In the span of a few seconds, an army of shadows numbering in the hundreds took shape behind Issei with his commander Gladio standing steadfast at his side, both hands resting on the pummel of his sword while Glacia hovered directly over his head. The sheer scale of the Shadow Army silenced the entire battlefield, leaving even the most seasoned warriors to stand rooted in place as the oppressive presence of the newly formed force pressed down on them.
"Let's start."
On the cold, chilling voice of their master, the main force of the Shadow Army surged forward at once, breaking the silence in an instant as they charged at their still stunned enemies, who were all unable to react in time as the first wave of heavy shadow infantry and berserkers crashed into them. The front ranks of Heroes barely managed to raise their weapons before impact, the collision sending multiple fighters flying back as spears drove straight through their bodies while others were cut down mid-motion by sweeping strikes in the charge.
Those who reacted fast enough struck back with their weapons and powers from their Sacred Gears, cutting and blasting apart several shadow soldiers, but even before they could feel the horror of the shadows instantly regenerated, shadow panthers and wolves vaulted over the front ranks of reforming troopers and tore into them. Jaws clamped down and claws carved through exposed gaps in armor, dropping Heroes where they stood and throwing the formation into disorder as the beasts pushed deeper into their lines.
"What are these creatures!?"
"They are regenerating!"
"Mages! Blast them! Do something!"
Screams of panic and terror spread across the battlefield as the Heroes were forced fully onto the defensive against the relentless pressure of the Shadow Army. From above, spells rained into the melee in an attempt to halt the advance, bursts of flame and lightning engulfing clusters of shadows and tearing bodies apart. However, just like how it had been from the start, the fallen soldiers quickly regenerated even if their entire bodies were seemingly annihilated in the magic blasts, with even their weapons manifesting once more in their hands as they resumed their charge to cut down the Hero Faction's own army of dark creatures one after another. At the same time, the Nilrem magicians in the air attempted to pull back, but many were too slow before Tempest and his aerial troops of Shadow Elementals and ants reached them, with the heavenly dragoon himself diving straight into their formation and tearing it apart, causing multiple bodies to drop from the sky.
"Ise-san!"
Asia called out, drawing everyone's attention as a towering Shadow Orc approached them and carefully set Ise down in front of her before taking a step back just enough to give her space, allowing the blonde to kneel down beside him and hover her hands over his stomach.
"T-Thanks, Asia." Ise muttered through clenched teeth before the light from her Sacred Gear spread across his body, easing the pain where Heracles had struck him. As the injury started fading away, he then glanced up at the shadow that had carried him and gave him an appreciative smile. "You too." He added, though he was uncertain whether it would even understand him.
To his surprise, the Orc raised a hand in a short acknowledging motion before he turned and charged back into the fighting with his fellow shadows, stunning the devils standing around as they stood there and watched the battle, with no one feeling more interested in it than Sairaorg himself. Standing at the front of the Gremory and Sitri Peerages beside Rias and Sona, he kept his eyes locked on the advancing army, tracking every movement as the shadows continued to press forward. Each time one was destroyed it regenerated only seconds later, while the opposing side steadily lost ground under pressure that never once faltered.
"He created an army of these creatures from his shadow… Could it be that he also possesses the Annihilation Maker Sacred Gear of his world on top of Boosted Gear?" Sona inquired as she adjusted her glasses, feeling no less surprised than her fellow devils despite the calm expression on her face as she watched the battle from the back with them.
"No. this is something else. He didn't create them just now. They have been inside his shadow this whole time, hiding their presence the entire time so none of us was able to sense them." Sairaorg replied calmly. Having driven back terrorist attempts orchestrated by the Hero Faction several times over the past few weeks, he knew the creations of Annihilation Maker, one of the thirteen Longinus, the moment he saw them.
In fact, the army of dark creatures the Heroes were leading was without question produced by that Sacred Gear, whose possessor was a member of the Hero Faction, based on the Intel they had been able to gather about the organization.
But this… army of shadows was different. Each one of them was a force unlike anything Sairaorg had ever seen before in his life. Whereas the creations of Annihilation Maker were mindless, rampaging creatures that simply obeyed whatever order their creator gave, the shadows were coordinated. Issei had yet to utter a single command to them, and yet they moved as if they already knew what needed to be done on their own. The fact that the shadow Orc who had carried Issei to them had reacted when addressed proved they possessed advanced awareness, high intelligence, and even traces of individual personality, setting them apart from the disposable summons that Annihilation Maker could create.
What Sairaorg was most interested in, however, was the strength of each shadow. The standardized forces, from the mechanical knights to the shadow panthers and wolves, the winged creatures and giant ants that filled the night sky, the Orc warriors and even the human figures… each of them clearly possessed considerable strength, easily comparable to a well-trained middle-class devils, but the unique shadows, with five of them fighting on the front lines, had to be league above the common shadows, capable of handling multiple opponents at the same time without slowing.
The spear-wielding dragoon dashing across the sky had to be the deadliest of them all, but the minotaur and the armored warrior both also displayed terrifying brute strength, something the giant elemental wolf matched in its own way as it tore straight through larger creatures with lightning infused claws and fire breath. Occasionally, Sairaorg would catch a glimpse of a panther-like shadow who stealthily weaved between the Heroes and struck from their blind spots, slashing their throats with her claws before disappearing back into the chaos of the battlefield as swiftly as she had emerged.
