If anyone asked, Issei would not hesitate to admit to them that he had been looking forward to this match day against the Astaroth, all for the reason that he could legally punch Diodora in the face.
"Is everyone ready?" Rias asked, glancing around the clubroom. Ingvild, Ravel and Irina had gone on ahead with Azazel to join the other big names in the VIP spectate room, leaving the Gremory Peerage behind to go on with their final preparations for the upcoming match.
"Yes!" the group answered in unison; their voices filled with determination.
Issei, who had just finished putting away all of his Gate items and gears into his inventory, answered with a firm nod to his master and girlfriend. "All set."
"Let's go!" Rias said, her Peerage following her as they stepped into the teleportation magic circle together.
In a flash of light, the Gremory group vanished from the clubroom, reappearing an instance later inside the VIP conference room reserved for VIPs to watch the game and the pre-match confrontation, the same one they had been to before the match against the Sitri. Most of the faction leaders were already present, seated in their designated spots and chatting idly with one another. Issei quickly spotted Ingvild in the crowd, and she waved her hand at him with a beaming smile before she turned back to talk to Aphrodite, who also had a smile on her face when she saw him looking in their direction.
On the other side of the room, the Astaroth Peerage had already taken their position, with Diodora sitting comfortably in his chair there with his usual smile on his face. When he noticed their arrival, his squinted purple eyes briefly flicked toward Issei.
Standing around Diodora, meanwhile, was a full Peerage of fifteen members, all young females. Just one glance was enough for Issei to tell that most of them possessed decent magical power, but what truly caught his attention, though, was the fact that many of them were dressed in modified versions of nun uniforms.
"Everyone, can I have your attention, please." With the arrival of the final group of guests, Sirzechs Lucifer finally rose from his seat and spoke up with his usual relaxed smile on his face "Now that both Peerages are present, we can begin. Today marks the fourth official match of the Young Devil Rating Game Tournament, and the stage is set for Rias Gremory versus Diodora Astaroth."
"As you all might have been informed, this match will follow standard Rating Game rules, meaning Gate-items and related abilities are prohibited. Any team caught using them during the match will face immediate disqualification as well as termination from the tournament."
With that, he gestured to the side, prompting Horace, who had been waiting silently behind him, to step forward and present the audience the intricate gold box in his hands. Inside were two small vials of Phoenix Tears, carefully secured in velvet lining.
"However," Sirzechs continued "as part of the standard setup, each team will be provided with a single vial of Phoenix Tears. The battlefield will be revealed shortly after this meeting, and both teams will be given thirty minutes to review the layout and adjust their strategies accordingly."
At his signal, Rias and Diodora both stepped forward to accept their respective vials.
"Best of luck, Rias." Diodora said smoothly, his voice and smile polite but insincere as ever. "I look forward to a clean and honorable match against you and your servants."
Rias took her vial from the box without so much as a glance in his direction. "We'll see soon enough, Diodora."
The smile Diodora wore on his face twitched, but he maintained his composure. After taking his vials, he turned slightly toward Sirzechs and the rest of the observing officials and audience.
"If I may." he said, raising his voice just enough to be heard across the room. "I would like to make a formal request regarding a specific ability of Hyoudou Issei."
The room grew slightly more focused as eyes turned to him. Issei narrowed his eyes at the Astaroth devil, who then continued his speech as he turned to look directly at him
"I'm aware of his capability to store his so-called Shadow Soldiers within the shadows of his allies to protect them from harm. Even now, I can feel their presence underneath Rias and her other servants. Since the shadows fall under the Gate-Ability Category, and I cannot trust them or their master to stay docile during the match, I would like to request the removal of them, at least from his allies, so we can begin this match on fair and equal grounds, with no pre-positioned advantages. Who knows what else he can do with them, other than having them fight his battle."
A few murmurs spread across the room, some from the observing officials, others from audience members watching from their seats. From the look of it, many seemed to agree with the reasoning Diodora had given, and the Astaroth devil looked extra pleased because of it.
Issei, on the other hand, just glared back at him, unamused.
Sirzechs let the moment settle before speaking.
"Very well." Issei said flatly before Sirzechs could request him to do just that. With a simple order, the shadow soldiers he had stored inside the shadows of his friends swiftly returned to his own, rejoining the rest of the army. "But don't start crying when things still don't go your way, got it?"
Diodora simply gave a polite nod in response, but for the first time, he opened his eyes to look directly at Issei. There was that same trace of mockery in them, but Issei just shrugged it off.
Sirzechs gave a small nod, satisfied. "Then with all matters resolved, we will now begin the match."
At his signal, two magic circles flared to life, one for each Peerage.
"Both teams, please step into your respective teleportation zones. You'll be sent to your bases to prepare. The match will begin in ten minutes."
Rias turned to her Peerage and spoke to them firmly. "Let's go, everyone!"
With no further words, the Gremory group stepped into their circle, bathed in red light. Across the room, Diodora and his Peerage did the same, their circle glowing a pale green.
In a flash of light, both teams vanished from the conference room, being teleported to the battlefield where everything would soon be decided.
The familiar sensation of teleportation washed over Issei as the magic circle activated beneath their feet. The world around him blurred into crimson light, just as it always did every time he was transported via teleportation magic.
But this time… he could tell something was off.
Issei couldn't explain it, but there was this… strange feeling that washed over him, setting off his inner alarm briefly. It was subtle, barely noticeable, but Issei had experienced enough strange occurrences to know when something didn't feel right.
And by the time the red glow faded and the world around him came into focus, that unease had only grown stronger.
"Something's wrong." Rias suddenly called out as she walked on ahead, confirming his feeling.
Their base, meanwhile, took on the form of what looked like an ancient structure, with tall marble pillars, open halls, and architecture that clearly resembled something out of Greek mythology. It looked like the ruins of an old temple, with open-air balconies and a view of distant mountains.
But none of them were focused on the setting.
Because it didn't take long for everyone to realize something, or rather, someone was missing.
"Wait, where's Asia?" It was Xenovia who asked the question, which hit them like a bucket of cold water. Everyone turned, looking around the base, but there was no sign of her.
Before anyone could speak again, a magic circle lit up in front of them, flickering briefly before expanding into a large floating screen. On it, the image of Diodora appeared, lounging comfortably in a high-backed, throne-like chair. A smug smile rested on his face as he leaned to the side, revealing two of his servants holding Asia by the arms. She was clearly struggling, eyes wide with fear and confusion.
