Even so… having a clear goal was a good thing.

If defeating one Ultimate-Class Fallen Angel only yielded a 1% increase in his Inheritance Rate, then that meant a Maou-level opponent would be worth much more.

And beyond them… the gods. Beings who had surpassed even those limits. Surely, their value was on another level entirely.

But Akira chose not to dwell on that.

The gap between him and the current Maou was already overwhelming. Comparing himself to the gods? That was just pointless fantasizing—at least for now.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Akira's gaze flicked upward toward the night sky.

Something was there. A presence. A pressure he recognized all too well.

His sudden motion caught the attention of everyone nearby. Instinctively, they followed his line of sight. But no one else could see anything.

Hidden in the shadows, Azazel—who had been observing everything from afar—narrowed his eyes in surprise. That magical pressure… that aura. It was unmistakable.

The problem child he'd raised with his own hands.

"Red Dragon Emperor—!"

The voice thundered across the night like a divine declaration. Everyone heard it, no matter the distance, no matter the wind.

Then, a tiny black speck appeared in the sky.

It grew larger with each passing second, eventually revealing a young man with striking silver hair, handsome features, and an aura brimming with overwhelming confidence.

"Yo. Long time no see, Vali," Akira called out casually.

Vali smirked. "Likewise, Shin Akira."

Their eyes met—and the air around them instantly shifted.

The tension thickened. The pressure rose.

"Hmm? Is that Kokabiel down there?" Vali asked, giving the corpse a quick glance.

"You here for revenge or something?" Akira replied, voice light but sharp.

"Hah. Trash like him deserved to die," Vali answered coldly.

Kokabiel had been under Azazel's command, but Vali had never respected him. To him, Kokabiel was a loudmouth whose ambition never matched his ability. A man who spoke of war but never took the first step. Someone who blamed the world, fate, and Azazel for his own inadequacies.

Vali didn't care about his so-called ideals.

If it had been him—Vali Lucifer—he wouldn't talk about reigniting the Great War. He'd become powerful enough to start one on his own.

That was his belief.

Real war was born from real strength.

"I see... You've mastered the White Dragon Emperor's ultimate form," Akira noted, his eyes sharp.

"Exactly. That's why I'm here—" Vali's expression ignited with fierce determination. "I've come to challenge you once more."

Those words burned in his chest. The words Akira had left him with after their last battle.

"Someone who's already lost is no longer my opponent. I'll give you time to catch up—until the day you never can."

It sounded like something a chuunibyou would say.

And yet—for Vali, those words had struck deep. They became fuel. His reason to rise.

The Sacred Gear responded to the user's resolve.

And never before had Vali's resolve burned so brightly.

He wanted to be stronger. Strong enough to fight him again.

"White Dragon Emperor!"

"Red Dragon Emperor!"

The air erupted with raw energy.

[Balance Breaker!]

Albion's voice rang out as Vali was bathed in silver light.

A radiant armor of shimmering white formed around him. Crystal-blue wings spread wide from his back, glowing under the moonlight.

He had become the embodiment of the Heavenly Dragon.

"Rias. Get them out of here. Put up a barrier if you can."

Rias turned to him, concern in her eyes. "Are you sure?"

"Of course," Akira replied without hesitation.

"…I'll wait for you to come back."

She leaned in and kissed his cheek.

His face flushed red. Before he could say anything, she turned away quickly.

Akeno watched the scene with a soft, sisterly smile, then gently hoisted Asia over her shoulder and followed Rias.

Koneko and Kiba picked up Xenovia and Irina—who were still shaken from Kokabiel's earlier revelation—and moved to retreat.

No one spared a glance at Kokabiel's lifeless body.

Whatever significance he once had was already gone.

Vali frowned. "You're not using your Boosted Gear? Not even summoning it?"

He sounded irritated.

He'd come here to avenge his defeat. But how could it be called a rematch if his opponent didn't even treat it as a real fight?

"Not yet," Akira replied. "It's not time."

"You—"

Before Vali could finish, a wave of intense magical pressure exploded from Akira's body.

It was overwhelming.

This wasn't just a powerful aura—it was Maou-level.

Vali immediately went silent.

Boosted Gear's true power was in multiplying the user's strength.

But if Akira was already this strong without it…

How the hell was he supposed to win?

"Unbelievable… You've grown this powerful in such a short time…"

Right now, Vali was still only at the High-Class Devil stage. He was close—so close—to Ultimate-Class, but not there yet.

Among the new generation, Vali was considered a true prodigy.

And yet, when compared to Shin Akira...

He looked like a child learning to crawl.

Akira was younger than him. A human. No noble blood. No Lucifer heritage. No elite upbringing from Grigori.

And yet he had reached the level of a Maou.

It defied all logic.

Vali could only simulate Maou-level power by using the Divine Dividing's effects. His own base power hadn't reached that point.

But Akira had done it with his own strength.

[Vali. Be careful. Something feels… wrong.]

Albion's voice echoed in his mind, serious and tense.

"What? Don't tell me you're afraid already."

[Red hasn't shown up. Just like before—he's suppressing him.]

Vali's eyes widened.

Suppressing Ddraig? The Heavenly Dragon of Domination?

Even Albion felt a chill.

[This man… he's no longer human. Not in power. Not in presence.]

"He's coming."

In the next instant, countless Chains of Heaven burst into the air—more than Vali could count. They hurtled toward him at blinding speed, their force far surpassing anything Akira had used against Kokabiel.

This was different.

This wasn't warm-up. This wasn't testing the waters.

Akira was serious.

Against Kokabiel, he hadn't even needed to try. That had been practice.

If Akira had gone all out from the start, Kokabiel would've been reduced to minced meat in seconds.

That wasn't arrogance. That was cold, hard truth.

Maou-class power wasn't something you could bridge with effort alone.

The gap was like the sky and the earth.

But now—facing Vali Lucifer—Akira was giving him the highest form of respect.

He was using everything.

Ever since reaching the Maou-class, Akira had never gone all out in a real battle.

This would be the first time.

The perfect chance to test his new strength.

Vali had come here after mastering Juggernaut Drive—the strongest form of the White Dragon Emperor.

And Akira wanted to see—

Could Vali in his strongest form…

Even come close to him—

When he hadn't even activated Boosted Gear yet?

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