Dragons appeared, each colossal as a small mountain, their imposing forms emanating a terrifying presence. Scarlet eyes glittered with violent menace, pitch-black scales shone with a metallic sheen, and fangs and claws glinted with a deadly chill. Their oppressive aura blotted out the sky like storm clouds.
As these Evil Dragons manifested, the previously spacious hall suddenly became stiflingly cramped.
"Those vampires... turned into dragons!?"
Issei Hyoudou stood frozen, his mind unable to catch up with the chaos unfolding before his eyes.
Azazel's chest heaved violently, anger rising within him to the brink of explosion as he surveyed the devastation.
"It's the [Sephiroth Graal]…" Azazel growled through clenched teeth, his voice trembling in rage. "Those bastards from Khaos Brigade… They used the [Sephiroth Graal]! Only that twisted [Sacred Gear], capable of overturning life and death itself, could transform dead vampires into Evil Dragons!"
"These vampires intended to use the [Sephiroth Graal] to transcend their weaknesses. At that time, we merely... slipped something extra into their bodies."
Speaking without even the slightest flicker of emotion or guilt, the silver-robed man shrugged casually, uttering chillingly indifferent words.
"With just a single thought, a snap of our fingers, these vampires become mass-produced Evil Dragons, indiscriminately destroying everything around them. Isn't that a fittingly ironic fate for their foolishness and naïveté?"
Azazel didn't reply, his body shaking violently from sheer rage. Such desecration, such contempt for life—it was utterly sickening, absolutely unforgivable.
"...Bastard!" Issei stepped forward, his body shrouded in fiercely burning dragon aura. "How dare you toy with life so casually!? I'll never forgive you!"
Even though these vampires were their enemies, foes they had just been fighting, compared to them, Khaos Brigade's blatant disregard and degradation of life was infinitely more infuriating—a transgression that drew universal wrath.
Not only Issei and Azazel, but everyone else's gazes toward the silver-robed man were now icy-cold, filled with lethal intent.
Yet, the silver-robed man remained completely unfazed.
"Once they harnessed the [Sephiroth Graal] to overcome their vampire weaknesses, they were no longer truly vampires. They became an entirely new race. My turning them into Evil Dragons is hardly any different."
Bullshit.
Azazel and the others would never accept his twisted logic. Between them lay an insurmountable gap in ideals. To Rias and the others, his reasoning was nothing but warped nonsense. Thus, without any moral hesitation, they had firmly resolved to kill him.
In fact, it was rare for them to feel such intense desire to utterly destroy someone.
"…"
At this moment, the usually timid Gasper screamed out in a near-hysterical shout, his gaze locked onto the silver-robed man with desperate intensity.
"Where is Valerie!? What did you do to Valerie!?"
For Gasper, the vampire territories were like hell itself. Each time he returned, unbearable memories would resurface, torturing him anew. But upon hearing that Valerie was in danger, he had resolutely joined the team and arrived here anyway.
He had come specifically to save Valerie. He knew very well that the [Sephiroth Graal] was her Longinus-class [Sacred Gear].
Since this silver-robed man wielded the power of the [Sephiroth Graal] to create Evil Dragons, then Valerie's current state must be…
Terrifying speculations flooded Gasper's mind, overwhelming him, suffocating him. Right now, he urgently needed to know the truth—he needed reality to be kinder, to confirm that his fears were unfounded, mere nightmares conjured by his own imagination.
But reality did not heed his prayers. The world did not revolve around anyone's wishes.
"When a [Sacred Gear] is forcibly extracted from its owner's body, the result is always the same. That vampire girl was no exception."
Like a sharp blade, the silver-robed man's words pierced directly into Gasper's heart, drawing out a torrent of blood.
From his feet upward, Gasper gradually lost sensation, sinking slowly into a bottomless swamp of despair. One sentence repeated incessantly in his mind: Valerie is dead.
"Gasper! Gasper, snap out of it!"
Seeing Gasper's eyes becoming vacant, Rias desperately shouted his name, trying to awaken him, but her cries seemed useless.
