[Kiba Side]

"Ugh... so depressing..." Rias sighed heavily.

Ten days had passed since Issei headed to the Divine Realm to meet his master. Based on his intel, we'd been searching for ways to counter Losward. Azazel-sensei seemed to have found something and was now traveling across Audiria, preparing. Leisha and Rossweisse were with him, and we hadn't seen them in three days.

We were training, checking evacuation routes, preparing for the worst. But...

"Not being with Issei for so long... I wish he'd come back soon," Rias said.

The girls—Rias, Akeno, Asia, and Miu—were practically dependent on him. Their sighs were endless. We came to town for a change of pace, but Rias, walking beside me, was still down.

Morris mentioned Alice often zoned out during work breaks. Issei's absence loomed large.

Meanwhile, someone was having a blast.

"This is cute! Oh, this looks tasty! Hey, Xenovia, wouldn't this suit you?" Irina said.

"Irina, aren't you overdoing it?" Xenovia replied.

Irina was buzzing through the market, eyes sparkling at accessories and food—things we'd never seen in our world.

"It's not every day you visit another world! Gotta enjoy it!" she said.

Fair point. This whole otherworld thing was unreal when you thought about it. The battles and the people here made it feel oddly normal, but Irina's excitement reminded me how extraordinary this was.

Rias smiled faintly. "She's right. We're here, after all. And it's not like we'll never see Issei again. When he's back... heh."

Issei, when you return, you're in for it. I can only cheer you on.

Issei's updates mentioned he was training with his master on entering the "Zone"—a state of extreme focus. He'd likely be even stronger when we reunite. I'm falling behind.

Could I enter the Zone, too? If I could—

Zuu...

A crushing pressure hit us.

"!!!" we all gasped.

It was suffocating, bone-crushing. I looked up. A man with black wings.

Losward.

"Rias..." I said.

"Yes. He's here," she replied.

Everyone nodded grimly. Losward had returned—at the worst possible time. Azazel and Issei were gone.

A small magic circle appeared by our ears.

"Can you hear me?" Morris's voice.

"Yes. Morris, this is—" I started.

"I know. Looks like he's shown up."

"Should we help with evacuation?"

"No, return to the castle. Soldiers are handling evacuation. I've contacted Azazel; he'll return once his work's done."

His efficiency stunned us. Losward had just appeared, yet preparations were already underway.

"Rias," I said.

"I know. Everyone, back to the castle!"

"Yes!" we chorused.

[Kiba Side Out]

Panting heavily "Thanks... Master..." I bowed, exhausted, as he returned to the shack.

I collapsed onto the grass below the cliff. For three days, I'd trained to enter the Zone intentionally. I succeeded briefly—faster than expected since I'd done it before. But it was brutal, physically and mentally. Headaches hit if I overdid it. And sparring with Master without my gauntlet? I'm wrecked.

"Even if he's a perv, he's the martial god of this world. His skill's unmatched. You can't beat him yet," Draigu said.

True. Power aside, his technique—especially Renkan Keikikou—far outclasses mine.

"He's honed it for ages. Two years of training won't catch that. If he got serious with Renkan Keikikou, even your power wouldn't match," Draigu added.

Surpassing him feels so far off. But I want to someday.

Time for a bath and food. I'm starving.

After lunch, resting, Master casually dropped, "Oh, Losward showed up in Audiria."

Spits tea "What!?"

I grabbed him. "Why say it like it's nothing!?"

"Calm down. I just found out," he said.

"Then tell me sooner!"

Why's he so relaxed!? Alice, Miu, and the others are in danger!

"Think you're battle-ready, exhausted like that?" he asked, gesturing to calm me.

"Ugh..."

"You couldn't touch him at full strength. Think you can now, half-dead and hungry?"

He's right. I'd just be a burden.

But I can't just stay here!

Panicking, I clutched my head. Master grinned.

"Don't freak out. Losward hasn't made a move himself. Just sent some beasts."

"Beasts?"

"Those white things."

Oh, those monsters. Beasts, huh? First I've heard.

"They're beast-like, I guess."

"Your friends can handle those," he said.

True. Alice, Morris, Rias, and Akeno are stronger now.

"But if something happens, it'll be too late. It takes time to get there," I said.

The Divine Realm to the island, then flying to Audiria—it's not quick.

"No issue. I had something made for that," he said.

"Made?"

He opened a closet, and electronic beeps sounded as he operated something. He beckoned me over.

What I saw—

"An elevator...?"

A small room with a glass window. Buttons on the wall, labeled with country names.

"Press one, and it takes you there. Cool, right?"

What!? I've been here ten days and never saw this!

"When!?"

"Four days ago, maybe? Wisdom God set it up while you were meditating with Ignis."

I'm speechless. They built this while I was out of it. Gods are insane.

"Is this... allowed?" I asked. Gods can't descend, right?

