali?" Michael asked sternly.
"He's allied with terrorists."
"I know, I know," Azazel said, sounding resigned.
"Vali's made mistakes, but I raised him. I've got a soft spot for the kid."
"I can't just watch him die. Besides, his going astray is partly my fault as his guardian."
"For my sake, let him go. In return, I'll fully support your future plans."
Suddenly, something appeared beside Vali.
A figure swiftly pulled Vali into it before anyone could react, and they vanished.
Azazel froze.
"You owe me a favor."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Azazel replied, reluctantly agreeing.
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