Cao Cao and I burst out of Nijo Castle, our battle spilling into the city streets.

Leaving Asia and Kunou behind worried me, but dragging them into this fight would be worse.

We scaled skyscraper walls, clashing repeatedly.

"Raaah!" I roared, unleashing my deadliest punch, channeling energy through my body for maximum impact. It paled compared to Balance Breaker, but it could drop most foes.

If it hit, that is.

"Nice strike! That's a thrill!" Cao Cao dodged with glee, evading with spear parries or fluid movements, not a scratch on him.

"Damn it, take a hit already!" I shouted, attacking relentlessly.

"I told you, I'm just a frail human. One blow from a powerhouse like you, and I'm done. Dodging's my only option," he said.

Frail human, my ass. This guy matched Azazel-sensei in armor.

"But you're dodging my spear just as well," he countered.

"Shut up! One hit from that holy relic, and I'm toast!" A single strike from the Holy Spear could obliterate a devil like me. Azazel-sensei warned me about that. I'm barely hanging on—my clothes are torn in places.

His technique outclassed mine, painfully clear in this fight.

[His skill's almost the pinnacle of technique. To surpass you like this…] Ddraig remarked.

No time for whining. I infused Ascalon with energy, slashing horizontally. The holy aura mixed with my force carved through a wall, collapsing a building.

Cao Cao leaped to another skyscraper, dodging. "Extend!" His spear stretched toward me.

Fast!

I blocked with Ascalon's flat, but the force sent me crashing through a building's wall, rubble collapsing around me.

Ouch… I deployed Hard Qigong just in time to avoid injury, but it only hardens the surface—impact still hurts. My back ached.

Brushing off dust and debris, I recalled knocking Gogmagog on its ass earlier. If the spear extends, can it shrink too? Getting inside its range might work, but if it can shrink, that's tougher.

A rumble shook the building. A massive pillar of holy light pierced the ceiling—the spear's aura attack.

"Crap!" The light chased me, shredding the ceiling. No dodging in this tight space.

I smashed through a glass window, escaping as the building split and collapsed with a roar.

No time to catch my breath—Cao Cao dove from above, spear ready.

"You—!" I fired energy blasts, but he deflected them effortlessly. Our weapons clashed midair, sparks flying.

"Not bad reflexes," Cao Cao said, smirking.

"Quit grading me!" We traded blows while falling—my punches and kicks met his spear swings. As expected, the spear shrank when I closed in, countering my approach.

I kicked the spear away before landing, creating distance. Taking a deep breath, I asked, "Why no Balance Breaker? Everyone else used theirs."

Siegfried, Jeanne, Hercules—even the goons at Kyoto Station went Balance Breaker. I expected Cao Cao to follow suit. Isn't Balance Breaker rare? It's like a bargain sale now.

"I planned to," he said. "But I noticed you're not using your Sacred Gear. Makes things tricky."

He noticed. I've only used my gauntlet as armor.

"If you'd used Balance Breaker, I would've too. But without even your Sacred Gear's power…"

"You mocking me?" I snapped.

He shook his head, smiling wryly. "I'm impressed. Fighting this well without a Sacred Gear."

"That's no reason to hold back."

"If I used Balance Breaker, this fight would end too fast. I said quick, not boring." He aimed his spear at me. "Let's enjoy this a bit longer."

This jerk.

I stabbed Ascalon into the ground, clenching my fists. Cao Cao's eyes narrowed, his guard up.

"Your smugness ends now," I growled, channeling power into my right arm and unleashing a high-speed punch from a distance.

WHOOSH! The shockwave blasted Cao Cao backward. He crossed his spear and arms, avoiding a direct hit, but his face showed pain and shock.

"From that range… a ranged strike!" he gasped.

Exactly. An invisible shockwave attack, impossible to time perfectly. Less powerful than a direct hit, but still potent.

"One more!" I fired another ranged punch, the gust slamming into him.

"Guh!" Cao Cao stabbed his spear into the ground, conjuring a holy aura shelter to withstand it.

That spear's versatile. But his stance was broken—now's my chance.

I activated Chain Ring Qigong in my brain, color draining from my vision as I entered the Zone. Kicking off the ground, I closed the distance instantly, raising a qi-infused fist to strike.

But—

A sickening sensation hit my gut. Looking down, Cao Cao's spear was buried deep in my abdomen.

"Gah!" Blood sprayed from my mouth.

What just happened? Did he read my move?

Cao Cao's eyes… saw the same world as mine.

"You… can enter the Zone too!?" I clutched my stomach, staggering back.

This is bad—the holy power was making me faint. I retreated, pulling out Phoenix Tears and splashing them on the wound. It sealed with a hiss.

So that's the holy aura's erasure—my strength drained, like I was fading into nothing.

Cao Cao rubbed his chin. "Zone? That's what you call it? I never named it, but let's go with that."

Unbelievable. Cao Cao can enter the Zone too?

"How'd you master it?" I demanded.

"Nothing special. Just training. When I learned about you, I knew I had to step up. Pushed myself to the limit and reached this state of ultimate focus."

I force my way into the Zone with Chain Ring Qigong, but that's just one method. He found another path—a genius.

Too many geniuses in my life.

The Tears healed my wound, but the damage lingered. The spear's holy residue gnawed at me. I gripped Ascalon, sweating.

