"COMRADE! BEHIND YOU!"
"!?"
Behind Issei, someone suddenly appeared wearing church clothes and holding a spear.
"GOT YOU!"
Issei tried to dodge, but it was already too late. The spear pierced right into his stomach.
As Issei groaned in pain, the man who stabbed him tried to pull the spear back out, but he couldn't. Issei was gripping it tightly, refusing to let go.
The man's hands trembled as he tried to pull the weapon, but Issei snapped the spear in half and didn't waste a second before knocking the man down.
"Comrade, are you alright?"
"I think… I can still handle this."
Roughly, Issei pulled the remaining part of the spear from his body and pressed his other hand over the wound. From a distance, Asia, who had been shocked by the scene, ran toward him to heal the injury.
"Issei-san! Are you okay? Sit down, I'll heal you!"
"It's fine, I—ahh!"
Asia pushed Issei down without hesitation so she could make him rest and immediately began healing his deep wound.
"Sit still so I can heal you!"
"Asia, I'm fine."
"But you're seriously hurt! Stop talking and let me heal you!"
Issei couldn't do anything but scratch his cheek awkwardly as she treated him.
"Issei! Are you okay?"
Rias arrived in a hurry after seeing that Issei had been seriously stabbed. She also created a barrier around them to protect the group.
"Yeah, somehow, I managed to survive."
"You idiot…"
Rias was worried about Issei, but she also had to focus on minimizing the damage and maintaining the fight's balance.
"More importantly, President,"
"?"
With determined eyes, Issei stood up and looked toward Vali and Kamiya.
"I have to stop their fight right now."
"You!? In your current condition!? That's impossible! Don't do anything reckless, let's go to Onii-sama and recover first!"
"President."
"...."
That look in his eyes, it was sharp and unwavering, the gaze of someone who truly intended to stop the fight no matter what. Rias hesitated when she saw those brown eyes filled with courage, eyes that looked straight into hers.
Eyes of someone who could do anything.
"…Fine. Do whatever you want. I'll take full responsibility."
"B-but, President!"
"Asia, not now."
Rias shook her head, pulling Asia back. Issei smiled behind them and walked toward the battlefield.
"Wow, you looked really cool back there."
"Shut up."
"Hahaha! Comrade, there's nothing wrong with being a hero once in a while!"
"I'm not interested."
"Come on, the Sekiryuutei is supposed to be full of ambition, but you don't seem to have any."
"You're wrong…"
"What do you mean?"
"I've always had one, the ambition you're talking about."
"Heh, yeah. I get it."
The ambition to protect his family and the people he loves.
.
.
.
.
"Wait a second, Sekiryuutei."
"Azazel-sama?"
"Heh."
With a large silver and purple bracelet on his arm, Azazel seemed to be expecting something.
"Why aren't you fighting back?"
"..."
Vali kicked Kamiya hard, sending him flying several meters away.
"You're not attacking at all, just defending with that light spear."
Vali felt Kamiya wasn't focused on the battle, and somehow that made him lose interest in fighting.
"If you're just standing there doing nothing, then I can assume you're nothing more than a loser."
"Hakuryuukou…"
"Oh? Finally talking back?"
Kamiya lowered his stance and stopped fighting.
"To be honest, I don't want to fight you."
"Why? Are you afraid you'll lose?"
"No…"
Kamiya remembered Rexa's words and how Vali had helped Issei in his past life.
"There's no point in fighting someone who's respected by everyone."
Vali laughed from behind his armor.
"Respected?"
He chuckled lightly when he heard that.
"I was hoping you'd show me your full power here, but in the end, you've disappointed me."
"I understand, but it's better if we postpone this fight for another time."
"You really don't want to fight right now, huh? Is there something else you're after?"
"..."
Kamiya smiled and mimed a beheading gesture with his arm.
"The head of one of the Khaos Brigade, Loki."
"..."
Vali didn't expect to hear that name, but he smiled in amusement.
"So, you already knew he'd show up here."
"I always know."
"I see, huh?"
As Vali's Sacred Gear began to glow, both of them sensed a strong power approaching. Kamiya also felt Issei's aura and smiled, giving Vali a small warning.
"You might not want to let your guard down when fighting the Sekiryuutei."
"Hm? What, are you saying he's worth worrying about now?"
"Well, I'm not saying that exactly."
Kamiya looked into the distance, imagining the future.
"This might sound silly, but I'd rather see you two become friends instead of eternal rivals."
"That's a strange thing to say."
"Ahaha, sorry. Maybe it's just my little wish, to see the two heavenly dragons, who are destined to fight forever, stand together against the disasters ahead."
'But in the end, Vali, you will become friends with Issei, even if it takes time.'
"Vali!"
Issei's voice echoed from below the battlefield, catching everyone's attention, including the magicians who stopped their attacks.
"I, Hyoudou Issei, the heir of the Welsh Dragon's Sacred Gear, here and now, challenge you to a duel!"
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The payoff are sucks, but this is what I can do right now, ciao~