And to make the might of the whole army even more fearsome, the strongest shadows had yet to join the fight, as the wyvern Issei had ridden to battle had yet to move from its spot behind him. At the same time, the remaining four unique shadows continued to remain at his side. Sairaorg had no trouble telling the elf to his left, the one with the cocky smirk and arms crossed, was some sort of assassin, while the silver haired woman hovering above Issei with a chilling aura surrounding her possessed more magical power than anyone on the battlefield, possibly even more than both Rias and Sona combined. The black-shielded, heavily armored warrior seemed to be the anchor of the army's formation, standing ahead of a unit of equally armored knights who locked their shields together in front of the shadow magicians and archers, keeping them from being hit from afar and free to rain destruction down on their enemies. One look at the towering figure was enough for Sairaorg to understand that even he would have a hard time breaking through that much defense with brute force.
Then his gaze settled on the last shadow, the one standing steadfast beside Issei and occupying his right side like the capable, trusted knight that he portrayed himself to be. Much like the one with the black shield, he had yet to move since showing up, but the stillness and presence he was radiating felt more overwhelming than any of the others.
However, their strength was only part of the problem. There was another matter entirely, as the devils focused on one particular shadow who stood out to them more than the others, not simply because she was another unique individual shadow of the army…
"Wait, doesn't that one look a lot like the woman Azazel-sensei defeated at the Peace Treaty?" Xenovia asked in surprise, pointing toward Katerea as she summoned several shadow tendrils from the ground and used to smash several Heroes together. "What was her name again, Kata… Kate…"
"Katerea Leviathan." Sona finished it for her, confirming it with a serious nod as she recalled the descendant of the original Leviathan who had come to kill her sister to reclaim her title that she thought was destined for her, only to be defeated and slain by the Governor General of Grigori. "And you're right, Xenovia-san. She looks exactly like Katerea."
"And I think that one over there looks like Diodora Astaroth's Queen." Akeno pointed out, drawing their attention toward the shadow woman unleashing a barrage of elemental magic on the Hero Faction. In fact, when they looked closer, they could see the rest of the Astaroth Peerage standing and fighting alongside her, all bearing striking resemblances to the ones who had been killed or arrested and imprisoned after their master revealed himself to be a traitor and died at the hands of Shalba Beelzebub. "And those shadow magicians… aren't they wearing the same robes as the magicians of Nilrem."
"Now that you mention it…" Irina nodded her head slowly in response. Akeno was right. The robes might be pitch black in color now with trails of darkness licking at their edge like shadow flame, the basic design and glowing patterns were identical to the ones on the uniforms that the Nilrem magicians were wearing.
Before anyone could say anything else, an explosion of holy energy swept across the battlefield. Several shadows were skewered mid-step and hurled into the air, while others were pinned to the ground, their bodies nailed in place before detonating from within as compressed bursts of holy power tore them apart. Vulcan roared and charged their attacker, but he never reached him. A blur vaulted over his shoulder, and in the next instant his head was blown clean off, his massive body collapsing as the figure landed lightly behind him and immediately rushed toward Issei, revealing himself to be none other than a fully healed Cao Cao, his spear carving faint golden trails through the air as he cut down the shadows obstructing his path, clearing a straight line forward before launching a single, lightning-fast thrust aimed directly at Issei, aiming for his heart.
"Aegis."
Before the spear could travel even halfway, the armored warrior had intercepted him, moving at a terrifying speed that stunned even Sairaorg as he put himself between Cao Cao and his master. His massive black shield met the tip of the holy spear head on. The impact rang out like clashing bells, metal grinding against sacred light for a brief second as the force pushed him back half a step, boots carving a deep trench into the ground as Cao Cao recoiled and slid backward at the same time.
Before the Hero could even make his next move, or wonder how a shield was able to withstand a direct attack imbued with holy energy from his Sacred Gear, Aegis answered by slamming his fist into the back of the shield, the strike detonating outward in a burst of shockwave that that tore up the earth in a widening line as it surged toward Cao Cao, forcing him to leap away immediately before the wave could swallow him.
In the next instant, Cao Cao saw a blur crackling with blue electricity streaking with him, red points of light trailing behind it before his head snapped to the side when a quick hook was driven across his jaw with crushing force. The impact thundered through the battlefield as Cao Cao was sent skidding violently across the ground, his body rolling violently across the battlefield as he was driven through the earth, his boots repeatedly failing to find stable footing under the sheer power behind the blow.
Before he could even stop or push himself back to his feet, Issei was already on top of him again, closing the gap with frightening speed as his hand shot forward and clamped firmly over his face. The Hero barely had time to react before Issei drove him down into the ground with brutal force, then again, and again, each impact slamming his head and upper body into the shattered earth as Issei continued to dash forward without slowing. The ground exploded apart beneath them as the repeated impacts carved a violent trend across the ground, debris bursting outward in rough sprays with every slam while Cao Cao struggled to even register what was happening through the relentless barrage.
Before he could recover his bearings, Issei stopped and used his own momentum to hurl Cao Cao through the air and straight into the wall of the abandoned factory, causing an entire section to explode on impact into a cloud of collapsing concrete.
"CAO CAO!"
"Now's our chance! Siegfried! Jeanne!"
[Dimension Lost]
Issei had just slowed from his last movement when a wave of purple mist spread rapidly across the space around him. The activation of the Sacred Gear Dimension Lost, as warned by the System, teleported Siegfried directly into striking range above him, the silver haired swordsman already descending with his devil blade mid swing. At the same time, Jeanne emerged from the mist to dash at Issei from his left in a blur with her rapier thrusting forward in a clean, piercing line. The two sword-wielding Heroes moved in perfect coordination, clearly intent on capitalizing on the brief opening Issei had left himself.
