Cao Cao leaned on his Holy Spear, rising slowly. His eyes mirrored mine—locked in the Zone.

Never thought I'd face someone else who could enter it.

"No time, huh?" he said. "That sudden power-up doesn't last long, does it?"

I'm using Chain Ring Qigong's ultimate technique, absorbing and compressing ambient energy. It spikes my physical abilities but can't be sustained. Misjudge it, and I could self-destruct.

Clenching my fists, I replied, "I just need to beat you before my limit hits. That ends this. Yasaka's side looks promising too."

I glanced at Saji, in Dragon King form, battling Yasaka. "ROAR!" Saji groaned, bound by her nine tails. It looked bad, but Yasaka's strength was visibly waning—Vritra's black flames were draining her.

"Why…?" Cao Cao's eyes widened. "We're channeling the city's energy into the Nine-Tails… unless…!"

He got it. "Your spell's been broken," I said. "Look, Yasaka's tails are pulling away from Saji."

"Georg lost!?" Cao Cao gasped.

"That mist guy? Bad matchup. My little sister's not letting him win easily. See? The magic circle binding Yasaka's fading."

Miu's unique magic threw Georg off—her otherworldly spells were too much. "Your experiment failed," I declared, aiming Ascalon at him. "Time to pay for all you've done."

Cao Cao laughed maniacally. "Fine! I'll defeat you and restart the experiment!" He spun his spear, its glow intensifying, his aura surging.

Defeat me and try again? "Bring it!" I roared, my aura flaring.

I won't let these bastards run wild in Kyoto anymore. Charging head-on, I shouted, "Even without my Sacred Gear, I won't lose!"

"RAAAH!" Our weapons clashed—Ascalon met his spear with full force. Cao Cao grimaced. "What a strike! Sharper and faster than before!"

He slid his spear, striking my stomach with the butt, sending me crashing through buildings. My aura shielded me from damage. Flipping midair, I faced Cao Cao's incoming attack.

"Ignis, how long can I wield you without armor?" I asked.

[Ten seconds max. Longer, and your arm burns.]

Enough. I'll crush him. Wielding Ignis in my right hand and Ascalon in my left—Xenovia-style dual-wielding—I kicked off a building, wings flapping, and charged. "Cao Cao!"

We collided, my enhanced strikes clashing with his sharper spearwork. Holy power grazed me, each cut agonizing, threatening to knock me out.

"You'll vanish under the Holy Spear's influence!" Cao Cao taunted.

I know! Deflecting his spear, I retreated and hurled Ignis. "Think that'll shake me?" he scoffed, knocking it aside.

But then— "What!?" His eyes widened as Ascalon's tip closed in, hidden by Ignis's trajectory.

SLASH. Ascalon pierced his right eye.

"Guh… my eye!" Cao Cao clutched his face, blood seeping through his fingers.

Got his eye. An improvised trick, but it worked.

His face twisted with mad glee. "Red Dragon Emperor!"

Ignoring him, I closed in. "Think that's enough? I said you'd pay!" My qi-charged fist glowed red. "Heroes don't make little girls cry!"

BOOM! My body blow sent Cao Cao flying.

"Hah… hah…" I collapsed to my knees, aura fading. The technique's limit hit. Holy Spear wounds smoked—bad. I need Asia's healing fast.

My strength drained; I slumped forward. "Issei!" Kiba's voice rang out as he rushed to me, sprinkling Phoenix Tears from his pocket. The wounds sealed with a hiss.

Looks like I won't vanish. Kiba helped me up. "Sorry for using your Tears," I said.

"Don't worry. I'd rather you live," he replied, smiling.

"What about Siegfried?" I asked.

"He chased after Cao Cao when you blasted him. I saw you collapse and stopped fighting to help."

"Sorry, made you miss a chance to finish him."

"It's fine. Continuing would've been risky for me too. Cao Cao landed near the main keep's ruins. Let's go."

Back to square one, huh? Supported by Kiba, I headed to the starting point.

At the keep's ruins, Siegfried stood by a battered Cao Cao, bleeding heavily, barely alive. My blow did that—his human durability couldn't take it.

I'm wrecked too, body screaming in pain.

Siegfried pulled a vial from Cao Cao's pocket—Phoenix Tears. "Seems the Khaos Brigade has them," Kiba said, eyes burning with anger.

