Light faded; we stood atop a castle tower.
Before us: Tepes's town ablaze, ravaged by countless evil dragons.
Tall buildings crumbled; civilians fled in panic.
Bad… gotta save them fast!
"Where's Rizevim?" Azazel scanned.
Vali glared skyward. "Rizevim!"
"Yahoo, Vali-kun♪ Grandpa's playing! Pat my shoulder☆" Rizevim waved innocently, hugging Lilith.
Vali sprouted light wings, charging!
He's rage-blind—air battle with Rizevim!
Azazel growled. "Damn! Rias! Issei! Split up—wipe mass-produced dragons, evacuate civilians! No matter the top, innocents are blameless!"
I nodded. "Got it! Alice, with me! Miu, Ravel—focus evacuation, repel dragons!"
"Okay! End this quick!" Alice said.
"Understood!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Rias directed. "Two-man cells! Me and Shino, Rossweisse and Reina, Xenovia and Irina, Yuuto solo?"
"Yes," Kiba replied.
Rias eyed Xenovia, Irina, Asia. "First, take unconscious Koneko and Gasper to safety outside."
"East gate ahead—underground shelter," Azazel added.
"Make it emergency hub. Guide civilians there! Asia, heal wounded!"
"Got it!"
"Leave it to us!"
They carried Koneko and Gasper.
"Yes! Healing's on me!"
Azazel summoned light spear and black wings. "Solo too! Go!"
"Yes!"
We scattered.
"Ddraig! Feather Bit, shield mode!"
"Got it!"
In Sky Wings armor, I shielded civilians from dragons with pyramid aura barriers.
Alice and I swept dragons meanwhile.
Mass-produced ones: mid-demon class, but no match.
No Grendel's tenacity, no Crow's skill.
One punch or spear thrust downs them.
Occult team handles this level fine.
But numbers… everywhere.
How many vampires modified!?
Sky Strike tempting, but can't in town—civilians fleeing.
"East gate shelter! Run!"
"Y-Yes! Thank you!"
Grateful civilians fled.
"Alice, how many down?"
"Eleven now… how many are there…?" Alice sighed, scanning.
Shocked at traitors' numbers.
Evolution's endgame…
"Pathetic, right? Mistaking mods for evolution," a voice said.
…!
I knew it!
We turned, killing intent flaring.
Rizevim's ally: Ast Aarde's god, Asem.
Beside him: daughter Veeka.
"Vampires… nobles, probably. High pride, zero power—hilarious. Evolution's self-will and strength, not handouts. Agree?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Coup elites were idiots."
"Right? 'Blood and tradition'—then trample it."
"Exactly. …That why you showed?"
"Nah, passing by. I don't intervene directly."
"Indirectly, though?"
"Haha, sure. Collaborator, y'know?"
Unreadable…
Playful, but probing me.
Malice lump like Rizevim? Different.
Still dangerous—allying with him.
Veeka smirked at our auras. "Eager? Unrestrained."
"Fool. No restraint needed. One job here," Alice said.
"Scary. Fine, spar lightly."
Veeka readied spear, black aura leaking.
Alice grinned, aiming white aura spear.
"Gladly. Crush you too."
"Don't say that—sounds weak."
They clashed!
White-black auras wrecked buildings.
Veeka's strength: untapped, unknown powers.
But strong.
"Haa!"
Alice's lightning spear thrust—devastating.
Most can't match speed—impaled.
Veeka parried casually.
"Wow, scary♪ Wrinkles from frowning☆"
"Shut up!"
Alice slashed; Veeka flipped back.
Veeka compared chests. "Flat, huh? Hero likes big ones…"
"Sh-Shut up! Growing lately!"
"Eh!? That's growth!?"
"Y-You… rip 'em off!"
…Provoked?
Alice teary-eyed…
Attacks fiercer, chest-focused.
Rage (boobs…) pushed Alice.
She disarmed Veeka!
Unarmed Veeka vs. lightning Alice—tough.
"End, big-tits!"
Personal grudge!
But—
"Too bad☆"
BANG!
Explosion from Veeka.
Alice dodged mid-leap; cheek bled.
I spotted Veeka's grip: revolver.
"Gun…?"
Smoke from barrel—recent shot.
Veeka spun it. "Dodged? Perfect range-timing."
Alice wiped blood. "I'd be dead otherwise. …Where'd the gun come from? No sign till thrust…"
I tracked too—sudden.
Like Xenovia's subspace Durandal?
But different…
"Curious? I'll tell."
She snapped; space warped behind.
Hole opened: shelves of swords, spears, guns, rifles.