However, their attacks were halted abruptly just short of their target when Issei shot his left hand up and caught the blade of Jeanne's rapier just short of his neck with Boosted Gear, his fingers locking firmly around the blade with enough force to halt the thrust completely. Jeanne widened her eyes as she was halted briefly mid-step, before she found herself being pulled forward forcefully as Issei spun around and used her Holy Blade as well as an addition of Ruler's Hand to yank her toward him and slam his knee into her guts, knocking the winds from her lung as her body was lifted into the air before she was sent flying back.
Almost at the same time, a sharp metallic crack rang out behind him as sparks burst outward in a bright shower where Siegfried had locked his sword with something solid that had not been there a moment earlier despite the space appearing completely empty. The space there then distorted for a brief second before Blade revealed himself, his form sliding out of Stealth with the blades of the Demon King's daggers bracing against Siegfried's descending strike. A maniacal grin spread across the face of the Shadow Assassin as their weapons ground against each other before he twisted his wrist and drove his weapon forward in a violent counter, forcing Siegfried to immediately pull back and bring multiple blades up to guard as silver dragon arms began to unfurl from his back in rapid succession.
Steel clashed repeatedly as the newly formed limbs of the Sacred Gear Twice Critical pulled out their own Demon Swords from his coat and joined the exchange, all six blades striking at once in a sword storm meant to overwhelm through sheer pressure. However, Blade stepped into the assault instead of yielding ground, his movements sharp and flourish as the Demon King's Daggers left dark arcs through the air, each strike intercepting the coming demonic blade with brutal force and power, shattering two swords in the process. The next two did not last long under the violent onslaught from the shadow assassin. fracturing almost simultaneously when his weapons flashed in a crossing motion, the reinforced steel breaking apart like glass as the shadow assassin drove forward.
"Tch…" Siegfried gritted his teeth in clear frustration when the last of his blade broke, leaving its fragments to rain down down around him. However, it was far from the end for the silver haired swordsman, and without even a moment of hesitation, as deep down he knew there was no other choice, Siegfried reached into his own pocket dimension and pulled free a long, double edged sword glowing with a deep, vibrant red. The weapon came down in a heavy intercept that met and clashed against Blade's next strike, the collision erupting in a harsh metallic screech as dark and crimson energies ground violently against each other. However, unlike the other Demonic Swords, the red blade did not fracture under the pressure and even pushed back with enough force to halt Blade in his forward momentum for the first time since the clash began.
"That's… Gram." From the distance, Kiba widened his eyes in recognition at the sight of the Demonic Emperor Sword, as well as the strongest Demon Sword in existence.
"This still changes nothing…" Sairaorg murmured as Issei dashed behind Siegfried and closed the distance quickly with a burst of Phoenix Shift, teleporting directly at the swordsman's blind spot in a burst of flame. By the time that Siegfried even sensed the danger, Issei's foot was already descending in a merciless stomp that landed squarely against the back of Siegfried's shin with devastating force. A sickening crack echoed across the battlefield as his bone broke cleanly in half, forcing a raw roar of pain from his throat as Siegfried spun on reflex with Gram carving through the air toward Issei in a wide, horizontal arc.
Before the blade could reach him, his own blade came up and intercepted Gram, the collision erupting in a violent burst of sparks, lightning and demonic energy, but Issei held his ground without the slightest hint of strain, his stance firm while Siegfried's already damaged leg began to give out beneath him. As the Hero started to fall forward, Issei took a step forward and knocked Gram off line to wrench the weapon free from his grip before he could use one of his dragon arm to catch himself. The legendary demonic sword spun through the air before Issei caught it using Ruler's Hand as he vaulted over Siegfried and rapidly slashed at him with both longswords in his hands.
For a brief millisecond after Issei landed lightly on the fractured ground with both Gram and Crimson Throne in his hands, nothing appeared to happen. The battlefield hung in a strange, suspended silence as Siegfried remained frozen in place before blood burst outward from his back and chest as the delayed damage manifested all at once when his dragon arms split apart and fell away in pieces, followed immediately by deep, clean cuts opening across Siegfried's torso. The swordsman's posture collapsed a second later, his balance completely gone as the full weight of the exchange finally caught up to him.
"I-Impossible…" Despite the pain flooding his body as blood soaked through his shirt and trickled down from the corner of his chin, the shock of seeing Gram being wielded by Issei still left Siegfried much more visibly shaken. His eyes locked onto Gram with shock and disbelief, something that was shared by Kiba as he witnessed the notoriously defiant blade accepting its new wielder.
Issei, however, seemed to have a different idea for the new weapon.
"Gladio." Issei called, almost calmly as a group of heroes attempted to foolishly rush at him from behind. Without even turning around, he tossed Gram into the air, and his most trusted shadow caught it swiftly in his grip while soaring through the air, wielding it with just as much ease as Issei did to slash the blade at the group of heroes just before he landed behind his master.
The moment the edge finished cutting through the air, a massive wave of demonic energy erupted outward from the blade, expanding in a wide crimson crescent that tore across the battlefield with overwhelming force. The ground split open in its path, deep fractures racing outward as the pressure of the attack crushed everything caught in front of it. Several of the heroes were blown completely off their feet and sent hurtling across the ruined battlefield, while others were simply swallowed by the expanding arc, which continued traveling forward for dozens of meters before colliding with the abandoned building in the distance, sending the whole structure collapsing in an explosion of demonic energy.
Georg could only watch in terror and fear as Siegfried finally collapsed, his body giving out after losing far too much blood to remain conscious. The silver haired swordsman hit the ground heavily, completely removed from the fight in the span of mere moments, and the sight alone sent a visible ripple of fear through the remaining members of the Hero Faction.
In the distance, Jeanne forced herself back to her feet with a strained gasp and let out a defiant scream as holy power erupted around her. Light surged violently outward while her Balance Breaker, Stake Victim Dragoon, manifested in full, forming a massive dragon constructed entirely from Holy Swords. The towering construct lifted its head and released a piercing roar toward the sky, its body radiating dense holy pressure as it prepared to reenter the battle.