"ASIA!" Issei cried out in anger while glaring murderously at the Astaroth devil "Diodora, you bastard! Let her go…"
"Tch, how noisy… what a filthy and loudmouth dragon, indeed." Diodora remarked with a look of disdain on his face before he continued while looking directly at Rias. "Rias Gremory, I shall take Asia Argento with me."
As he finished saying that, numerous magic circles appeared around him, and from there, several figures emerged. Some were dressed in black robes, others in armors… but the one thing that they all had in common was the fact that the symbols that they bore were different from one another, which could only mean one thing.
"Khaos Brigade." Kiba as he summoned his Holy-Demonic Blade, eyes narrowing on the encroaching threat while the rest of the Peerage shifted into a battle stance instantly around him. The expressions of all those individuals standing around Diodora were enough of the answers they were.
"Diodora, you traitor!" Rias shouted, her crimson aura flaring with rage as she stepped forward, her eyes fixed on him with contempt. "Are you telling me you were connected to the Khaos Brigade this whole time!?"
Diodora chuckled at first… then burst into full-blown laughter.
"Hahahaha, of course. Do you take me for a fool? Staying with them means I can do anything I want, whenever I want. No rules, no chains. And you? Feel free to struggle as much as you want. I intend to become one with Asia while you are busy with the little welcome party heading your way. You know what I mean, don't you, Sekiryuutei?"
Issei's jaw tightened as his fists clenched at his sides. His teeth ground together while his dark red aura flared around him. He didn't say a word, but not that he would need to. The rage behind his glowing eyes was enough for everyone, including Diodora, to know how he was feeling.
"Ahem. Guys! It's Azazel. Sorry to interrupt, but it seems we're having a small situation here."
Before the others could say a word in response to Diodora, a loud buzz came from a nearby speaker, and Azazel could be heard speaking to them through it from the spectate room while the sound of fighting echoed in the background.
[Listen closely. The Rating Game has been compromised. We are being attacked by members of the Old Maou Faction of Khaos Brigade. Currently, both the VIP area as well as your battlefield are flooded with devils from the Faction.]
[The good news is that the leaders are safe, and we are all working together to contain the situation.]
[So that leaves you guys with that traitor on the screen before you. We have confirmed that Diodora Astaroth is working with the Khaos Brigade. There is a barrier around the field that is keeping us from teleporting to you guys, so right now it's your job to eliminate him and rescue Asia, by any means necessary.]
"No need to tell us, Azazel-sensei." Issei said determinedly. The words may have been for their teacher, but his voice and tone were clearly directed at the man who had taken Asia.
""Hmph, I suppose it can't be helped…" Diodora muttered with a smug grin before he spoke up loud and clear. "Then how about we turn this into a little game, Rias? Since the official match is already canceled, let's at least use this opportunity to see which of us is the better pure-blood devil. Who knows—maybe you and your servants can entertain me for a bit and help set the mood… for me and Asia."
His smile widened at his own twisted joke, clearly finding the whole situation amusing.
"I'll be waiting with Asia inside the temple across from your base. Your goal is simple—reach me. Along the way, I'll send out my servants to stop you."
He leaned back slightly, resting comfortably as he continued, "The only rule is this: neither of us can reuse the same pieces once they've been deployed in battle. Other than that, anything goes."
"For the first match…" He added with a smirk, "I'll be sending out my eight Pawns and two Rooks. And just so you know, all eight Pawns have already been promoted to Queens. That should be more than enough to test your little group, don't you think so, Rias…"
But Issei never let Diodora finish his sentence.
Everything happened faster than anyone could react….
[Skill Activate] – Shadow Exchange.
In a burst of shadows, Issei vanished from his spot, leaving behind a small army of shadow troopers and four of his commanders, including Blade, the shadow he had swapped places with.
Rias and the rest of her Peerage watched with wide eyes, stunned at first, then flooded with relief, as Issei reappeared on the screen right beside Asia. Without wasting a moment, he drove his fist into the faces of the two girls restraining her, knocking them out cold before they even realized he was there. He caught Asia as she stumbled forward, gently lowering her to the ground before immediately snapping his attention to Diodora, who barely even had the time to widen his eyes in shock.
Leaving Gladio behind to protect Asia, Issei surged forward, grabbing the Astaroth devil by the back of the head with his gauntleted hand, and slammed him face-first into the crystal communicator he had been using to talk to them, shattering it and breaking his nose with a sickening crunch. As the magic screen blinked out, Issei spun around and hurled Diodora across the room, throwing him into his seat. The impact obliterated the throne and the entire section of wall behind it in a violent explosion of stone and dust.
Gasps and movement followed as the Khaos Brigade devils who had been standing around Diodora recovered from the shock and rushed toward Issei. None of them was able to get far, as Issei set off the air around him in an inferno of dragon fire, knocking them back. Catching the moment that they stumbled, he rushed forward with Ascalon at his side, and slashed clean through the first devil in front of him, the holy blade glowing with a holy dragon flame as it tore through armor and flesh like paper. The devil barely had time to scream before his body split apart.
Not wasting a second, Issei lunged toward the next devil, ducking under a wild swing and driving his fist into their gut, feeling their ribs shattered under the force behind the blow while the body was lifted off the ground before being launched like a bullet through the ceiling. A third enemy came in with a blade, aiming for his side. Issei blocked with Ascalon, sparks flying, then twisted and kicked their knee backward, snapping it. Before the scream came, he spun the holy sword around and decapitated him.
Two more devils charged at once. One cast a spell, the other kept low with his twin blades. Issei backhanded the magic projectile out of the way with his Boosted Gear before taking a leap into the air to descend toward them, Ascalon first, splitting the caster from shoulder to waist in a single motion. The other tried to backpedal, but Issei spun around and held his fist out, using [Ruler's Hand] to hold them in place before coldly clenching his fist, snapping their neck before they could make a sound.
Before the body could collapse, a devil roared and rushed from behind with a massive axe raised overhead. Issei turned and caught the handle mid-swing, stopping the weapon cold before driving his blade into the chest, piercing straight through the armor and heart. He yanked the blade out with a sharp twist and kicked the corpse back into another approaching enemy, knocking them both down.
The last group of about a dozen devils hesitated, their courage wavering as they saw the bodies piling up while Issei walked toward them. From the shadow beneath his feet, his new Orc troop emerged, roaring with feral fury as they charged at their enemies with brutal axes and hammers in hands. The scene that unfolded was nothing but a massacre as the Shadow Orcs tore their enemies apart, but Issei simply ignored it to welcome Asia into his arms, with Gladio walking closely behind her.
