Wasteland, Underworld, DxD Planet…
"Huff… y-you know…" Sairaog forced out between ragged breaths. "I've… huff… imagined a lot of possible scenarios for this battle… but… this outcome?" A weak, incredulous laugh escaped him. "Yeah… this wasn't one of them."
Around him, the rest of the DxD team looked no better. Bruised, bloodied, some on one knee, others supporting themselves with their weapons as they struggled to catch their breath. Across from them stood Skoll, Hati, and five Midgardsormr, equally battered, their once-feral presence dulled by exhaustion.
Fenrir remained bound, the Chains of Heaven wrapped around him tightly. Aside from that brief attack toward Vali, the divine beast had been completely cut off from the battle.
"…I couldn't agree more," Loki admitted, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth with a crooked smile. "I never thought all of you would be able to match us this evenly."
And yet, here they were.
Despite every advantage stacked in his favor, the DxD team had met Loki and his forces head-on.
Skoll. Hati. Five lesser copies of Midgardsormr—each one still wielding power on top of the ultimate-class. Fenrir's offspring alone possessed fangs meant to tear gods apart.
And still… none of it had been enough.
The edge Loki had taken such pride in had vanished. Whatever Sona had done erased the gap entirely, allowing the DxD team to stand on equal footing.
"A truly wonderful surprise," Loki said, his eyes settling on Sona, the one who made this all possible.
She gave a tired smile and brushed sweat from her brow. "I appreciate the compliment, but… I'm just as exhausted as everyone else."
Everyone, even Loki, couldn't hide their admiration for her.
"I've already burned more than half of my reserves just maintaining these buffs."
"Haa… so even now, our strength stands on the same level," Loki laughed between heavy breaths. "I never thought fighting the Heavenly Dragons at the same time would drain me this far."
He shook his head and let out a slow sigh. "Even my trump card—Fenrir—ended up immobilized by the Chains of Heaven."
His eyes turned toward the injured Skoll, Hati, and the five Midgardsormr. Opposite them stood Sairaog, Tannin, Dulio, Irina, Rias, Rossweise, Saji, Xenovia, Kiba, and Bikou, weapons still raised despite their exhaustion. Nearby, the remaining members of the DxD team strained against the divine chains binding Fenrir, doing everything they could to keep the World Devouring Wolf from rejoining the fight.
"And now even my assurance faces the same fate," Loki continued quietly. His eyes returned to Sona. "You truly stumped me, Sona Sitri. You've become an adversary capable of making a god doubt himself."
Sona's only reply was a small, tired smile.
Then a flash of light came in the sky as a new figure arrived on the battlefield. The person who came was a tall, beautiful woman wearing an armored outfit dominated by shades of green, teal, and white. The armor features a fitted bodice with layered chest plating, shoulder guards, and arm bracers that blend smoothly into a dress-like design. A short white skirt is paired with long, flowing white fabric panels at the back, giving the outfit a regal, ceremonial feel. She wears thigh-high armored boots with segmented plating that emphasize both protection and grace. Decorative elements such as leaf-shaped accents, soft curves, and feather-like head ornaments reinforce a nature-themed or elven aesthetic, combining strength, elegance, and a noble presence.
What truly drew everyone's attention, however, was the item in her hand.
Mjolnir.
The legendary hammer of Thor—and the long-promised support from Odin—had finally arrived.
"Fourth sister of the nine Valkyries, Waltraute," the war maiden announced, her voice carrying across the battlefield. "I arrive bearing Mjolnir as promised."
"Sister!!" Rossweisse called out, her voice filled with relief and warmth.
Waltraute glanced back, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You held on well, Rossweisse."
"No—no, it wasn't just me!" Rossweisse quickly replied, gesturing toward Sona. "We managed to last this long thanks to Miss Sitri."
"Sitri?" Waltraute followed her gaze, understanding dawning in her eyes. "I see… the rumored Godslayer's wife."
The brief warmth didn't last.
A sudden chill swept across the wasteland as Loki's divinity spread outward, heavy and suffocating.
"Mjolnir?" Loki's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing. "Odin actually sent Mjolnir here?"
His lips twisted in fury. "That bastard… does he truly intend for that meeting to succeed?"
Waltraute turned fully toward him, her eyes sharp. "Lord Loki. By order of the All-Father, cease this futile resistance and return to Asgard to await judgment."
She raised Mjolnir, lightning dancing wildly around her frame.
Loki met her gaze, the gold in his eyes burning brighter.
"I'm done playing around."
As the words left his mouth, Loki's divinity poured outward.
The pressure was overwhelming, like the sky itself crashing down. Knees buckled. Weapons slammed into the ground to keep their owners upright. Even Vali and Issei had to grit their teeth as divinity pressed against their bodies and souls.