It never got the chance, however, as Bahamut came crashing down from above like a falling meteor, his massive form slamming directly into the newly formed holy dragon and detonating a violent shockwave that tore across the battlefield. Before the Stake Victim Dragoon could even make an attempt to struggle, Bahamut unleashed the energy that he had been building in his mouth directly down at his body, shattering its structure almost instantly while generating an expanding wave of energy that swept Jeanne clean off her feet and hurled her into the air.
After a moment, she landed hard and rolled before finally coming to a stop, the air knocked sharply from her lungs as dust and debris rained down around her. Dazed but conscious, Jeanne forced her eyes upward, but the first thing she saw was Blade crouching over her, a wide, maniacal, almost evil grin plastering across his face. Jeanne let out a broken scream of terror before her strength gave out completely, her eyes rolling back as her body went limp. Satisfied, Blade merely snorted under his breath and rose to his feet, already losing interest as he turned away from the unconscious wielder of the Holy Swords.
"Retreat… RETREAT!" he shouted, his voice starting low before rising into a full throated scream that tore across the battlefield the moment realization fully set in. There was no salvaging this battle anymore. Siegfried was down, Jeanne was out, and even Heracles had been taken out earlier. Staying any longer would not turn the tide, and it would only result in each and every one of them killed.
But before he himself could go anywhere, or use his Sacred Gear to teleport his entire Faction out, a wave of chilling frost swept silently the battlefield. The temperature around him plummeted in an instant, the air turning razor sharp as a thin layer of ice began spreading rapidly across the ground beneath his feet. He tried to move, tried to force his body forward and trigger Dimension Lost, but his limbs suddenly felt heavy as frost raced up his boots in a violent surge, crystallized ice crawling over his legs and locking his joints in place before he could even finish forming the command in his mind.
High above the battlefield, Glacia hovered calmly in the air, one hand still faintly lowered from the casual wave she had made. A small, satisfied smirk rested on her face as a vast section of the battlefield below lay entombed in thick, glittering ice, a sight that stunned even the most powerful magic casters that were watching.
"Incredible…" Sairaorg murmured as he slowly uncrossed his arms and looked at Issei. He knew the Sekiryuutei from another would easily win the fight against the leaders of the Hero Faction, but to take all of them on and defeat them with such ease was not something he had expected.
At the same time, Ise could only watch in stunned silence as the gap in strength between him and his doppelganger finally sank in after everything he had just witnessed, leaving him unable to form a single word. What was even more shocking to him was the fact that Issei hadn't even used his Balance Breaker.
If this was what he could do while fighting normally with only a few boosts and those strange elemental abilities, then what would happen once he actually started using it? The thought sent a cold shiver down Ise's spine, and even Ddraig had fallen unusually quiet at the implication.
[Polar Night Longinus Chakravartin]
"I'll give it to you, Cao Cao,"
Issei suddenly spoke up, his tone almost casual as he leaned his head back just enough to avoid the tip of True Longinus when the sacred spear suddenly extended toward him in a sharp thrust meant to pierce straight through his skull. The attack missed him by the narrowest margin, the glowing tip slicing through empty air where his head had been a fraction of a second earlier.
"You're persistent."
Holding out a hand to stop Gladio from making his own move, Issei continued calmly, his eyes sliding toward the Hero as he retracted his weapon and locked his gaze on him as he adjusted his stance across the battlefield. His shirt and armor were visibly torn from the earlier pummeling, as dust and blood marked the damage Issei had inflicted on him earlier. For the first time since the fight began, Cao Cao was no longer smiling, the usual smug confidence completely gone from his face.
Moreover, seven identical orbs floated behind his back. Issei was certain they were the source of the warning the System had just given him and not doubting that they were the Balance Breaker of Cao Cao's Sacred Gear.
"You think only you can create minions?" Cao Cao snarled. One of the orbs flared and drifted in front of him before several figures clad in ancient Chinese armor holding different types of weapons took shape, forming a tight, disciplined line around their master even though they were nowhere near as numerous as the Shadow Army.
"You guys hear what he just said?"
Issei asked casually as Gladio dashed forward. Cao Cao's warriors charged at him at once, but the armored knight commander simply tore straight through the formation with Gram cleaving right through their bodies, the red blade leaving behind a trail of demonic energy with every heavy, yet lightning fast swing. The archers tried to shoot at him from the rear, but before a single arrow could be let loose, Blade sprang onto Gladio's shoulder and used the larger shadow as a launching pad to leap over the front lines and descend upon the archers with his daggers flashing in dark arcs that hack apart every summoned ranged warriors, destroying them in a matter of seconds as Gladio finished off the rest just as quickly.
[Pact Switch] Rassei (Lightning) - Y Ddraig Goch (Fire)
[Skill Activated] – Phoenix Shift
"Don't compare my shadows to your cheap creations, Cao Cao."
Cao Cao widened his eyes when he realized that the voice came from behind him, and spun around just fast enough to have his face met with a flaming punch from Issei, who then detonated the blow into an explosion of dragon flame that sent him hurtling across the battlefield like a flaming comet. The leader of the Hero Faction reemerged from the smoke midair, several of his own summoned warriors crumbling away in front of him after acting as his shields and taking the brunt of the explosion, though it was quite clear that the strike had still dealt serious damage to his body.