At precisely that moment, the Evil Dragons surrounding them roared ferociously, charging toward Azazel and the others—claws slashing down, jaws snapping forward, flames belching forth. Though mass-produced, they were far more troublesome than the original vampire soldiers.
Asia, aside from her healing [Sacred Gear: Twilight Healing] and the artificial [Sacred Gear:Down Fall Dragon Spear] left by Jeanne Alter, was essentially an ordinary girl—extremely vulnerable in this chaotic melee. Thankfully, Ophis stood protectively beside her, erecting an impenetrable magical barrier strengthened by her limitless magical reserves.
Azazel rapidly formed spears of pure light, hurling them relentlessly into the crowd of Evil Dragons. The golden spears rained down like a torrential storm, punctuated by cries of agony as one dragon after another was wounded or killed.
But when Azazel turned toward the silver-robed man, he realized with fury that the man had already turned away, clearly planning to escape.
"Damn it! Trying to run?!"
With his twelve wings beating powerfully, Azazel moved to pursue, only to be immediately blocked by swarms of Evil Dragons spewing scorching dragon fire. Forced to halt, Azazel quickly conjured a magical barrier, grimacing in frustration as his target slipped away.
"Ophis! That bastard from Khaos Brigade is getting away! Hurry up and deal with these Evil Dragons!"
Seeing the silver-robed man about to escape, Azazel knew there was no time to waste. He immediately called out to Ophis, hoping she'd finally intervene.
Ophis slowly lifted her head, staring blankly at Azazel as though puzzled by his shout.
Why are you just standing there watching?!
"Ophis..." Asia, who had been hiding nervously behind Ophis, spoke urgently. "Please, help everyone. That person might know where Jeanne-san went... I'm really worried about her."
Ophis had barely acknowledged Azazel's command, yet at Asia's gentle plea, she reacted differently. Even her usually expressionless face tightened subtly, as if she'd finally decided to take things seriously.
Azazel was about to quietly grumble about Ophis's blatant double standards when, before a single word left his mouth, Ophis suddenly raised a small hand.
In an instant—so brief that neither human nor creature could react—a terrifying pressure descended upon the Evil Dragons.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Not one after another, but simultaneously—all of them crushed and pulverized at the exact same moment. The powerful Evil Dragons, which had given Azazel and the others so much trouble, were reduced to mere bloody puddles on the ground.
Ophis hadn't done anything particularly flashy. She merely released her infinite magical energy, creating overwhelming pressure to crush them instantly—intentionally avoiding Azazel and his group, preventing any collateral damage.
Such a simple yet brutal method wouldn't normally even be called an attack. At most, it was intimidation. Yet, since it was Ophis, whose mana was literally boundless, the Evil Dragons' tough muscles and hard scales couldn't even endure for half a second.
Azazel felt a chill run down his spine as the dragons he'd struggled against were reduced to bloodstains on the floor in a blink.
The hall, previously crowded, suddenly felt spacious again. With his view clear, Azazel immediately spotted the silver-robed man, who seemed frozen in shock by Ophis's sudden move.
Then Ophis calmly stretched out her hand toward the man. Instantly, an overwhelming fear akin to directly confronting death engulfed him.
But before the silver-robed man could move, an invisible surge of magic slammed violently into him. With a deafening roar, everything below his neck, along with the floor beneath and the wall behind him, shattered to dust. The shockwave raised violent gusts, forcing Rias and the others to instinctively shield their faces.
When the dust settled, everyone lowered their hands, stunned speechless by the sight before them.
A huge ravine had appeared, stretching from Ophis's feet into the distance. Walls and ceilings were ripped away, revealing a mist-shrouded sky. Nearly a third of the majestic medieval-style castle had been obliterated by Ophis's casual strike.
Gulp.
Someone audibly swallowed. Understandable, considering they had just witnessed the terrifying power of Ophis firsthand.
Looking at her expressionless yet adorable face, no one would dare underestimate this seemingly innocent little girl again.
Truly befitting of the strongest existence—the Infinite Dragon God's power was horrifyingly immense.
In the center of the shocking chasm, they found the silver-robed man reduced to just a severed head. Without the hood covering his features, his true appearance was finally revealed.
The moment Rias saw that face clearly, her eyes widened in disbelief.
