[Kiba POV]
Thanks to the magic formula Rossweisse-san devised, we've managed to stall Trihexa's movements. Enveloped in a massive barrier, the beast hasn't twitched once; there's no sign of it regaining its momentum.
Rossweisse-san, who had been in contact with Governor Azazel via a communication circle, speaks up.
"It appears the other fragments have ceased their movements as well."
It seems our plan worked. Rossweisse-san looks up at the dormant Trihexa and continues.
"This should hold for the time being. However, as the one who designed the formula, even I cannot say for certain how long this barrier will last."
"And we haven't been told what the next step is after sealing it, have we?" Rias-senpai asks.
"The leaders of the various factions, including Governor Azazel, seem to have a plan for the aftermath, but unfortunately, they haven't shared it with me." Rossweisse-san shakes her head.
I felt it during the pre-battle briefing, too... Is Azazel-sensei hiding something from us? If it's a plan known only to the heads of the factions, it means it's top-secret even from us in D×D. We place absolute trust in the Governor. I want to believe that everything will be fine, no matter what happens, but...
Rias-senpai rests her hand on her chin. "I have a bad feeling about this... Knowing Azazel, I'm sure it's handled, but still..."
"Regardless, we must press on," Akeno-san adds. "The battle is far from over."
Black shadows writhe on the horizon. It's a literal second coming of the Evil Beast crisis—countless super-giant monsters. Giant birds and massive dragons fill the sky. These aren't like the mass-produced Evil Dragons we've faced before. Even with Trihexa halted and Apophis defeated, the enemy's military might is staggering. Since we've reclaimed the Holy Grail, their numbers shouldn't increase further, but their current strength is still overwhelming. Even now, the sounds of roars and explosions echo across the landscape.
"Our allies are exhausted from the fighting so far," Akeno-san notes. "We have to break through somehow."
"Otherwise, we'll never reach Issei," Rias-senpai concludes.
At that moment, a magic circle of terrifying proportions unfurls in the sky. A disaster-level spell rains down upon the swarm of beasts. The earth shudders under the thunderous roar. In an instant, an entire wing of the enemy force is wiped from existence.
The only one capable of such a massive strike is—
"I'm getting sick of these numbers. Perhaps I should have gone with Issei after all?"
Descending from the clouds is Tiamat—one of the Dragon Kings. She had acted as Issei-kun's escort to get him this far, but since they parted ways, she has been unleashing her might on this front. Yet, it seems even for the strongest Dragon King, the enemy's numbers are a headache.
Tiamat-san looks up at the sky. There, a fierce battle is raging between Miu-san in her Goddess form and Bel, "The Painter," one of Asem's subordinates. Bel is countering Miu's barrage of magic with her own spells, conjured beasts, and replicas of the Welsh Dragon. Currently, Miu seems to have the upper hand, but Bel shows no signs of injury or fatigue. To think she can trade blows with Miu-san, who has obtained the power of a god...
Of the four subordinates, Bel is occupied with Miu. That leaves Vika "The Armory," Valse "The Observer," and Razul "The Breaker." All of them possess formidable power.
"Look out! Everyone, get down!" Rias-senpai screams.
Akeno-san and Rossweisse-san immediately deploy dozens of layers of defensive circles, but something soaring through the air pierces right through them.
"Hah!"
Just as the final barrier is about to give way, Maurice-san steps in, parrying the projectiles with his twin swords. A torrential rain of steel is deflected by his peerless technique before it can reach us. The objects thudding into the ground are... weapons. Holy swords, demonic swords, holy spears, demonic spears—each one a high-level armament.
This sheer volume... this attack style...
"Quite a greeting. This is a lure," Maurice-san grunts, throwing a wave of sword pressure back at the source. However, his attack is sliced clean in half in mid-air, veering off target.
He cut Maurice-san's sword-wind...? How?
As I stand there stunned, a woman's voice rings out.
"Ufufu. I knew you'd block it. Think of that as a simple greeting."
A figure appears before us. A woman with dark skin and long white hair, holding a demonic spear that radiates a sinister aura.
Vika, "The Armory."
She has the ability to create any weapon. It's similar to my Sword Birth or Holy Sword Creation, but the sheer variety and power of the armaments she produces are on an entirely different level. Having defeated Alice-san once before, her strength is the real deal.
Vika presses a finger to her lips and smiles. "Good evening, members of Team D×D."
She exudes a seductive, dangerous charm. I don't feel immediate malice or bloodlust, but I'm certain that if we make a wrong move, a rain of blades will bury us.
"Apophis-kun seems to have lost... and more importantly, my little sister is fighting. I can't exactly stay on standby, can I? So, I'll be your opponent."
Thousands—no, tens of thousands—of magic circles unfurl behind her and into the sky. From each circle, weapons begin to emerge.
No...
"I can't let you reach Father so easily. He's still having quite a bit of fun over there, after all ♪"
Vika snaps her fingers. In that instant, a deluge of weapons, far greater than the previous volley, rains down upon the allied forces. Countless soldiers are obliterated. We want to go to their aid, but Vika's assault is so fierce we're struggling just to protect ourselves.
"Everyone!"
Asia-san erupts in a golden aura. The radiance expands from her, forming a massive shield over the entire area. The golden light intercepts Vika's blades, protecting our allies from the steel storm.
"Oh? Not bad. In that case—"
Vika begins to flare her aura, readying her next move. But then...
"You think I'll let you?"
A high-output pillar of white lightning crashes down from the heavens, aimed directly at Vika. The strike slams into her, gouging a deep crater into the earth.
Floating in the air is a figure radiating divine light—the False God wreathed in a platinum aura.
"Ufufu. I knew you'd come."
"Yes. To settle this once and for all."
Alice-san, having activated her Pseudo-Deity form, descends between us and Vika. She stares her opponent down.
"I heard what you said, but you're really here to settle things with me, aren't you?"
Vika smiles brightly at the question. "You caught on? Exactly. To be honest, for me, this battle is about finishing our business just as much as it is about fulfilling Father's wish."
"I see." Alice-san takes a deep breath. Then she turns to us. "Everyone, leave this to me. Go on ahead... to Issei."
"Wait! We can't just—" Rias-senpai starts to protest, but Alice-san cuts her off.
"I came here with every intention of settling the score with this woman. I feel like I can't move forward until I beat her. It's fine. I will win. I promise I'll catch up. Besides..." Alice-san looks at us with a soft smile. "Everyone's feelings make Issei stronger. If you're by his side, he'll be even more powerful than he is now. I'll feel much better knowing you're all with him."
Miu-san descends to land beside Alice. Simultaneously, Bel lands next to Vika.
Miu-san smiles at us. "Alice-san isn't alone; I'm here too. Don't worry. I made a promise to Onii-chan that we'd all go home together."
Miu-san and Alice-san—the Goddesses of Night and Light—flare their auras. Their eyes are locked on the enemies before them. They've clashed many times before. That's why Miu-san, like Alice, is determined to end it here.
I look at Rias-senpai. "Let's go. To Issei-kun."
"...You're right. Miu! Alice-san! We'll meet up again later!"
""Of course!""
We leave the two of them to their duel and break into a sprint.
▽
"Haaaaaaah!"
"Yaaaaaaaah!"
The Holy Sword duo, Xenovia and Irina, lead the charge, carving a path through the enemy. Cloaked in blue and golden auras, they show no signs of exhaustion, repelling even giant beasts. Behind them, Rias-senpai and Akeno-san unleash massive waves of dense demonic power, obliterating beasts and Evil Dragons alike. I deploy my Crimson Dragon Knights, picking off targets with precision.
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