'So this was it, the moment a god stopped holding back.' The realization came over everyone at once.
However, Waltraute bravely stepped forward. She raised Mjolnir and called upon the thunder and lightning.
"Enough," she said, voice firm. "This farce ends here, Lord Loki."
As she brought Mjolnir down. Thunder roared, and the divine lightning descended toward Loki.
Loki laughed lowly, raising his hand to create a magic shield to block the attack. The shockwave is ripping across the battlefield and sending debris in every direction.
Then he vanished.
In the next instant, Loki reappeared before Waltraute; his attack was met by Mjolnir in mid-swing. Steel rang against force as sparks and lightning exploded between them.
Waltraute was driven back several steps. Her boots slid against the ground, but she did not fall.
"Sister!!" Rossweisse shouted in worry.
"Hmmp! To think Odin actually sent you," Loki sneered. "Let's see if you're worthy of that hammer."
Waltraute answered by hurling Mjolnir.
The hammer tore through the air like a thunderbolt, slamming into Loki and blasting him across the wasteland. Smoke curled from his coat as he straightened, eyes burning brighter than before.
Before either could press the advantage, glowing magic circles flared across the battlefield.
Loki slowly raised his head, a crooked smile forming on his lips. "Finally… after waiting for so long, it's here."
He rose into the sky, floating above the battlefield. He looked down at the DxD team.
"My ride has finally arrived," he said casually. "As much as I would've liked to continue this fight… there's something far more important I need to attend to."
The teleportation circle behind him flared brighter.
And then Loki stepped backward, passing through it.
"I won't let you escape, Lord Loki!!"
Waltraute flew forward after him, but her path was instantly blocked as Skoll and Hati leapt in, mouths wide open.
Before they could press the attack, the Red and White appeared between her and the two wolves.
"Take this!!!"
"Here's a little revenge from me!"
Issei and Vali struck simultaneously, their blows smashing into the wolves and driving them hard into the ground.
"That symbol in the magic circle…" Seekvaira shouted. "That's the Astaroth's!!"
"So the traitor is from the Astaroths?!" Rias said in disbelief.
"There's no time for conjecture!" Sona cut in sharply. "Hyoudou-san! Vali-san!"
She turned to the two Dragon Emperors. "His target is surely Odin-sama. I'll teleport you to the meeting place using the power of Trailblaze. Both of you have to stop him at all costs!"
"O-okay!" Issei nodded quickly.
"Understood," Vali replied without hesitation.
"Miss Sitri," Rossweisse said urgently, stepping forward. "Please include me as well. I'm Odin-sama's guard."
"Let me come too," Waltraute added, gripping Mjolnir tightly. "As the one entrusted with this hammer by Lord Odin, it is my duty to stop Lord Loki."
Sona let out a slow sigh before nodding. "Fine! Just come closer!"
"Thank you!"
Issei, Vali, Rossweisse, and Waltraute quickly gathered around her. Closing her eyes, Sona reached out with the power of Trailblaze, sensing the Space Anchor at the Devil Government building. The silver rails wrapped around the four of them, and in the next instant, they vanished, teleported straight back to Lilith.
"Sona, are you alright?" Rias asked, catching her as she staggered slightly, breathing hard.
"I'm fine," Sona replied, though her voice was clearly strained. "But we need to finish this quickly. My Imaginary energy is almost depleted."
She pushed herself to stand, "Once it runs out… the buffs supporting all of you will disappear."
"Then we won't waste any more time," Sairaog said, stepping forward. "With Fenrir restrained by the Chains of Heaven power, I'll go all out and take down one of Fenrir's offspring."
He turned sharply. "Regulus. Come."
Regulus nodded without hesitation and moved to his side.
"You've done well, Sona Sitri," Tannin said, giving her a respectful nod before launching himself into the air. "Now I will finish my part of this battle." He flew straight toward Hati.
"Haa… looks like we have to get serious too," Dulio sighed, rubbing his hair. "Fine. I'll handle the five Midgardsormr. Just brace yourselves, okay? It's going to get pretty stormy."
Sona watched the three of them move out, a grateful smile forming despite her exhaustion. "Please… I'm leaving the rest to you."
—--
Back at the courtyard of the Devil's government building…
"W-what?! H-how is this possible?! No… that's not it!!"
Diodora shouted in disbelief as he watched his peerage fall one after another, defeated by Villhaze in mere minutes.
"Y-you're all useless!" he screamed, his voice shaken in disbelief. "You can't even defeat a mere maid?!"
His glare swept over his injured and fallen pieces, fury and desperation twisting his expression.
Grinding his teeth, he forced himself to look back up. His eyes met Villhaze's cold, unwavering gaze. A chill ran down his spine, but he crushed it down. He reaches deeper and pulls at the power given to him.
