"Xenovia, watch out!"
Kiba Yuuto shouted, his voice rising over the roar of the battle as he dashed forward without a moment of hesitation. The ground shook under his feet, and the space around him seemed to warp with the speed of his movement as he propelled himself toward his fellow Gremory Knight, who was being surrounded by a group of their enemies, armored figures with dark wrinkled skin, sharp claws, and insect wings. One of them, a towering brute with a matching battle mace, rushed at Xenovia from behind, his red eyes glowed through the helm as he swung his weapon at her from overhead.
Before the mace could find Xenovia, however, Kiba had thrown himself between her and the Dark Elf brute, his Holy-Demonic blade flashing as he parried the descending weapon with a swift, precise strike. As the brute lost his balance, being carried by its own momentum forward, Kiba twirled around and slashed his sword in a horizontal strike, tearing cleanly through the armor and flesh of the Dark Elf. The towering brute collapsed immediately, crumpling to the ground in a motionless heap, but Xenovia barely even had a second to thank Kiba for the save, as more enemies closed in, their insect-like wings buzzing as they swooped in from all directions.
Summoning a second Holy Demonic Blade, Kiba immediately made his move, weaving between the incoming attacks with lightning speed before retaliating with strikes and slashes that were even faster. One Dark Elf thrust a spear at him, but Kiba instantly leaped over the strike and slashed his blades horizontally toward its neck, decapitating the enemy down before it could reach him. Another lunged from the side, but he sidestepped its attack effortlessly and stabbed through its chest, the kill finished almost before it had begun.
At the same time, Xenovia continued to bring the full might of her legendary Holy sword into the fight. With a roar, she swung the massive broadsword in a wide, crushing arc that cleaved through three Dark Elves at once, sending them flying across the battlefield before a wave of holy energy was sent outward, blowing away another Dark Elf before it could reach her. Each swing of Durandal shattered shields and cleaved through armors as Xenovia fought shoulder to shoulder with Kiba, the two knights turning into a destructive force that left a clear trail through the enemy ranks.
And yet, despite their best efforts, the battlefield remained a maelstrom of chaos. Dust and debris swirled through the air, mixing with the acrid smoke from countless magical explosions as projectiles of various colors and elements soared through the air and struck their targets. The sheer number of enemies was staggering, as wave after wave of Dark Elves poured relentlessly through the portals Loki had opened. Were it not for the undying and relentless Shadow Soldiers fighting by their side, Kiba knew for sure that they would have been overwhelmed in an instance.
But the worst part of it… the Dark Elves of Alfheim were only the foot soldiers in the army that Loki had unleashed upon them.
From the massive portals that tore open across the blood-red sky, three colossal serpents slithered out, their hissing roars shaking the air as they joined the two already locked in a brutal clash with Tannin, who had joined the battlefield only moments earlier. The ground quaked under their weight, each movement carving deep scars across the barren wasteland as they closed in on the Blaze Meteor Dragon King, who unleashed a wave of devastating draconic inferno at the serpents he was fighting.
In retaliation, the two Midgardsormr clones, as Tannin had identified them immediately after Loki had summoned them into the battle, discharged their own fire breath at the incoming wave of fire. Though their joint attacks paled in comparison to the might of the meteor-like fire breath that Tannin was known for, it still gave a large enough opening for the three clones to get close to Tannin. The first tried to bite him in the neck, but Tannin immediately shot his clawed hands out and grabbed it by its jaw, slamming it shut before smashing it into the ground at his feet. The second one, however, succeeded, its serpentine body coiling tightly around his arm, restraining his movement and allowing the third to wrap itself around his torso with enough squeezing force to crush a mountain.
Before it could tighten even further and sink its fangs into his neck, Cid descended from the sky with his signature purple lightning arcing across his arms. Before the Midgardsormr clone could notice him, Cid had unleashed the built up energy at the gigantic monster, striking it squarely in the back of the head. The impact detonated in a violent explosion of electricity, splitting the sky and hurling the creature away from Tannin, who shot his head sideways and bit down on the Midgardsormr wrapping around his arm, effectively removing it after breathing a torrent of fire that spread across its entire body.
On the ground below, Sona and Ingvild stood side by side, their magic power flaring violently around their bodies as large streams of water erupted upward from the magic circles that spread out beneath their feet. The waves twisted and coiled, taking the form of massive dragons that lunged toward the two serpents in the distance before wrapping tightly around them, forcing the colossal beasts to the ground, restraining their movements just long enough for Rias to bring down her own attack, a pulsing sphere of Power of Destruction. The orb streaked through the air, distorting the space around it before exploding against one of the restrained serpents. The explosion carved a deep crater into the earth, tearing apart its scales and leaving its body writhing under the crimson glow.
"The other one still lives!" Rias shouted in alarm as the second serpent broke free of the water restraints. Chunks of broken and destroyed scales fell away from its body as it reared back, baring its fang at Sona and Ingvild.
"I got him!"
Mirei shouted, her long Kanata leaving a greenish trail as she dashed past the two devils and leaped high, slicing through the air as she brought her sword up in a wide arc. The Midgardsormr clone shrieked in pain as its head was forced back while a spray of dark blood erupted into the air. Before it could recover, a blinding light flashed from above.
Akeno descended from the sky while holy lightning gathered in her hands, her aura flaring around her body until it blazed as bright as the sun, illuminating the entire wasteland before she brought both hands downward, unleashing a blinding bolt of Holy Lightning that engulfed the serpent in a torrent of divine electricity. The blast ripped through its body, shattering what remained of its scales and burning through flesh and bone until the monster was no more than a charred corpse on the ground.
"That is one of your pets down, Loki!"
