The Golden Dragon Empress - Chapter 31: Exceeding Expectations

Natsuki faces her strongest opponent yet and get some confirmation about herself while Issei loses himself to negative emotions.

Natsuki could not say she was surprised to hear the God say that he wanted to kill her as the fog that had temporarily been clouding her mind had lifted. 

That Tengu was more than enough for me to know he wants me dead. Natsuki thought as she stared at Fukiaezume. But just how powerful is he? I can tell he’s suppressing his power because I don’t feel anything from him, it’s like there’s a void where he is floating. 

“Why would a Shinto God align himself with the Old Satan Faction and Khaos Brigade?” Rias asked, glaring at the God and the Devil above them. “Only the Greeks, the Norse, and the Hindu under Indra's rule have formally aligned themselves with the Three Great Powers alliance, every other Pantheon, including the Shinto, have remained neutral, although, thanks to your shortsighted attack here today, I’m sure that is going to change. So why have you acted alone?” 

Fukiaezume ignored Rias, feeling no need to waste his time and energy on such an insignificant creature, keeping his gaze on Natsuki. 

This angered Rias. “Don’t ignore-” 

Shalba loudly sighed, rubbing his temple, thoroughly bored. “You have bigger things to worry about than him, little girl. Creuserey, that weakling, may have been slain by Sirzechs, but I am not going to waste this opportunity of avenging him by killing the false Lucifer’s sister.” 

The Gremory Peerage stiffened when they felt the Devil’s Demonic Power greatly increase, but before they could do anything, Natsuki was suddenly sent flying, crashing through the wall behind them. 

“Natsuki!” Issei shouted, his eyes widening when saw Fukiaezume floating where Natsuki once stood, the God’s arms crossed over his chest and with an arrogant smirk gracing his lips. 

When... when did he move?! Issei thought. 

“Your attention should be on me, Natsuki,” Fukiaezume said. “I will be the one to take your life.” 

Kiba quickly jumped forward and swung at the God, but Fukiaezume easily grabbed Kiba’s wrist, not even bothering to turn his body to face the Knight, still staring at Natsuki’s injured form. 

He then punched Kiba in the face, knocking Kiba down so hard that Kiba’s body created a crater in the ground. 

Outside of hitting Kiba, Fukiaezume still did not acknowledge the other Devils, and slowly began making his way over to Natsuki. 

“Don’t go near her!” Akeno shouted, her hands crackling violently with lightning as she launched a torrent of it toward the Shinto God. 

The lightning never reached him, stopping inches from Fukiaezume’s back; the bolts bending unnaturally as if striking an invisible wall before dispersing. 

Fukiaezume continued to glide forward.  “Electricity,” he murmured. “How primitive.” 

Rias gritted her teeth and unleashed a full-powered Power of Destruction blast, the crimson sphere flew towards Fukiaezume, but Shalba flew down, landing between Rias and Fukiaezume, causing the sphere to detonate against Shalba’s now outstretched hand, exploding outward in a shockwave that tore apart the remaining pillars of the chamber. 

When the smoke cleared, Shalba was perfectly fine, and the only sign that Rias’ attack hand touched him was the steam that was wafting from his undamaged hand. 

“I’m your opponent, although I doubt it will be much of a battle.” Shalba said dryly. 

[Boost!] 

[Boost!] 

[Boost!] 

“You fucking bastard!” Issei shouted, the gems on his [Boosted Gear] glowing brighter in response to his rage. 

Natsuki hissed as she shoved away the debris that had fallen on top of her, her arms throbbing due to Fukiaezume punching her and Natsuki blocking the strike. 

I couldn’t even sense him move, not until it was too late. Natsuki thought, pushing herself to her feet. 

“Natsuki,” Lux said out loud through [Ethereal Domination], her voice thick with unease. “Even in his current form, Fukiaezume should be able to easily defeat you. He is toying with you; you must be careful.” 

“Yeah, I figured,” Natsuki muttered. “Most of the overpowered assholes we come across are just like this.” 

Fukiaezume chuckled as he finally reached Natsuki, having overheard her and Lux. “I can’t say that I have ever been called an ‘overpowered asshole’ before now. Although, from the three months I’ve spent watching you, I am well aware of that vulgar and sharp tongue of yours.” 

“Three months?” Natsuki asked, her eyes glancing over the God’s shoulder as she heard her friends fighting Shalba and could see some of the attacks being thrown on both sides. 

Fukiaezume shook his head, amused. “Yes, three months. I must admit that your human mother did a good job hiding you in that orphanage; she was strong enough to keep your divine energy from being sensed for well over a decade, a feat worthy of the Rashaankh name. You even look like her, you know? Nearly a perfect copy of her, besides having a few more obviously differing features from what I was able to discover.” 

Natsuki clenched her fists, her shoulders raising as she glared at the God, not having expected him to mention her mysterious birth mother.  

“And the Devils were adequately able to pick up the slack once the spell she cast on you had faded.” Fukiaezume continued. “But I do wonder, was the Devils finding you a stroke of luck or an event preordained by fate? Sirzechs must have been quite excited for the boon that had fallen onto his lap, especially once he realized you carried with you a Longinus. I’m sure he couldn’t wait to place you on in his younger sister’s path.” 

“Do you just enjoy the sound of your own voice, or do you have a point you wish to make?” Natsuki sarcastically asked. 

Fukiaezume smiled faintly. “You truly don’t know your own heritage, do you? How amusing, you don't know just how blasphemous and illegal your very existence is. No matter, show me the truth of your bloodline, mongrel.” 

Fukiaezume then raised his hand and the air around him instantly became distorted. The ground beneath Natsuki’s feet cracked in intricate, glowing patterns, and a crushing weight descended upon her shoulders. 

“Heavenly Severance,” Fukiaezume murmured. 

The space around Natsuki warped violently, and dark purple blades formed above, flying down towards Natsuki at high speeds. 

[Devourer's Gluttony!] As Natsuki fought against the pressure crushing her, a miniature star shot out from her hands, destroying the glowing sigils at her feet. The magical constructs above her disintegrated as they came into contact with the star. 

I guess it was a good thing that I absorbed Diodora’s final attack. Natsuki could still feel the residual energy flowing through her veins, the same power she now knew had been given to Diodora by the God in front of her. 

For the first time since his sudden arrival, the God of the Stars was no longer smiling, staring at the Devil with disdain. 

He already knew about the secondary ability of Natsuki’s Sacred Gear but seeing it in person and seeing Natsuki use it to copy his power infuriated him beyond belief. 

This... This half-breed dare to take my power as her own?! I had already promised my father that I would make an example of her, but now I will truly make sure that I ruin her! Fukiaezume thought, clenching his fist before unsheathing his weapon. 

It was a uchigatana with a blade that shimmered like the night sky itself. Constellations faintly glowing within the steel as the hamon line pulsed softly with starlight, and the guard was shaped like an eight-pointed star, carved from a crystallized moonstone. 

A terrible shiver raced down Natsuki’s spine the moment the blade was cleared from its sheath. And she swore that she could hear a faint humming coming from the weapon, vibrating through the chamber. 

“This sword was used to carve the boundaries between the mortal realm and Takamagahara,” Fukiaezume said with an unnatural calmness. “You should feel honored to be felled by the Genron no Sekai, mongrel.” 

“Balance Breaker!” Natsuki shouted. 

Just like every other time she had used her Balance Breaker, Natsuki’s Scale Mail was drastically different; evolving to get rid of the imperfections that had previously existed, and adapting as best it could to the threat that it sensed standing before its user. 

The armor was still the color of gold but now it shimmered like molten sunlight. Only one white gem remained, resting on the center of Natsuki’s chest, while thin lines of white light tracing themselves across the plating. Her wings had changed as well, emerging from her back in large, luminous arcs as the boosters of the armor had sat on them, smaller but more numerous than before. 

Fukiaezume moved so quickly that he seemed to vanish from sight, his uchigatana descending in a single, silent arc once he reached Natsuki. 

Natsuki caught the weapon with both of her gauntleted hands, and the ground collapsed beneath them. 

A shockwave obliterated everything within twenty meters of the pair, and Natsuki frowned as she heard the sounds of her friends being thrown back due to the force. 

“You blocked it,” Fukiaezume murmured, before a callous smile appeared on his face. 

Before Natsuki could question this change, the humming that had been coming from the Genron no Sekai grew louder as the constellation patterns on the blade started to shift, and a second shockwave detonated from the weapon. 