One of the orbs shot beneath his feet, attempting to lift him into the air, but before it could carry him even two feet off the ground, Issei triggered Phoenix Shift and closed the distance instantly, his fist slamming into Cao Cao's ribs with such force that a ring of dragon fire blasted outward before any of the remaining orbs could slide into position to shield him. The so-called leader of the Hero Faction tried to steady himself and activate another orb as he was sent flying back, but Issei never gave him the chance, cutting off every opening with repeated activation of Phoenix Shift. He knew for a fact that he shouldn't stand around and wait to find out what other abilities the remaining orbs might hold, though he also knew that if Cao Cao would have used them against him already if he could.
So either Cao Cao simply hadn't gotten the chance to use those powers yet, or they were straight up useless against him and the way he was fighting right now. Either way, Issei had no intention of slowing down just to give his opponent the opportunity to prove otherwise.
Over and over, Issei pummeled Cao Cao with thunderous, devastating blows that sent shockwaves rolling across the battlefield. A few foolish Heroes tried to intervene, to assist their leader, but Gladio, Blade, Tempest, Vulcan, and Asterius eliminated them before any could become a real threat, letting Issei continue his assault without interruption.
"ENOUGH!" Cao Cao roared and unleashed an enormous explosion of holy light from his spear directly at Issei, the blinding surge washing across the battlefield and even hurting the devils below before the magic users of the two Peerages hastily raised a joint barrier to shield everyone from the wave of sacred energy.
[Soul Link]
"Issei!" Ise shouted, but before he or anyone could say anything else, an unimaginable eruption of dragon flame suddenly tore outward from the very core of the holy wave, forcing the sacred light to distort as a blazing silhouette pushed forward from within it. All eyes widened in disbelief and shock when they saw Issei, in his Soul Link mode, pushing through the wave of holy to get to Cao Cao, who quickly snapped himself out of his shock to launch the spear at him.
But instead of backing away, Issei chose to answer the attack head on.
[Skill Activated] – Penetrate
[Rook Promotion Ultimate Finisher] – Hammer and Anvil
[Boost!]
[Boost!]
[Boost!]
[Boost!]
[Boost!]
[Boost!]
[Boost!]
Dragon fire condensed violently around his fist as Issei threw a devastating punch directly into the incoming spear. The moment the two forces collided, a thunderous shockwave of dragon fire and holy energy tore through the air as the sacred weapon failed to withstand the sheer overwhelming force behind the empowered blow, fractures racing along the shaft before the spear shattered. For a moment, the world seemed to stand still for Cao Cao as his Sacred Gear splintered into pieces, causing the seven orbs behind him to fade away before the fist coming toward him carried on to collide with his face, the impact detonating outward in a massive burst of dragon flame that sent the leader of the Hero Faction hurtling across the battlefield before he crashed into the ground, gouging a wide crater into the earth as spiderweb cracks raced violently outward across the surrounding terrain.
All eyes snapped toward the impact site as Issei descended and landed a split second later near the edge of the crater with a heavy thud, dragon fire still blazing around his body while dust and embers slowly drifted through the stunned silence that fell over the battlefield. A deep voice then broke the silence a moment later, and it came from someone none could have expected.
[W-What manner of power is this?]
Ise turned his gaze down at his Sacred Gear when he heard Ddraig asking that question in a shaken voice, his own eyes widening in surprise at the realization that even his dragon did not recognize the power his doppelganger had just used. At the same time, Issei mirrored the motion, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the broken fragment of True Longinus resting in his grasp, the piece still faintly emitting an almost unbearable holy pressure despite the destruction of the Sacred Gear.
[!] You have received - Shard of Longinus.
Bring it to a [Blacksmith] to craft or enhance a Legendary Grade Weapon.
"Y-You… you think… this is over."
A pained grunt cut through the battlefield as Cao Cao dragged himself upright from the center of the crater, making Issei turn over to look at him, his hand moving to the side to store the [Shard of Longinus] into his inventory. Cao Cao emerged from the thinning smoke a moment later, his once pristine armor cracked and blackened in multiple places, one shoulder plate hanging loose while fresh blood ran from the corner of his mouth and down the side of his jaw, his breathing rough and uneven as he forced his battered body to stand using broken shaft of his broken spear.
Perhaps it was blind anger, or perhaps the arrogant hero simply refused to accept his swift and utter defeat, but the light in Cao Cao's eyes turned feverish as holy energy began to gather weakly around the ruined weapon in his grip.
"I will… fucking destroy you with [Truth Idea]!" He roared, and raised the broken True Longinus over his head to start chanting "SPEAR. THE TRUE HOLY SPEAR THAT PIERCES THROUGH GOD… GAHHHHHH!"
But Cao Cao never had the chance to use the power, or find out if his Sacred Gear even worked anymore, as Issei, letting out a sigh, walked straight toward him and swiftly drew Crimson Throne from his Inventory to slice off the arm holding onto his broken weapon. Gritting his teeth, the Chinese hero lunged for his weapon with his remaining hand, but Issei simply kicked him down with a boot to his chest, sending him sprawling helplessly before taking a step forward to hold the tip of his blade at his neck, keeping him from trying to get up.
Not that it looked like he could anymore.
"Do you know why you are still alive?" Issei asked calmly, but Cao Cao did not answer. Whether from pride or exhaustion, it was hard to tell. "Why haven't I killed you?"
"Because killing you right now would be too easy." His eyes briefly shifted past Cao Cao toward the surviving members of the Hero Faction who were still alive or conscious enough to witness the outcome of their battle. "You're the leader of a Faction that is working with the Khaos Brigade of this world. That alone makes you far more useful alive than dead, and capturing you for the Three Factions will help them unravel far more valuable Intel than your little operation here tonight."
