[Kiba Side]

We were trapped in an absolute crisis.

Lossward's attack had felled Issei. For everyone here, he was more than a friend—a pillar of strength. Losing him was a devastating blow.

Now, from the trickle of blood seeping from Lossward's wound, monstrous creatures spawned, encircling us. About ten in total.

"Yuto! Handle that side!" Maurice shouted.

"Got it!"

Together, we carved a path for the others to escape. I wielded a fragment of my new power, Seven Swords, slicing through the monsters' limbs and delivering fatal blows.

With most unable to fight, it was up to me. I was at my limit, but I had to protect everyone in Issei's place.

Wiping tears, I charged the next enemy.

Maurice's masterful swordsmanship reduced multiple monsters to dust in a single stroke.

We could handle the creatures.

The real problem—

Thud.

Lossward landed, his cold eyes locking onto us.

"I'll send you to join the Red Dragon Emperor. It's the only thing my will allows."

Countless black spears materialized, their tips aimed at us, blanketing the sky.

"This… is bad," Maurice muttered. Even the Sword Saint was shaken.

If those spears rained down, we had no defense.

"No need to fear. You won't feel pain… It'll be instant," Lossward said, snapping his fingers.

The spears descended like a storm.

Is this where it ends? Unable to avenge my friend?

The black spears closed in.

Then—

ROOOOAAAAARRR!

A wall of flame erupted, crackling with red and black aura, forming a dome that shielded us from the spears.

"What… Why are you standing?" Lossward's eyes widened, stunned.

Following his gaze, I saw—

"Big… brother…?" Miu whispered.

There, radiating an unprecedented aura, stood Issei.

[Kiba Side Out]

This incantation would be my only one.

Me, Sirius, and Ignis—a trio singing our first and final song.

"I awaken as the Red Dragon Emperor, clad in demon and true flame—"

Flames filled the hole in my chest, sealing it like a phoenix's rebirth. The Red Dragon Emperor's armor unfolded around me.

"Embracing infinite wills, I tread the path of salvation."

My red aura merged with Sirius's black, swelling endlessly, piercing the heavens.

"We become the true flame that guards all."

Crimson flames burst from my armor, enveloping our auras.

Red and black, wreathed in crimson fire, coated my armor.

Together, we sang the final verse:

"We shall grant you absolute salvation and hope—!"

My aura exploded, shaking heaven and earth.

Welsh Burning Full Drive!

As the blinding light faded, my armor emerged—sharper, colored in red and black, sprouting four wings that spewed flames. In my right hand, Ignis's blade glowed crimson, its heat no longer burning me.

"Partner, this is—"

Yeah. My power as the Red Dragon Emperor, Sirius's as the Demon Lord, and Ignis's unleashed in unison.

"You succeeded in the dialogue," Ddraig said.

Exactly. But this state is a one-time deal.

"Indeed. I can only bind you to Ignis for about two minutes," Sirius added.

Two minutes. Got it.

"Why are you standing? I destroyed your heart," Lossward said, bewildered.

No surprise there. A gaping hole in my chest, yet here I was.

"I heard them—their voices calling me. I can't die while they're crying."

Their calls brought me back, rekindling my resolve. They relit my fading flame.

And I was entrusted with a mission.

"This power isn't just for protecting them. It's to save you—to free you from eternal destruction."

Lossward's eyes narrowed. "I don't know what happened, but your power… it's different now."

"Yeah. Now, I can stop you."

I stepped forward.

"Is that… really Issei?" Alice asked, stunned, unable to process my revival. She wasn't alone—everyone wore the same expression. Even Maurice was speechless.

I retracted my mask, flashing a grin. "Sorry for worrying you. Thanks for calling me. I heard you all."

"Idiot! Do you know how scared I was?" Alice snapped.

Looks like a lecture's coming later. Miu, Rias, and the others were crying again.

"I'll take all the scolding later. For now, stay back. We've got this. Maurice, watch them."

"We'd only get in the way. It's all you, Issei," Maurice replied.

I nodded.

Let's do this, Ddraig, Sirius, Ignis! Lend me your strength!

"Right!"

"Of course."

"Here we go!"

I aimed Ignis's tip at Lossward and roared, "This ends here!"

Accel Full Booster!

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB!

Enhanced by Juggernaut Drive, my boosted power surged, amplifying my strength.

BOOM!

Flames erupted from my body as I closed the distance to Lossward instantly. The inferno and shockwave obliterated the surroundings.

Ignis's blade swirled with crimson flames, its power magnified.

CLANG!

The clash rang out. Lossward blocked with a black spear, but the impact sent him flying.

I didn't want to fight near the others. Time to take this elsewhere.

Boosters flared, and I pursued.

Lossward spread his wings, flipping midair to regain balance. His eyes widened at my speed.