In an instant, cracks started to form on the arms of Natsuki’s Scale Mail, and the Devil screamed as the most agonizing pain exploded from the tips of her fingers, encompassing both of her arms, feeling as if her limbs were being set on fire and her bones crushed to dust all at the same time. 

The cracks along her gauntlets spread, and pieces of the armor began to fall off as Natsuki let go of the Genron no Sekai, revealing that the skin on Natsuki’s arms had been cut off entirely, the girl’s blood vessels and bloody muscles now on display. 

Fukiaezume’s smile grew, staring at Natsuki like she was dirt beneath his feet. “Normally, I would have cut off my opponent's limbs, and then their head with just this strike, but an example must be made of you, Sukehiro Natsuki. Both for your arrogance and to teach each and every one of my brethren and all other Gods what happens when they forsake their oaths.” 

Holy Lightning materialized around the Devil’s legs and Natsuki used this along with her boosters to move fast enough to avoid Fukiaezume’s next attack, watching as the Genron no Sekai hit the ground and created a hole in it. 

Lux spoke as Natsuki continued to evade the God. “Natsuki, he is too strong, victory here does not look to be achievable. You must look for a way to escape and rejoin your friends.” 

“I don’t think this asshole going to let me do that, Lux,” Natsuki said, jumping backwards to avoid a downward slash that Fukiaezume had aimed at her head. “Hey, do you think you can take over my body-” 

“Natsuki, I told you that I would never do that again,” Lux growled, making her disgust with the idea evident. “And even if I did, it would not be enough. Your body would not be able to handle the necessary power that I would have to use just to fight him effectively, you would die instantly.” 

Natsuki scowled, ignoring the pain that flared up when she moved her arms around, watching Fukiaezume slowly catching up to her in speed, knowing that he was doing this to show off the difference in power between them. “Well, I’m going to die either way at this rate. It’s like what Tiamat said, how can you achieve higher power if you aren’t willing to risk everything including your life to get it?” 

“Because the risk would not be worth it! You would just be killing yourself for nothing, I cannot beat-” 

“Don’t you know that it’s rude to not give your enemy your full attention?” Fukiaezume asked. 

Instinct overrode thought for Natsuki as her wings flared; fire exploding from the boosters as she twisted herself in mid-air. The Genron no Sekai passed through where her neck had been a fraction of a second earlier. 

The sword carved a glowing seam through the air, and the space within the chamber started folding inward. 

The Devil threw a fireball at an adjacent wall, and flew through the hole she created, escaping the chamber just before it collapsed and disappeared. The room had been replaced with a black void of nothingness, one that looked as if a section of outer space had suddenly been teleported onto the battlefield. 

Natsuki could feel some of the air around her being pulled into the void along with some of the debris that had littered the ground when she escaped to the next chamber. 

Fukiaezume eyes began to glow an eerie dark blue color as he stepped through the void and followed Natsuki into the third chamber of the temple. Stars formed and began to swirl around Fukiaezume in a circle, each one burning with a differently colored hue. 

“Let’s see if you can dodge this,” The God said, smirking at Natsuki as the temperature in the chamber quickly plummeted, making both the Devil's and the God's breaths visible to each other. 

The stars stopped rotating before collapsing inward, the compressed balls of lights shooting outward like projectiles. 

Natsuki absorbed the first five balls before her Sacred Gear had declared that their limit had been reached, forcing her to fly upwards to avoid the other twenty. But as she did, the projectiles quickly changed direction and began to follow her. 

[Juggernaut Drive!] Natsuki’s eyes widened when she heard the sound of Issei’s [Boosted Gear] bellowing throughout the temple followed by the downright dreadful and enormous amount of power that she could feel coming from Issei. 

What... What the hell is that? Natsuki thought, feeling her friend’s magical power growing with each passing second. 

“No... He... He has unlocked it,” Lux said, horrified. “Natsuki, you must stop Issei now. Before he kills himself and everyone else around him!” 

Natsuki tried to fly towards the exit, but Fukiaezume had quickly moved to intercept her, and Natsuki barely had enough time to twist herself to the side in order to avoid the God cutting her down with his sword, the blade grazing her side and carving through her armor like it was paper. 

Natsuki ignored the injury, still flying around the chamber to avoid the projectiles that were still pursuing her. She glared at the God from the corner of her eyes. “You’re in my fucking way, asshole!” 

“Am I?” Fukiaezume asked teasingly before turning his head in the direction of the rest of the Gremory Peerage and Shalba, watching the fight unfolding between Shalba and the Sekiryuutei. “I do not care for Shalba’s ambitions, him and the rest of the Old Satan Faction are simply a means to an end, fools lost in their own delusions of grandeur. But we both agree that the New Satans cannot be allowed to keep the Sekiryuutei or you, the Kogane Ryū Kōgō, for themselves. So, if that idiot boy wishes to burn himself up while lost in the mythical Juggernaut Drive, then he is more than welcome to. Besides, you have bigger things to worry about than your little friends.” 

Natsuki growled, and her body glowed a brighter gold, one that spread throughout the room, bathing everything in its harsh light. When the light faded away, Natsuki’s Scale Mail had restored itself and had once again taken on a new appearance. 

So, she used the magic she absorbed from me to force another evolution. Fukiaezume thought, lazily placing his sword over his shoulder. 

Natsuki stopped suddenly, absorbing the twenty projectiles that had been chasing her. Her Demonic Power flared outward, creating a golden aura around her body. 

“I’m going to kill you,” Natsuki said calmly, as faint constellations formed behind her, rotating in slow arcs as the eyes of her mask glowed a molten white. 

Fukiaezume smirked as his sword started to hum again and changed colors, the blade becoming a deep orange.

~X~

Xenovia slashed at Shalba with Durandal and Ascalon, but Shalba created a barrier around himself to deflect the Holy Swords. 

Shalba smirked at the Reincarnated Devil. “Honestly, girl, don’t you see how futile your struggling is?” 

He then created a magic bullet in his other hand and fired it into Xenovia’s stomach, sending her flying backwards. 

Rias screamed Xenovia’s name, feeling her heart lurch as Xenovia crashed against the far wall, blood staining the stone. Her Power of Destruction erupted around her as she raised both hands toward Shalba, firing a blast at him. 

Shalba flicked his wrist and Rias’ Power of Destruction split apart midair, the two beams flying past the Devil and destroying the wall behind him. 

Issei and Koneko had used this opportunity to rush forward, hoping to overwhelm the Devil. When the Pawn and Rook reached him, Shalba sidestepped Koneko’s fist, grabbing her by the ankle and using her like a bat, hitting Issei with her body. 

Both Devils cried out in pain as Issei shot back like a rocket, crashing into Gasper like a bullet while Koneko was used as a shield when Kiba had tried to attack, forcing the Knight to jump back to avoid hurting Koneko 

Shalba then threw Koneko to the side, her body bouncing off the ground before skidding across the stone floor and slamming into a broken pillar, the impact of which, cracked it down the center. 

Asia had rushed to Xenovia’s side, using her [Twilight Healing] on the Knight, and as the hole in Xenovia’s midsection started to heal, Asia stretched out one of her hands towards Koneko, sending her healing powers out as a projectile. When the beam reached Koneko, it started healing her far slower than Xenovia due to the distance between Asia and Rook. 

“How pathetic,” Shalba sighed, lifting his hand towards an approaching Kiba, launching giant fireballs at him.  

Kiba used his [Sword Birth] to create a wall of Demonic blades in front of him, the swords intercepting the fireballs one after another. 

Before all the swords could be destroyed, Kiba ran around them, and summoned his Repression Calm sword, a bladeless sword whose steel was replaced with a vacuum of intense wind shaped like a sword that rested over the hilt in Kiba's hands. 

He used the Demonic sword to create a giant tornado that he heaved in Shalba’s direction. 

The Pure-Blood Devil did not bother to dodge the attack, raising a single finger, and causing the tornado to split cleanly down the center. Then he snapped his fingers, the air around him twisting and causing the now two, smaller tornados to change direction, sending them back and making them implode when they Kiba. 

“Is this truly the best the New Satans can muster?” Shalba scoffed as Kiba was swallowed by the imploding twin tornadoes. His screaming cut short when the compressed winds detonated and slammed him into the far wall hard enough to destroy it. 