[Boost!]
[Boost!]
High above, Issei said as he continued to battle Loki with Vali, their movements nothing short of blinding as shockwaves tore through the dull sky with every clash of the two Heavenly Dragons against the magical barriers that the Evil God had risen to shield himself from their attacks.
[Boost!]
"How dare you clone Midgardsormr and use him in your evil scheme?!" Issei continued as he reared back, his fist igniting with destructive dragon fire as he bombarded the protective barrier Loki had put between them. The booster on his pack ignited at full force, launching him forward to strike the barrier with an explosive force, detonating the air around him like a cannon blast.
"Tch!" Loki gritted his teeth as he was flung backward, his barrier once again shattering like glass around him under the force of the attack. "Midgardsormr is my creation! I'm free to do what I want with it."
The Evil God of mischief hissed as he swept his hand before him, creating countless magical circles that then exploded in a violent, joined burst of elemental energies at Issei, who instantly crossed his arms. The aura flaring from his body shifted briefly from crimson to blue before a protective bubble of water surged up around him, allowing Issei to tank the first wave of the barrage head on before deflecting and shattering the remaining projectiles that came his way with his fist.
At the same time, Vali soared around him from behind, cutting through the remaining ones before throwing himself at Loki in a blinding white streak. The Evil God shot a barrier up to deflect Vali, but a pulse of silver white light from Divine Dividing was enough to siphon half of energy a way in a blink, allowing Vali to crash straight into Loki, throwing him back.
Snarling, Loki swung his arm out in retaliation, releasing a torrent of blazing green fire at the Vanishing Dragon. The flames roared outward, twisting into the shape of serpents that lunged at both of them. Issei dove straight through one, his armor absorbing the heat as Vali blasted through the second. The collisions shattered the sky in a thunderous boom, scattering embers across the wasteland below.
"You think the two of you working together is enough to stop me!?" Loki roared, his hair whipping wildly in the violent winds as his magic flared higher. He spread his arms wide, summoning countless magic circles that lit up the sky around him. "I am Loki of Asgard, and you—"
"…talk too much!" Issei interrupted, finishing it for Loki as he appeared right in front of him in a burst of fire. Before Loki could react, Issei launched his fist into his chest, the impact of the empowered Phoenix Strike sending him crashing back through his own spell formation.
Directly beneath them, Baraquiel continued to lead the attack against Fenrir, the massive god-slaying wolf that had become a terror across the battlefield. On his instruction, Lycaon surged toward the other beast, his body layered in a protective shell of stone and crackling lightning as he slammed into Fenrir's flank with a shoulder strike, the electricity dancing along its fur as Fenrir howled in pain. Before it could recover him, Tora leaped over Lycaon and weaved through Fenrir's snapping jaws, her claws gleaming with shadowy energy as she slashed at its left eye, blinding the wolf just long enough for Asterius to charge in, ramming his horns into the side of the beast and knocking it off balance.
Holy lightning erupted from his palm as Baraquiel seized the opening, unleashing a relentless barrage of earth-shaking bolts of divine electricity at Fenrir. Each strike ignited the air around the god-slaying wolf, sending sparks and arcs of energy leaping off its fur as it howled in pain and fury, struggling to regain its footing as the ground beneath it cracked and splintered from the sheer force of the attacks.
"Kuroka! Koneko!"
"Remember, Shirone-nya, you have to—" Kuroka began, her tails flicking playfully despite the tension around her.
"I know what I need to do, Onee-sama." Koneko interrupted curtly, her gaze fixed and serious as she held her hands forward. Standing next to her, Kuroka let out a playful laugh before she did the same, the two Nekoshou sisters combining their Youki to cast a spell that emitted a thick purple mist toward Fenrir just as Baraquiel finished bombarding it with his Holy Lightning. The spell spiraled over to Fenrir and swallowed its body while, infiltrating its senses and clouding its mind with overwhelming sleepiness, causing it to stumble, snapping and growling in its own struggle to stay awake as the sleeping spell began to take effect.
"Now's our chance, Rosseweisse!" Baraquiel shouted. From above, the silver haired Valkyrie brought her hands together and conjured a gleaning golden magic circle directly beneath Fenrir. From there, the enhanced Gleipnir chains shot upward, twisting and coiling around the beast. Fenrir let out a roar in fury the moment it realized what was occurring, but the chains tightened around it like iron bands before it could make it escape, binding its limbs and body down to the ground with unyielding strength.
"Kuroka, Koneko! Keep the spell strong!" Baraquiel instructed, as he had been warned that even the enhanced Gleipnir might not be enough to completely hold back Fenrir, which was clearly trying to break free of its restraints while fighting back the effect of the sleeping spell Kuroka and Koneko was maintaining upon it. To increase their chance of success even further, Saji then joined the fight, wrapping the power draining rope of his Sacred Gear around Fenrir, further draining its energy and making it more susceptible to Kuroka and Koneko's magic.
"Saji, is the…"
Before he could finish, a shadow loomed over him. A second wolf, nearly as large as Fenrir, lunged from the smoke and rubble with its jaws wide open as it lunged at the Fallen Angel, who then felt the world around him becoming a blur of motion as Issei dove down from the sky like a meteor and moved him out of the way just before the giant jaws slammed shut. The force of the bite cracked the ground and sent a tremor rolling across the battlefield.
"Nice save." Baraquiel said in appreciation, looking over Issei to see Asterius and Vulcan rushed in and attacked the second wolf with their battleaxes before the creature could recover from its failed attack. Their powerful swings lifted the massive beast off its feet, hurling it through a cloud of dust and shattered rock before it crashed into the side of a broken cliff, howling more in feral fury than pain.