The silver hair, pure as moonlight, and that familiar long face stirred a sense of deep recognition within her. It reminded her vividly of someone.
"Heh! Did seeing this face finally jog your memory, little sister of the false Maou?"
The man noticed the flash of recognition in Rias's eyes, and contempt dripped from his voice.
Azazel stepped forward slowly, staring gravely at the silver-haired man. "You're... Grayfia's younger brother, aren't you? Grayfia has been looking for you all this time. We assumed you were dead... but you joined Khaos Brigade instead?"
"Don't mention that traitor in front of me!"
The silver-haired man's eyes flared with hatred at the mention of Grayfia. His reaction resembled not familial bitterness but pure enmity toward an enemy.
"I am Lucifuge… Euclid Lucifuge. Our Lucifuge clan served as the right hand of the true Lucifer for generations, loyal and trusted above all. But my sister abandoned our name, choosing instead to serve that false Maou. Don't lump me together with a traitor like her!"
Azazel stared directly into Euclid's eyes, discerning a resolute determination there. This man had willingly chosen to join Khaos Brigade and become a terrorist.
"So you believe that the one you now serve is superior to Sirzechs, more deserving of the title Maou?"
After his earlier rage, Euclid suddenly smiled, mocking either Grayfia or perhaps everyone present.
"Of course. That person embodies everything I seek in a true Devil. That's why I follow him."
Hearing that, Azazel's frown deepened, his expression growing darker by the second.
He had a strong suspicion about the identity of the "Devil" Euclid referred to, probably the current leader of Khaos Brigade.
Though not entirely certain, Azazel's instincts told him he was very likely correct.
That guy is a genuine bastard. Taking the [Sephiroth Graal] and immediately turning his own allies into Evil Dragons fit perfectly with his twisted style, which explained Azazel's grim expression.
Such a terrifying Longinus capable of defying nature and desecrating life falling into that madman's hands would result in horrors Azazel didn't dare imagine.
"Well, at least we stopped you before the worst could happen."
Azazel let out a sigh of relief, smiling bitterly at Euclid's severed head. "The [Sephiroth Graal] must be on you. Once we retrieve it, our goal will be achieved, and your plan completely fails."
"I admit we underestimated you. We never expected that after removing the Dragon Witch beforehand, someone else would still command the Infinite Dragon God, Ophis."
As he spoke, Euclid coldly glanced at Asia, standing at the back of the group, making her shiver slightly from his piercing gaze.
"But... do you really think our plan has completely failed?"
"What do you mean—wait, are you saying...?!" Azazel's face drastically changed as he realized something critical, staring intently at Euclid with widening eyes.
"The [Sephiroth Graal] isn't on you!? How's that possible?!"
"Once we learned you brought not only the Dragon Witch but also Ophis, we accelerated our plans. The [Sephiroth Graal] was taken away long before you arrived. Besides, the one before you now isn't even my real body. It's merely a clone created using the [Sephiroth Graal] and fragments of my body tissue. Killing this body won't affect me in the slightest—it was only meant to buy time."
They had been thoroughly tricked—utterly played for fools!
Even Azazel, who had rushed here immediately after receiving the intel, had fallen behind every step. Furious, he considered blasting Euclid's irritating head into oblivion with a spear of light, even if only to vent his frustration.
Just then, a sudden cry rang out.
"Gasper!"
The cry came from Asia. Since Gasper had been unstable from earlier, Rias had left him in Asia's care during the fight.
The sudden scream drew everyone's attention. Even Azazel spun around, as an eerie, distorted aura rapidly spread throughout the area.
Darkness… blackness… an all-consuming abyss began to encroach upon reality itself.
The figure standing there was less a creature and more like a writhing mass of pure darkness. Its silhouette resembled a beast—sharp claws, multiple pairs of wings, long, powerful limbs, and a dragon-like head crowned with horns and fangs. Fiery red eyes glowed menacingly, evoking a cursed chill that pierced straight to the bone.
Asia stared anxiously at the creature, worry shining clearly in her glistening eyes.
She desperately wished this was some terrible mistake, yet… this was reality.
That dark beast-like shape—undeniably—was Gasper.