Before Shalba could continue to attack Kiba, Akeno and Rias jumped forward and combined their spells together, Power of Destruction and Holy Lightning intertwining into a spiraling vortex of annihilation. 

[Transfer!] From afar, Issei had doubled enough of his power and fired the gathered energy at the two girls. 

With their Demonic Power now bolstered, the fusion of Holy Lightning and Power of Destruction grew larger and more devastating as Akeno and Rias fired it. The attack crashed into Shalba with enough force to obliterate the remaining temple walls, swallowing him in a violent explosion that reached the ceiling and tore it open, revealing the sky above. 

For a moment, the chamber fell into silence as smoke filled the battlefield, chunks of stone raining down from the ceiling. 

Rias turned to face the others, her fists clenched and her eyes wide with panic. “We need to get out of here, now.” 

No one argued with their King, having already experienced just how outclassed they were, but the group did not have time to move as the smoke around them started to clear. 

Shalba stood among the ruins covered in dust; the armor he had been wearing breaking away to show that the center of his chest was the only part of his body that had been damaged by Rias and Akeno’s attack. The skin had been burned, turning black, but the Devil had a bored expression on his face, indifferent to the injury. 

“I suppose you lot are not entirely weak,” Shalba smirked. “But I grow tired of this little game, so let me show you the power of a true descendant of Beelzebub!” 

“Shine on, Over Boost! Welsh Dragon Over Booster!” Issei shouted, activating his Balance Breaker. 

“Gasper-kun,” Rias said, coating her body in Power of Destruction again. “When I tell you to, activated your [Forbidden Balor View].” 

“Ye-Yes, Buchou!” Gasper exclaimed, his body shaking from fear, but determined to fight too. 

“Everyone else, we need to cover Gasper and buy him time!” Rias ordered. 

Akeno fired a torrent of icicles at Shalba just as Xenovia tapped into the aura of her Holy Swords and the Twin arcs of Holy energy tore across the battlefield, colliding with Akeno’s attack and creating a detonating wave that swallowed Shalba whole. 

Before the smoke could clear, Rias raised her hands and compressed her Power of Destruction into a single, concentrated sphere no larger than her palm. She fired the condensed blast straight into the center of the smoke, the attack detonated inward in a spiraling vortex. 

During this attack, Asia rushed over to Kiba, beginning to heal him as Koneko jumped in front of the pair, deflecting the magic bullets that Shalba had fired at them. 

When Rias’ spell disappeared, Shalba stood in the center of a perfectly circular crater with his hand raised, his cloak torn, and the skin on his chest still blackened but already regenerating. 

Issei flew at the Devil, the boosters of his Balance Breaker kicking into overdrive as Rias, Akeno, and Xenovia covered him with more of their own attacks. 

“Dragon Shot!” The Pawn cried out, releasing a beam of his concentrated Demonic Power, and for the first time since the battle began, Shalba chose not to take the brunt of the attack, instead flying upwards to avoid it. 

How irritating. Shalba thought to himself as he evaded the Gremory Devils’ continued onslaught. 

Finally, Gasper stumbled forward, still shaking as his pupils glowed crimson. He focused strongly on channeling all his energy into his Sacred Gear, needing to make this time freeze powerful enough to freeze someone of the Old Satan’s caliber. “[F-Forbidden Balor View!]” 

Just before the Dhampir finished calling out to his Sacred Gear, the Peerage members who did not have powers to protect them from Gasper’s time freeze held those who did. When Gasper’s time freeze activated, falling rubble froze midair, dust halted in place and for a moment it looked as if Shalba had been properly frozen as well. 

But in the blink of an eye, Shalba shrugged off the effects, taking a single step forward as everything else around him remained frozen. 

“Reincarnated Devils and dragons, nothing more than vulgar garbage. It seems the princess of House Gremory has bad taste indeed when it comes to picking servants.” Shalba said as he extended his hand, and a sphere of compressed Demonic Power formed above his palm. 

The magic radiating from the sphere was stronger than anything the Gremory Peerage had felt from him so far. 

He raised his hand toward Asia. “Let us remove the healer first, I’ve grown tired of you erasing my hard work.” 

Asia froze as Shalba’s gaze fell upon her, her fingers trembling as she could feel his killing intent aimed directly on her for the first time. 

“You’re not getting anywhere near Asia!” Issei roared, charging forward and swinging his fist at Shalba’s head. 

Shalba leaned his head to side avoided the punch. Issei twisted around, bringing his leg back and trying to kick the other Devil. 

Shalba used his free hand to block the strike, catching Issei’s leg mid-kick. He then tightened his grip and a sickening crack echoed through the ruined temple. 

Issei screamed as Shalba twisted his leg unnaturally, slamming him into the ground. Shalba grinned lazily at the sound, increasing the pressure until blood seeped through the seams of Issei’s armor. 

He then kicked Issei away, and the Pawn skidded across the stone floor, crashing into a broken pillar. 

“Kiba! Take Asia and-” Within seconds, Shalba sped across the field and grabbed Rias by the throat, lifting her off the ground before anyone could react, cutting her words off as she let out a strangled gasp. 

Shalba’s fingers tightened slightly when Rias coated her body with Power of Destruction, the skin on his hand barely sizzling as his body healed him faster than Rias’ magic could hurt him. 

Akeno screamed and threw as much lightning as she could at the Devil, but it was not enough, instead being met with Holy Light and destroyed before they could get close to Shalba, the device on his wrist glowing as he used it. 

Suddenly dozens of Holy Light Spears appeared before Shalba and he quickly launched them at the Gremory Devils. 

Kiba summoned his Balance Breaker, using his Holy Demonic Sword to cut down the spears, but with each one he destroyed several more would form to take its place. 

Xenovia moved to join him, trying to keep him from being overwhelmed by the spears as the constructs descended upon them in relentless waves. 

Despite Kiba and Xenovia’s intervention, several spears tore through their defense. One grazed Xenovia’s shoulder and pierced her leg; another impaled the ground inches from Akeno, two pierced Kiba’s left arm and foot, and one struck Koneko and sent her skidding across the stone and away from Asia. 

Akeno tried to rush forward, lightning erupting violently around her body, but a Holy Light spear pierced cleanly through her thigh before she could take more than two steps. 

She collapsed to one knee as another spear was thrown at her, passing through her shoulder. Akeno bit down on her bottom lip hard enough to draw blood as she attempted to keep a strangled cry from escaping her mouth, the smell of her scorched flesh filling the air. 

Shalba laughed before turning his gaze to Asia. “Do you see the truth?” He said lightly. “This is why healers are a liability. Once they’re taken off the battlefield, their allies will fall apart.” 

Rias struggled against his grip. “Run… Asia…” 

The sphere of Demonic Power above Shalba’s palm swelled as its surface distorting the air around it before Shalba shot it forward. Asia created a barrier around herself, but it was useless against the sphere, and it destroyed the barrier before piercing through the left side of Asia’s chest without resistance. 

Asia’s body lifted from the ground as the attack detonated inward; blood bloomed like a crimson flower. 

“Asia!” Rias screamed, her voice becoming raw and unrecognizable as Asia’s body crumpled to the ground like a discarded doll. 

For a single, suffocating moment, there was no sound in the chamber besides the weak and gargled choaking of Asia’s breathing. 

Xenovia ran to Asia, falling to her knees and placing her hands on Asia’s chest once she reached her, trying to stop the bleeding. 

“Asia! Asia! It’s okay, everything, is going to be okay, we’ll stop the bleeding, I’ll stop it, just don’t die!” Xenovia cried, pressing her hands deeper into the wound, staining her hands with Asia’s lifeblood. 

Gasper’s eyes widened as he stared at Asia from where he stood, his vampiric senses allowing him to hear the girl’s breathing and heartbeat getting slower with each passing moment. 

Akeno started to crawl towards the Bishop and Knight, and she could see Kiba and Koneko trying to do the same. 

The Rook had been the first to reach them, and as her hands and knees came into contact with the blood pooling beneath Asia, all Koneko could think about was Senjustsu and the healing powers the ability granted masters of it. 

If I... If I had not avoided using it for so long, I would be skilled enough to heal Asia-senpai. She would not; she would not be dying right now. Koneko thought, clenching her fists as tears swelled in the corners of her eyes. 

When Akeno reached the others, she wasted no time trying to use her own healing magic on the younger Devil. Her own ability was nothing compared to that of [Twilight Healing], and it was apparent that if nothing changed, her efforts would not be enough to save the Bishop. 