Veeka extended hand: long-blade sword.
"Re-intro: Veeka of 'Arsenal.' Create/store all weapons. Like your sword-creator friend, scaled up."
Kiba's demonic sword creation, expanded.
"Reaction meh. Familiar to you. But—"
Space holes multiplied.
Gatling guns emerged!
"What…?" Alice paled.
"Know it? Gatling."
"Not that—"
Guns fired!
Bullet rain—blinding barrage!
"And holy-infused!"
"Don't eat hits! Holy power per bullet!"
"Got it! Annoying ability!"
Alice dodged; Veeka closed!
"Focus there, I behead you?"
"Damn! One spear vs. this?!"
Clash again.
Veeka switched: sword to spear, bow, gun—versatile!
Alice strained against skill.
Alice pressured!
"Alice!"
I charged aid.
But—
BOOM!
Something crashed before me!
Crater; dust cloud.
Gray veil.
Black shadow attacked!
Massive fist through dust!
"Tch!"
Dodged; aura shot—no fall.
Dust cleared.
Before me: brown-haired man dusting clothes, complaining; huge laughing man.
Bigger than Hercules? Three meters!
Asem called. "Late. Where?"
"Sorry, Father. Razul lost way."
"Oi! Blame me!? You dithered shops!"
"I timed perfectly. Your 'shortcut' stole map… sigh."
Heard this… lived it.
Asem soothed. "Easy. Not mad—Veeka set time."
"Atta boy, Dad! Unlike Valus, big heart!"
"Whose heart small?"
"You fight lots… Anyway, intro to hero. He's curious."
They turned.
Brown-hair first: tall, slim, ponytail, belted sword.
"Pleased, Hero. Valus of 'Voyeur.' Remember me."
Giant: "Yo! Razul of 'Vanguard'! Nice meetin'! Gahaha!"
"My last servants. Flow clear, right~"
'Voyeur' Valus, 'Vanguard' Razul.
Valus polite, soft—but eyes probing. Deeper than Asem.
Razul none, but wild aura.
Abilities unknown…
Razul pointed. "Fight! Wanted you!"
"Why me?"
"Dad talked! Beat strongest demon Sirius, nearly killed Dad and Roswaal! Can't sit!"
Battle maniac too…
Why around me!?
Hot gaze—stuffy!
"Prefer spar too. Curious your power."
You too!?
Harassment!?
Why Asem's male servants obsessed!?
Veeka better!
Glared Asem—
"Analysis complete."
…!?
Girl behind me.
Childlike, middle-school height.
Pure white skin, hair to feet.
All white.
Touched my armor.
Unnoticed!
Leapt back.
…When behind?
No sense till voice.
Asem: "Hi, Bell. Split midway—where?"
White girl: "…Pee."
"…"
Asem silent.
Eh!?
Silent there!?
No reply!?
"…" Valus, Razul too!
Why!?
Silence; Asem: "Anyway…"
"What!?"
"Get it? My strongest servant, 'Painter' Bell. Cute~?"
"Don't skip intro! Wait—you with her too…!"
"Bingo♪ Nightly♪"
"Loli and! Veeka joins!?"
"Sharp."
"Pervert god!"
"Me? From Oppai Dragon?"
Bastard!
Milf-loli duo!
What god!
Kids' me: blood tears!
Hah… calm!
I have everyone!
N-No envy!
Adult perks!
Miu kisses always!
'More~'
D-Don't say…
'After-school infirmary with Miu… thrilling!'
Shut up!?
Why you thrilled!?
"Anyway, all servants intro'd? 'Asem's Four Kings!'"
'Arsenal' Veeka, 'Voyeur' Valus, 'Vanguard' Razul, 'Painter' Bell.
Asem's creations.
Only Veeka's known.
Others—?
Bell: "Papa… analyzed. Summon ready."
Touched armor—parsed power?
Summon?
Me parsed, summon?
What…?
Asem smiled. "Thanks. Razul, Valus—hero later."
"Aw, Dad! Tease!?"
"Sorry. Test time. Bell, now?"
"…Yes."
Bell pointed finger.
Glowed; drew in air.
Result: armored me drawing.
"…Me?"
Ignored; chanted: "Become my puppet, take form. From fleeting fancy, appear—"
Picture glowed, melted to light cocoon.
Shattered like glass.
"What!?"
Eyes wide.
It was—
"Analyze Summon—Boosted Gear Scale Mail: Red Dragon Emperor Armor"
My armored self appeared.
Eugrid next episode!
-------------------------------
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! 💕