"Huh?"
"This power…"
Villhaze stiffened. Ingvild's breath caught. Euphyllia's eyes narrowed.
They all recognized it instantly.
"There's no mistaking it," Ingvild whispered softly, her voice trembling with restrained anger. "That is Ophis-chan's power… her authority over infinity."
Her gaze hardened. "Astaroth-san. So you really are the traitor."
Diodora didn't answer.
Instead, he raised his hand and coldly unleashed his magic—firing it straight at Villhaze without hesitation, without even a glance at his own peerage still lying helplessly around her.
"You—!"
Villhaze bit back a curse. She could dodge the attack easily, but if she did, the attack would hit and kill the unconscious Astaroth peerage members around her.
She clicked her tongue and planted her feet on the ground.
A defensive magic circle appeared as she raised a magic shield, bracing herself to protect both herself and the fallen peerage.
However, the attacks never reached her—or anyone else.
A flash of rainbow-colored magic streaked past Villhaze, colliding head-on with Diodora's spell and erasing it.
"W-what?!" Diodora's eyes widened as his infinity-enhanced attack broke against the unexpected counter.
Recognizing the familiar colors, Villhaze turned.
Behind was Euphyllia, Arc-en-Ciel raised, its blade still glowing with the brilliant rainbow light.
"Lady Euphy!!"
"Good work, Villhaze." Euphyllia lowered her sword slightly. "You did great. You protected them and made us proud."
She stepped forward with confidence. "Please take everyone to Ingvild-san for safety. I'll handle this scoundrel myself."
"Huh?! B-but—?!"
Villhaze froze. She wanted to protest—to say Euphyllia didn't need to step in, that she could finish this herself. The words died the moment she met Euphyllia's expression.
Blank. Cold. Absolute.
"This is not a request, Villhaze," Euphyllia said as she passed her and the fallen Astaroth peerage. "This man dared to wield stolen power from a member of our house, right in front of us."
Her eyes never left Diodora. Rainbow light flared around her body.
"As one of the Queens of the House of Reason," Euphyllia declared, "I shall deliver a judgement befitting that transgression."
Feeling the anger and displeasure radiating from Euphyllia, Villhaze didn't attempt to dissuade her any further. Instead, she bowed deeply.
"By your will, our Lady Queen. May victory rest in the palm of your hand."
With that, Villhaze raised her hand. Gentle magic lifted the members of the Astaroth peerage into the air and carried them swiftly back to Ingvild's side.
"I'm being looked down on…!" Diodora ground his teeth, glaring at Euphyllia with venomous hatred. "Die. Human."
He unleashed everything at once—his own magic intertwined with the stolen power of Ophis's snakes. A torrent of destructive force roared toward her.
Euphyllia simply raised her sword.
Rainbow light wrapped around Arc-en-Ciel. She then slashed the incoming magic apart as if it were mist. She stepped forward calmly, unhurried.
Her arms moved in brief flashes, each swing erasing another spell. Effortless. Smoothly.
Of course, she answered the magical attack in kind.
Rainbow-colored magic circles bloomed around her and fired in sequence toward Diodora.
His eyes widened. He hastily erected a multilayered magical barrier—but it shattered on impact. He barely managed to leap back, stumbling as he landed.
Looking up, Diodora whimpered.
Euphyllia was walking toward him.
She didn't rush. She didn't hesitate. And somehow, that made it far worse.
To Diodora, she no longer looked like an opponent.
She looked like his executioner.
"D-don't come closer!! Stay away!! Stay away from me!!!"
Driven purely by survival instinct, Diodora fired spell after spell at her, pouring everything he had into the barrage.
It did nothing.
As a final, desperate act, he summoned a massive magic circle and forcibly condensed it. Just as Euphyllia reached him, he fired it point-blank.
The attack pierced straight through her body.
But just as he was about to celebrate, he met Euphyllia's eyes filled with a mocking stare.
The Euphyllia before him suddenly dissolved, her form breaking apart into a splashing water serpent, like a distorted mirror.
From that reflection, the real Euphyllia stepped forward, her body emerging through the clear surface like a veil of flowing water.
Before Diodora could even scream, she moved.
Five sharp, precise thrusts flashed in an instant.
Steel pierced his flesh, towards his abdomen, legs, and arms.
Diodora's body fell as the stabs landed perfectly, robbing him of movement and strength. He collapsed, his vision swimming as pain finally caught up to him.
When his eyes focused, Euphyllia stood above him.
Her eyes were cold. Empty of mercy.
"This must be a lie…" Diodora muttered weakly, his voice shaking as his mind tried to flee reality. "There's no way… no way I'd lose to a mere human… I'm Diodora of the House of Astaroth…!"