The wound was massive, allowing everyone to see through Asia’s body, along with some of her organs and bones and the bloody floor beneath her. The fact that she was still breathing, let alone still conscious, was a miracle in itself. 

Asia’s lips trembled as she looked up at the others, the light in her eyes starting to fade. “X-Xen-Xenovia… Ko-Koneko.... Aken-Akeno...” 

“Don’t talk,” Akeno quickly said, pushing past the exhaustion she was experiencing, her hands shaking as she made little progress on the injury. 

“Asia? Asia?” Issei called for Asia from across the battlefield while unsteadily pushing himself to stand on his good leg. His face was expressionless, dried tear-stained marks resting on his cheeks, his pupils unfocused and the first time since becoming a Devil, Hyoudou Issei did not look human. 

“Asia…?” Issei quietly asked again, and no one responded to him. 

Shalba chuckled, loosening his grip on Rias and letting her fall to the ground. “There, the nun is gone. Now let us continue with our game and see how long the rest of you-” 

The Devil suddenly froze when he felt ominous pressure flooding the ruins. In an instant, the temple started to shake as Issei started to emit a blood-like red aura from his body and as it continued to grow larger, the aura dyed the whole area inside the temple red with its light. 

“I-Ise...” Rias whispered, eyes widening as she stared at her Pawn. It was as if the Issei she knew had been taken over by another entity, becoming almost unrecognizable to her. 

“You...” Issei turned to face Shalba, ignoring his broken leg as he started slowly walking towards him. But the most troubling thing about Isse’s new transformation was that Ddraig’s voice was now coming out of Issei’s mouth, the dragon sounding just as emotionless as Issei’s face looked, sending chills down the spines of his friends. 

“Made the wrong choice,” Ddraig said before Issei’s body started to violently shake. And during this fit, a chant spilled from Issei’s mouth, and it was not just Issei and Ddraig’s voices that everyone could hear, several others layered on top of each other, young, old, male, and female, creating a cursed symphony as Issei’s Demonic Power continued to rise. 

“I, who is about to awaken,” 

“It started.” 

“It looks like it will start.” 

“Am the Heavenly Dragon that has stolen the principles of domination from God...” 

“It was always like that, no matter what.” 

“That’s not right; it was like that every time.” 

“I laugh at the infinite, and I grieve at the dream...” 

“The one the World seeks... The one the World rejects...” 

“I shall become the Red Dragon of Domination...”  

“It was always power.” 

“It was always love.” 

“No matter how much time passes, you guys always choose destruction!” 

“And I shall sink you to the depths of crimson purgatory!” 

[Juggernaut Drive!] The [Boosted Gear] cried out, and everything around Issei, the floor, the walls, and the ceiling were blown away. 

Issei's armor soon changed, the magical steel it was made out of becoming real flesh and scales, making him look like a miniature dragon. Underneath the Scale Mail’s wings, additional dragon arms had emerged from Issei’s back, each one aligned with glowing gems and each with three blades protruding from them. 

“Gugyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” Issei let out a roar that did not sound like it could have come from a living creature, the sound splitting the air itself as crimson shockwaves tore outward from his body. 

Faster than anyone could track, Issei was in front of Shalba and using his now real dragon teeth to bite down on Shalba’s shoulder, ripping into his flesh. 

Shalba screamed in pain and tried to use his right hand to create a Holy Light Spear, but Issei quickly let go of Shalba’s shoulder and bit down on his right arm, tearing it from his body. 

The Devil’s blood splattered onto the ground, his arm landing with a wet thud and with the Holy Light container still strapped to the wrist of his right hand, Shalba could no longer use the element. 

Issei let out another roar, and Shalba was forced to jump back to avoid being bitten again. 

Don’t tell me this is the power of Juggernaut Drive? How can this be?! Shalba thought, crying out when Issei came out of nowhere and tackled the ground. 

As the now deranged and bloodthirsty Devil loomed over him, for the first time in decades, Shalba felt afraid and unsure of his ability to emerge victorious over his once lesser opponent.

~X~

Natsuki created another Void Shatter, dispelling the miniature star that Fukiaezume had thrown at her, her anger growing as she was getting nowhere closer to beating the God and getting back to her friends. 

This isn’t working! Natsuki thought, using elemental magic to create a prison of water around the God, only for Fukiaezume to cut through and destroy the prison with his sword. 

Fukiaezume created a dozen copies of himself, the only difference between them and him being the translucent, stardust appearing color of their skin. 

“Come now, this cannot be the best you have to offer?!” Fukiaezume loudly laughed, punching Natsuki in the face, stepping back as his doubles descended upon her. 

Natsuki landed on her feet and summoned the Sword of Methuselah, not hesitating to swing it. A crescent of compressed void and holy fire ripped outward, cleaving through three of Fukiaezume’s doubles instantly, their stardust bodies scattered into glowing fragments. 

It did not take her long to crave through the rest of the clones, her wings roaring behind her as she moved. 

Fire erupted from the blade as she quickly held it up and used it to block the Genron no Sekai, stopping just a few millimeters from her face. 

Natsuki then raised her free hand and a torrent of fire erupted from her palm, the flames were laced with stolen starlight, slamming into Fukiaezume at point-blank range. 

When the flames cleared, Fukiaezume stood in the center of the blast radius, his robes scorched, fragments of his flesh flaking from his shoulder only to regenerate instantly beneath a shimmer of celestial energy.  

“You adapt quickly,” Fukiaezume  admitted just as Natsuki felt his fist slam into her stomach. 

He then grabbed Natsuki's left arm and broke it, twisted the limb before throwing Natsuki to the ground. 

Before Natsuki could react, Fukiaezume clenched his hand and the gravity in the room became inverted, and Natsuki body was sent hurdling towards the ceiling. 

Natsuki channeled her Demonic Power to the boosters of her Scale Mail, the thrusters igniting violently as she forced herself to reverse direction before she could crash through the ceiling. “Black Bolt-” 

Fukiaezume was relentless in his assault, now refusing to let Natsuki so much as complete a single incantation. He appeared above her, bringing the Genron no Sekai down upon her in a clean vertical arc. 

Natsuki raised her sword, but when the two blades met, the impact destroyed the remaining integrity of her Balance Breaker and removed more skin from her body as she plummeted to the ground. 

Before she could rise, Fukiaezume’s foot pressed against her chest, pinning her down, and pressing the tip of his sword into Natsuki’s shoulder. 

“You’re boring me, mongrel,” Fukiaezume said, pouting as he dug his sword deeper into Natsuki’s body. “Your mother would be disappointed in the progeny that spawned if this is all you have to offer with the power you have been given.” 

The Devil gritted her teeth, grabbing the blade and ignoring the pain that the action had caused, her eyes glowing gold. “Chaotic Oceanic Dimension!” 

Water was pulled from the air, creating a large circular dome around herself and Fukiaezume. Using Tiamat’s spell had taken most of her energy, but as whirlpools and monsters made out of water formed around them, Natsuki knew that it was necessary trade. 

Fukiaezume look around the dome quizzically, watching as the artificial ocean come into existence, currents spiraling while massive serpentine constructs formed from the depths and circled him like he was prey. 

The water pressed down with crushing force; constellations flickered faintly above the surface of the dome, distorted and refracted through thousands of gallons of compressed magical seawater. 

Natsuki forced herself upright, blood dripping from her fingers as she tightened her grip on the Genron no Sekai which was still impaled through her shoulder. 

The first serpent crashed into Fukiaezume, detonating with enough force to flatten a mountain. The second coiled around his torso, dragging him downward into the abyssal current. 

The other constructs descended upon the God, their bodies twisting into spirals as they converged in a single catastrophic implosion. 

As Fukiaezume was thrown back, Natsuki was able to stand up, the Genron no Sekai still embedded in her shoulder. 

Soon enough, the spell fell apart, and the water dome broke down as Natsuki could no longer maintain it. Fukiaezume stood in the center of a collapsing abyss, his robes further destroyed, one arm completely missing, celestial ichor evaporating into steam as it attempted to regenerate. 

His eye twitched as his missing limb did not regenerate instantly, celestial light flickering over raw bone and torn flesh. He could slowly feel his body healing itself, and trying to dispel something dark that he could feel trying to infiltrate his flesh from his wound. 

