The moment Vali finished chanting his spell, a massive, ominous and turbulent aura exploded within the barrier enveloping Kuoh Academy. If Sirzechs, Michael, and the others hadn't split up to reinforce both the protective barrier around us and the academy itself, the entire area might have been blown to smithereens.
Vali's form hadn't changed much from his usual Forbidden Balance Breaker, but now he had a slightly more dragon-like appearance, and he was simply bigger now. Easily the size of a five to six-meter class dragon.
"What the hell, Ddraig!? What is that?! Is that supposed to be another Balance Breaker!? The power level's completely different from before!"
"No, partner. That's not a Balance Breaker... That's the Empireo Juggernaut Overdrive. But to think he'd activate it here of all places..."
Ddraig answered Issei's question, clearly shaken. Makes sense, after all, activating the Juggernaut Drive, a form known to risk both your life and sanity, out of nowhere, and without being cornered, was unexpected, to say the least.
"Explanations later, partner! Your Forbidden Balance Breaker is about to wear off too! If you don't run now, you're dead!!"
But Vali was already on the move.
"In honor of your strength and resolve, I've invoked the Juggernaut Drive. I'll hold back a bit this time, so... try not to die in one hit, okay?"
With a calm gesture, he conjured a terrifyingly massive magic blast, his version of holding back?!, and fired it straight at Issei.
"Shit!!"
If Issei had still been riding that earlier boob-boost, maybe he could've tanked it. But now? That attack would absolutely kill him. Without thinking, I threw myself between him and the blast, swinging my left arm, wrapped in full fighting spirit, to redirect it upward.
It pierced a portion of the academy barrier and vanished into the sky. Hopefully it didn't hit a plane... or a satellite...
The impact shattered my left arm, fractures and lacerations everywhere.
"Dude, Ikki! Your arm's totally wrecked!!"
"Well, what'd you expect?! There's no way you could've stopped that!"
I felt bad for making Issei worried, but it's the truth.
Issei looked a little frustrated, but then, bam, his Forbidden Balance Breaker broke apart.
"What the, !? What's going on!?"
"You went full titanic boob-mode just moments ago. Of course it's gonna time out... which means..."
I grabbed Issei by the collar with my right hand.
"Uh... Ikki? What are you...?"
Don't worry, Issei. I'm just sending you somewhere safe. Though... not sure why you're going pale from my smile. That's supposed to be reassuring, you know?
"Rias-senpai! Heads up! Incoming delivery!!"
"Wait, hold on!!"
Normally, throwing a high school boy at a woman is a crime, but Rias-senpai's an elite devil, strong and durable. She can handle it. Ignoring Issei's barely-formed protest, I lobbed him in a perfect arc toward Rias.
"WHOAAAAGHHH!! IKKI, YOU BASTAAAAAAAARD!!"
"Look out, Issei!"
Rias caught him. Barely.
I turned back to Vali, ignoring Issei's distant swearing.
"Sorry, Vali. Time to switch players."
"Kukuku... I don't mind. I did say I wanted to fight you again. But you seem rather confident standing before my Juggernaut Drive... Got a plan?"
Of course I do, Vali. Only an idiot would face Juggernaut Drive empty-handed.
"Oh, I'm sure you're on the verge of losing control. That raw, violent aura? It's proof you can't control that power. You shouldn't have used it right after taking damage from Ascalon. One more solid hit, and you'll be forced to deactivate it."
"I won't deny I'm using most of my focus to keep the power in check... But how do you plan to land that hit?"
"Forgot already? The last time we fought? Remember my Sacred Gear, Verg Avesta, False Mirror of All Creation!?"
My left arm's wrecked from that magic blast of yours. Can you really afford to feel that pain right now?
I summoned my Sacred Gear, glowing sigils blooming across my body.
"This power is the original curse of retribution! Even gods can't block it!"
"Gh...!"
Vali was already moving, but too late!
"Verg Avesta!!"
The blue-white sigils lit up, and...
=====================
Wait.
"Uh, hey Ikki? Did... anything happen just now? It kinda looked like... nothing?"
What the hell!? Did it fail?! Did Vali interfere!? No, he looks just as confused. So then why!?
Okay, think. Calm down and think this through.
Verg Avesta is a Zoroastrian curse of vengeance.
It can't be blocked, not even by gods.
It's manually activated.
It only works once per individual.
...It only works ONCE per individual.
...ONLY ONCE!!!
"YOU STUPID THIRD-RATE SACRED GEEEEEAAAAAR!!!"
I instinctively slammed my cursed sword, Zahhak, into the ground.
I mean, come on! It's been days since I fought Vali last! And it still won't activate again?! What's the cooldown here, a lifetime!? This is the kind of design flaw that'd flood the devs with complaints!
You were doing so well lately, Verg Avesta! You decapitated Cerberus! You bluffed Kokabiel! You even helped sink the White Dragon Emperor! You buffed the whole team with divinity this fight! And THIS is how you let me down!?
"What a twist. But lucky for me. Now, shall we continue?"
Vali started prepping another attack, oh crap!
"Ittou Shura!!"
I fired up Ittou Shura and leapt to the side. Just in time, a dense magic blast seared through where I'd been standing. Damn. Even now, Vali's movements are choppy... but his raw power's through the roof.
That last attack? Total telegraph, but I barely dodged it even going all out!