"You're safe now." Issei said softly as he held Asia close. "I've got you."
Asia leaned back slightly, lips parting to speak.
But before a word could leave her mouth, the space around them lit up. Dozens of green magic circles materialized in the air, surrounding them on all sides, each one bearing the sigil of the Astaroth household. They activated at once, and explosions thundered out in rapid succession as waves of magic blasts and elemental projectiles slammed into the ground around Issei and Asia like artillery, sending dust, rocks and debris flying in every direction.
The entire temple rumbled under the force of the assault, while shockwaves tore apart what was left of the bodies Issei had dropped earlier. The barrage went on for several seconds, relentless and deafening—until, just as suddenly as it began, it stopped.
"Die… filthy pieces of trash." Emerging from the collapsed wall where Issei had thrown him into, Diodora stood with both hands raised, breathing hard. His bloodied face twisted in a grin, unable to hide the rush of joy of victory building in his chest even as pain still lingered through his half-healed body,
For a brief moment, Diodora Astaroth thought he had won.
But the feeling of triumph was washed away as the dust began to settle, revealing a dome-shaped barrier in the center of the temple. A single, black shield stood planted firmly in the ground at the front of the barrier, its surface scorched but uncracked.
"Nice work, Aegis." Issei called out in praise. In response, the latest addition to his shadow army lifted the Attractive Shield and stood up. As the towering, armored warrior rose to his full height, the barrier he had raised shimmered for a moment before fading away, revealing Issei, Asia, Gladio, completely unharmed by the magical assault.
"Impossible…" Diodora uttered in disbelief.
"Wait here, Asia." Issei spoke to the blonde in his arms, earning a small nod from her before releasing her from his embrace to start advancing toward Diodora "Gladio, Aegis, watch over Asia."
Both shadows lowered their heads to him in silent acknowledgment.
The moment they did, Issei shot forward like a bullet. Diodora barely had time to raise his hands before a crushing right hook slammed into his face, sending him staggering back with blood flying from his mouth. His legs buckled beneath him, but Issei didn't give him a chance to fall as he grabbed the Astaroth devil by the collar and pulled him right back to drive his knee into his gut hard enough to lift him off the ground.
Diodora wheezed, the air ripped from his lungs, but still tried to summon another spell. A green magic circle flickered to life beneath his palm, but it was instantly shattered as Issei grabbed his wrist and crushed it with a twist, forcing a scream out of him.
"You think I wouldn't take precautions after the trick you pulled against Glasya-Labolas and the constant harassment you have given Asia?" Issei asked coldly as he walked toward Diodora, who was trying to crawl away from him. "Call me a cheater if you want, but from the beginning, I never planned to leave Asia alone, not when a scum like you is around."
He had had some suspicion, yes, but thanks to Vali and his team coming to warn him of Diodora, Issei had decided to take them seriously.
So, while the rest of his Shadows had been recalled before the Rating Game began—as per the rules—Issei had made one exception.
Blade.
After achieving the Elite Knight Grade, Blade could hide his presence so completely that not even someone who was extremely skilled in reading and sensing the flow of magic like Akeno could detect him unless he chose to reveal himself. It was a feat beyond even the Shadow Mages, who could mask their presence with magic, and his fellow elves, whose concealment skills still fell short by comparison.
That was why, just before they teleported to the conference room, Issei had ordered Blade to take a spot with Asia and stay hidden the entire time. It was meant to serve as a simple insurance that no matter what happened during the match, in the situation that Diodora somehow managed to find his way to her while she was alone, someone would be there to watch over her and ensure her safety. And if things ever got truly dangerous, Issei could swap places with his shadow instantly and be by her side in a heartbeat.
He had discussed it with Rias beforehand, and they both agreed, winning the Rating Game would be great, keeping Asia safe from Diodora should come before everything else, especially after how uncomfortable the Astaroth devil had been making her feel. Of course, he had planned that without taking into consideration that Diodora was a traitor working with the Khaos Brigade, so when the truth came out, that single precaution turned out to be the most undeniably right call he could have made. Without a doubt.
"Lemme guess, you got a snake from Ophis." Issei said, leaning his body to the side to dodge a magic blast being shot at him from Diodora. "That's how you got that magic boost to beat Zephyrdol, wasn't it?"
Diodora's expression twisted in rage, but there was no denial in his eyes, and only frustration that Issei had figured it out so easily.
"And from the look of it, it's clear to me you have used another?" Issei asked as he picked Diodora up by his collar "What? Afraid that you're not strong enough on your own to beat me?"
"SHUT UP, YOU FILTHY TRASH!"
Diodora roared, his face twisted in fury as he threw his hands up and unleashed a violent blast of green flame at Issei. But Issei had already let go of him and sidestepped with ease, letting the flames roar past his face harmlessly before slamming his metal gauntlet into Diodora's side.
Grimacing in pain, Diodora tried to conjure a barrier to push Issei back, but the Sekiryuutei shattered it with a single punch. The green jewel on the back of his gauntlet flared with a brief boost, just enough to break through, though the impact still sent Diodora flying into a pillar. As Diodora slumped to one knee, Issei dusted his shirt and walked toward him with Ascalon in one hand.
"H-How could this be…" Diodora coughed while trying to pick himself up "I-I was… supposed to have had my power increased drastically with the power from the Diabolos Dragon itself! How…"
"Because you are weak, that's why."
In response to the comment Issei made, Diodora screamed and fired a barrage of spells, flame, ice, curse, anything he could summon in blind rage at him. The blast struck the ground around the Sekiryuutei and erupted in a massive explosion, swallowing the entire area in smoke and fire.
"Hahahahaha!" Diodora roared with manic laughter as debris rained down around him. "Did you see that?! My demonic power is far greater than yours! A brainless brute like the Red Dragon Emperor can never—!"
A gust of wind blew through the smoke, before a silver slashed tore through the air across Diodora. Diodora's mouth remained hung open as the holy flame blade of Ascalon carved across his chest, slicing through his robe and deep into his flesh. Blood sprayed as he staggered back, the light of the holy sword burning where it struck and causing the devil to collapse while roaring in pain.
"Aaaahhg! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!" He howled, thrashing and clawing at his chest as if he could rip the pain away with his bare hands.