Another roar split the air, as a third wolf, identical to the second but with slightly darker fur, bared its fangs and lunged at Asterius and Vulcan with blinding speed. Before its attack could land, a surge of bluish white energy tore through the air. A shockwave of frost exploded between them and the attacking wolf, sending shards of ice flying in all directions. The wolf was knocked back, crashing onto its side as a thick layer of ice spread across the ground.
"Are those…?" Issei asked as he and Baraquiel watched Gracia flying over the two wolves, restraining their movements by unleashing another stream of bluish-white energy from her Staff of Avarice as Asterius and Vulcan charged toward them to fight the two beasts, which were clearly trying to get to Fenrir and free it from Gleipnir.
"Skoll and Hati. Fenrir's children." Baraquiel confirmed as he took in the sight of the two beasts thrashing violently under the weight of Gracia's empowered ice magic "Their fangs are not as deadly as Fenrir's, but they are not beasts that we can trifle with either. Where's Vali?" He then asked, looking up at the sky to find any trace of the Vanishing Dragon and the Evil God they were fighting.
"He chased after Loki after we hit him. I was about to follow when I saw the wolf sneaking up on you." Issei answered, just as a thunderous explosion erupted high above them. A pillar of light tore through the crimson clouds, and from within it, Loki came crashing down with Vali in pursuit. The two streaked across the sky like comets, the air itself trembling from the sheer force of their clash. Vali's Sacred Gear seemed to be at maximum power, shining brighter than ever as he punched Loki in the face, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield just before the Evil God hit the ground.
"Enough!" Loki snarled, his robes tattered and his face twisted with fury as he shot up on his feet. "Enough of this insolence!"
He bellowed, summoning a massive magic circle that flared emerald green beneath him. Blades of energy shot outward like arrows, raining down toward Vali and the ground below. Half of them were reduced to nothingness, however, as Vali used his Sacred Gear on them, while the other half was blown to pierce as Issei soared over his head, destroying every magical projectile coming toward his rival before landing next to him.
"Need some help?" Issei asked as he looked at Vali with his visor fully opened. When Vali opened his own, Issei could see that he had a busted lip, and blood was trickling down the side of his face, but he looked fine, all things considered.
"He's a God, alright." Vali replied sarcastically as they both turned attention back to the Evil God, who tore away what remained of his tattered robe, revealing burn marks across his chest and arm before pulling out a long, thin golden sword that gleamed with a sinister light. Laevatein, as they had been warned beforehand, was the name of the weapon.
"Think we need to take this up a notch?" Issei asked, with Vali replying to him with a small smirk. At once, their visor closed, and it was Issei that made the first move, his wings flaring wide before vanishing in a burst of speed with Phoenix Shift. In a blink of an eye, he appeared before Loki in a flash of crimson light, Ascalon already drawn, the holy blade singing as it clashed against Laevatein. Sparks exploded from the collision, the shockwave tearing through the ground beneath their feet.
Loki sneered as he swung wide, forcing Issei back before rushing after him, his golden sword moving with surprising finesse as he clashed against him. For someone known more for his sorcery and trickery than swordsmanship, Loki was shockingly talented with his blade. Not only that, but he was also able to weave in bursts of searing magic between every deadly swing, combining his skills with the use of illusion to force Issei on the defensive as he met every blow head-on, matching power with power while keeping his attention divided.
"I, who am about to awaken…"
"Hurry up, Vali!" Issei shouted over his shoulder as he parried a downward strike from Laevatein, the impact sending cracks splintering through the earth beneath his feet. Loki pressed forward, his blade trailing green fire as he swung again, but Issei twisted to the side and countered with a sharp kick to his ribs, following up with a slash that sent sparks flying and some blood spraying as Loki managed to deflect Ascalon just fast enough to keep it from sinking deeper into his shoulder.
"Am the Heavenly Dragon who lost all to the principles of supremacy" As vali continued his chant, the ground beneath his feet trembled under the weight of his gradually unleashed power. Loki, who had realized what was about to happen, broke away from Issei and charged at Vali, fury flashing in his eyes. Issei, however, ignited his booster fully and intercepted him mid-charge, clashing blades once again with the Evil God.
"I envy the "infinite" and I pursue the "dream"" Vali continued, his aura expanding violently, a dome of white-blue light enveloping him as his armor began to shift and morph, turning him into his dragon form. "I shall become the White Dragon of Supremacy"
[JUGGERNAUT DRIVE!]
The announcement thundered across the sky as his aura erupted outward in a blinding flash. The shockwave blasted Loki and Issei apart, and when the light finally cleared, Vali stood tall in his full Juggernaut Drive form, his wings unfurled and his armor gleaming like pure diamond, radiating divine power that made even Loki take a wary step back.
"You are not going anywhere, Loki."
Issei said, making Loki snap around just in time to see an explosion of dragon fire erupt around him. The crimson blaze surged outward like a living storm, tearing through the air with a roar that drowned out the sounds of the battle around them. Loki was instantly sent flying back, his teeth grounding together as his eyes widened in bewilderment as the ground beneath him cracked and blackened as raw dragon energy poured out in waves, each pulse strong enough to distort the air around him.
[Soul Link]
With that announcement, Issei surged toward Loki, his aura blazing like a raging inferno around him as he clashed against Loki, who raised Laevatein in a defensive stance. Sparks exploded as the two swords clashed, but this time, Loki was instantly knocked back, feeling his arms rattle under the powerful strike from Issei, who pressed on without hesitation. Each strike from Ascalon carried the weight of the dragon fire that surrounded him, battering Loki back, but his reflexes were astonishing. He twisted his blade mid-swing, blocking, parrying…
… until Ascalon suddenly disappeared in a flash of light and was replaced with the blades of Kamish's Awaken daggers, their sharp edges glinting in the fire as Issei attacked with them. The change forced Loki to adjust, though it soon became apparent that his own Laevatein could barely keep up with the relentless flurry as Issei chipped away at his guard while searing arcs of dragon fire trailed behind him.
