Chapter 43 – Vali, the White Dragon Emperor!
The night sky stretched wide above, and a brilliant full moon hung proudly at its center.
Akira stood still in an open field, his gaze shifting toward the source of a distant sound. Bathed in silver moonlight, a lone figure stood tall in the distance. The moon behind him framed his silhouette—striking and unforgettable.
"…So we finally meet, my true rival."
In that pale glow, Akira could clearly see his opponent's face—a handsome young man with silver hair, staring back at him with unwavering confidence.
"The White Dragon Emperor…"
"…The Red Dragon Emperor."
It took only one glance for the two to recognize each other. Even though Akira had no memories of this world, as the wielder of Boosted Gear, he instinctively sensed the overwhelming presence in front of him.
Red and white—two opposing forces. Ddraig and Albion, the heavenly dragons locked in conflict for centuries, now carrying on their eternal battle through the bodies of their current hosts.
Akira could feel the white dragon's aura—so different from Ddraig's—coursing through the young man before him. And that man, too, could feel the echo of Ddraig within Akira.
"I'm Vali, current bearer of the White Dragon Emperor's power."
"Shin Akira. This generation's Red Dragon Emperor."
They exchanged names, not just as a form of greeting, but as an acknowledgment of destiny—a solemn rite before the clash to come.
Suddenly, a pair of radiant wings appeared behind Vali. Made of shimmering ice-blue light, they gave off a unique aura—part magic, part divine technology—otherworldly in its brilliance.
『Red… so we meet again.』
A deep, echoing voice rang out from within the wings. It was Albion, the white dragon's spirit sealed within Divine Dividing.
In life, Albion had been Ddraig's mortal enemy. Even after death, their rivalry persisted through the Sacred Gears they now inhabited.
『Hm? Why so quiet, Red? That's not like you—you usually jump at the chance to throw insults.』
Their meetings were always filled with sharp jabs and barbed remarks. But today, Ddraig remained completely silent—a change that made the air feel unusually still.
"…Ah, sorry about that," Akira said with a casual smile. "I forgot to undo the mental seal I placed on Ddraig. I usually keep his consciousness suppressed."
With that, a crimson gauntlet materialized on Akira's right arm—the signature form of the Boosted Gear, its design resembling a dragon's claw. At the same moment, the seal faded.
『Tch… So you finally admit you need my help, Shin Akira!』
Ddraig's voice thundered to life, startling both Vali and Albion.
Was there discord between the Red Dragon Emperor and his spirit?
"Relax," Akira replied calmly. "I only let you out because your old friend's here, Ddraig."
『Old friend? Wait… that power… Ugh, it's you again, you annoying White.』
Ddraig instantly recognized Albion's aura. The two had clashed countless times across the ages, and even in death, their feud had never cooled.
『Looks like your luck's run out this time, Red.』
『So this is your doing, White…』
『What now? Have you become your host's pet? How disgraceful for a so-called Heavenly Dragon.』
『Still mouthing off, as always, Albion.』
While the two dragons bickered, Akira and Vali exchanged silent stares. A faint smile tugged at Vali's lips.
He was genuinely impressed that Akira had found a way to suppress the consciousness of a dragon spirit—something he himself had never attempted.
"I have to admit, I'm a bit touchy when it comes to privacy," Akira said lightheartedly. "Having a dragon watch my life 24/7 just isn't my thing, so I installed some... boundaries."
『Boundaries? Do you have any idea who you're talking to, human?!』
"Of course I do. Two dead dragons whose corpses were repurposed into Longinus-class Sacred Gears, and whose souls are now sealed for eternity, unable to escape no matter what they do. Doesn't sound like something to brag about."
『How dare you insult us, the Heavenly Dragons!』
A wave of pressure suddenly burst forth—an oppressive aura, like a mountain crashing down from the sky.
Akira raised an eyebrow. So Albion could project his power into the real world?
If that was the case, what about Ddraig?
"Did I say anything wrong? Wasn't it because of your battle back then—dragging yourselves into the war between the Three Factions—that you both ended up dead? You underestimated the Gods and Devils… and paid the price for your arrogance."
His words were like oil thrown onto an open flame. Albion's fury surged to the surface.
『Vali—kill him!』
The bloodlust in Albion's voice was palpable, compelling his host to strike.
"…That's enough, Albion. I don't remember you being so easily provoked."
Vali's voice was cold and composed.
『Vali… you…』
"This fight is mine. Not yours."
Silence.
The two dragons fell quiet, their presence still looming but subdued by their hosts.
Akira watched the scene unfold with a faint smirk. He hadn't expected Vali to be this firm.
No wonder. The blood of a direct Maou descendant clearly ran strong through him.
"Shin Akira," Vali began, "Azazel told me you possess two Sacred Gears. One is the Boosted Gear. The other—a mysterious chain that can restrain spiritual beings. You also wield lightning and can draw power from the earth."
"As expected of Azazel—the Governor-General of Grigori. It only took one meeting for him to figure out all my cards."
"You know, the moment I heard about you, I was… thrilled. I have two goals in life. The first—defeat the True Red Dragon God Emperor, Great Red, and take his place as the True White Dragon God Emperor."
"Oh? Challenging Great Red? That's one hell of an ambition, Vali."
"And my second goal—defeat the Red Dragon Emperor of this generation… and make this era known by the name Vali."
"Becoming the symbol of an era isn't something you can achieve with words alone."
"I know. That's why I'll carve it into history—with absolute strength."
『Balance Breaker!』
『Balance Breaker!』
The two Longinus resonated in unison.
Akira was engulfed in red dragon armor, crimson wings blazing behind him.
Vali donned silver-white armor, crystalline blue wings extending from his back like the sky itself had solidified.
Their auras clashed in the heavens, splitting the sky into two dominant colors—fiery red and glacial blue. The night wind whispered through the silence.
A single leaf drifted to the ground.
And the moment it touched the earth—they moved.
Their armored fists collided with a thunderous crash, as if two mountains had slammed into each other. The battlefield trembled under the weight of their power.
『Divide!』
『Boost!』
One power reduced. The other amplified.
The clash of these two overwhelming forces had begun.
— — —
📚 Want to read more chapters or get early access?
Join my Patreon here:
🔗 patreon.com/FaaanzKun
✅ Enjoy 55+ chapters ahead of WebNovel
✅ Get 2 new chapters every day exclusively on Patreon
Join now and dive deeper into the story—weeks ahead of public release!
Thank you for your amazing support 💖
— — —