"No rule against making it. You're the one using it. No problem," he said, stroking his beard with a smirk.

Fair enough.

"Rest up first. Then go. I'll whip something up for you," he said.

[Kiba Side]

Following Morris's orders, we gathered at the castle gate. The knights had already moved to suppress the white beasts.

"Sorry to jump right in, but I need you to move," Morris said, unfolding a map of Central with red marks. "These are where the beasts are rampaging. Losward himself isn't moving yet, which is odd..."

True. He was just spawning beasts—nearly a hundred, far more than before. Fighting them was tough.

But why isn't he attacking himself? It'd be faster. Even all of us together couldn't beat him.

What's his game?

"If he's not moving, that's our chance. Wipe out the beasts. Alice and I are heading out, too," Morris said.

We split up to our assigned areas.

I ran to the south side with Miu and Xenovia. Others headed to their spots. Tia, Morris, and Alice went solo—they're strong enough for that.

"Kiba! There!" Miu pointed.

A large, long-armed, ape-like beast, surrounded by smaller ones, was wrecking the town.

"Someone's trapped!" Xenovia shouted.

"Got it! I'll take point. You two cover me!" I said.

"Got it!" they replied.

I sped up, conjuring two holy-demonic swords and throwing one at the beast's eye.

Stab!

It froze. Xenovia's Durandal and Miu's magic barrage blasted it back. I rescued a stranded woman, carrying her to safety.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Thanks... I twisted my ankle," she said.

Her foot was swollen, slightly bleeding—not life-threatening, thankfully.

"Let me heal it," Miu said, casting a small magic circle. A faint green light, like Asia's sacred gear, healed the injury.

"You're good now. Lucky it wasn't worse, or we'd need Asia," Miu said.

Asia was at the castle, healing the injured. Her sacred gear had grown stronger, healing many at once, faster than before.

My powers had evolved, too. Beyond the sword I held, I summoned seven smaller holy-demonic swords in the air, each half a normal sword's length.

"Miu, support from the rear. Xenovia and I will take the front," I said.

"Let's make some noise!" Xenovia said.

"Try not to wreck the town," Miu added.

Haha... good luck with that, Xenovia.

"Let's go!" I shouted, hitting top speed. The seven swords followed. Two beasts faced me. I dodged their attacks, leapt, and slashed one's head.

Normally, that'd end it, but these things didn't stop. Even headless, they attacked.

I raised my hand. "Seven Swords, carve them up!"

The seven blades sliced the first beast apart, then autonomously attacked the second.

This was my new power: remotely controlling my holy-demonic swords. Before, I could only launch them in one direction. Now, they moved freely.

Not as flashy as Rias or Akeno's powers, but it expanded my range and attack options significantly.

"HAAAA!" Xenovia roared.

BOOM!

Durandal's massive holy aura obliterated the beasts—and nearby buildings.

Xenovia's power had spiked dramatically. Very... Xenovia-like.

"Look, Kiba! Durandal's stronger than ever!" she boasted.

Impressive, sure. One-shotting those tough beasts? Amazing.

But she totally forgot Miu's warning about the town...

Sigh. Xenovia's all power, no finesse. I wish she'd work on technique.

We'll need Miu to fix the town later.

Miu, shielding the woman with a barrier, sighed heavily.

"Xenovia, I said don't wreck the town..." Miu groaned.

"It's fine! We saved everyone, and the beasts are gone, right?" Xenovia said.

"Well, yeah, but..." Miu slumped.

I get her frustration. Xenovia's attack left scars everywhere.

Hope Morris doesn't chew us out...

The others seemed to have finished their fights, too.

All that remained—

"Sirius's daughter... Where's the Red Dragon Emperor?" Losward's voice cut through.

He was right beside us. Like last time, we didn't sense him until he spoke.

Miu swallowed hard. "Big brother's not here."

"I see. No wonder he hasn't shown," Losward said.

I frowned. Is he after Issei?

Miu looked puzzled, too. "Why are you targeting him?"

"Why...? I don't even know. Maybe because I failed to kill him. Or maybe... Well, with his current power, the latter's impossible."

He raised his palm. "Doesn't matter. My purpose remains: erase everything as programmed."

We braced ourselves.

Fighting Losward now was suicide. We'd grown stronger, but not enough. His dense aura screamed danger. Reinforcements wouldn't arrive in time.

Sweat dripped down my face.

What do we do?

Losward conjured a black spear—the one that pierced Issei's armor effortlessly—and threw it at Miu.

It was too fast. None of us could react. He wasn't even serious, yet the speed was overwhelming.

The spear aimed for Miu's chest—

But she vanished in a burst of light particles. The spear sailed past, disappearing into the distance.

What just happened?

"Azazel's bracelet came in handy," a familiar voice said.

Looking up, there was Issei, holding Miu in his arms.

"Sorry I'm late."

[Kiba Side Out]

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