“What did you do to that spell?” Fukiaezume asked as he stared at the ruined stump of his arm. 

Natsuki chuckled, pulling the mystical weapon out of her shoulder and tossing it to the floor. “Have you not been paying attention for our entire fight? The Void element has a way of disrupting magic and keeping it from working properly. Granted, I've never tired infusing it into another spell or coating another person’s arm with it before now, and I didn't know how it would affect you, but what better time to experiment than when you’re fighting for your life? Now it just makes me wonder what else I can to to you.” 

Fukiaezume glared at the Devil, his eyes glowing purple. Natsuki could feel the God gathering magic into his remaining hand, and she stepped on the Genron no Sekai, keeping him from using his ability of gravity manipulation to pull it back to him. 

The action only served to infuriate the God even more. “You dare to put your disgusting feet on one of the most powerful weapons to ever exist?” 

“Oh, I’m sorry, am I getting your precious sword dirty?” Natsuki asked, pressing her foot down harder on the sword for emphasis. 

Fukiaezume's composure finally shattered, and the air around him began to distort violently. The stars that had been hovering above all this time fractured, splitting into jagged, bleeding constellations, and the pressure in the room multiplied. 

A purple aura covered Fukiaezume’s body, his left arm stretched out in front of him as air gathered around it. “Absolute Grav-” 

“Wow, little dragon, you looked like you just got hit by a train!” Neither Natsuki or Fukiaezume had time to react as they heard someone speaking from up above them, nor when a Bo staff came down and smacked Fukiaezume across the face, knocking him backwards. 

When she looked up, Natsuki saw Vali Lucifer, Kuroka, Bikou and Arthur Pendragon floating above her. 

What the fuck? Aren’t they on the same team? Natsuki thought, before remembering just how easily Vali had had done nothing to save Katerea from Azazel the last time she saw him despite then all working for Khaos Brigade. 

“How did you get through the barrier?” Natsuki asked instead, still weary of their presence. 

Kuroka smirked, her tails swinging behind her playfully. “Odin isn’t the only one with tricks up his sleeve-nya.” 

Fukiaezume glared at the newcomers, irritation flashing across his features. “You and your band of insects are supposed to be investigating the opening in the Dimensional Gap that is nearby, Vali Lucifer, not interfering in my affairs. If you wish to betray our alliance, then I will strike you down with expedience.” 

The Dimensional Gap? Natsuki knew she had heard about this, sure that Lux had explained this to her at some point. 

Vali huffed, a smile appearing on his face. “Don’t talk like that, we all know that you, your siblings, and your father are going to betray the Khaos Brigade once you have gotten the power you wished to obtain from Ophis. You did not hide your intentions very well, and besides, Sukehiro Natsuki is mine, I have a vested interest in making sure she lives a little while longer.” 

Fukiaezume bared his teeth. “Is that so? Do you think Ophis-” 

“Do you truly think you and your reject Gods are more valuable to the Ouroboros Dragon than me?” Vali asked. “If so, you’re stupider than I thought.” 

“Hey, Kuroka,” Natsuki said while Fukiaezume was distracted by Vali, her head turned towards the sounds of screaming she could hear in the distance. “Your Senjutsu, can you use it to heal others?” 

The Stray Devil tilted her head, golden eyes glinting as her tails flicked lazily behind her. “Ara~ I can, but it depends how broken they are-nya. Why do you ask, Nastu-chan?” 

Natsuki fought the urge not to shudder with disgust at Kuroka calling her ‘Natsu-chan', clenching her fists at the idea of asking this group for help. “The rest of my Peerage is fighting Shalba Beelzebub and I can feel one of them dying. I think this is what has caused Issei to trigger his Juggernaut Drive.” 

Bikou let out a low whistle, twirling his staff once over his shoulder. “Juggernaut Drive, huh? That red idiot’s about to go full apocalypse mode, huh? I’m surprised more of your friends aren’t on the brink of death tight now, Juggernaut Drive doesn’t allow its user to distinguish between friend and foe.” 

“It’s an incomplete Juggernaut Drive,” Vali muttered, having felt the transformation the moment he and the others had entered the temple. He knew that the energy he was feeling coming from the Pawn would be far worse if Issei had managed to achieve a true Juggernaut Drive. 

He could not stop his fingers from twitching with excitement at the thought of his rival having grown stronger. 

He wouldn’t have been capable of this even just a few weeks ago. I guess Azazel had been right about this all. Vali thought. “Hyoudou can be brought back if there is something that can stimulate his heart.” 

“So you are asking for our help, Golden Dragon Empress?” Arthur asked, holding Caliburn tightly in his hand. 

Natsuki stared at the human for a moment before bowing her head. “I’m not strong enough, so please, help my friends.” 

Bikou grinned. “Can't say I've ever fought a human turned dragon before now.” 

Him, Kuroka, and Arthur looked at Vali and when he nodded his head, they quickly rushed forward. 

Fukiaezume’s face twisted with rage. “Do not ignore me, I am not some lesser-” 

Vali blitzed the God, slamming his fist into the side of his head, allowing his allies to leave the chamber. 

Vali jumped back to avoid the miniature star that Fukiaezume threw at him, using his Sacred Gear to half the power of the star until it disappeared. 

“Why didn’t you go with them?” Natsuki asked. 

Vali smirked as he looked at Nastuki from the corner of his eye. “I haven’t had the opportunity to fight a God, why wouldn’t I wish to see how I measure up against him? And didn’t  you just say that you weren’t strong enough? You should be glad that I’ve come to save you again.” 

Natsuki rolled her eyes. “And your boss isn’t going care about you two fighting each other?” 

“Why would she? Fukiaezume and the rest of the Children of the End have already betrayed us, stole from us, and abandoned our base. Killing you and Hyoudou is the last part of their plan.” Vali said. 

The Children of the End? This that what their group is called? Why is everyone obsessed with sounding like they’re the main characters of an anime? Natsuki tightened her grip on her sword, taking up her stance. “Well, I hope your special bloodline can help you take on a God, otherwise we're both going to die here.” 

Vali activated his Balance Breaker, hungrily staring at Fukiaezume. “We’ll see.”

~X~

“M-My power should have been raised to that of the former Maous due to Ophis’ power! Even if he has surpassed the data we have on the [Boosted Gear], Ophis’ Snake should have been enough!” Shalba cried out as fear fully overtook him, and he could no longer hide it on his face. 

As the out-of-control Issei threw himself at the Devil, Shalba formed a large magic circle in front of him, and a swarm of bees were fired out from it, using them to flood the chamber, hoping to overwhelm his enemy. 

The Sekiryuutei however was unaffected, the swarm disintegrating the moment they came into contact with him. 

[Divide!] [Divide!] [Divide!] [Divide!] [Divide!] [Divide!] [Divide!] [Divide!] Issei’s wings glowed blue, taking on the appearance of [Divine Dividing]. 

“You can use Vali’s power?! Damn it! Even now, Vali manages to screw me over and get in my way!” Shalba roared, firing a beam of Demonic Power toward Issei. 

“The power of Hakuryuukou… Ise can use it at this high level?” Rias muttered, astonished. 

Between Issei losing himself in this berserker state and Asia’s condition worsening, no one knew what to do, and their despair only continued to mount. 

“Nya~ Shirone, was that bastard Shalba the one who did this to you?” The Peerage flinched, turning around to see Koneko’s sister perched lazily atop a shattered pillar, smiling down at them. although the malicious aura rolling off her made it clear she was anything but relaxed. 

Bikou and Arthur were standing behind Kuroka, their gazes locked on Shalba and Issei. 

“N-Nee-sama,” Koneko said breathily, her eyes widening as she shakily pushed herself to her feet. “W-Why are you here? If you’re here to cause trouble, I won’t forgive you.” 

“Nya, that really hurts my feelings, Shirone,” Kuroka pouted as she jumped down from the pillar, further putting the younger Devils on edge. “And after your little friend, Natsu-chan, fell on her hands and knees begging me to save your cute nun here.” 

“Natsuki asked you to help Asia?” Rias asked, still suspicious of the Stray Devil and her friends. “Why would you want to do that?” 

“Do you want to waste time questioning my intentions, or do you want me to save your servant-nyan?” Kuroka asked with a sharp smile. 

Rias glanced at Asia, Akeno was still trying to heal the younger girl, her hands trembling as she poured Demonic Power into the nun, Asia’s heartbeat was fading beneath her palm. 