Prolonging this is bad.

"You don't seem scared," Cao Cao said. "You felt the spear's terror. No matter how strong you are, as a devil—and a dragon—holy power and dragon-slaying are your weaknesses. This spear's your worst nightmare."

"If that scared me, I'd be long dead. Want to terrify me? Bring something worse."

"Maybe a Dragon Eater would do it. But that's for later—not just for you."

Dragon Eater? Heard that name before, but even Ddraig doesn't know it. I'll ask Azazel-sensei later.

One thing first. "Azazel-sensei asked, but I'll ask again. Why's the Hero Faction doing this? All this elaborate chaos?"

"Like I said at noon, we want to see how far humans can go. And—"

"And?"

He tapped his spear on his shoulder. "Devils, fallen angels, dragons, yokai—they're humanity's enemies. If they unite, it's terrifying. Humans defeating demon kings or dragons is natural. And we, with heroic souls and powerful Sacred Gears or demonic swords, are the ones to do it."

Heroic souls, huh?

"Is that what heroes are? Slaying 'monsters'?" I asked.

"The pinnacle of humanity, defeating mighty aberrations—that's a hero."

"I see…"

I clenched my teeth, red aura flaring around me.

Wrong. So wrong.

"If that's your idea of a hero… I'll crush it head-on."

I activated Chain Ring Qigong's ultimate technique, absorbing ambient energy, cycling and compressing it rapidly. It'd drain me fast, but it's my only shot without my Sacred Gear.

My red aura turned golden, radiating blinding light.

"Cao Cao, get ready. I'll shatter your twisted ideals to dust!"

[Kiba Side]

Siegfried and I clashed across Nijo Castle, now fighting just outside its gate.

"Seven Swords!" I commanded, manipulating my floating holy-demonic blades to strike Siegfried from all angles—front, sides, even behind.

Against most foes, this would end quickly.

"Not enough!" Siegfried parried my seven swords with his six demonic blades, sensing attacks from behind with uncanny precision.

I blocked Gram's slash with crossed holy-demonic swords. "Guh…!" Each blow was heavy—worthy of the demonic emperor sword's master.

He's strong, as I knew from our earlier clash. In Balance Breaker, his five demonic swords and light sword deflected my seven with ease. His skill shone brighter in this state.

I parried Gram, leaping back, discarding my chipped swords. With a deep breath, I summoned new ones.

Siegfried grinned. "Impressive, keeping up with my Balance Breaker."

"Don't get comfortable. I'm not done," I said, aligning my seven swords before me.

"Seven Swords!" They arced toward Siegfried.

"Same trick? No creativity!" He infused Gram with aura, slashing.

CRASH! My seven swords shattered like glass.

"That won't work anymore. Try something new," he taunted, aiming Gram at me.

I knew it wouldn't. That's why I let them break.

Raising my hand, the fragments of my seven swords floated into the sky.

Siegfried's eyes widened. "What…?"

"You think I didn't plan ahead?"

My hidden ace.

"Edge Rain!" I swung my hand down, and the blade fragments rained on Siegfried.

No sword swing could block such a fragmented assault.

"Damn…!" Siegfried tried to leap back, but I stabbed my holy-demonic sword into the ground. "Bloom, Holy-Demonic Swords!"

Countless swords sprouted around Siegfried, their tips aimed at him. With Edge Rain above, he had no escape.

Got him.

The rain of blades engulfed Siegfried.

"Hah… hah…" Exhaustion hit me hard, forcing me to my knees.

Controlling seven swords and creating countless others was a first. I misjudged my limits.

Siegfried's a top-tier foe—I didn't expect an easy win.

Dust clouded my view, obscuring Siegfried. Did I get him? I felt the impact, but…

As the dust cleared, I saw him—kneeling, bloodied, pierced by sword fragments. Not down, but heavily damaged.

I did that, but still…

I used my sword as a crutch, standing. One more strike would end it.

Then—

"Hahaha!" Siegfried laughed maniacally.

What's so funny in a life-or-death moment?

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a vial.

My eyes widened. "Why do you have Phoenix Tears!?"

Terrorists shouldn't have those. With the Khaos Brigade's attacks, even major factions struggle to get them.

Siegfried smirked. "Got it through back channels. Pay enough, and it's yours. The Phoenix clan has no idea."

He poured the liquid over himself, wounds sealing with a hiss.

Unbelievable. Those Tears could save people suffering from their terrorism!

"Your killing intent's sharp. Hate that we have these?" he asked.

"Yeah, I can't forgive that."

"Then take me down—if you can."

He reached into his pocket again, pulling out a pistol-shaped syringe.

"Wanted to avoid this, but losing to you and getting mocked by Hercules? Not fun." He aimed the needle at his neck.

BOOM! Nijo Castle's gate exploded.

What!?

Siegfried lowered the syringe, looking toward the gate.

"Gah…!" Cao Cao emerged from the rubble, coughing blood.

Tap. Issei landed, radiating red and golden aura—the same he used to shield Odiria from Rosewood's attack.

Cao Cao wiped blood from his mouth, grinning. "Your speed spiked. Couldn't dodge in time. You keep entertaining me, Issei Hyoudou."

"No time to waste. Let's end this, Cao Cao!"

[Kiba Side Out]

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