"Since I'm a Sacred Gear enthusiast, of course I've made a few replicas of my own. Well, most of them are junk, though. The gods who created Sacred Gears are truly incredible—that's the one thing I respect about that guy."
"Hmph. In the new world we'll create, there won't be such things as Sacred Gears. Even without them, the world will be fine. Sooner or later, Odin of the Norse will make a move. This world must change," Catria said as she eyed the Sacred Gear in Azazel's hand.
Azazel grinned smugly, then sighed.
"After hearing you talk, your goals disgust me even more. Valhalla? The Æsir gods? If you can't get along with them, are you planning to kill Odin too? Anyone who tries to take away the joy I seek… has only one path—death."
The short blade in Azazel's hand began to change form, glowing with a radiant light.
"What?! N-No way! Azazel, you—"
Azazel's voice rang out firmly before the startled Catria:
"Balance Breaker…!"
In an instant, the surroundings were engulfed in blinding light. When it faded, a figure in full golden armor stood there.
It gleamed brilliantly, shaped like a living creature—yet with the form of a dragon.
Flap! Twelve pitch-black wings unfurled from his back, scattering black feathers through the air.
Clad in dragon-shaped golden armor, his black wings beating powerfully, Azazel now wielded a massive spear of light.
"This is my masterpiece—a man-made Sacred Gear created through my research on the 'White Dragon' and other dragon-type Sacred Gears. A simulated Balance Breaker of the 'Penetrating Spear of the Fallen Dragon'—the 'Fallen Dragon Armor.'"
Azazel's voice brimmed with pride, and from him radiated the oppressive aura of a dragon.
It was an impressive display, but anyone could see the flaw. Sacred Gears are Sacred Gears because they are creations of the gods. Though Azazel's man-made Sacred Gear could rival a genuine Longinus in power, it was unfortunately a one-use weapon.
"Hahaha! That's just like you, Azazel! You actually made it!" Vali laughed joyfully, thrilled at the chance to fight a true powerhouse.
"That woman's yours. The White Dragon's mine," Azazel said, leaving no room for Yoru to object before charging forward.
"Seriously? Why do I have to fight this trash?" Yoru muttered, clearly more eager to fight Vali.
"You little—are you looking down on me?!"
Catria's face twisted with rage, but just as she tried to go after Azazel, Vali blasted her with a bolt of white lightning.
"Vali, are you insane?!"
"Trash, stay out of the way. His opponent is me," Vali said coldly, showing no regard for the fact that she was his ally.
Humiliated yet again and unable to retort, Catria turned her venomous glare on Yoru.
"Ohhh… looks like it's not just me—your ally thinks the same way, Catria. 'Trash' really does suit you."
Seeing her face contort, Yoru mocked her mercilessly.
"I am the rightful heir to the true Leviathan bloodline! Catria Leviathan! I am no trash—you damned brat, I'll kill you!"
Catria roared, but Yoru simply beckoned to her.
"Come on, then."
"Die!!"
Releasing a terrifying aura, Catria shot toward Yoru at blinding speed.
Despite the ferocity of her attack, Yoru stood utterly calm, unmoving, as if her overwhelming power didn't even exist.
Catria's strength wasn't truly her own—it came from the Infinite Dragon God, Ophis. The little black snake she had swallowed earlier had felt oddly familiar to Yoru.
If, before, Catria had seemed like a troublesome opponent roughly on Kokabiel's level, now that she had Ophis's power, to Yoru she was nothing more than a toy to be crushed at will.
Because she had used the power of Ophis—the power of the Infinite Dragon—the power of a dragon.
"Too weak…"
Yoru shook his head and spoke softly. Though Ophis's power was unimaginably strong to the current him, it still paled compared to the power he had once felt from Naisha Nessa.
After encountering all kinds of dragon powers, Yoru had discovered something—something like a hidden switch inside him, a gift Naisha Nessa had secretly left behind.
The power of the dragon—the power of Naisha Nessa, the King among dragons, a force so overwhelming it inspired despair. And with it came another trait: absolute dominion over all dragonkind.
That little girl… she really couldn't let go of me, huh? Secretly giving me such a convenient gift. Thinking of Naisha Nessa, Yoru's lips curled into a faint smile.
"You've gotta be kidding me—die!"
Roaring, Catria's hands flared with runic symbols as she poured all her killing intent into one massive attack aimed straight at Yoru.
The violent aura exploded, shaking the entire barrier. Her strike landed squarely on Yoru, engulfing him and the school building behind him in the blast.
"Hahahaha, idiot! Taking my attack head-on without dodging—do you think you're a Maou?! You're just a brat! This is the power Lord Ophis granted me—dying under it should be an honor!"
"You done talking?"
Before the smoke even cleared, a cold voice rang out, dropping the temperature of the courtyard by dozens of degrees.
"Impossible?!"
Catria gasped, while inside the conference room, Sirzechs and Serafall—who had been anxiously watching—both breathed a sigh of relief.
If anything had happened to Yoru, they had no idea how they could face their respective sisters.
"Ophis's power, huh… Too bad… it's still not enough."
Smiling faintly, Yoru's aura spread outward—an indescribable, kingly power, steady as an abyss, impossible to defy.
And to Catria, it felt very familiar. It was the power of a dragon—the same as Ophis's—yet stronger than the Infinite Dragon itself.
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