"What the hell is that ability!?"
I stared, stunned, at the figure before me.
Asem and his servant, Bell the Painter.
And—the Red Dragon Emperor's armor.
Bell's drawing materialized it—undeniably my armor, radiating its power.
"Impossible!? Did she copy my soul!?" Ddraig roared.
Asem, holding Bell's hand, said, "Her main ability is manifesting what she draws. Hence 'Painter.' Simple, right? She analyzed your power and aura, creating a copy."
"What!?"
"There's limits. Can't copy divine beings or multiple hero-level powers at once."
"But my soul!?"
"Not copied. Just your abilities and power at analysis. If you entered this armor, maybe it'd be real?"
"Ridiculous!" Ddraig fumed at Asem's flippant tone.
What the…!?
My power copied in an instant!?
"Cheat!" I shouted.
"Told you, she's strong," Asem said.
"…Strong?" Bell tilted her head cutely.
Seems Rizevim and Asem both have powerful lolis…
Lilith, Ophis's clone, is strong; Bell's ability is cheat-level.
Razul spoke. "Bell's copy was your test? She's done that before."
"Father, his power's intriguing, but you're after him, not his soul," Valus added.
"True, but it's not just copying—right, Eugrid?" Asem said.
A silver-haired man in a silver robe descended—the bastard leading the rogue mages who kidnapped Ravel!
"Eugrid! You show up now!?"
"Been a bit, Red Dragon Emperor. Finished business, arrived as prep completed," Eugrid said, coldly eyeing the burning town. "Ironic. Vampires craving no weaknesses became evil dragons attacking their homeland. Proud of their heritage, yet hating their ways. This is the result."
"Bad choice for evolution," Asem added.
I glared. "I get it. Like I said, those elites were scum. But don't drag innocents into this!"
They hurt Gasper, Valerie, for selfish reasons—planning worse.
They deserved their end, half self-inflicted.
But innocents don't!
"I'll crush you here! End this madness!"
Red aura flaring, I stepped forward.
Eugrid shed his robe. "Lord Asem, permission?"
"Go ahead. I'm curious. Bell, do it."
"…Yes."
Bell deployed a magic circle, touching my copy and Eugrid.
Red and silver auras swelled, merging—
Eugrid donned my armor!?
He tested its feel, clenching fists.
Silver patches from his power, but…
Asem grinned. "Nice fit♪ How's his power?"
"Incredible. Overflowing," Eugrid said.
"Of course—his power atop yours."
Seriously!?
Eugrid plus my power!?
Even Dragon Forging!?
That'd bring their Ast Aarde invasion closer!
Panicking, Asem smirked. "This copy can't use Dragon Forging. Bell copies 'power' and 'abilities,' not 'techniques.' It's out of scope."
Relief.
Still, Bell's ability is a threat—copying after one analysis.
"Even if copied, it's a divine-tier technique. Not easy to use. That you mastered it? Impressive," Asem said.
Thanks…
Troublesome.
Next move's obvious.
Asem clapped. "Red Dragon Emperor vs. Red Dragon Emperor! Rare chance~"
As expected.
Eugrid readied. "I want to test this power. Here I come, Issei Hyoudou."
'BoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoost!!'
His aura surged with boosts, charging with red-silver aura!
Fast!
"Careful, partner! Eugrid Lucifugus plus your power—stronger!"
Got it!
He's stronger by simple math!
Won't back down!
Switching to Sky Blade armor, I met him.
"Haaa!"
'BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBoost!!!!'
Our fists clashed!
Brief stalemate—then I pushed him back.
His is standard armor; mine's evolved.
My boosts outpace his, closing the gap.
As predicted.
Eugrid, pushed back, marveled. "Your evolved Forbidden Move? Impressive… but—"
Sparks flew; his armor shifted, glowing red-silver.
My eyes widened. "That's…!?"
"Yes. Your second-tier Forbidden Move, Sky Blade."
"Tch!"
Too many shocks today!
Copied my armor—and Sky Blade!?
"Let's clash again."
'BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBoost!!'
Accelerated boosts!
He's using Sky Blade's full power!
Our fists collided, stronger shockwaves blowing snow, collapsing buildings.
I was pushed back, crashing into a building!
Right arm numb—bone-deep pain.
Clutching it, Eugrid said, "Never felt inferior to sister Grayfia. Add your power—inevitable."
Grayfia's demon king-tier 'Queen.'
My power atop that…
Dangerous.
"Sky Blade means Sky Strike too?"
"Seems so. But not your latest armor."
Not Sky Wings?
Bell tilted her head. "Couldn't analyze that far. Skipped it."
"Maybe my power in Sky Wings?" Ignis suggested.
Good to know, but still a pinch.
Rising from rubble, I faced Eugrid.
Direct fight drains me—I'd lose.
Trouble.
Switching to Sky Wings, I said, "Power won't win—technique will."
Feather Bits deployed!
We soared, starting air combat!
"Ddraig, Bit control!"
"On it!"
Bits fired from all angles at Eugrid.
His shots? Shield mode—barriers up.
Sky Wings' offense-defense balance kept me in the fight.
But—
"Clever. How about this?"
Eugrid switched to Sky Strike, six cannons blasting, shredding Bits!
As my defense broke, he switched to Sky Blade, diving in—
His fist sank into my gut.
Armor shattered; shock hit flesh.
"Guh!"
Blood spewed, body bent.
Tremendous impact!
"Damn!"
Swung arm—he dodged, kicked!
Grayfia-tier strength—insane!
Conserving for Asem's servants, but no time!
Entered Zone—speed surged!
Caught his fist, counterpunched!
"Your moves shifted. More power?" Eugrid said.
"Cocky bastard!"
Desperate here!
