It was time to move out. We left the hotel and headed to the bus stop at Kyoto Station.

But…

Shuuu…

"Issei-kun, Miu-san, your faces are steaming," Kiba said.

"Something happen?" Saji asked.

"N-Nothing! We're fine… haha…" Miu and I replied, slumping.

After the strategy meeting, Xenovia and the others grilled us relentlessly. Flustered, Miu spilled every detail of our night together, face beet red. Everything.

"Child-making is profound," Xenovia nodded sagely. She was the most eager listener.

"I-Issei-san and Miu-san did that… No, I can't be weak! I'll do it too!" Asia, red as a boiled octopus, psyched herself up.

"I almost fell, but I had to hear it for future reference," Irina said, her wings flickering earlier.

Ravel was muttering something too.

Haha… what do I do? Miu and I are drained—HP and MP at zero. Someone revive us at a church.

Oh, right, I'm a demon. No churches for me.

Guess I'll just die…

(You're spiraling.) Ddraig said.

(Hehe, of course. Everyone knows about your steamy night. Even if you survive, a showdown's coming ♡) Albion teased.

Fine, I'll take the Hero Faction down with me and hide in the mountains for years!

(Pointless.)

(Those girls will track you down through any forest.)

No way… I dropped to my knees.

Saji, twitching, said, "Hyoudou, you okay? There's a 'doom' cloud over your head."

"Sorry… I'm done for," I muttered.

"We just left the hotel!" Saji yelled.

"Leave the rest… to you…" I collapsed dramatically.

"Don't dump this on me! What happened!?"

As we bantered, waiting for the Nijo Castle bus, something jumped onto my back.

"Issei! I'm coming too!" It was Kunou, dressed as a blonde shrine maiden.

Azazel said she'd stay in the youkai's hidden Kyoto…

"Why're you here?" I asked.

"I want to save Mother!" she cried.

"It's dangerous. You were told to stay put."

"Even so, I want to save her! Please!"

Her determination was real. Taking a kid to a battlefield is crazy, but her heart's in it.

I hoisted her onto my shoulders. "Fine, let's go."

"Really?" she beamed.

"Yeah, but follow my orders there, got it?"

"Got it!"

Saji panicked. "You're taking a little girl!?"

"I get it, but I'll protect her. Respect her feelings, okay?"

Saji sighed, exasperated.

Then, a thin mist crept around our feet, a warm, slimy sensation hitting us.

They're here.

"Everyone, heads up," I said. They nodded as the mist engulfed us.

When it cleared, Kunou and I stood on a subway platform. The "Kyoto" sign confirmed it was Kyoto Station's underground.

No one else was around—no Miu, no Kiba. Completely separated.

Dimension Lost's power teleported us again. First daytime, now this. Longinus are terrifying.

"You okay, Kunou?"

"I'm fine, but where…?"

"Same as before. We've been forcibly teleported."

"So, this is a fake Kyoto in another dimension? Their tech is incredible," she said.

"No kidding."

As we marveled at their skill, my phone rang—Kiba.

It works here? "Yo, Kiba. Where are you?"

(At Kyoto Imperial Palace with Rossweisse. You?)

"Kyoto Station subway with Kunou. Hold on, checking the map."

I set Kunou down and pulled out the map. My location… Kiba's…

"Damn, this field's huge?"

(Seems they recreated much of Kyoto around Nijo Castle. Rating Game tech makes it possible.)

"We should regroup fast. We're sitting ducks otherwise."

I worried about Asia, who can't fight.

"Meet at Nijo Castle?" I asked.

(Got it. Want to contact the others? They're probably headed there too. We've been invited by the Hero Faction.)

"I'll call them. You try Azazel-sensei."

I reached everyone. The church trio was together, Miu with Saji. I gave them the rendezvous point.

Kiba reported he couldn't reach Azazel. I tried too—no luck. The field must block outside communication. Some special spell?

At least everyone's with someone. "Kunou, let's move."

"Right!"

We held hands, heading for Nijo Castle.

Then—

"What's wrong, Issei?" Kunou asked as I stopped, eyeing a pillar.

"Come out. I know you're there."

I sensed a presence and killing intent. Familiar…

Several men emerged from the pillar's shadow. The sunglasses guy in the center—I recognized him.

"Hey, Red Dragon Emperor. Remember me?" he smirked.

"Yeah, the shadow-user."

"Honored to be remembered."

"Save the flattery."

Last time, he emitted a creepy aura. If our guess is right, he's—

"Your reason for being here? Never mind, I can guess."

"Quick talk helps," he said. "Let's start. This won't be like last time. I'll show you the true power of shadows—"

A dark, eerie aura burst from him. Shadows spread from his feet, animating those of pillars and vending machines.

"Balance Breaker!"