"But more importantly, I'm letting you live so you might be alive to be better than yourself right now, since you insist on calling yourselves Heroes. In my world, the Hero Faction isn't just the pillar of humanity, but the entire world." His voice remained even as he spoke. "I know how great your Faction can be, and I am choosing to leave your head on your shoulders so you might have the chance to put your Faction back in line. Leave Khaos Brigade, and make sure this kind of foolishness never happens again. Because if you don't…"
A brief silence followed as Issei raised Crimson Throne to swing it around and let the blade rest on his shoulder, his gaze sweeping across the remains of the enemy force before returning to Cao Cao. When he spoke again, it was to call out a familiar word that seemed to carry a cold finality that made the air itself feel heavier.
"Arise."
Shadows pooled and twisted across the shattered ground, seeping from beneath fallen bodies and broken sections of the battlefield. The atmosphere quickly turned suffocating as the black mass thickened, spreading in waves before it began to rise from the corpses of the fallen Heroes and magicians. One by one, the darkness stretched upward into familiar silhouettes that made several onlookers visibly stiffen. What had moments ago felt like the relief of a decisive victory for the Devils shifted into utter shock, their eyes widening as they looked across the battlefield at the newly formed shadows completed their rise and joined the ranks of the Shadow Army. The sight of former enemies now standing in silent obedience sent a cold chill through the watching forces, especially when many of the newly risen figures lowered themselves to one knee around Issei without hesitation.
Issei continued to Cao Cao, who was left looking at him in absolute horror at the sight around them.
"…I will."
If Cao Cao had any fighting spirit left, it was broken right after that moment.
"May I come in?"
Issei asked with a small smile as he knocked lightly on the door he had already pushed open, finding his girlfriend sitting comfortably in bed with one of the manga volumes from the shelf resting in her hands. Given that Rias had told him Ria's room was exactly the same as hers, Issei had no doubt the entire collection matched what she owned back in their own world.
"Of course, Ise." Rias beamed, using his usual nickname that they had agreed to use normally like usual between them whenever they were together and no one else was around. Issei returned the smile and stepped fully inside before taking a seat beside her on the bed. "Welcome back. I heard the news from Grayfia. You really took care of it, huh?"
"Yeah." Issei nodded.
Shortly after Cao Cao surrendered himself, the reinforcements from the Three Factions had arrived and taken him along with numerous members of Nilrem and his Faction into custody, or at least the ones who had failed to escape after a wide spread of panic spread among them. With the immediate threat contained and the formalities underway, Issei had departed with the rest of the other Occult Research Club before returning to the Gremory Estate in the Underworld, while Ise and most of the girls had, naturally, headed back to the Hyoudou Residence instead. It was obvious that they, especially his doppelganger, had a lot of questions for him, questions Issei had little doubt they would bombard him with tomorrow morning when they inevitably came over to hang out with him and Rias again.
"Hey, Rias. Look…" Issei then turned to her with an awkward, somewhat nervous smile while his hand scratched at the back of his head "I'm really sorry… for the way I talked to you earlier…"
"It's okay, Ise. I get it." Rias shook her head and interrupted him with a warm smile before moving closer to him after closing the manga on her lap and setting it aside "You were upset about the Heroes of this world falling so far short of what they're supposed to represent, and anyone could see that. You've always held the Hero Faction of our world in such high regard, and seeing this version act the way they did obviously struck a nerve. To be honest, you had every reason to be angry. How were they, by the way?"
"I don't know if that was all of them, but I don't think any of the ones I fought were really that much older than us. I guess that was also part of the problem." Issei exhaled, his expression turning more thoughtful than anything else. It was hard to say if the emergence of Gates was what had set the difference between the version, since the Hero Faction in his world had existed for thousands of years, just without the official name. It was only after the Gates began appearing eighteen years ago that they truly grew into the worldwide organization they were today, expanding their reach and influence far beyond what they had once been.
"Do you… recognize any of them?"
"No. But I haven't met that many heroes outside of the Japanese branch anyway," Issei answered. "I think Mirei did mention that Goto-san recently took in a new student who's the descendant of a famous Chinese hero. I just hope it wasn't Cao Cao from our world… I mean, I do, but…"
Issei trailed off, trying his best not to sound mean or like he didn't want Cao Cao to be the student of Goto that Mirei mentioned. If anything, Issei was fairly sure that he would be a vast improvement over the one he had just faced if Goto Ryuji himself took him under his wing, especially considering how both Kanae and Mirei, his former students, had turned out.
"I guess it really doesn't matter… at least, not anytime soon." Issei said, exhaling strongly through his mouth as he laid down on the bed, one hand folding behind his head while he stared up at the ceiling above.
"You'll find a way for us to return to our world, Ise. I know it." Rias said softly as she watched him. She knew what he was referring to without needing him to say it outright.
"Yeah. It's just… I really miss home, you know." Issei admitted, his voice lower than before. After a brief pause, he pushed himself up and turned to ask her as an idea came to his mind. "Hey, Rias. If nothing else comes up, do you want to go on a date tomorrow?"
"Hmm, I don't see why not. Truth be told, it's been a little boring just staying around here anyway." Rias said with a small shrug, a smile returning to her lips as she nodded at him. It had been a while since they had gone on a proper date anyway, and as fun as it was having Akeno with them like last time, she had been looking forward to one where it was just the two of them.
"Alright, then it's a plan." Issei said with a grin, making Rias beam at him in response.
"Mm. I'll leave it to you then, Ise."
The next morning, as Issei returned to the Gremory Residence after going on a run across the entire mountain range behind the estate to finish his daily quest and morning routine, his eyes spotted a familiar feminine figure leaning against the front gate, clearly waiting for someone.
"Elena-san?" He called out in surprise, prompting the Grigori geologist to look up, her expression lighting up when she saw him.