Rias gritted her teeth. “…Save her. I don’t care what your reasons are, just save her.” 

Greenish gold light coated Kuroka’s hands when Akeno reluctantly moved away from Asia, the energy immediately sinking into the Bishop’s frail body. 

Issei was able to change the direction of Shalba’s attack just by flapping his wings. Issei then spread out his arms as the chest and stomach part of the armor opened up, and a blaster emerged from within, vibrating as a red aura gathered around it. 

[Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] 

[Longinus Smasher!] 

“We should leave; that attack is going to level this temple,” Arthur said calmly. 

The blaster inside of Issei’s chest fired a massive red beam of Demonic Power at Shalba. 

“I-Impossible... I, the true successor of the True-Maou! A mere dragon, a red dragon should be able to-” Shalba yelled, and when he tried to run away, the Devil found that he could not move his legs, both frozen to the ground, with a red aura encasing them. 

Issei’s eyes were also glowing red as he roared at Shalba, making it clear that Issei had gained a kind of time manipulation ability while in his Juggernaut Drive. 

“Wait, but what about Ise-” Kiba grabbed Rias when she tried to stay, holding her in his arms while Koneko lifted Asia and the rest of his Peerage leaned against each other and followed the Khaos Brigade members out of the temple. 

When they got outside, the first thing they noticed was that Diodora’s Peerage was gathered just beyond the building’s steps. The Queen was still unconscious while the others were surrounding her and were now staring at them with fear and shock in their eyes. 

When the ground shook, Kiba created as many Holy Demonic Swords as he could, using them to make a large shelter around everyone. 

Inside the temple, Shalba could only slump over in defeat as the blast consumed him and the temple, using his final thoughts to curse Issei’s name and to lament his own weakness.

~X~

He may be a minor God, but this idiot powerful. Vali thought as he avoided Fukiaezume’s sword, not wanting to experience the effects of it a second time. 

Natsuki had created chains from the water in the atmosphere, wrapping them around Fukiaezume’s arms, legs, and neck, the links saturated with Void magic and tightening with every pulse of his divine power. 

Fukiaezume snarled, purple aura flaring around him as he quickly broke through the chains, punching Vali in the face hard enough to shatter the helm of his Balance Breaker and send the Hakuryuukou crashing through three pillars before he could even think to divide the force. Vali slammed into the far wall; blood spilled from his mouth. 

Vali pushed himself up slowly, wiping blood from his chin with the back of his hand. His cracked helm revealing the feral grin on his face. “That’s more like it.” 

“Don’t lose focus, Vali,” Albion said to his partner. “He may be the strongest opponent we have faced so far.” 

Fukiaezume’s hand started to glow, and a small sun was created, its heat and blinding light filling the room as it grew, becoming as big as a truck. The heat became so bad that the stone walls and floor were beginning to melt, and it was nearly impossible for Vali to look directly at it. 

[Divide!] [Divide!] [Divide!] [Divide!] [Divide!] [Divide!] Vali began halving the spell, but to Vali’s surprise the sun was still growing larger, fighting against his [Divine Dividing].  

“I’ve grown tired of you, Lucifer scum!” Fukiaezume roared, launching the sun at the hybrid Devil. 

Natsuki flew in front of Vali and absorbed the sun, her eyes glowing gold as her Demonic Power increased. 

The Pawn then copied the spell, but instead of throwing it at Fukiaezume, she flew at Fukiaezume, forcing more Demonic Power into the sun. 

Vali was quick to follow, pressing his hands against Natsuki’s back and pouring his own Demonic Power into her for her to absorb and push into the spell. 

Fukiaezume tried to avoid the attack, but he found that his feet were tied to the ground by more of Natsuki's water chains. 

Natsuki rammed the sun into the God, and it exploded the moment it touched him, engulfing Fukiaezume. 

Fukiaezume’s body fractured under the crushing density and the scorching heat of the sun, and when the sun collapsed in on itself and vanished, Fukiaezume fell to one knee. Half his torso was missing, burned away as golden ichor spilled from body, pooling beneath him, the constellations behind him flickering wildly as his Divine energy tried to regenerate him. 

Natsuki’s breathing grew heavy and she used her [Devourer's Gluttony] to create another sun, this one far smaller than the first, flickering in and out of existence. “Can you... can you give me more of your Demonic Power?” 

Vali scoffed. “Of course I can.” 

An explosion of Divine energy came from Fukiaezume’s body, his injuries healing themselves instantaneously.  

“HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU WORTHLESS, INSIGNIFICANT, BASTARDS THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH UNDERESTIMATING ME???!!!! I AM FUKIAEZUME OF TAKAMAGAHARA, THE FOURTH SON OF AMATSU-MIKABOSHI, THE TRUE RULER OF THE HEAVENS, AND A STAR GOD WITHOUT EQUAL! I WILL NOT LOSE TO THE LIKES OF YOU! FORGET PRESEVERING YOUR BODY TO SHOW THAT FALSE QUEEN, AMATERASU SO THAT SHE MAY WEEP OVER IT AFTER WE ARE RETURNED TO POWER, I WILL OBRITATE YOU FROM ALL REALITY, SUKEHIRO NATSUKI, NOTHING AND NO ONE WILL BE LEFT TO REMEMEBER YOU!” Fukiaezume growled, his voice being amplified by her divinity. 

“I think we made him angry,” Vali said, the smile on his face growing as Fukiaezume had finally resolved himself to no longer holding back. 

Amaterasu? Natsuki thought, just as the ground shook so hard that she was nearly knocked off her feet. 

At first the Devil thought the termors were coming from Fukiaezume but Natsuki’s eyes widened when she could feel Isse’s Demonic Power expanding beyond what she thought possible. 

“We need to leave, now!” Natsuki said as she turned to Vali. 

Vali’s smile had fallen away as he too felt the shift in the air, his head turning in the direction that he knew Issei was, seeing crimson energy coming from there. 

Fukiaezume fired dozens of light beams at the duo, ignoring the glowing red aura that was beginning to fill the chamber. “YOU FOOLS ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!” 

[Longinus Smasher!] Issei’s [Boosted Gear] cried out loud enough for them to hear it where they stood. 

Vali grabbed Natsuki by the arm, being able to fly faster than she could and pushed the boosters on his wings with all his might as he flew himself and Natsuki upward, avoiding Fukiaezume’s attacks before blowing a hole in the ceiling.

~X~

When Kiba released his swords, they saw Issei standing on the ruins of the shrine, leaning his head back and roaring. A tear had formed in the sky above the battlefield due to Issei’s attack, revealing an endless void of iridescent colors. 

Koneko placed Asia on the ground and watched as her older sister started healing her again, seeing Asia’s flesh slowly mending. 

Issei turned towards the others, roaring at them as his wings expanded outward. 

“Ise!” Rias shouted. “Stop! It’s over! Shalba’s dead!” 

Issei’s head snapped toward her; the red glow in his eyes briefly flickering before the aura around him intensified. 

[Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] Issei beat his wings once and the shockwave it created knocked half of them off their feet. 

“Natsuki!” Akeno exclaimed when she saw the girl and Vali flying towards them from the other side of the ruined temple. 

A purple figure appeared just as quickly as Natsuki and Vali, ramming into Vali from behind, sending all three hurdling towards the ground. 

As this was happening, Issei flew towards the group, growling and barring his teeth. Xenovia held out Durandal and Ascalon as she stood protectively in front of her Peerage, but when Issei drew closer, Arthur had moved in front of Xenovia, using his Holy Sword to know the Pawn backwards, leaving a bleeding cut across his chest. 

He... He managed to hurt Ise... Xenovia thought, her eyes widening at how fast the human had been able to move. 

Bikou grinned as he created several duplicates of himself and jumped Issei with them, their staffs striking from every angle in a coordinated barrage meant to pin the berserking dragon down. 

But a pulse of Demonic Power erupted from Issei’s body, obliterating the duplicates instantly. The real Bikou barely managed to leap back, skidding across broken stone as the blast carved a trench through the temple ruins. 

Arthur stepped forward again, Caliburn shining as Issei vanished, moving so quickly that a sonic boom split the air. In an instant, Arthur brought up his blade before Issei’s fist collided with it, the impact shattered the ground beneath them, forcing Arthur to one knee as Issei loomed over him. 

“You truly have become a mindless beast,” Arthur said, still confident as he looked up at Issei. 