"Insolent mor…" Loki snarled through gritted teeth, but Issei suddenly halted his step and leaped back, allowing Vali to surge forward in his Juggernaut Drive form and bring his giant fist against the Evil God. With nowhere to run to, Loki had no choice but to raise another defensive barrier to protect himself from the attack, but it struck him with the force of a falling mountain. In an instant, the Evil God was sent hurtling backward like a missile, tumbling through the air as Issei drew the Phoenix Soul bow from his Inventory.
Drawing back the bow string with a surge of phoenix flame that flared around, Issei then fired a single phoenix arrow of concentrated dragon and phoenix flame. The projectile soared through the air at blinding speed, catching up to Loki in an instant and striking him directly in the chest. The impact exploded outward in a wave of fiery force, swallowing Loki as dust and debris erupted from the crater the god landed in, smoke and heat spiraling into the air for a few long seconds before dying down.
All around the battlefield, the combined might of the Alliance of the Three Factions, Heroes and Shadow Soldiers slowly began to turn the tide of the battle. The endless waves of Dark Elves from Alfheim faltered as their leader was battered and hurled across the wasteland by the two Heavenly Dragons. Morale cracked among the foot soldiers as the undying Shadow Army pressed relentlessly, carving a path of destruction through the retreating enemies and leaving no room for regrouping.
Nearby, Saji roared as his body began to twist and expand, his form erupting into the massive Vritra form. Towering over the battlefield, he smashed through Dark Elves and debris alike, his claws glowing as he unleashed wave after wave of black flame upon his enemies. Working in perfect unison with Baraquiel, Azazel, and the other members of the Sitri Peerage, Saji corralled Skoll and Hati, driving them back and keeping them away from Fenrir, whose chains of Gleipnir still held him bound. Each strike from his colossal, draconic limbs sent shockwaves through the earth, while Baraquiel rained down his signature Holy Lightning from above, cutting off their retreat routes before Saji went in and subdued them fully with his black flame.
Across the battlefield, Cid brought out Zeke's Fragment, the spear crackling violently with his signature lightning as he hurled it at the nearest Midgardsormr clone, striking it with a deafening crack, sending arcs of electricity dancing across its scales and forcing it to coil back in pain. Tannin capitalized on the opening, striking the weakened clone before grabbing the other, his hands prying its maws open wide before unleashing a torrent of dragon flame down its throat, burning it from the inside and leaving it writhing on the ground in a ruin of scorched flesh.
The remaining Midgardsormr clones, seeing their companions fall, flailed desperately, but Rias and her Peerage did not give them a chance to escape. The crimson haired heiress unleashed a sphere of Power of Destruction that smashed against the side of the first serpent, splitting its scales and staggering it, allowing Xenovia to come in with Durandal swinging in wide, crushing arcs that sent out waves and waves of destructive holy energy. As the serpent writhed around in pain, Kiba ran along its body, his Holy Demonic blades carving deep gashes into its flesh before he leaped high into the air, catching Durandal in his hands when Xenovia tossed it at him.
The Midgardsormr tried to retaliate, but a tendril of water, summoned by Ingvild with the Thetis Grimoire, shot up to close around its jaw and force its head down, allowing Kiba to descend with Durandal being held high above his head.
"SWORD BIRTH!" With a roar, the Knight of Rias Gremory brought Durandal down the head of the Midgardsormr clone. The holy energy of the broadsword erupted violently, tearing through the scales and muscle of the creature before countless blades pierced through its flesh from the inside, slicing through muscle, sinew, and scales while the Midgardsormr clone thrashed violently. Blood sprayed across the barren battlefield as the serpent let out its final roar before collapsing finally, allowing Kiba to yank the legendary holy blade free and step off the creature after handing his fellow knight back her weapon.
Realizing that it could not win, the last Midgardsormr clone tried to escape, but Mirei and Kanae refused to give it even the chance. The two swordswoman surged forward in perfect synchronization, their blades gleaming with a lethal combination as Cid channeled another bolt of lightning through the Zeke's Fragment spear, striking the second clone and sending it sprawling. With a synchronized leap, Mirei and Kanae descended upon the weakened serpent, slashing their blades through its midsection in a deadly X-formation.
From where their blades had pierced, Mirei and Kanae slashed their swords as they ran in opposite directions, gouging through muscle and scales from within the deep gashes. Twin sprays of blood erupted from the wounds, coating the ground in dark, sticky streams. The serpent thrashed violently one last time, and with a final, echoing hiss, its movements slowed, then stopped entirely. The massive creature collapsed onto the barren earth, lifeless, leaving behind nothing but the lingering scent of blood as silence settled briefly over the battlefield.
"Lord Loki!" Rossweisse shouted as she descended near Issei and Vali, who stood facing the badly battered form of the Evil God Loki as he struggled to keep himself standing. "This is your last chance, please surrender! Your best combatants have fallen, and the rest of your army will soon follow! There is no point to drag this battle any longer! Even Lord Odin wouldn't want this for you."
"Silent, Valkyrie!" Loki snarled, stabbing his sword down to push himself back up when he was about to collapse. The damage that Issei and Vali, in their strongest forms, had done on him was too much for the Evil God to handle. Every nerve, every muscle across his body was screaming in pain, but his pride as a God refused to let Loki yield.