I can't get close like this. Shura won't cut it. Rasetsu? No, Vali's on full defense mode, he'll dodge anything that smells like a direct hit.
Juggernaut Drive makes dodging too easy... So if Shura is too short and Rasetsu is too risky, what's between them?
Right. Something in the middle path. Between Shura and Rasetsu... that would be the Beast Realm and the Rasetsu Realm.
Yeah. That's the vibe.
Time to devour victory.
"Ittou Rasetsu!!"
I compressed Asura's 60-second duration into 20. Boosting its power to three times.
My floppy left arm was in the way, so I locked it in place with sage arts, grabbed Zahhak with my right hand again, and charged.
Vali was still faster... but I was quicker.
Every bone in my body groaned. Blood pooled under my skin. But I pushed through, and slashed.
Didn't split him in two, but it carved a huge gash through his armor.
"Gah! Quit darting around!!"
Vali, larger and moving stiffly, tried to catch me, but I weaved past him, carving more of his dragon armor off.
At the joints, my blade had started to reach his real body.
Uh-oh... I think my eyes are bleeding. Literally.
His abdomen, the easiest target, is exposed now. Time to end this!!
3 seconds of Rasetsu left. I poured it all into one final roundhouse kick to his battered stomach plating!
"GUAAAHHH!!"
"GGHHNNNGGH!!"
Vali went flying, coughing blood. My right leg broke in multiple places from the backlash. Can't even feel my foot...
He hit the ground hard, vomiting blood. Juggernaut Drive deactivated.
Talk about razor's edge... If he'd been at full power, I probably would've lost. I owe Issei for softening him up.
"Hah... hah... Kukukuku! That was incredible! We might both be too beat to keep going, but who cares! Let's take this to the bitter end!!"
Are you kidding me, you battle-crazed lunatic!? My arm and leg are shattered. You're bleeding internally with torn joints from my strikes! There's no way you can still fight!!
But then, the academy barrier shattered.
And a man descended.
"Yo, Vali. Came to pick you up! ...Whoa, you're a mess."
"Bikou, huh. What are you doing here?"
Finally! About damn time! I'm allowed to be mad, right!? Where the hell were you this whole time!?
"Boss says we've got a fight brewing with the Norse gods up north. You're needed back. I tried breaking the barrier earlier, but it kept getting stronger. Couldn't get in till just now, looks like your Juggernaut Drive weakened it enough to slip through. Wait... don't tell me you were the reason it got stronger in the first place?"
Yes. Blame the shiny white lizard!!
"Anyway, time to go. You need treatment if you're gonna fight a god. Or would you rather bleed out in a hospital bed alone?"
"I'll pass. I've had my fun here, let's go."
"HEY! Who the hell are you, just barging in like this!?"
Issei finally cut in, clearly pissed.
"That's Bikou. Descendant of the Fighting Buddha, Sun Wukong himself."
"S-Sun Wukong!? That guy!?"
Azazel answered Issei's question. I chimed in too, for fun.
"Hey Issei, why not ask him for an autograph? He's the inspiration for that Dragon Soul anime protagonist, Sora Goku, y'know. (Well, his descendant anyway.)"
"Like hell I'd ask!! He's the enemy!! And YOU, Ikki, stop talking!! You're bleeding all over the place!!"
He looked genuinely worried, but I was fine. For some reason, my head felt super clear.
"Relax. I'm fine. I think I lost so much blood that I've hit a new state of mental clarity... I'm kinda high right now."
"ASIAAAAAAAA!! HEALING!! HE'S SLIPPING INTO THE OTHER SIDE!! HE'S ACTING WEIRD AGAIN!!"
"H-hang on, I'm coming!!"
While that madness played out, Bikou and Vali turned back to us.
"Kahahaha! You guys sure are lively! Looking forward to next time, boys"
"Next time we meet, let's go even harder. Get stronger, both of you, Arima Ikki. Hyoudou Issei."
With that, they sank into the darkness Bikou summoned at his feet and vanished.
=====================
Some time after they left, Asia healed my wounds quickly.
Right now, Koneko-chan is helping me recover my stamina with senjutsu. I'm lying on a bench, using her lap as a pillow. Her thighs are so soft...
I fought off the urge to smile, and didn't wanna end up like Issei. Also, she's in the middle of lecturing me.
"Senpai, you were reckless again. Just like during that explosion incident. Watching you get bloodier every second was awful for my heart, you know?"
Her deadpan stare pierced my soul.
"S-Sorry... So, um... what can I treat you to this time?"
She pinched my cheek.
"Owwww!!"
"Just so you know, I don't appreciate being seen as food-obsessed all the time... But I'll settle for natto-pumpkin pie this time."
...Okay, sure. Maybe I was tactless just now, but wait, that's still food!! And what the hell is natto-pumpkin pie!? Why are her tastes always so... weird!?
"...Because I'd be too embarrassed to order it alone."
Of course she said that. Also, stop reading my mind.
"I refuse."
"You're rejecting me!?"
As the usual banter played out, the school, which had been destroyed by a joint attack involving angels, fallen angels, and devils, was gradually being restored.
Issei had asked Michael to make sure that Asia and Xenovia wouldn't suffer any harm while offering their prayers, and Michael had readily agreed.
Once everyone wrapped up their post-battle clean-up, they all headed home.
=============
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