Issei was about to advance toward him when he suddenly felt a shift in the air behind him. Snapping around, he raised both his blade and Boosted Gear just in time to catch a pair of swords crashing down on him. Sparks flew as metal met metal before he swung Ascalon wide, forcing the attackers to jump back from him.
"You two…"
He blinked, recognizing the two young women in nun-like uniforms, their swords trembling slightly in their grip.
The Knights of the Astaroth Peerage.
"Get away from our master!" The two cried in unison, desperation in their voices as they lunged again, their faces contorted in a mix of fear and loyalty. Issei waited for them to reach him to step forward, catching the first blades with his gauntlet before twisting his wrist to parry the other, knocking both of them off balance. Twirling around, he kicked the first one in the gut before punching the others, sending them both flying and crashing into the wall of the temple around them.
As Issei recovered from his attacks, he looked to the side and saw two more girls barreling toward him, recognizing them to be the two Rooks of the Peerage, their gauntlets cocking back as they prepared to punch him. Before their blows could land, however, two streaks of movement intercepted them, clashing against their gauntlets before knocking them both back.
"Sorry we're late, Ise." Xenovia said with a grin as she landed beside Issei with Durandal in one hand.
"Had to fight our way here, but we've come to assist you, Issei-kun." Kiba said with his trademark smile before looking at Diodora, who was surrounded by his servants, with the rest arriving shortly after the Rooks and Knights had recovered. "But it doesn't seem like you really need our help. Sorry we couldn't stop his servants. They retreated as soon as they realized you were attacking their master."
"It's okay. I'm glad to see that you guys and everyone are alright." Issei grinned, looking over his shoulder just as Rias and the rest of the Peerage arrived with the shadows he had assigned to them. Irina soared overhead, her white wings flustering as she descended beside Asia, who beamed at her best friend before the two embraced.
"Diodora-sama, are you…"
"Damn you all! What took you so long!?" Didora roared at the Bishop who tried to help him up, backhanding her across the face before he snapped his attention over to Asia, who flinched as she took cover behind Xenovia and Irina. "Asia! Asia Argento! Get over here and heal me! I command you! Your master commands you!"
"N-No!" Asia said, shakily at first before she found her courage to cry out loudly "No!"
"H-How dare you!?" Diodora screeched, coughing violently. "I created you for myself! How dare you say no to me!?"
"Created!?" Xenovia repeated, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion "What do you mean created!?"
"Could it be…" Irina gasped in realization, her hands shooting up to cover up her mouth.
"You orchestrated her exile from the Church, didn't you, Diodora?" Issei snarled in anger as he pointed his blade at the devil on the ground.
"About time you realized that."
A smooth, amused, and seductive voice cut through the air, causing Issei and his friends to snap their heads to the side, eyes narrowing in alarm whey they spotted a familiar figure reclining sideways on the collapsed remains of the temple throne, with one bare leg draping lazily over the other while her boot bouncing off in the air with casual rhythm.
"Bedelia!" Issei called out in shock, acknowledging the vampiric woman who raised her hand and waved her fingers at him.
"Hey there. We meet again, little dragon. Mind if I crash this little party of yours?" She asked, and it was then that Issei realized the two of them had been communicating in her language, and not in anything that his friends could understand.
"Did you come here to help him?" Issei growled, eyebrows raising as he clenched Ascalon tightly in his hand. Blade and Gladio were standing at his side, but even with them, it was hard for him to say if he could take this woman on or not. She might not look like it, but her mana was off the chart.
It was in a complete league of its own. She was stronger than any monster he had ever faced.
Bedelia chuckled and tilted her head. "Oh no, my dear dragon. I merely came here to watch. And I must say… the show has been delightful."
"You… you were with Shalba!" Diodora cried out, crawling toward Bedelia, desperation in his voice. She barely spared him a glance, amusement flickering in her crimson eyes as she lounged on the rubble like a bored spectator with one hand resting on her thigh.
Issei heard Rias gasp sharply beside him. It was clear that she recognized the name Shalba.
"P-Please!" Diodora pleaded. "You can kill the Red Dragon Emperor! Kill him, and I will give you anything you want!"
Bedelia arched an eyebrow, the armored nail of one of her fingers trailing thoughtfully along her bottom lip. "Hmm. Tempting offer…" She said in a teasing tone before letting her hand fall with a dismissive flick. "But honestly, what could you possibly have that I'd want? I'm not into little creeps with a fetish for corrupted nuns. You figured that out about him too, didn't you?"
She asked, directing her gaze at Issei.
Before he could respond to her, Bedelia casted her gaze back to Diodora and spoke to him. "I have no intention to help you, but I can let you in on a little secret. That crystal that Shalba gave you… it might be able to help you."
"Crystal?" Diodora repeated before widening his eyes in realization, reaching his hand into the inner pocket of his robe to pull out a small, red gem "This?"
"Like I would let you!"
Issei said and shot forward, having no intention of finding out what secret plan that Diodora had.
But he never reached him.
With an almost casual flicker of movement, Bedelia vanished from where she lounged, moving even faster than Issei did. In a blink of an eye, she was right in front of him, standing between Issei and Diodora with her hand reaching out to stop his blade, catching it between her fingers with relative ease.
"Uh-uh," She said. "I said I came to watch, not that I'd let you cut the show short."
Before Issei could react, her palm slammed into his chest with bone-cracking force, sending him skidding backward across the rubble, tearing up stone and dust as he went. Gritting his teeth, Issei stabbed his sword down and stopped himself, just as Blade and Gladio rushed past him to come at Bedelia, who sidestepped and knocked Gladio away with a backhand before leaping over Blade, landing behind him with his head in hand.
All of this she did in a blink of an eye.
"No! Stay where you are!" Issei roared to Rias and his friends before they could rush in to aid him, sweat trickling down the side of his face as he kept his gaze on Bedelia.
"Good kids."
Bedelia giggled as she tossed the severed head over her shoulder, letting it roll across the cracked floor before she turned her attention back to Diodora as Blade reformed a distance away. For the first time since he became a Shadow, the expression on his face was not of smugness, but anger and frustration as he glared at the enemy that had beheaded him so easily.
"Now then." She said, turning fully around to look at Diodora. "Go on. Use the crystal already."
Diodora, still hunched and shaking, looked up and asked. "Wh-What does it do…?"
Her grin widened, eyes glinting with cruel amusement. "Oh, it's simple. Just pour your power into it, and it'll return the favor tenfold. Of course…" she paused for effect, then added sweetly as she casted her gaze to the young women standing around him. "Anything needs fuel, and the fuel for endless power is life force. All these pretty little things around you? It'll suck them dry. But you'll get stronger. Probably strong enough to take on the little dragon over there. Of course, the choice of whether or not…oh?"