He then swiftly pulled his sword out of Issei’s grasp, cut him across the chest again, and kicked him away. 

When Issei tried to get back up, Kiba summoned over a dozen Holy Demonic Swords and had them sprout up from the ground, interlocking as they grew around Issei, pinning him in place. 

Nearby, Fukiaezume rose from the rubble, Divine energy raging wildly around him as he dashed forward, his eyes locked on Natsuki. 

The Pawn stood up and began trading blows with the God, the sound of their fists hitting each other, traveling across the battlefield. For every hit that Natsuki would land, Fukiaezume would land five of his own, and it was only because of the protection that her Scale Mail provided her that Natsuki had not been reduced to a corpse. 

Vali came from behind Fukiaezume, and used [Half Dimension] on the God, halfing the sizing of his body before aiming a punch at the back of his head. 

Even with his size diminished, Fukiaezume’s rage continued to push him to greater heights of strength, and before Vali’s strike could connect Fukiaezume turned his lower body and kicked him, sending the Hakuryuukou crashing through the shattered remains of the temple. 

Fukiaezume then drove his fist into Natsuki’s ribs, cracking her armor and a few of her bones alike, before grabbing her by the throat and hurling her across the ruins. Natsuki skipped across shattered stone, carving a trench through the ground before forcing herself upright, blood spilling from her lips. 

Natsuki barely had time to react before Fukiaezume’s hand wrapped around her throat. He lifted her off the ground, his aura burning against her skin. 

Out of nowhere, Issei crashed into the God, having been sent flying by a combined attack by Bikuo and Arthur after he broke free from the Holy Demonic Sword Prison Kiba had created. 

Natsuki gasped, falling to the ground as Fukiaezume had been forced to release her when Issei had come barreling over. 

Issei had immediately turned his attention to Fukiaezume, immediately trying to take a bite out of him like a starving beast set loose upon fresh prey. 

Fukiaezume recoiled in disgust, driving his forearm into Issei’s jaw, but the dragon did not retreat, instead latching on and digging his teeth into Fukiaezume’s arm. Ichor sprayed the ground as Issei ripped away a chunk of flesh, swallowing it without hesitation. 

“You vermin!” Fukiaezume roared, celestial light exploding outward from his body. 

Issei was hurled backwards, but he twisted midair, his wings snapping open and slowing his descent as the aura around him became darker. 

[Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!] Issei’s chest and stomach opened again, revealing the blaster that he had used to kill Shalba. 

Fukiaezume retaliated before Issei could activate his attack, firing a beam of light straight through Issei’s side. 

Issei roared, ignoring the injury as he tried to attack Fukiaezume again. 

“Natsuki, are you okay?” Akeno had run to Natsuki’s side when Fukiaezume and Issei’s fighting had carried them further away as Bikuo, Arthur, Xenovia, Kiba, and Vali, pursued them. She placed her hands on Natsuki’s shoulders,  

“I-I’ve been... better,” Natsuki breathed out, turning her head to look at Kuroka’s back. “Asia.... Is she....” 

Akeno’s lips parted, but before she could answer, Rias let out a gasp that drew her and Natsuki's attention. 

Rias was crying, a large smile gracing her face as she stared down at Asia, whose chest had begun to rise and fall on its own, and her eyes fluttered open as the golden-green glow around Asia slowly faded when Kuroka pulled her hands away. 

“She’ll live, nya,” Kuroka said, exhaling softly and flicking the blood from her fingers. 

“R-Rias-Buchou...” Asia whispered. 

Rias clutched Asia’s hand, relieved. “Thank you… thank you…” 

Kuroka ignored the other Devil, staring at her younger sister for a moment before turning away. When she saw Natsuki and Akeno jogging towards them, she put an impish grin on her face. “Are you going to give me a special thank you, Natsu-chan~?” 

Natsuki rolled her eyes, wiping the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand. “Do you ever stop, Kuroka?” 

Kuroka’s smile grew. “Never~” 

Natsuki looked at the others, taking in all their injuries and feeling angry at herself for not being able to prevent them. “We need to get Asia to Issei.” 

Gasper’s eyes widened, glanicng at the sky behind Natsuki and seeing the battle raging between the others, Issei, and Fukiaezume. “Y-Y-Y-You w-want us t-to ta-take Asia-s-senpai to Ise-senpai?! B-But h-he'll k-kill her! He-He's lost h-his mind!” 

Natsuki shook her head. “Issei went into Juggernaut Drive because Asia was hurt, so seeing her alive and healed should be enough to knock him out of it. We have to try something, because fighting him doesn't seem to be working and at this rate, he’s going to burn up his life force and die.” 

“Natsuki’s right,” Rias said softly, tightening her grip on Asia’s hand as her voice trembled. “The longer we wait, the more likely Ise will...” 

Another explosion tore across the battlefield as Issei and Fukiaezume clashed again, destroying and pushing back everything around them. 

Their clashing drove Vali into the ground once more, Arthur skidded back, boots carving trenches through stone, Bikou cursed as he narrowly avoided a wing slash that split the ground. Kiba dug his Holy Demonic Sword into the ground, and Xenovia did the same with her Holy Sword so that they would not be blown back. 

Kiba stepped forward without hesitation, summoning a storm of Holy Demonic Swords that shot forward like a silver tide. Xenovia followed, her Holy Swords glowing as she charged forward. Vali rose again, wiping blood from his mouth, and launched himself back into the fray. 

Natsuki carefully lifted Asia into her arms, trying not to jostle Asia too much, trying to figure out how best to get Asia to Issei. 

“Th-That's I-Ise-san…” Asia asked, leaning her head against Natsuki’s shoulder, her fingers weakly clutching at Natsuki’s torn sleeve. 

Natsuki tightened her hold on Asia. “Yeah… that’s him.” 

Another explosion thundered across the battlefield. Issei tore through the air, slamming Fukiaezume into the earth, only for the God to retaliate with a column of light that eclipsed the sky. 

“I-Ise-san…” Asia flinched at the sound, as she called out to Issei. 

Natsuki spread her wings and launched herself and Asia into the air, flying as fast as she could towards the battlefield. 

Vali and Fukiaezume collided again while Bikou, Arthur, Kiba, and Xenovia fought Issei. The Pawn’s armor was cracked, and he was covered in blood while his breathing came in ragged bursts, but he still seemed to be ignoring his own growing lists of injuries as attack whoever was closest to him. 

Natsuki pushed herself to fly faster, shielding Asia with her body as stray blasts tore past them. 

“Ise-san!” Asia cried when Issei’s fist came dangerously close to caving in Kiba’s skull. 

Issei’s head jerked, and he quickly turned to face Natsuki and Asia as they landed, his eyes still glowing red. As he looked at Asia, Issei lowered his arm, pressing his hand against side of his head. 

“...Uuh... As-Asia...” Issei whispered, speaking for the first time since entering Juggernaut Drive. 

Asia smiled, crying as she stepped out of Natsuki’s hold and slowly walked to him, her small hands reaching for his own despite the monstrous armor and the aura still pouring off his body. 

“N-No more… Ise-san,” Asia whispered, her voice trembling. “It’s over, I’m alright. Please… come back to me, to us.” 

Issei’s wings twitched violently, the red aura around him surging outward before he staggered backwards, ripping his hands out of Asia’s as his clawed gauntlet dug into the side of his helmet as if he were trying to tear open his own skull. 

“Asia…” He rasped again, clearer this time. 

While Issei was distracted, Natsuki walked around the two and pressed her hands against, Issei’s back, using her [Ethereal Domination] to absorb the violent overflow of Demonic Power tearing through his body, pulling the excess into herself. 

The aura around Issei lashed out instinctively, scorching Natsuki’s arms, but she gritted her teeth and held on. She reformed her Balancer Breaker, using it to protect herself from the aura and to use the magic she was absorbing to keep her body from reaching its limits. 

“I’m here, Ise-san, and I'm sorry that I worried you… but I’m here now, and I need you to come back, I need you to be yourself again.” Asia said. “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if lost yourself to this state.” 

“Asia is right, Ise,” Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and Gasper moved to join them when Natsuki started absorbing Issei’s Demonic Power, and Rias did not hesitate to hold the side of Issei’s face in her hand. “This isn’t you; you’re not a monster. You’re our friend, and you're my Pawn, and we need you to be you again.” 