Zuzuzu!

The pressure intensified as shadows gathered, enveloping him, forming shadowy armor.

"Night Reflection's Balance Breaker: Night Reflection Death Cross. My new power. Ready for payback, Red Dragon Emperor?"

His allies activated their sacred gears.

"Balance Breaker!" they shouted, their power surging.

Three Balance Breakers…

I can't use my sacred gear, and I've got Kunou to protect. I can guess the shadow guy's power, but the other two are unknowns.

This got messy fast.

"Let's do this," I said, firing aura blasts at them.

The blasts seemed to hit, but shadows stretched out, absorbing them. Then, shadows spread across walls and ceiling, spitting my blasts back at me!

I grabbed Kunou and dodged.

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

The blasts collided, exploding.

So, his shadow power's an upgraded version. With that armor, direct attacks won't work. Bad matchup.

"Red Dragon Emperor, prepare!" The spear-user charged, conjuring water from his spear and slashing.

I shifted half a step, dodging with body control, and countered with a punch to his face.

Zun!

My fist sank into a shadow, missing him.

He smirked, swinging again. I leaped back, dodging.

Damn! Their teamwork's a pain!

"Issei! Water!" Kunou shouted.

The platform was flooded. When did that happen?

"Haha! Tough fighting us while carrying a kid, huh?" the spear-user laughed, stabbing his spear into the floor.

Ripples spread, stirring the water.

"Now, my water—pierce him!"

Gyuooo!

The water formed spears, shooting at me.

"Damn it!" I activated hard qigong, smashing them. Manageable, but Kunou limits my movement.

I fired more aura blasts, but shadows absorbed them, redirecting back.

BOOM!

The blasts cratered the platform, the shockwave making Kunou scream.

Gotta lower the power…

"Not bad, Red Dragon Emperor! But with me?" the shadow-user said, spreading shadows that formed spears and tentacles to bind me.

"So versatile!" I used aura afterimages to confuse them, dodging.

Sacred gears are a nightmare! Especially these shadows—too unpredictable!

Zaaa!

The water-user attacked with shadows, adding to the chaos.

The spear-user stabbed his shadow, the spear emerging from mine.

"Tch!" I twisted to dodge, then faced water spears from the ceiling's shadows.

He can redirect allies' attacks too? Makes sense.

My blasts and punches were absorbed, redirected from random shadows. Annoying!

"Ha!" A spear flew at my face. I tilted my head, dodging, and kicked—blocked by shadows again.

Their abilities and teamwork in this tight space are brutal. Gotta get outside.

I weaved through attacks, sprinting up the stairs—

"What!?"

I reached the top, but… I was back on the same platform.

The shadow-user laughed. He pointed to the crystal-user. "Surprised? That's his Balance Breaker—reshaping space around you."

"Space?" I asked.

"Yep. Changes the area's structure without you noticing. You can't escape. It could trap you in an endless maze."

A space-control sacred gear. Pure support. That's why he hasn't attacked.

"Then I'll break it," I said.

"Too bad. Once trapped, you can't destroy it from inside. Not you, anyway."

"What?"

"I figured it out. For some reason, you can't use your sacred gear, right?"

Got me there. Obvious, since I haven't used it.

"Without it, we can take you down."

He's not wrong. In armor, I'd tank their attacks. But now, I'm vulnerable.

Zuzuzu!

Shadows wrapped around the spear-user and crystal-user.

So, he can shield allies too.

This is bad.

A massive attack could end this—every ability has limits. Overwhelm his absorption, and it's over.

But with Kunou here, I can't. In armor, I could shield her with my wings, but…

No point dwelling. Need another plan.

Then—

"Issei, if I'm holding you back, don't worry," Kunou said, looking up.

She must've read my expression.

Taking a breath, she poured out her heart. "I forced my way here! I'm ready for some scratches! I have to save Mother! We can't stop here!"

Such resolve from a little girl.

"Touching, fox princess," the shadow-user sneered. "Think the Red Dragon Emperor can beat us at full power? Sorry, he can't. Without his sacred gear, he's just a demon. He can't beat our Balance Breakers. We'll use the Nine-Tails as we please."

Kunou glared fiercely at his heartless words.

"You've been running your mouth," I said, aiming my palm at them. I'd been charging since the fight started—enough.

They braced, then laughed mockingly. "Still don't get it? Your attacks can't touch my shadows."

"Overconfident much?" I retorted.

A high-pitched sound rang out—my right arm glowed intensely.

"Kunou, hold tight. I've got you."

"Got it!" She grinned, gripping my uniform.

I faced them. "Human, demon, youkai—doesn't matter. I don't forgive anyone who makes others cry."

And then—

"Agni!"

A massive torrent of light obliterated everything in the space.

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