"Issei. Good morning!" Elena beamed, waving her hand excitedly next to her head as Issei slowed to a stop a few steps away, still a little caught off guard by her presence. "How're you today?"
"I'm great, thanks," Issei replied with a small smile before glancing past her briefly. "Did something happen, Elena-san? I didn't expect to see you here."
"Oh, it's nothing serious. I just made a few discoveries with the samples we collected from the last Gate and wanted you and Miss Rias to take a look." She said, shaking her head as she handed him the tablet she had been holding. It was only then that Issei noticed the second item in her other hand, which looked to be a neatly wrapped gift box decorated with simple but careful folds. "Take your time with them. Once you two are done reviewing everything, just return the tablet and your notes if they are to Lord Azazel. He'll handle the rest."
"Will do, Elena-san." Issei smiled, then paused when he noticed her holding the box out to him.
"And… this is for you." She added with a bright, beaming smile, making Issei's eyes widen slightly as he looked between her and the box. "It's for saving me yesterday."
"Elena-san, you really didn't have to." Issei said quickly with a forced smile, his hands coming up in mild protest, but it was clear the excited geologist was not taking no for an answer as she firmly pushed the box into his hands.
"I know, but I still want you to have it." She said, reaching one hand up to grab the wrist of his hand to lower it down and put the box into it. "It's nothing special, really. Just some homemade mochi I made myself. You can share it with your friends if you want, but I hope you'll accept it."
Issei stared at the box for a second, then let out a small, helpless chuckle.
"…Alright. When you put it like that, it'd feel pretty rude to refuse." Saying that, he opened the lid, revealing several neatly arranged pieces of mochi inside. His brows lifted slightly in approval. "Whoa… these actually look really good."
Without overthinking it, Issei picked one up and took a bite.
"Oh wow. This is seriously really good." he admitted, looking back at her with a more genuine smile. "You've got some real skill, Elena-san."
At that, Elena's expression brightened even further, clearly pleased that her effort had paid off.
"I'm glad." She said before bringing her phone out to check the clock on it "Ooh, I gotta run now. I'll see you later, Hero."
"See you, Elena-san. Take care." Issei waved as she brought out her wings and lifted into the air, watching her disappear into the distance before turning back toward the estate. He slipped off his running shoes at the entrance and stepped inside, finishing the mochi in his hand before reaching into the box to grab a second piece.
As he entered the main hall, his eyes landed on another familiar figure. It was his doppelganger, Ise, standing near the center of the entrance as if he had just come downstairs. His gaze immediately locked onto the box in Issei's hands and the half-eaten mochi between his fingers before flicking back up to his face. It was obvious to Issei that the memories of last night's battle were still fresh in Ise's mind.
"…Morning." Issei greeted him casually.
"Morning." Ise replied, falling into step beside him as they headed toward the dining hall, where Rias was probably already with the others. For a moment, neither of them said anything, and the somewhat awkward silence between the two of them stretched just long enough to make it uncomfortable, at least for the Sekiryuutei of this world.
"So…" Eventually, he started. His tone was casual, but Issei could hear the curiosity in it. "You're a necromancer or something?"
"Something like that." Issei answered "Instead of the corpses, I bring back the shadows. They don't expire and stick with me for as long as I want, if you are wondering."
"I… see." Ise nodded slowly, clearly finding the answer hard to swallow. Still, after everything he had witnessed last night, it was obvious Issei was not lying. "So, you always keep them in your shadows?"
He cast another look at the dark stretch trailing behind Issei's feet as they walked in the morning sunlight pouring through the windows in the hallway. It was… difficult, to say the least, to believe there was an entire army inside it.
"Pretty much."
"Even the Heroes and magicians you revived last night."
"Yup."
"How did you come to possess such ability? Don't get me wrong, it's hella cool, but still…"
Ise never got the chance to hear the answer, because the moment the two of them stepped into the dining room, both of them slowed at the same time. The usual lively morning atmosphere that they had gotten used to was gone, and instead of casual chatter and relaxed expressions, the mood in the room felt heavy, almost tense. Rias was standing near the head of the table with Ria and the rest of her Occult Research Club, but what truly made Issei's eyes narrow was the group speaking quietly with Zeoticus and Venelana. Standing with them were none other than Sirzechs, Grayfia, and Azazel, their expressions not just serious, but deeply concerned.
"Issei-kun. There you are." Sirzechs called out to him when he noticed the two Sekiryuutei entering the room, causing everyone else to look at them.
"What's going on?" Issei asked, settling the mochi box in his hand down the dining table to walk toward them.
"Another Gate appeared half an hour ago." Azazel answered, his hand reaching up to scratch the back of his head in an uncomfortable manner as Sirzechs looked over to Grayfia and nodded his head to her, making the silver haired maid lower head in understanding "But this one is kinda… uh, you should see if for yourself."
With that, Grayfia raised her hand and casted a spell, causing a magic circle to appear on the air before it started projecting the feed of what looked to be a live broadcast.
"Is that…?"
"Tokyo." Azazel confirmed when Rias was about to ask the question. Issei had been to the Tokyo of his world a few times before, since it was where the HQ of the Japanese branch of the Hero Faction was based, so he had no trouble recognizing the place. It was a vast metropolitan sprawl packed with towering skyscrapers, crowded districts, and dense traffic that rarely ever slowed down.
But the last part was no longer the case, because at the heart of Tokyo was a Gate, a towering, colossal spiral of pitch black energy rising straight into the sky, towering over even the tallest structures in the city. Arcs of purple lightning crackled along its surface, striking the surrounding air before snapping back into the swirling mass, casting brief flashes of violet light across the surrounding districts. The streets around its base were in chaos, traffic frozen while distant emergency sirens wailed through the air. Even without being there in person, the pressure coming off the Gate was enough to make several devils in the room tense where they stood.