Koneko stepped forward without a word, pressing her forehead gently against Issei’s armored chest despite the heat rolling off him, her small hands curling into the cracked scales while Gasper pressed his hand against Issei’s arm, staring up at Issei hopefully. 

Akeno stepped forward last, her trembling fingers brushing against the cracked armor over Issei’s heart as she forced a smile through the tears gathering in her eyes. 

Finally, Natsuki pressed her forehead against the back of his armor. “Let it go,” she whispered. “We’re safe, Asia’s safe. You don’t have to burn yourself up for us.” 

Issei’s breathing hitched, the red glow in his eyes flickering as he dropped his arms and let go of his head. 

Within seconds, the armor of his Juggernaut Drive began to peel away in dissolving shards, exposing bloodied skin beneath, the monstrous helm cracked down the center before dispersing entirely. Issei lost consciousness and fell forward, but Natsuki caught him before he hit the ground. 

Issei was burned and bleeding, but very much alive to everyone's relief, but the moment was cut short when Kiba’s was suddenly sent flying in their direction. 

Koneko moved to catch Kiba before he could crash into anyone, digging her heels into the ground to keep them both from skidding backwards. 

“Yuuto! Are you okay?” Rias asked as she took in the burns that covered the Knight’s body. 

Kiba winced when Koneko placed him on the ground, forcing himself upright despite the burns crawling across his skin. “I’ll live, B-Buchou.” 

Across the ruins, despite fighting against a group of people, each one strong in their own right, Fukiaezume was not struggling all that much, viewing them all as annoying obstacles in his path to Natsuki. 

“What are we going to do about him?” Koneko asked, glaring at the God. 

Natsuki turned to Rias. “Do you still have your communicator? Maybe we can ask Azazel for help.” 

“We tried to call Azazel when we were fighting Shalba but weren’t able to get through to him, the signal was dead.” Rias said. “I think something is still blocking it.” 

So, we basically have to last long enough for the barrier around us to be taken down? Natsuki thought, catching sight of Kuroka joining the others, making several doubles of herself. 

When Xenovia was nearly impaled by Fukiaezume’s sword, Natsuki did not hesitate to push Issei into Rias’ arms and run into the fray, her wings propelling her forward as she launched herself directly at the God. 

“So, you've finally decided to stop hiding yourself from me?” Fukiaezume snarled as he caught Natsuki’s fist in his hand. 

Natsuki did not respond as she fired a Black Bolt into the God’s face at point blank range. Despite being attacked at such close range, Fukiaezume did not let go of Natsuki’s hand, glaring at her as his face was ripped to shreds by the spell. 

Xenovia then came from the side and used Ascalon to cut off Fukiaezume’s hand, freeing Natsuki from him. Natsuki then grabbed Xenovia when Fukiaezume tried to attack her shielding the Knight with her body. 

Natsuki winced when she felt Fukiaezume’s blade travel through her shoulder, and it was only because of Akeno’s intervention that Fukiaezume did not cut off her arm, throwing a bolt of lightning at him and forcing him to jump back to avoid it. 

In an instant, water chains emerged from the ground, restraining the God, making Fukiaezume snarl as Natsuki’s chains wrapped around his limbs, pulling them taut. He swung himself around violently, smashing pillars and craters into the ground trying to free himself. 

From the corner of her eye, Natsuki could see Vali, Bikou, Kuroka, and Arthur regrouped, using the opening to launch a coordinated assault, their attacks striking simultaneously from different angles, and even the rest of the Peerage took the opportunity to support their allies. 

“Is-Is h-h-h-h-h-he d-d-dead?” Gasper asked, hiding himself behind Koneko as smoke bellowed from the spot that Fukiaezume had been pinned to. 

“No, he’s not,” Natsuki said as she could still feel Fukiaezume’s presence. 

Just as Natsuki finished speaking, Fukiaezume suddenly appeared in front of her and stabbed her through the chest, knocking her off her feet. 

The force of Fukiaezume’s strike was strong enough to send her flying, the God pushing the sword deeper into her body when her body finally hit the ground and using her as a cushion, pressing his feet on top of her when she came to a stop. 

Fukiaezume created a barrier around them, one that did not falter as the others began fervently attacking it. Fukiaezume pulled the Genron no Sekai out of Natsuki only to stab her in the shoulder, repeating the action across Natsuki torso. 

Natsuki screamed as she could feel her flesh and muscle being torn from her, looking into the glowing eyes of the God. 

“You truly are nothing more than an arrogant and useless mongrel,” Fukiaezume said, pressing the tip of his blade against Natsuki's neck, drawing blood. “Each and every one of your ilk have been nothing but trouble since the beginning of our reign. The day we decided to lay with mortal was the day that we doomed ourselves to-” 

Natsuki struggled to lift her head, smirking at the God. “You really do talk too much, asshole. Honestly, you could have killed me a dozen times by now if you either learned to shut up or were as strong as you claim to be.” 

Fukiaezume sneered at her, pressing his sword down, cutting Natsuki’s neck more deeply. “Goodbye, Sukehiro Natsuki.” 

Before he could finish her once and for all, Fukiaezume’s eyes suddenly widened and he jumped to the side just as Gungnir, Odin's legendary divine spear came falling from the sky, piercing the barrier and shattering it.  

The ground shook when the spear hit it, embedding itself right next to Natsuki’s head, where Fukiaezume’s heart had been when he was standing over her moments before. 

“Honestly, picking on children now, are we? I suppose I can’t be surprised that one of Amatus-Mikaboshi's brood to not be such weak and fickle bully.” Odin said as he stared at Fukiaezume, smiling sharply at him. 

“Don’t smile like that, you old bastard, you almost killed me!” Natsuki yelled, glared at the Norse God. 

Odin chuckled, thoroughly amused as he lifted his hand, summoning Gungnir back to his side. “You were not the one I was aiming for; if you had been, child, you would not be alive to complain.” 

Fukiaezume’s expression twisted with fury. “Odin…” 

Odin looked down at him. “If you want a real challenge, boy, you should face me.” 

Fukiaezume could feel Odin’s magical power spreading across the battlefield, an oppressive and dense aura that made Fukiaezume want to run away as far and as fast as he could. 

But Fukiaezume’s pride rankled at the idea of running away from an enemy even as he knew that in a battle against each other, the older God would win, easily, he was sure. 

Fukiaezume’s Divine energy pulsed violently but then abruptly compressed inward, turning away from the Norse God with a sneer. 

“This is not over,” He said coldly, staring at Natsuki. “I will be coming back for your head.” 

Space then folded around him and in an instant, Fukiaezume was gone, the oppressive weight of his divinity vanishing with him. 

For a moment, no one moved; the silence only ended when Natsuki started to cough. Blood spilled from her lips as the adrenaline drained from her body; her Scale Mail dissolving into motes of light as the injuries she had been ignoring made themselves known. 

Odin glanced at her wounds, unimpressed but not unkind. “You have spirit. Questionable judgment, but spirit.” 

“Shut up…” Natsuki muttered weakly, laying limp on the ground. 

Fuck, everything hurts. Natsuki thought as her friends surrounded her, fighting the urge to close her eyes and fall asleep. 

“Hey,” Natsuki said, pushing Asia’s hands away from her when the other girl tried to heal her. “Don't strain yourself, I'll be-” 

“I want to,” Asia said, her voice still weak, her hands glowing with a gentle light as she pressed them back against Natsuki’s chest. “You saved me… so please let me save you too.” 

“I’m not dyi-” Warmth spread from Asia’s hands, seeping through torn flesh and shattered bone. The pain did not vanish instantly, but it dulled, the bleeding slowing as light stitched muscle and skin back together. 

Natsuki hissed through her teeth, letting out a shaky breath she had not realized that she had been holding in. 

“…So stubborn,” she muttered. 

Asia gave her a watery smile. “I learned from you.” 

Natsuki let out a snort, the small smile on her face fading as she turned her head to look at Issei, seeing his head resting on Rias’ lap. He looked far less haggard than she did, his Juggernaut Drive protecting him from most of the damage he should have gotten besides the few injuries that Fukiaezume had given him. 

Fukiaezume had escaped and that asshole is definitely going to come back at some point. He mentioned Amaterasu and that she would cry over me when he killed me, does that mean she... she’s my... Natsuki clenched her fist, turning her head to stare at the hole that Issei had created in the sky, trying to distract herself with the moving patterns within it.