Bedelia could only gasp, though in pleasant surprise as Diodora, without even a moment of hesitation, started pouring his power into the crystal in his hand.
Understanding what was about to happen, the Bishop who tried to heal him was already fearfully backing away with tears trickling down the side of her face "D-Diodora-sama… please don't—"
But Diodora merely started laughing hysterically, his veins bulging and glowing faint red beneath his skin as he held the crystal high above his head. The gemstone flared violently, casting an eerie red light across the ruined temple before translucent tendrils of crimson energy burst out from the gem like hungry serpents, lashing onto the nearest living beings, his own servants.
"No! Please, no—!"
"Diodora-sama, wait!"
"We're your loyal servants—!"
Issei and the Gremory Peerage could do nothing but watch, in shock and horror as one by one, Diodora's servants fell to their knees as the light was ripped from their eyes. Even as they tried to crawl away, Diodora shot his hands out and casted a spell to yank them right back, leaving her unable to do anything but scream while her lifeforce was sucked away from her.
"You see this, Rias!? This is what it means to be a King! THIS IS HOW YOU USE YOUR SERVANTS." Diodora continued to laugh like a madman, even as his wing yanked desperately at his robe, her eyes pleading him to stop.
"P-please… please…"
Then, as she fell limp at his side, her eyes losing its light as her lifeforce was drained dry, her shriveled body crumpling to the bloodstained ground like discarded cloth, Diodora started changing. The crystal pulsed one final time before it shattered in his hand, the shards dissolving into his skin. A horrible sound followed, bones snapping, muscles twisting, flesh warping. The Astaroth devil then doubled over, howling not in pain, but in savage delight as his body contorted grotesquely.
His robes tore apart as his frame expanded, sinew and bone stretching unnaturally. His arms lengthened into muscular limbs ending in jagged black claws. With the wound on his chest healing, his skin started to harden, darkening to a mottled gray, with pulsating veins glowing red beneath the surface like magma cracks through stone. His mouth widened into a permanent, crooked grin full of too many needle-like teeth. Two twisted horns curled from his forehead, pushing through slick, blood-matted hair, and from his back burst a pair of malformed bat-like wings, leathery, flapping spasmodically before a long, thick tail lashed out from behind him, crushing the floor beneath it with a single strike. His legs bent backward at the knees, hooved and uneven, and his eyes were now just burning coals of crimson madness.
"Ooh, this went even better than I thought." Bedelia clapped her hands in delight before looking over her shoulder, flashing Issei a seductive wink before her form started to fade away. "All yours now. Have fun."
With that, Bedelia finally disappeared, leaving Issei behind to face off against the monster Diodora had become as he roared at him. In response, his gaze merely hardened, knuckle cracking as he tightened his grip around Ascalon.
"Tch… at least you finally look like the monster that you are, Diodora." He muttered, disgust and fury mixing in his voice as he casted a glance to Rias and the others, seeing them nodding their heads to him in understanding. "Let's end this."
[WELSH DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER] – CRIMSON SCALE MAIL
Crimson aura surged around him as Issei activated his ultimate, donning himself in the Level 2 Scale Mail before a pair of dragon wings burst from his back.
"DIIIIIIIEEEEEE!"
Diodora snarled and lunged forward like a wild beast, claws raking the ground as he charged. Issei met him head on, crashing into him with a thunderous boom that sent shockwaves across the ruined temple before he slashed Ascalon upward, leaving a deep gash that caused blood to spill out in thick, hissing globs. Despite the fact that his flesh was still that of a devil, and that he was clearly in a lot of pain because of the holy energy, Diodora continued to attack, retaliating quickly with a swipe of his massive claw, aiming to strike Issei across the chest.
"Not so fast!" Kiba shouted as he came down with a downward slash toward the wrist with his Holy-Demonic sword, cutting a clean line through the mutated arm. Diodora howled in pain and fury as black blood sprayed from the wound, the severed tendon forcing his claw to miss Issei by inches though the tips still grazed his chest armor, leaving lines deep enough for him to know that he wouldn't want a direct hit from them.
"This is for kidnapping Asia, you creep!" Xenovia cried out as she rushed at Diodora from behind and slashed him with Durandal, her strike cleaving straight through the tail. The severed piece flopped to the ground with a heavy thud, and black ichor fountained out from the stump. Diodora staggered with another maddened roar before Irina threw several light spears at him, each one embedding deep into his chest in rapid succession, searing through flesh and charring the flesh beneath.
"And this is for causing her to be exiled!" The angel shouted, wings flared as she hurled another barrage. Diodora roared, his deformed wings flapping violently as he tried to rise and shield himself, but a massive bolt of holy lightning struck down from above, coming from none other than Akeno. With her hands raised, she called down several more, with the first blast tearing through his wings before the rest sent broken bone shards and burned flesh scattering as Diodora was struck repeatedly in the chest.
Before Diodora could recover, Rias and Koneko struck him with blasts of Power of Destruction and Youki, the combined force annihilating and tearing through his upper body and blasting him backward into the cracked remains of a pillar. The impact left a crater in the wall, rubble collapsing around him as he slumped forward, snarling with wild, ragged breaths.
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
"This is your end, Diodora!"
Just as Diodora was about to raise, Issei descended upon him in a flash of crimson, wings snapping open as he closed the distance. His armored fist struck Diodora square in the jaw, snapping his head to the side and lifting him off his feet just long enough for Issei to bring Ascalon down in a brutal overhead arc.
[Skill Activated] – Vital Slash.
The holy blade cleaved through his chest, carving a deep, diagonal gash from shoulder to hip, steam hissing from the wound as holy energy burned into corrupted flesh. Diodora shrieked in response, his voice gurgling as blood poured from his mouth. He tried to swipe at Issei again with his remaining arm, but Issei twisted around him, wings folding tight to his back, and drove his shoulder into the back of Diodora's left leg, forcing him down to one knee before Xenovia and Kiba came in to slash him across the torso in an X-shaped formation, their blades cutting deep through the muscle and bone with unrelenting force. Black ichor erupted from the intersecting wounds as Diodora reeled backward, limbs flailing in pain and desperation.