"Not cocky—shaken. Matching me? Should dominate. Worthy of slaying demons, hero."
Praising, but irritating.
Empty words?
Locked palms, pushing.
Switched to Sky Strike, cannons aimed!
"Point-blank! Die!"
Cannons charged!
This range—
Eugrid matched, deploying Sky Strike cannons.
'BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBoost!!'
"Dragon Full Blaster, right?"
"You…!"
Point-blank blasts painted the sky red-silver—
"Guh… gah…"
Swallowed by Eugrid's blast, I crashed.
Armor shattered, bleeding everywhere.
No charge, yet his blast overwhelmed mine.
Not just my power—his own is immense.
He landed, armor damaged but less than mine.
"Looks like my win, Issei Hyoudou. I took damage, but not like you. Shall I claim Red Dragon Emperor? Fitting, beating the real one."
Ddraig reacted first. "You? Red Dragon Emperor? Don't mock us, whelp!"
Furious, he spurred me. "Stand, partner! That's your copy—not you! A fake! I won't let it claim Two Heavenly Dragons! Only Albion and I!"
Roaring with confidence: "My partners don't lose here! Ddraig and Issei Hyoudou are the Red Dragon Emperor! You? Laughable! We're the true one!"
…!
Yeah.
We've overcome everything!
Battles, survival!
Whipping my broken body, I stood.
"Got it, Ddraig! We're the Red Dragon Emperor! You claim it? Screw that! Can't lose after that!"
"Exactly! Fakes can't grasp our pain—breasts, butts, dragon SM! I'm finally bonding with Albion! No other Two Heavenly Dragons!"
Cool roar, but… that first part?
Here!?
I'd retort, but—
Red aura surged from my battered body.
Power overflowed.
From Ddraig?
"Spilling my heart, I heard Albion: 'We're the only Two Heavenly Dragons. Your pain is mine, mine yours. We're not one—overcome together!'"
Tearful: "I'm not alone. Breasts, butts—fearless!"
Extra words…
Shared Oppai Dragon pain?
If it helps…
"Thus, we can't lose to one claiming Heavenly Dragon!"
Got it!
Eugrid said, "Wrecked body—what's your plan? Even with power back, I'm stronger. Hopeless."
"Grit through it!"
But how?
Ddraig's spirit's up, but stamina's low, bleeding bad.
New power's here, but not enough to flip this.
Searching for a way—
"Enough," a voice stopped us.
Asem, with servants minus Veeka, approached.
"Lord Asem?" Eugrid asked.
Asem pointed skyward, laughing. "Fun watching, but that ruins Red Dragon Emperor vs. Red Dragon Emperor."
Sky darkened—town, castle, roads swallowed by darkness.
Familiar!
Just saw underground!
"Gasper!?"
Space warped beside me; darkness formed—
Beast Gasper.
"Issei-senpai, backup."
"Awake?"
"Yeah. Asia-senpai filled me in. No time to sleep."
Angry, eerie eyes glowing.
Darkness enveloped the town!
What scale!?
Entire town dominated!?
God-slaying relic class!
Evil dragons swallowed; flames extinguished.
"No more misuse of Valerie's power."
"Damn right."
Gasper's timing—huge help.
With him, beating Eugrid's odds soar.
"Haha♪ True cheat. That vampire boy's this strong? World's wild. Love it," Asem laughed.
"Careful, Gasper. He's a foreign god."
"Our enemy. Valerie's enemy."
Darkness stretched to swallow Asem.
He smiled, swiping arm—darkness vanished.
"Not getting eaten."
…!
Gasper and I were speechless.
Even Georg's mist couldn't resist Gasper's darkness…
How strong is Asem!?
"Eugrid!" Rizevim arrived.
"Lord Rizevim."
Laughing, Rizevim scanned. "Time to bail. This darkness is nuts—hitting evil dragons. Where's Crow?"
"Not here," Eugrid said.
"Free spirit, that dragon. Haha."
Laughing in this mess.
Asem asked, "Done?"
"Grandson's persistent. Grandpa's tired☆"
"Was about to wrap up. Veeka's gone."
Vali swooped in, wings blazing. "Rizevim! Not over!"
Rizevim cackled. "That's him. Town's trashed—let's go. Eugrid, force transfer♪"
Eugrid deployed a transfer circle.
Vali, Gasper, I charged!
"Wait, Rizevim!"
"No escape, Asem! Eugrid!"
"Return Valerie's Grail!"
Our waves hit Rizevim's hand—dissipated.
Sacred Gear Canceler!
He wagged a finger. "Nope♪ Gear-based? Useless."
No gear powers!
Then—
"Try this!"
Summoned Ignis, blade aflame, swung!
Not gear-based—should work!
But—
"Dangerous♪" Asem's barrier blocked it.
"Nice call. That sword's strong. Not mastered, though. Need the beast-vaporizing move to reach me."
"That'd erase the town!"
Damn!
Asem's just strong!
Roswaal's creator!
Vanishing in transfer light, Rizevim declared, "Our name—Qliphoth. Opposite of Sephiroth's Tree. Fitting for misusing Sephiroth's Grail. Evil force vibe♪ Ciao☆"
Rizevim, Eugrid, Lilith, Asem's group vanished.
Asem shot me a cryptic smile.
Vali trembled. "My dream was beating Great Red… same as him!? No! I'm different!"
First time seeing Vali so emotional.
Rizevim's that hated.
I pondered Asem's threat.
What is he?
Watching me during Eugrid's fight.
Like… waiting?
"What is he…?" I muttered, echoing softly.
Asem's male servants' abilities next chapter!
-------------------------------
Curious about what happens next?
You can read up to 30–40 chapters ahead right now on Patreon!
👉 [patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support! 💕