"T-That… that thing is a Gate?" Asia asked in utter shock, while Issei narrowed his eyes at the magical portal.
"It is, Asia." Rias answered with a nod "But… that size…"
"Lemme guess. It's an S-rank Gate." Azazel said, but his words came out more as a statement than a question, with Rias confirming it with another nod.
"Wait, something is happening!"
Irina called out as the energy of the Gate fluctuated violently. The spiral of black energy began spinning faster, the lightning arcs darkening until they turned completely pitch black as they tore through the air and slammed into the surrounding buildings. The live feed shook hard as the reporter and her cameraman struggled to keep the image steady, and Issei exchanged a tense look with Rias, both of them recognizing the signs immediately.
What they feared most happened next when a towering humanoid shape walked its way out of the Gate, easily rising above the surrounding buildings as its massive frame cast a long shadow over the already damaged district. Thick armor plates of crude metals and furs covered parts of its body, while in its grip was a sword nearly as tall as it was. Issei and Rias instantly recognized what it was, as the figure was identical to the force that had emerged at the end of Ragnarok.
After stepping fully into the city, The Giant paused only briefly before inhaling, its chest swelling as it drew in a deep breath before unleashing it in a thunderous roar that tore across the surrounding blocks. The sound hit the nearby buildings almost instantly. Windows shattered in rapid succession, glass spraying outward from multiple high rises as the shockwave rolled through the district, hurling vehicles and almost everything in its path into the air.
Without hesitation, the giant then shifted its stance and raised the massive sword overhead. The motion was slow but carried terrifying weight, and when the blade finally came down, the strike erased an entire section of the district in a single, overwhelming blow. Buildings split and crumpled under the impact while the ground tore itself apart.
The live feed jolted violently, the panicked screams of the reporter and her cameraman immediately cutting off before the screen dissolved into static, leaving the room in heavy silence as the full implication of the Dungeon Break settled over everyone present because just before the feed ended, they could see more Giants coming out of the Gates.
At once, almost every eye in the room turned to look at Rias and Issei, who had a firm look on his face as he stared at the scene before them.
It seemed his date with Rias would have to wait.
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Race: Reincarnated Devil / Dragon
Class: Level 55 Dragonsworn / Level 50 Shadow Monarch
HP: 32,561/32,561
MP [Current Attribute: Draconic/Demonic] : 15,324/15,324
Link Gauge: 130/130
Title: Champion of the Dragons
Strength: 336
Vitality: 260
Intelligence: 303
Dexterity: 265
Perception: 260
Charisma: 236
Unique Class Skills: Fire Imbue (LV3), Lightning Imbue (LV2), Water Imbue (LV2), Shadow Extraction (LV2), Shadow Extraction – Form Change, Shadow Storage (LV1), Karma (LV1), Shadow Exchange (LV1), Monarch's Domain (LV1).
Active skills: Doubling (LV4), Transfer (LV4), Penetrate (LV4), Sprint (Max Level), Vital Slash (LV1), Observe (LVMAX), Ruler's Hands (LV1), Phoenix Shift (LV2).
Active spells: Fire balls (LV4 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Firewall (LV4 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Lightning Strike (LV2 – Lightning Dragon Pact Affected), Water Blast (LV2 - Water Dragon Pact Affected), Earth Shield (LV1)...
Current Pacts: Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) – Pact LV3, Chaos Karma Dragon Tiamat (Fire) – Pact LV1, Rassei (Lightning) – Pact LV1, Ingvild Leviathan (Water) – Pact LV4, Midgardsormr (Water-Poison) – Pact LV1.
Current Shadows: 535 / 660 (Wolves 29. Panthers 18. Shadow Troopers 118. Shadow Elementals 27. Magicians 79. Shadow Elves 42. Fallen Angels 13. Devils 15, Orcs 69, Soldier Ants 170, Human Heroes: 80)
Elite Shadows: Asterius (Elite Knight), Vulcan (Elite Knight), Tempest (Elite Knight), Lycaon (Elite Knight), Tora (Elite Knight), Blade (Elite Knight), Gladio (Elite Knight), Glacia (Elite Knight), Katerea (Elite Knight), Aegis (Elite Knight), Bahamut (Elite Knight).
Exclusive Items: Boosted Gear (LV5), Razan's Blade (LVMAX), [High-ranking Demon] Armor Set (LV1), Kamish's Awaken (LV?), Ascalon R1 – repaired (LV40), Staff of Avarice (Given to Glacia), Yarn of Ariadne, Crimson Throne (LVMAX – Demon King's Longsword), Demon King's Daggers (LVMAX – Given to Blade)[Demon King] Jewelry Set, Shard of Longinus.
Potions: Healing Potions x15, Mana Potions x15, Greater Healing Potions x10, Greater Mana Potions x10, Miracle Potions x3, Elixir of Life x6.
Gold: 92.231.645 (G)
Ultimate: Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker – Boosted Gear Crimson Scale Mail (LV.2 – Pact Affected), Soul Link (LV1), Soul Link Full Break - Dragon of Dragon.
Finisher: Rage of the Fire Dragon (Crimson Scale Mail), Twinflare (Soul Link – Bishop Promotion), Hammer and Anvil (Soul Link – Rook Promotion), Draconic Assault (Soul Link – Knight Promotion), Dragon Damnation (Soul Link – Queen Promotion).
Tower of Ascension sigils: Sigil of the Shadow Commander – Igirs (Incomplete), Sigil of the Shadow Ice Bear -Tank (Incomplete). Sigil of the Shaodw Wyvern – Kaisel (Imcomplete).
End of Chapter 55