He hurled black spears, each brimming with lethal force. Dodging would endanger the others.

I manipulated the flames from my armor, forming fiery hands that seized and incinerated the spears.

"These flames are my limbs!"

Multiple fiery hands reached for Lossward. He dodged effortlessly, keeping his distance.

Then, he summoned three black spheres, wielding twin spears.

Three at once? One was nearly impossible…

He launched them mercilessly.

"But you can handle it now, right?" Ddraig said.

Yeah!

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB!

Transfer!

I channeled all my boosted power into Ignis. Its flames exploded outward.

"Slash through!"

I swung Ignis, unleashing a crimson slash that collided with the spheres—

BOOOM!

An explosion lit the sky, red and black clashing.

Lossward burst through the smoke, thrusting his spear. I dodged, but—

What speed! Even in this state, he's barely keeping up!

Our blades clashed in a furious aerial duel, Ignis's crimson sword against Lossward's black spears, shaking the sky and earth.

"Your power's grown, but it's not enough," Lossward said.

His spear grazed my arm, shattering the armor and drawing blood.

I won't lose!

Using Renkan Keikikou on my brain, color drained from my vision. My third Zone entry in this fight.

It's tough, but I can handle it!

"RAAAHHH!"

I swung Ignis, severing Lossward's left arm—a major hit!

He grunted in pain but didn't falter, grabbing my face with his right hand and slamming me into the ground.

"Gah!"

The impact crushed my lungs, pain searing through me. Cracked bones, probably.

"He's coming!" Ddraig warned.

I looked up—Lossward hurled a massive spear. One hit would end me.

Flapping my four wings, I evaded. The spear cratered the ground, carving a bottomless pit, turning a mountain into a valley.

"You're the first to push me this far," Lossward said, hovering nearby. "But you're at your limit. That state will fade soon."

He's right. I'm gasping, my body screaming. Thirty seconds left.

If this state ends, I'm done.

What now?

A magic circle appeared by my ear.

"Hear me, Issei? It's me."

"Master!?"

His voice shocked me. Why now?

"Thought you were done for. Glad you're back."

"You saw?"

"Yup. We were prepping support. Looks like it won't go to waste."

Support? How? Gods can't descend to the mortal realm.

He chuckled. "I'm not coming down. I gathered energy from the divine realm's gods to send to you."

"What!?"

"It was tough, forging enough to counter Lossward. Took time, but it's ready. Catch."

A beam of light shot from the sky, striking me.

Flash!

It seeped into my body, coursing through me, amplifying my power.

"Got it? That should buy you time."

"Thanks, Master."

"Sorry, Issei. We gods left this to you alone. Forgive us."

His sincere tone was new. I opened my mouth to reply—

Another magic circle appeared.

[Azazel Side]

"Sorry for the wait. We're ready," I said.

To counter Lossward, I'd been traveling Audilia, preparing a grand spell. Modifications delayed it, but it's done.

"It's complete?" Issei asked.

"Yeah. Took longer due to changes."

I'd watched Issei's fight via a monitoring circle. Thought he was gone for a moment. His revival was a shock.

"Changes?"

Audilia, blessed by the four elemental spirits—fire, water, earth, wind—has fertile lands. The plan was to use their accumulated power for the spell.

But recently, it changed.

"Hey, pervert hero! You hear me?" A woman's voice cut in.

"E-Elza!? Why are you there!?"

Yup, Elza—the one who hammered Issei in Forestnium's Gale Pain forest.

"Obviously, I'm here to fight! Well, we are!"

"Ho ho ho! Issei-dono, I'm here too," Urm added.

"Urm-san too!?"

"Not just us. All of Gale Pain's people are here," Elza said.

"What!?"

Issei was floored. I was too. I didn't expect humans and demons—everyone in this world—to lend their power for this spell.

So, Rossweisse, Risha, and I reworked it to channel not just Audilia's energy but everyone's.

It took time, but the effect will be phenomenal.

"That's the deal. No time to explain. We're activating the spell. Get to your positions!"

"Right!"

We took our places, hands on the magic circles at our feet.

[Azazel Side Out]

Pillars of light shot up from across the land, massive despite the distance, converging above me and Lossward, forming a colossal magic circle.

Lossward's aura shifted, its wild intensity shrinking.

"This… You're recreating the spell that sealed me," he said.

"Yeah. It carries the will of everyone in this world."

I poured Master's energy into Ignis's tip. Its crimson flames roared, illuminating everything in radiant red.

This was my final attack.

I'd put everything into it.

Spreading my four dragon wings, I charged Lossward.

"Let's end this, Lossward!"

I roared, tearing through the sky.

And—

Ignis's blade pierced Lossward's chest.

To be continued…

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