"How pitiful," Euphyllia replied calmly. "You can't even face reality. You'd rather drown in your delusions."
Diodora stared at her, then snarled. Unable to move his limbs, he let out his devil wings and jumped forward with his mouth wide open, wanting to bite her off.
Sighing softly, Euphyllia stepped aside and brought her sword's scabbard down, pinning him effortlessly to the ground.
He thrashed like a cornered animal, eyes wild with hatred and madness.
"Can you please stop this disgusting behavior of yours?" Euphyllia muttured.
Then he stopped.
Much to Euphyllia, Ingvild, and Villhaze's confusion.
And then—laughter burst from his throat.
"Wahahaha!" Diodora cackled. "If you think you're strong, then I'll call someone who can match you!"
A teleportation magic circle flared open above sky.
In the next second, Loki stepped out.
"Heh… you really are in a pitiful state, devil," Loki remarked dryly.
"Loki!! Help me!" Diodora screamed. "Teach this woman a lesson! Show them the fear of a god!"
"Hmmp! Fine. Think of it as thanks for pulling me out from that hellhole," Loki replied coldly, already raising his hand.
A god's magic roared toward Euphyllia.
"I won't let you hurt my family!!"
Ingvild moved instantly.
At her call, a massive water serpent appeared before them, colliding head-on with Loki's attack. The two forces annihilated each other in a violent burst—leaving behind only a rain of light.
Euphyllia seized that opening. Rainbow-colored magic flared behind her as a pair of radiant wings took shape, lifting her into the air.
She flew upwards without hesitation.
Arc-en-Ciel blazed as the rainbow light wrapped around its blade, and she brought it down toward Loki in a clean, decisive strike.
Loki clicked his tongue and twisted aside, divine magic surging to reinforce his body. The blade passed through the place where he had been, as a rainbow-colored magic slash flew from the blade and hit the garden below. The impact split and sent a shockwave, tearing across the courtyard.
"Tch! Another troublesome woman," Loki muttered, summoning a barrier with a flick of his wrist.
Euphyllia didn't answer.
She pressed the attack.
In a blur of motion, she closed the distance again, her sword strike after strike. Rainbow arcs clashed against Loki's barrier and magic counters; each impact was heard throughout the building
Loki was driven back several steps as he blocked Euphyllia's relentless attacks. His smile faded, eyes narrowed.
"Tell me, human, are you perhaps one of those Nameless?" he asked
Euphyllia met his gaze mid-air, her voice calm and unwavering. "That is correct."
She raised her sword once more.
"I am Euphyllia Magenta, Arbiter of the Astral Express."
"Haa… so that's how it is." Loki clenched his teeth, irritation bleeding into his voice. "So to finish Odin, I have to pass through you, huh?"
"Hehehe." Euphyllia smiled politely, almost playfully. "It won't just be me, Mr. Loki. There are two more people in our family you'll have to face."
Her eyes sharpen. "That is—if you can even get past me."
The next second, her smile vanished.
Rainbow-colored wings snapped wide as Euphyllia flashed forward once more, Arc-en-Ciel flashing as she unleashed a relentless flurry of attacks. Each swing came in fast and merciless strikes, forcing Loki to abandon any thought of counterattacking and focus solely on defense.
"Tch—!" Loki twisted aside, his magic shields barely keeping pace as rainbow light sliced through him. The courtyard below them became unrecognizable as the garden got torn apart by the aftermath of her blows.
And yet Euphyllia didn't slow.
She pressed him hard, chaining her attacks seamlessly with an overhead slash, reverse cut, and a thrust aimed straight for his heart. Loki blocked, parried, and dodged. Doing his best to save his life from her attacks.
'Damn it…!' Loki snarled inwardly, gritting his teeth. 'Just where did this powerful human come from?!'
That momentary distraction cost Loki dearly.
Euphyllia condensed a sphere of rainbow-colored magic on her peft hand and fired it at point-blank range.
"OH NO—!"
The attack struck.
Loki was sent straight down, buried deep within the courtyard. Stone and debris erupted outward before settling into an eerie stillness as she gracefully landed.
The four sent by Sona to pursue Loki finally arrived, but the sight before them froze them.
Issei, Vali, Rossweisse, and Waltraute stared, their expressions were a picture of utter dumbfoundedness.
"This is where your schemes end, Loki—huh?!"
"Now then—evil god, let's finish this fight… wait, what?!"
"Lord Loki, enough is enough—ehh?!"
"Lord Loki, this resistance has gone on long enough… yes?!"
Loki lay motionless, deep in the ruined courtyard.
And standing at the center of the destruction, the one responsible calmly slid her sword back into its sheath.
"Ara? You're back already?" Euphyllia tilted her head adorably as she finally noticed them.
""Just what the heck happened here?!""
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