With a guttural roar that shook the sky, he slammed Laevatein into the ground, sending a shockwave of emerald light rippling outward, forcing Issei back as he grabbed Rossweisse and shielded her from the wave.
"What is he doing?" Issei asked through gritted teeth as he shielded his face from the uncontrolled waves of divine energy Loki was unleashing while his battered form glowed with a furious, blinding brilliance. He could tell the Evil God was summoning the last remnants of his godly power for a final, desperate attack that would do far more than just destroying them.
And a quick use of Observe pretty much confirmed his suspicions.
"Lord Loki! Please…" Rossweisse, whose eyes widened in horror as she seemed to have realized what Loki was attempting to do, shouted from behind Issei "if you use that technique! Then not just this battlefield, but this entire dimension, and the others…"
"YOU ARE CORRECT!" Loki roared with a triumphant laugh.
"Like I'm gonna let you!" Issei snarled as he shot forward, but was instantly knocked back by a wave of divine energy coming from Loki. Bringing his fist back, the Sekiryuutei built up as much power as he could to fire a Dragon Shot at the Evil God, but the orb of draconic power was deflected in an instant by a magical barrier, which also held back Vali's energy breath attack until it finished.
The ground cracked and splintered beneath him as Loki began to take off into the air, while dozens of magic circles erupted around his position, each one pulsing with immense energy. The sky darkened, swirling violently as if the dimension itself was recoiling in fear, and a chilling wind cut across the battlefield, carrying the scent of ozone and burning magic.
"Issei! Whatever he's trying to do, I can lessen it." Vali, who was still in his Juggernaut Drive form, spoke to Issei "However, it will still likely be strong enough to level this entire battlefield. If you have anything that can protect our allies, then now is the time to use it."
"On it!" Issei shouted, looking at Rossweisse to see her nodding her head firmly to him before flaring out his wings to take off to the other side of the battlefield, where a certain lavender hair devil was standing "Ingvild!"
The descendant of the original Leviathan looked up when she heard her name, and instantly understood what Issei wanted to do as he flew to her side. The aura surrounding his body flashed from crimson to blue once more, and together, Issei and Ingvild utilized the Dragon Pact shared between them to conjure a bluish aura of water around their allies using Aqua Veil, which were further empowered with Issei boosting them up as much as he could.
To increase their defense even further, every magic user among the Heroes and devils raised their hands in unison, channeling every ounce of their energy that they had into a large dome of defensive energy that formed above their heads. Within seconds, a mighty barrier took shape, glowing violently as its surface flickered with blue, white, and golden light as it combined overlapping magic into one, pulsing with an almost lifelike rhythm that reacted to the divine energy building up in the sky.
"Aegis! I'm counting on you!"
Issei shouted. At that signal, the shadow Aegis leapt into the air, driving his fist into the ground to summon a towering pillar of stone beneath him. With a heavy landing atop the spire, he raised the Attractive Shield over his head, its surface emitting a blinding light that then expanded into a colossal secondary barrier that reinforced the dome above.
"Behold the Twilight of the Gods!" Loki roared, throwing his hands down and unleashing the full force of his spell upon the battlefield below. Streams of destructive magic cascaded toward the Heroes, bright blue light shredding the air itself, the raw energy tearing at the barren wasteland and sending shards of rock and dust flying in every direction.
Vali let out an earthshaking roar and activated the full power of his Sacred Gear, his Juggernaut Drive aura flaring outward in a blinding display of light and force as he took on the full brunt of the attack head-on. Shockwaves rippled outward from his stance, colliding with the torrent of Loki's spell, dividing its destructive power and sending arcs of energy scattering into the sky. The barrier above groaned under the immense pressure, flickering as it absorbed the spell's impact, but the combined magic of the Heroes and devils held it together, despite the fact that the whole world soon turned into a brilliant white.
By the time it finally ended, the whole battlefield had been completely annihilated. The remaining of his Ragnarok army Loki had brought forth, was now nothing more than lifeless corpses scattered across the ground. Most had been incinerated, leaving only charred bones and skeletal remains. Even the mass-produced Midgardsormr were reduced to what could only be described as glorified fossils, their once-massive forms now shattered and broken.
Saji lay motionless amidst the wreckage, his body covered in burns and deep wounds. His upper clothes were torn to shreds, and scorch marks streaked his skin. From a distance, one could not tell if he was alive, but up close, the faint rise and fall of his chest was the only sign that he still breathed. His friends of the Sitri Peerage quickly gathered around him, wasting no time to use the vial of Phoenix Tear that they had been provided to heal his injuries.
Tannin was equally battered, his form lowering on one knee against the ruined battlefield. His once-pristine purple scales were scorched and peeling, and his body bore deep wounds from taking the spell at full force and shielding his allies away from the blast as much as he could. Dust swirled gently around his nostrils and chest, the subtle movements revealing that the former Dragon King, though severely wounded, could still fight.
Around the battlefield, the rest of the Alliance started picking themselves out from the rubble, brushing off dust and debris while checking on one another. Rias, Xenovia, Kiba, and the other Peerage members were all battered and scratched, but none had suffered life threatening injuries. Their eyes then turned to the single figure that was still perching atop the pillar of stone he had conjured, and although his form was reforming after being blasted apart in the attempt to hold back the pillar of divine energy, he remained standing tall on his feet, with the Attractive Shield still raised high, fully serving its purpose of protecting others.
Yet, not everyone had been so fortunate.
"Otou-sama! No!"