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[Soul Link]
[Soul Link Promotion – Bishop]
But before he could fall, Issei casted off most of his armor and activated his [Soul Link] form, igniting the air around him as he and the giant visage of Ddraig both held their hands together in front of them, building up their energy while the ground beneath them cracked and splintered under the pressure, stones lifting into the air as if gravity itself bent to the might of their unified power.
As he prepared to fight off, Issei caught a glimpse of Bedelia watching in amusement above, and shouted to her in her native tongue.
"Tell the masters that you serve, Bedelia, that I'll be coming for them soon! TWINFLARE!"
[Bishop Promotion Ultimate Finisher] – Twinflare
The combined beam surged like a tidal wave of pure destruction, a swirling vortex of draconic energy that tore through the air of the battlefield. The air screamed as the Twin Flare beam slammed into Diodora with explosive force, swallowing him entirely. For a moment, his silhouette was visible within the column of pure energy, arms outstretching, mouth wide in a final scream, before his form was obliterated in a blinding flash while the blast continued to travel onwards, ripping through the ground, carving a deep, burning trench through the temple ruins. Pillars shattered into dust before structures of stone crumbled under the pressure. Soon, the entire upper terrace of the temple collapsed, swallowed by the raw energy tearing through everything in its path.
The winds that followed howled across the battlefield, throwing up ash and debris in every direction, and for several moments, all that remained was the low rumble of fading power and the hiss of searing stone. When the light finally faded and the dust began to settle, the monstrous form of Diodora was gone, and what was left of him was nothing but his normal body, lying in the center of the scorched crater, twisted and broken. His monstrous form had been completely burned away, leaving only a bloodied, charred husk of the arrogant devil he once was.
Diodora whimpered, a pathetic, gurgling sound escaping his throat as he writhed weakly in the rubble. His limbs twitched uselessly, his one remaining eye wide with fear and disbelief.
Issei landed a few feet away, his boots crunching against the blackened stone as he stepped forward. The last embers of his Soul Link still flickered around him after deactivation, casting an ominous glow over his face. He stared down at the fallen devil with cold, merciless glowing eyes, while he looked up at him with nothing but fear, and terror.
"Scums like you don't deserve to live." Issei began, holding up his hands to recall Ascalon, the weapon manifesting in his grip as he brought it down and pointed it at Diodora "And I'd love nothing more than to end you myself… but I believe there are others who deserve that honor far more than I do. Arise."
As the shadows of those Diodora once called his servants rose from the death and gathered around Issei to look down at their former master with cold, merciless eyes that glowed with a spectral blue light, Diodora whimpered weakly while trying to back away, but his limbs refused to respond. He choked on his breath, trying desperately to tell them to remember their master, to remember the love, loyalty and devotion that they once had for him… but the realization soon began to settle in as their expressions remained unchanged.
"Here." Issei turned, holding Ascalon out to the shadow of Diodora's former Queen. She stepped forward, accepting the sword with both hands, bowing her head in gratitude. "I hope this will give you girls some peace."
Even if she could, the Queen gave no reply as Issei patted her on the shoulder before walking back to rejoin his friends. Silently, she then turned toward her former master, blade in hand, and walked forward with her now sisters in shadow, each step slow but resolute. Diodora's breath hitched in terror as she raised the holy sword above her head.
"P-Please… you were mine… I—I loved you…" He croaked "No—! Wait—!"
The blade came down in a dull thud, but it was far from the only one. Following her example, the others also brought their weapons, given to them by the other troopers, down upon him, making sure that Diodora would feel every twisting, cold blade before he took his last breath.
"It's over." Issei spoke to his friends, who gathered around him with relieved smiles, but he couldn't find it in him to share their feelings just yet.
Casting his gaze up, the Sekiryuutei fixed his gaze on the crumbling remains of the temple above, where Bedelia still perched like a queen upon her throne, a smug smile curling her lips as she stared directly at him.
Thud. Thud.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed faintly behind them, but went unnoticed, by the shadows standing in the area, and even by his companions, as their attention remained fixed on Issei, who felt nothing but worriedness about Bedelia.
"Why isn't she attacking?" Rias asked worriedly, glancing between Bedelia and Issei.
"I don't know," Issei replied without taking his eyes off the woman above. It felt as if everything was just a game to her.
Thud. Thud.
Another pair of heavy steps, reverberating softly through the broken floor.
"If she's not going to move, then maybe we should." Issei suggested, "Ingvild and the others can probably use our help if the battle outside i—"
His words caught in his throat as a sudden, sharp pain exploded through his core.
Schlick.
A long spear of ice burst from his stomach, blood spraying across the stone as his breath hitched. His eyes widened in shock as the others turned in horror, too late to stop what had already happened.
"ISE!"
"ISSEI!"
"ISSEI-KUN!"
They all screamed his name at once, voices laced with terror as blood spilled from Issei's mouth. His eyes dropped in disbelief to the jagged tip of the ice spear jutting through his torso, the frozen shaft glinting red with his blood. His knees gave out beneath him, and he would have crumpled to the ground if not for Rias and Kiba, who caught him just in time. Their hands trembled as they pressed against his back and the icy spear, unsure whether to hold him or try to pull it free.
"No… no, no, no—ISSEI!" Rias cried out, voice breaking.
But before she could say another word, a sudden wave of biting cold swept through the battlefield like a phantom wind. It clawed at their skin and filled their lungs with frost, forcing Rias and her servants to duck their head with a shiver, shielding Issei's limp body from the sudden chill.
Then, from the broken shadows behind the crumbling temple, a figure emerged, cladded a ragged white cloak with a high black collar, draped over a tattered white shirt and dark, frayed pants. A pair of black boots crunched softly against the stone, each step leaving a faint trace of frost in their wake. His skin was a pale shade of blue, almost sickly under the light. Long white hair fluttered behind him, a single strand dangling over the right side of his face. His eyes were blank and milky white, lifeless, yet fixed on Issei and his friends with something far worse than malice.
Frost curled and twisted around his limbs as he raised his hands. The moment that they noticed the stranger, several Gates opened behind him, and from them came the charge.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
With thousands more waiting.
An army of ice elves stormed through, all pale and white haired like their master, their armor gleaming like glacial steel beneath the dim light. With crystalline blades and bows and arrows clutched in their frozen hands, they surged forward with high-pitched, bone-chilling war cries that echoed through the crumbling ruins.
Before they could reach the group, a black tide surged to meet them.
