'That was close! I almost got caught up in it.' Issei sighed.
However, …
"What the hell kinda power is that..."
He muttered involuntarily as he took in the devastation around him. Where the light had vanished, a hole roughly thirty meters wide yawned open, gouged so deep its bottom was invisible. The heat had melted the crater's edges, and heat haze still shimmered in the air.
[That was a Dragon King's breath, partner. It's been about a hundred years since I last saw one with my own eyes, but that breath just now had power matching the original's.]
Huh? That meant Vali had unleashed a breath attack equal in potency to Albion's own!? Just what the hell was she?
"Hey, Ddraig. Think I could pull that off?"
Hiding the envy and longing swelling in his chest, Issei asked.
[Who knows. A Dragon's breath is what you'd call a trump card. Among all the past Red Dragon Emperors, maybe only two could match that level of power. Thinking about it that way, it's probably impossible—but then again, you're not exactly normal, so you might just manage it.]
Ddraig sounded amused. Yeah, sorry for not being normal! Still, there was a chance. In that case, time to give it his best shot.
[...Tch. Even in decay, still a god, I see.]
At Ddraig's irritated murmur, Issei looked ahead. Wreathed in crimson smoke and wearing a delightfully entertained grin, Loki was floating up from the bottom of the hollow.
[He doesn't seem to have taken much damage. Just what you'd expect from a god, I suppose.]
"Fine by me. If it ended here, it would've been a total letdown."
As Albion voiced his admiration, Vali's battle lust only blazed hotter. 'Seriously, what a battle maniac.'
"Heh heh heh... So that is the White Dragon Emperor's roar. Magnificent. Had I not been a god, I might well have died."
Meanwhile, Loki's eyes glittered brilliantly as he chuckled, utterly ecstatic.
'This bastard is a battle freak, too!?' Issei sighed in exasperation.
"Kyauun!!"
At the same time, Issei heard Fenrir's pained cry ring out across the battlefield.
A little while earlier...
"Ugh, damn it!"
"Tch, what is this thing made of!?"
Fenrir, swift and agile, was exceedingly difficult to pin down, and even when they managed to, its thick, tough fur repelled their attacks.
"Guh, what a nuisance..."
"Indeed. If we don't stop its movements, we won't get anywhere."
Rias nodded at Akeno's mutter, irritation seeping into her own voice.
"Kuroka, are you ready!?"
"Whenever you say, nya."
"Good. Yumi!!"
"Right! Run wild— Sword Birth: Thunder Jail!!"
At Rias's signal, lightning leaped from the demonic swords Yumi had scattered around Fenrir's perimeter, transforming into a cage that enclosed the beast.
Now Fenrir's only escape route was upward—but there, already lying in wait.
"No further passage allowed!"
Rossweisse had erected a barrier, cutting off that last retreat.
'Now!'
"Kuroka!!"
"Binding Black Light— PUNISHMENT!!"
Kuroka's Youjutsu activated. Countless strands of black light erupted from the earth, wrapping around Fenrir's body and sealing its movements.
Fenrir struggled to tear through the bindings, but at that moment, a white shadow crept in close.
"Haah!!"
A sharp, dry crack echoed across the battlefield. Proof that Shirone's "KI" had struck true. For this single blow, Shirone had concentrated solely on refining her ki, abstaining from the fight entirely until now.
"Kyauun!!"
Fenrir let out a yelp and collapsed. 'We've done it!' Fenrir could no longer move. All that remained was to finish it with a concentrated attack.
Just as Rias was about to issue the command…
"Good heavens, what has become of you, my son! To be felled by such rabble—how pathetic."
In an overly theatrical tone, Loki lamented. Yet a smile played at the corners of his mouth, radiating nothing if not composure.
"Somewhat reduced in specs, but no helping it. Come forth, my grandchildren!"
Loki flourished his cape and spread both arms wide. The space to his left and right distorted, and two beasts emerged, radiating immense pressure.
They were half Fenrir's size at most, yet the crushing presence and the aura they emitted rivaled that of the original—silver-white demonic beasts.
"Awooooooooo!!"
The Fenrir-like monsters loosed twin roars into the heavens.
"Allow me to introduce them. Sköll and Hati. They lack their father's raw power, but they should be more than sufficient opponents for you lot. Sic them!!"
At Loki's command, the two Fenrir pups—Sköll and Hati—lunged to attack…
The Fenrir offspring charged straight for Issei's friends. Rias, Akeno, Rossweisse, and the other rear-line members unleashed their magic, but the two beasts pressed forward without flinching. This was bad—if this kept up, Rias and the others would be…
"Issei!!"
Kazuki's shout snapped Issei's head forward just in time to see a colossal magic bullet from Loki bearing down on him.
"Whoa—!?"
He dodged by a hair's breadth, but the grazing impact chipped away part of his armor. That had been too damn close—a split second later and it would've been a direct hit.
"Focus, Issei! We've got no choice but to leave Fenrir to Rias and the others!"
"That's right, Issei-kun. What we need to do is bring down Loki as quickly as possible!"
"R-Right!!"
Kazuki and Vali were spot-on. They couldn't afford any distraction here. Issei doubled his power with a Boost and unleashed a Dragon Shot. The fierce exchange tilted in their favor; Kazuki deployed a Black Hole to neutralize Loki's magic, allowing Issei and Vali to pour all their focus into offense.
Loki was gradually being forced onto the defensive.
'This is our chance!'
"I'm ending this!"
Vali, apparently reaching the same conclusion, seized an opening and darted forward. Issei fired another Dragon Shot to cover her.
Then…
"I've got you, Loki!!"
In a blur, Vali circled behind Loki and swung down a knife-hand strike—
Chomp!!
Only for Fenrir to appear from the side and bite down on her before it could land.
"Guhah!?"
With a sickening, crunching crack, Vali's armor shattered. Blood sprayed from beneath her mask, staining both her white armor and Fenrir's jaws crimson.
'Why the hell is Fenrir here!?' Issei whipped his gaze toward his comrades.
Kuroka lay collapsed, bleeding, and beside her stood one of the child Fenrir, its claws slick with red.
'Had that bastard specifically targeted the caster to free its parent!?'
"Ufufu, so first the White Dragon Emperor and the black cat exit the stage. Now then, who shall be next?"
Loki laughed fearlessly. At that unspoken signal, Sköll and Hati began to move…
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