All heads turned to the source of the cry. Akeno, whose hair fell over her shoulders, was sobbing with her tears streaming down her cheeks as her hands clutched Baraquiel tightly, his body charred and bloodied as he seemed to have used his own body to shield her from the attack. His back, along with his ten wings, had been incinerated, leaving deep burns and exposed skin. His body was riddled with wounds, blood running freely from head to toe as he breathed weakly.
"W-why…?! Why would you…?" Akeno trembled, her voice a mix of grief and disbelief while her face was a portrait of devastation.
Baraquiel flickered his eyes and smiled weakly, just enough for him to see his daughter. A weak, barely audible whisper then escaped his lips. "I… I can't… lose you as well…"
"B-But…" Akeno sobbed, holding him tighter as Rias rushed to their sides with the rest of her Peerage, using their own vial of Phoenix Tears to heal the Fallen Angel as Asia used her healing power to speed up his recovery.
"Take… him… down, Issei-kun."
Baraquiel whispered as Issei strode past them, his aura igniting in furious crimson as his Sacred Gear flared, enveloping him in the full, gleaming Scale Mail of his Balance Breaker once more. His eyes locked onto Loki, who had collapsed into the crater on the ground beneath him. His Laevatein hung limply at his side as his body trembled with exhaustion, every movement labored as magical sparks flickered weakly along his arms and chest, evidence of the immense energy he had poured into the attack in the attempt to finish off his army.
But much to his shock, anger and horror, his most dangerous foe was completely unscratched.
"Heh, we leave the rest… to you, Issei." Vali chuckled weakly as he collapsed on his face, his form reverting fully back to normal. "Finish him."
"Rest, Vali." Issei spoke to his rival, placing a hand on his shoulder as Vali sagged to the ground, fully spent and unable to continue. Kuroka, Bikou and Arthur rushed to his side as Issei continued to advance toward Loki, with Dragon Fire erupting from his armored boots with each step, his draconic aura exploding in waves that scorched the already ravaged battlefield before he disappeared in a burst of fire.
Loki struggled to raise Laevatein in a feeble attempt at defense, but his exhaustion left his movement sluggish. The first punch struck him square in the face, sending him skidding backward across the scorched earth as sparks and scorched stone erupted from the impact. Before he could recover, Issei was upon him again, each strike of his fists leaving trails of fiery energy that carved deep furrows into the ground. Loki roared in pain as the next strike slammed into his side, cracking bones beneath the skin, and the force threw him into a crater, the edge collapsing under the heat and energy of the impact.
Dust and smoke swirled around the crater, obscuring Loki for a moment, but when it cleared, Issei had already appeared above him to continue the beatdown. Every punch, every kick, seemed to resonate with the roar of an actual dragon, shaking the ground beneath and sending shockwaves across the battlefield. Rocks and debris were lifted into the air with each swing, only to be incinerated instantly by the heat of the dragon fire that followed every attack. Issei refused to give Loki a moment to recover, not after what he had done.
"ENOUGH!" Loki roared, unleashing what remain of his power, but Issei shut him up before he could say anything with a spinning kick to the jaw sent the god flying backward, crashing into the remnants of a Midgardsormr clone, which exploded in a shower of scales and fragments under the sheer impact. His fists ignited immensely again as he caught up to Loki and slammed both of them into his abdomen, driving him face-first into the dust and rubble. The force of the punch sent shards of rock and ash flying in all directions, and Loki's weapon skittered across the ground as he was finally forced from his hand.
"This is the end, Loki!" Issei bellowed, bringing his fist back to build up his energy as he charged toward Loki, who already looked close to passing out. The flames around him erupted higher, coiling and twisting like a living inferno, until they took the distinct form of a massive dragon. Its gaping maw and blazing eyes roared with pure destruction, and the dragon-shaped aura of fire surged forward as Issei propelled himself forward at blinding speed toward the weakened Evil God
[!] Finishing Move – Rage of the Fire Dragon.
With a roar that tore through the air itself, Issei threw his fist forward. The moment of contact unleashed the Finishing move of his Balance Breaker in its full, unrestrained might. A colossal explosion engulfed the cratered battlefield in a sphere of crimson and orange flames, searing rocks, tearing chunks of earth into the air, and igniting the lingering dust clouds into blazing vortices. The heat radiated in waves, warping the very air, while thunderous shockwaves flattened what little remained of the surrounding terrain. The ground cracked and splintered outward in every direction, sending plumes of smoke and flame hundreds of feet into the sky as the roar of the infernal dragon merged with Issei's own battle cry, a symphony of destruction that should have been enough to obliterate any mortal or god alike.
"Is it… over?" Mirei asked breathlessly as she removed herself from her spot, a boulder where she and Kanae had hid behind to keep themselves out of the heat of Issei's attack. The two looked at Cid half-expectedly, but the puzzled look that plastered across his face showed a clear fact that the answer he was about to give was not what they wanted to hear.
"No… something is not right."
Across the battlefield, Issei remained standing where he had struck Loki. He tried to pull his arm back, but Issei quickly found himself unable to do so, as his fist was held in an iron grip. As the flames died down and the smoke cleared, the view finally became fully clear, revealing a figure far taller than any human. His form was impossibly muscular, and his sheer presence radiated power so dense that the heat of the flames around Issei seemed to bend around him.
"Not bad, little Dragonling."
The figure smirked down at Issei, as his vision was flashed with the images of the muscular man in front of him in chains, dark shadowy chains that embedded deep into his flesh, holding him down and rendering him completely immobile. A truth was revealed, and a deal was proposed, but denied… before a black blade flashed out, decapitating the figure swiftly before he could utter another taunting words, which were no more than mere echoes in his ears as Issei blinked and finally focused his gaze on the figure before him.
"Issei!"