The Shadow Army moved with terrifying speed, sprinting across the fractured stone to meet the elven army head on as if driven by instinct. At the forefront was Gladio, his towering frame surging forward as he led the charge. His massive greatsword swung in wide, brutal arcs, cleaving through the first wave of ice elves like brittle glass, shattering bodies into frozen shards before the next ranks came crashing in behind them.
Explosions of black and blue magic burst across the field where the two forces collided. Elves screamed as they were cut down by the shadows, who were also torn apart one after another by enchanted frost weaponry, only to reconstitute mere moments later, rising again to continue the fight with renewed fury.
And yet, in the middle of it all, the stranger remained completely still. He stood with an eerie calm, his hands folded behind his back as if this battle was little more than a passing show. Not even the screams of his own troops nor the tremors of magic breaking apart the earth around him disturbed his composure. His blank white eyes remained fixed on the group healing Issei, a cold gleam of silent expectation in his gaze.
It was as if he was simply waiting.
Waiting for something, or rather, someone.
Near the heart of the chaos, protected by a circle of shields formed by Aegis and the other shield-wielder troopers, Issei groaned in pain. His body trembled against the cold spear still lodged in his torso, blood soaking through his shredded clothes and pooling beneath him. Kiba knelt at his side, hands steady despite the tension in his jaw. Xenovia supported Issei's upper body with Rias, the two of them keeping him still while Kiba gripped the spear, carefully angling it so that he could pull it out without damaging his organs.
"Almost there." Kiba muttered with focus.
"Please hold on, Ise." Rias whispered, her hand gently cupping his cheek. Her other arm braced his back, pulling him close as if sheer will could keep his soul anchored. Her eyes never left his, not even as tears gathered at the corners.
"Here goes." Kiba said, and with one swift motion, he pulled. The spear slid free with a sickening sound, and Issei's body jerked violently. Blood erupted from the wound, gushing in thick streams no matter how hard Asia and Koneko were both trying to keep it from flowing, light from their healing spells flaring bright as they used all that they had.
"Rias!" Akeno shouted, her voice cracking over the sound of battle. As the shield circle around them rattled as an explosion went off nearby, Rias wasted no time to uncork the Phoenix Tear vial in her hand and pour it into his mouth. Almost instantly, its magic began to work. His bleeding started to slow before it finally stopped. The torn flesh knit itself back together, the jagged edges of the injury smoothing out with a faint glow. Muscle, sinew, and skin sealed shut in a blink of an eye, allowing Issei to finally relax his body, eyes fluttering open as he looked at the faces of the group around him.
"Ise!" Rias cried.
"I… I'm okay," He rasped, coughing once as he sat up and pushed himself upright, still shaky but alive. Phoenix Tears healed wounds, but not vitality, and he had lost a lot of blood to that ice spear, which was undoubtedly unnatural, even by magical standards.
"Issei, you can't…"
"Stay here, Rias. Aegis will protect you guys." Issei spoke back firmly, despite the fact that his limbs felt heavy, his vision slightly blurred at the edges, and his breathing came in quick, rasp shallow. Aegis moved to the side to allow him to step forward, and his eyes widened when he saw Bedelia standing next to the stranger, her head bowing slightly as she spoke to him.
"Lord Sillad. What a surprise to see you here," she said. "Does this mean your vessel is holding strong?"
"For now, yes. Yogumunt has done a splendid job… and the creatures of these worlds, they are astonishing, as he would say." Sillad replied, though he barely even looked at Bedelia as he spoke. His gaze lingered briefly on his hand as he held it up before transferring over to Issei, making him flinch. "I see that you're finally back on your feet, boy,"
"Such a disappointment."
Before Issei could respond, the world seemed to stop around him.
In a heartbeat, or less than that, Sillad vanished from where he stood. There was no flash, no sound, no warning.
And then—
He was there.
Right beside him.
Every nerve inside his body screamed. Every cell he possessed was telling him to run.
He threw himself back on reflex alone just as something silver-blue sliced through the air where his neck had been. Cold wind kissed his skin, and a few strands of his hair fluttered to the ground, severed clean.
He stumbled, almost falling, but caught himself on one knee, eyes wide in shock.
Sillad stood where he had just been, arm still extended, holding a frost dagger that hadn't been there a moment ago.
"I suppose that's more in line with your strength." Sillad said, lowering the blade slightly. "But that luck won't hold for long."
Before he could bring his blade down, a shadow loomed behind Sillad.
Vulcan.
With a guttural roar, the hulking warrior lunged, his enormous battleaxe already mid-swing. Beside him, Blade flickered into view, twin daggers aimed low toward Sillad's spine, while Gladio was close behind, his greatsword raised over his shoulder and ready to brandish a wide, horizontal slash.
Their timing was flawless. Their coordination, perfection.
But still, it made no difference.
Sillad didn't so much as flinch.
The moment Vulcan's axe came within reach, frost bloomed along its edge, and then, with a loud snap, the weapon shattered into million pieces like glass as it struck Sillad, before a pulse of frigid energy surged through his molten armor. The blacksmith didn't even get the chance to roar before the cold reached his core and exploded outward, reducing him to a broken piece of shadowy flesh on the ground.
Blade was next. The moment his twin daggers were about to find their target, Sillad merely tilted his head, and unleashed a blast of frost from his mouth. Blade was frozen mid-lunge, caught in a cocoon of ice that cracked a heartbeat later. He shattered with it, his fragmented body scattering across the stone like brittle shards.
Gladio roared as he descended with his greatsword overhead, aiming to cleave Sillad in two. But before the blade could even touch him, Sillad raised a single finger.
"Oh, I know you." Sillad said, a hint of amusement in his tone as he stopped the giant blade with a single finger. "You are that lieutenant of the shadow army who served directly under Igris the Red. I'm sure you'd be a formidable challenge if you were to get your true strength back…"
"But even then, you are nothing compared to your commander."
With that said, Sillad curled his fingers, causing a spiraling spike of black ice burst from the ground, impaling him from below. The force flung him upward before the spike detonated, tearing him apart in mid-air. What hit the ground moments later was fragments of his armored form.
Three elite Shadows. Gone in an instant.
But their effort had bought Issei a sliver of time, and he didn't waste it. Already moving through the chaos, he dove into the fray, cleaving through stunned ice elves who had turned to witness their commander's overwhelming might. Ascalon cut through frosty mail and freezing flesh alike, glowing with each kill.
With every enemy falling behind him, the Link Gauge ticked closer to full.