Before either of them could make a move, a long spear crackling with purple lightning embedded itself between them, sending out a blast of matching color electricity that distracted the grey skinned man just long enough for Issei to break free from his grip and jump back to land next to Cid, sweat trickling down the side of his face as he saw his death flashed before his eyes in a split second. There was no mistaking it.
This man was in the same league with Sillad.
"I'm here to even the odds. Any objection?" Cid asked as he adjusted his gloves, his face wearing the expression of dead seriousness as he focused his gaze on the towering figure, who smirked evilly and loomed over them with a dangerous aura about him. "Please tell me that's not who I think it is, kid."
"Wish I could tell you otherwise, Cid." Issei mumbled as he picked himself up, taking a deep breath to steel his nerve as Azazel and a few others who could still fight moved up to stand beside him as he asked loudly "You're with Sillad, aren't you?"
"You could say that." The figure smirked "The name is Legia. I've been waiting a very long time to meet you again."
"Again?" Issei repeated before he shook it off "Sorry, but I have no clue what you are talking about."
"Oh, but we've met before… a very long time ago. You might be different now, wielding his power too… but we've met." Legia said as he let out a booming laugh, as if he found the whole situation amusing "Unlike Sillad and the others, I do not care about this war they are about to start. My only concern is to exact my revenge on you, the one who killed me the last time."
As the words left his mouth, the aura surrounding his body intensified, causing Issei and those standing around him to step back instinctively in caution.
"But… killing you like this will serve no meaning, not to mention that I highly doubt this… body of mine can hold for long if we fight here. Yogumunt's creations are still not perfect." Legia continued, looking down at his knuckle "So, how about you play with these guys instead? Loki promised you Ragnarok… it's only fitting for me to bring forth the end of it."
The grin Legia wore on his face widened as he extended his arms out. The air rent opened behind him before a gigantic Gate tore opened the space behind him.
From it, enormous figures began to emerge one after another, each towering high above the battlefield. The first emerged with a bellowing roar, its entire body covered in thick, dark metal skin marked with deep scars as it wielded in its hands a massive war hammer that looked like it could flatten entire buildings with just one hit. The second followed soon after, its size just as imposing as it wore thick, overlapping plates of armor, its arms and shoulders broad enough to block the view behind it. In its hands was a giant broadsword that it swung once as if to test the weight, the motion blowing up the earth and sending debris flying before coming to a rest on its shoulder.
Behind them, more followed. Some were barehanded, others wielded other types of weapons, but each of their steps sent tremors across the barren land. Their weapons dragged across the dirt, leaving deep trails as they gathered behind Legia.
"Let's see how you'll deal with my army this time, little Dragonling."
At his words, the giants let out deafening roars that shook the air, then charged forward. Their massive steps shattered the ground, splitting the battlefield apart as the first one brought its hammer upon them. Issei instantly leaped back, but they were all sent sprawling as the impact alone sent a shockwave through the land, tearing through the rubble and tossing the remaining Shadow Soldiers off their feet.
Issei barely managed to dodge as the weapon slammed into where he had been standing a moment before, leaving behind a crater large enough to swallow a building. He countered immediately, firing a blast of crimson Dragon Shot into the giant's chest, but the attack only made it stagger before it swung again, forcing him to take to the air.
All across the battlefield, chaos erupted. Rias, Sona and their Peerages scattered as the second giant's sword cleaved through the ground where they had gathered, carving a trench dozens of meters deep. Kiba and his fellow Knights tried to retaliate, their blades cutting deep into the giant's legs, but their attacks barely slowed it down before they were forced to retreat from another downward swing.
Tannin took to the skies again, unleashing a stream of dragon flame at the giants below. The fire washed over one of them, lighting its body ablaze as it screamed in pain. But just as fast as it had fallen, another giant replaced it, its makeshift crossbow firing a giant bolt toward the dragon, forcing him to veer sharply to the side to avoid it before having to do it again as the giant threw boulders at him.
"Aim for their eyes!" Kanae instructed, hoping that her voice could carry over the chaotic battlefield as she descended toward a giant. Before her blades could find their marks, the giant suddenly spun around, its enormous sword sweeping through the air with a speed that defied its size. The motion kicked up a storm of dust and debris, and Kanae's eyes widened as the massive blade came toward her, being far too fast for her to dodge in time, but far too heavy for her to block with her own weapon.
"Got you!"
Issei slammed into her from the side, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her clear just as the sword tore through the space they had occupied. The shockwave from the swing sent them both spinning through the air before Issei stabilized them with a burst of dragon fire from his wings as he skidded across the ground a good distance away from the battle, asking her.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine." Kanae nodded as Issei set her down before they both looked up to see Vali and his team rejoining the fight despite the injuries that they suffered before turning his gaze back to the woman in his arm, asking her. There were twelve Giants in total, and two of them had been taken down so far, but still…
"These giants are whatever… but that one is a completely different story."
Kanae continued turning her head, with Issei following her gaze toward the giant who sat just in front of the Gate, occupying the spot where Legia had been with the motionless form of Loki directly beneath its giant blade. Unlike the other giants, this one wore heavy armors, and its presence alone felt far more oppressive than the other nine.
"Come on, let's head back. The others can barely stand as they…"
"I'll take care of them." Issei interrupted firmly, making Kanae look at him with her eyebrows furrowing in confusion just before she could rush back into the fight "Can you go tell the others to stay back?"
"What are you going to do?" The woman asked, knowing better than to question his intention as Issei was clearly the one who was in the best condition among them.
"Something I have hoped to avoid, but I guess it can't be helped now…" Issei murmured as he held up Boosted Gear and looked directly at the green jewel in the back, as if he was staring directly at his dragon partner himself. As a feeling of reassurance washed over his body, Issei then looked over to Kanae and told her "You might wanna stand back, Kanae-san."
Kanae just looked at Issei strangely for a second before complying, moving back a few steps from him.
"A little more back, if you please." He said, making Kanae widen her eyes before increasing the distance between them. Once the woman was at a safe distance, Issei looked at his Sacred Gear once again and said.
"Alright, Ddraig. It's now or never."
[I'm with you, partner.] The Welsh Dragon said. [Let's show them.]
[Soul Link]
With a nod, Issei activated Soul Link, feeling the surge of power course through every fiber of his being. The Link Gauge, already fully charged after the punishment he had dealt to Loki, exploded with energy as his body ignited with crimson colored dragon fire. The ground beneath him cracked as an eruption of flames shot upward, the explosion shaking the entire battlefield. Giants took a step back warily as they all turned toward the source, and even the most seasoned fighters of the Alliance paused, caught off guard by the sheer magnitude of the energy surging from where Issei was standing. Dust and ash spun in the air, illuminated by the fiery glow that turned the battlefield into a blazing inferno.
"Promotion, Queen!"
Kanae, standing closest to him, could only watch in stunned awe as Issei was engulfed in a blinding inferno. Flames wrapped around his limbs, twisting and coiling with a life of their own, until the fire exploded outward once more, sweeping across the area before taking on a colossal shape. Scales shimmered in deep crimson and gold as massive wings erupted from his back, stretching wide enough to cast a shadow over the entire battlefield.
[Queen Promotion Ultimate Technique]
Full Break - Dragon of Dragons
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
His eyes burned with the same fire that scorched the very air around him, and his roar split the sky, reverberating across the shattered plains. The Giants froze, wary now of the dragon whose sheer size nearly matched their own. The force of his presence shook the battlefield, and for a moment, the world fell silent, the only sounds the crackle of fire as the dragon locked his gaze on the Giants ahead.
"Issei Hyoudou…" Vali murmured in awe and barely contained frustration as he stared at the crimson dragon with his team standing by his side, whose expression matched that of all those who were standing around the battlefield. "Just how far have you left me behind?"
[DDraig. What manner of power is this…?]
"Ah… there it is."
In the distance, Bedelia remarked as she sat watching the scene unfolding before her with Legia, who wore an amused smirk on his face as he watched the display of power.
"The overwhelming power of the Dragon Monarch… so he told the truth, after all." Legia smirked, his expression darkened as he gazed at the dragon roaring in the distance.
The last word of her sentence fell into deaf ears as the crimson dragon that Issei had transformed into let out another roar before taking off to the sky.
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Race: Reincarnated Devil / Dragon
Class: Level 50 Dragonsworn / Level 42 Shadow Monarch
HP: 26,241/26,241
MP [Current Attribute: Draconic/Demonic] : 9250/9250
Link Gauge: 120/120
Title: Champion of the Dragons
Strength: 280 (28)
Vitality: 224 (22)
Intelligence: 247 (25)
Dexterity: 229 (23)
Perception: 204 (21)
Charisma: 200 (21)
Unique Class Skills: Fire Imbue (LV3), Shadow Extraction (LV1), Shadow Storage (LV1), Karma (LV1), Shadow Exchange (LV1).
Active skills: Doubling (LV4), Transfer (LV4), Penetrate (LV4), Sprint (Max Level), Vital Slash (LV1), Observe (LV2), Ruler's Hands (LV1), Phoenix Shift (LV2).
Active spells: Fire balls (LV4 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Firewall (LV4 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Lightning Strike (LV2 – Lightning Dragon Pact Affected), Water Blast (LV2 - Water Dragon Pact Affected), Earth Shield (LV1), ...
Current Pacts: Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) – Pact LV3, Chaos Karma Dragon Tiamat (Fire) – Pact LV1, Rassei (Lightning) – Pact LV1, Ingvild Leviathan (Water) – Pact LV4, Midgardsormr (Water-Poison) – Pact LV1.
Current Shadows: 520 / 550 (Wolves 29. Panthers 18. Shadow Troopers 118. Shadow Elementals 27. Magicians 34. Shadow Elves 42. Fallen Angels 13. Orcs 69, Soldier Ants 170)
Elite Shadows: Asterius (Knight), Vulcan (Knight), Tempest (Knight), Lycaon (Elite Knight), Tora (Elite Knight), Blade (Elite Knight), Gladio (Elite Knight), Glacia (Elite Knight), Katerea (Elite Knight), Aegis (Elite Knight).
Exclusive Items: Boosted Gear (LV5), Razan's Blade (LVMAX), Magitek General's Helmet (LVMAX), [High-ranking Demon] Armor Set (LV1), [Obsidian] Jewelry Set (LV1), Kamish's Awaken (LV?), Key to the Demon's Castle, Ascalon R1 – repaired (LV40), Staff of Avarice (Given to Glacia), Yarn of Ariadne.
Potions: Healing Potions x15, Mana Potions x15, Greater Healing Potions x10, Greater Mana Potions x10, Miracle Potions x3…
Gold: 10.123.320 (G)
Ultimate: Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker – Boosted Gear Crimson Scale Mail (LV.2 – Pact Affected), Soul Link (LV1).
Finisher: Rage of the Fire Dragon (Crimson Scale Mail), Twinflare (Soul Link – Bishop Promotion), Hammer and Anvil (Soul Link – Rook Promotion), Draconic Assault (Soul Link – Knight Promotion)
Tower of Ascension sigils: Sigil of the Shadow Commander – Igirs (Incomplete), Sigil of the Shadow Ice Bear -Tank (Incomplete).
End of Chapter 44