Link Gauge: 100/120
Link Gauge: 101/120
Link Gauge: 108/120
Link Gauge: 114/120
Issei ducked beneath a frozen halberd, rolled past a wall of spears, and shoved Ascalon through the chest of a shrieking elf captain. He tore it free and kept going. Fortunately, he hadn't used much of the Link Gauge during the fight against Diodora, so it didn't take it long for him to fully recharge it.
Link Gauge: 120/120
[Soul Link] – Activated
[Soul Link Promotion] - Knight
The moment that the Link Gauge was full, Issei activated it, setting ablaze the air around him as he charged at Sillad, who merely stood still and looked at Glacia as she rained destruction down upon his army from above. If he knew Issei was coming, he didn't bother to react, and merely gave a remark.
"Elva, what has he done to you, my beautiful granddaughter?" He murmured, before suddenly reaching his hand out to catch Issei mid-rush, just when he was about to slash him with Ascalon, holding him firmly in place with his hand clasping tightly around his neck.
"Gkh—!" Issei choked, flames dismissing around him, as he grabbed the pale arm holding by the neck with both hands and summoned a burst of dragon flame, trying to burn his way free.
To his shock, it didn't even sing the man's sleeve. It didn't seem like he felt it either.
Sillad finally looked at him, calm and almost curious.
"You struggle like a cornered beast," he said. "but you lack the fangs."
With a sickening crunch, he hurled Issei into the ground like a ragdoll. Stone shattered beneath him, and he barely had time to cough blood before Sillad was already upon him again, his boot slamming into his ribs, sending him skidding across the battlefield.
Issei rolled, tried to stand, but even with his Knight speed, he was too slow. A fist struck him in the chest, and ice burst through his clothes, encasing part of his torso in a prison of ice. Before he could be fully immobilized, Issei swung his blade up with everything he had, but Sillad caught the blade with two fingers.
Then he twisted his hand, and shattered it.
Ascalon broke before his eyes, and Issei could do nothing but watch on in shock.
Before he could react, a fist buried itself in his gut, lifting him off the ground, followed by a second strike across his face that sent him spinning into the dirt. Blood pooled beneath him.
"Ise!" Rias screamed in horror as each blow Sillad delivered cracked through the air like thunder. She wanted to run to him, to help him… they all did, but Aegis and the Shield Troopers didn't waste any time to grab them and rush them away from the battle, as the Shadow Army, for the first time since their formation, was being overwhelmed by their opposition. More and more of ice elves flooded into the Rating Game battlefield like a flood surging through a shattered dam.. Their frost-coated weapons tore into shadow flesh, and even the most durable knights were falling under the strength of their unrelenting assault. Regeneration had slowed as Issei finally ran out of mana to sustain his army, and soon their coordination broke, leaving their formations to crumble under pressure.
The scale of the battle had tipped fully in favor of the elves, who roared with triumph as their master continued to pummel Issei into the ground. Their cheers echoed like war drums across the shattered field, a brutal chorus to accompany their crushing advance.
Issei tried to rise.
His fingers clawed weakly at the ground, trembling as they dug into the dirt. His arms barely obeyed him. His legs buckled the moment he tried to shake off the pain. He was breathing, but only just. His vision swam with red, his body screaming in protest.
He was barely holding on.
But Sillad was far from finished.
Each blow from his fists sent a new wave of agony through his body, crunching bone and tearing through his defenses. His HP plummeted with every strike, flashing red across his vision. The System went haywire with its notification to tell him to retreat, to run, but he could barely move under the strength of Sillad. His remaining commanders tried to rush in to assist him, but they were all blown away before they could do anything, their forms torn apart with a mere gesture from Sillad.
Issei could do nothing but watch as they fell one after another around him. He tried to look at his friends… at Rias, and Akeno, and all those that he held dear, but every blow prevented him from doing even that.
For the first time ever, he felt despair.
"Pathetic."
With that said, Sillad rose his boot and stomped it down his head.
The world around him went black after that.
[…]
[…]
[…]
[Monarch Enemy Detected: Monarch of Frost, Sillad.]
[SYSTEM NOTICE: Critical Failure.]
[PLAYER STATUS: Critical]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[EXECUTING EMERGENCY PROTOCOL]
[TRANSFER OF CONTROL INITIATED…]
I'm so sorry, Issei
[RECALIBRATION FOR TEMPORAL TAKE OVER HAS BEGUN…]
But this… burden I have forced upon you. It should never be yours to shoulder alone.
[Class: Level 50 Dragonsworn / Level 39 Shadow Monarch]
[Class: Level 49 Dragonsworn / Level 40 Shadow Monarch]
[Class: Level 35 Dragonsworn / Level 54 Shadow Monarch]
[Class: Level 10 Dragonsworn / Level 79 Shadow Monarch]
[Class: Level 0 Dragonsworn / Level 89 Shadow Monarch]
[Class: Level 89 Shadow Monarch]
[Class: Level 90 Shadow Monarch]
[Class: Level 100 Shadow Monarch]
Not when our enemies are them.
So let me help you, just this one time.
[Class: Shadow Monarch]
[Skill Activated] – Monarch's Domain.
At that, a swirling darkness suddenly exploded from the spot where Issei had been laying, with Sillad halting his foot in shock as it spread outward, blanketing almost the entire battlefield in its suffocating presence.
In response, every shadow within the vicinity surged with newfound power. Their bodies, once fraying under the elves' relentless assault, suddenly snapped upright with renewed vigor. Cracks sealed. Sundered limbs reformed. Eyes that had dimmed with defeat now burned bright with blinding violet intensity as they charged forward and crashed into the stunned elves, who only moments ago believed victory was within their grasp.
And it was only then that Sillad realized he hadn't stopped his boot on his own.
A hand was holding it.
The fiery red flame that once crackled around Issei had vanished, replaced with a deep, malevolent shade of pitch black with a violet aura.
Looking down, the first thing Sillad saw… was a familiar glowing purple eye staring right back at him.
[THE SYSTEM WILL BE TEMPORARILY SHUT DOWN]
[ALL RESTRICTION ON THE YOUR POWER WILL BE TEMPORARILY REMOVED]
[Welcome back]
Name: [Unavailable]
Race: [Unavailable]
Class: Shadow Monarch
HP: [Unavailable]
MP [Current Attribute: Draconic/Demonic] : [Unavailable]
Title: Monarch of Shadows
Strength: [Unavailable]
Vitality: [Unavailable]
Intelligence: [Unavailable]
Dexterity: [Unavailable]
Perception: [Unavailable]
Charisma: [Unavailable]
End of Chapter 36