No way! Terrorists with Phoenix Tears?

Siegfried applied the Tears, healing Cao Cao's wounds. His right eye, though, remained crushed, blood stopped but unusable.

Cao Cao staggered up, glaring. "You got me, Red Dragon Emperor!"

"Still fighting? I won't let you escape," I said, gathering my last qi into a basketball-sized energy ball.

As I aimed, CRACKLE! a rift tore open in space. Not Miu's dispelled array—different energy, not Great Red.

A dragon, glowing green, soared through—ten meters long, Eastern-style. "One of the Five Dragon Kings, Mischievous Dragon of the West Sea, Yulong!" Cao Cao shouted.

A Dragon King? Now!?

Cao Cao's gaze shifted to a figure on Yulong's back, descending as if gravity didn't exist. A monkey in golden fur and monk robes.

"The flow of 'yokai' and 'domination' stirred this city's mystic aura," the old monkey said, approaching slowly. "Long time no see, Holy Spear kid. You've grown."

Cao Cao narrowed his eyes, smirking. "First Generation Sun Wukong. You've been thwarting us worldwide, haven't you?"

"You went too far, kid. I was set to meet the Nine-Tails princess as Heaven's envoy, and you kidnap her? Turning into poison for the supernatural world. 'A dynasty lasts one generation,' as they say."

"Poison? I'll take that as a compliment," Cao Cao replied.

"Looks like the Red Dragon already punished you," Sun Wukong noted.

"Yeah, well," Cao Cao muttered.

Who's this old guy? Enemy? No, doesn't seem like it. He knows Cao Cao.

"Probably Sun Wukong. The First Generation," Kiba whispered.

"What!?" I gaped. "The Sun Wukong from Journey to the West!?"

Insane! A legend in front of me! I kinda wanted to see Sha Wujing too.

Sun Wukong met my gaze. "Red Dragon Emperor, nice work. We're your backup, though you left us little to do. Yulong, help Vritra with the Nine-Tails. She's almost free."

[Rough dragon handler, old geezer! I'm beat just getting here! That white dragon's witch friend helped, by the way. Yo, Ddraig, long time! Looking lively!] Yulong's voice boomed.

High-energy dragon, huh? [Good to see you, Yulong. Lively's a stretch for a soul, but I'm fine,] Ddraig replied, sounding conflicted.

Is Yulong always like that? [Always has been,] Ddraig confirmed.

Yulong joined Saji, easing his burden. "Fox lady, I'm super strong!" Yulong roared.

"What now, kid?" Sun Wukong asked Cao Cao. "Fight us? I'm game, but I won't hold back."

Cao Cao shook his head, chuckling. "Pass. Fighting you now would wipe us out. Sieg, we're retreating."

"Got it. No choice," Siegfried replied, activating a magic circle to signal the others.

No Diarmuid—acting solo, maybe?

"First Generation, Red Dragon Emperor, Gremory clan, we'll meet again," Cao Cao said. A massive magic circle formed beneath them.

I tried to fire my energy ball, but pain stopped me—aftermath of my technique. As they vanished in a flash, Cao Cao locked eyes with me. "Next time, I'll pierce you with this spear's true power."

They were gone.

After the Hero Faction fled, we remained with Sun Wukong, Yulong, and Yasaka, still in Nine-Tails form.

We treated the wounded, but… "Ugh… it won't heal," Xenovia groaned. Her deep arm wound from Diarmuid's Gáe Buidhe kept bleeding, resisting Asia and Miu's healing.

"It won't heal normally," Miu said. "Stop the bleeding for now and get Azazel-sensei to check it."

Xenovia tore her sleeve, binding her arm. Irina and Rossweisse's injuries healed with Asia's power, but Xenovia's was a problem.

"Issei, focus on the Nine-Tails first," Xenovia urged.

Saji and Yulong had stopped Yasaka's movements, but she remained in fox form, eyes clouded with control.

"Mother! Mother!" Kunou cried, getting no response.

"Tricky," Sun Wukong said, puffing his pipe. "I could dispel the evil qi with senjutsu, but it'll take time here."

I turned to him. "Dispel it, and she'll revert?"

"The evil qi binds her. Remove it, and she's back. But this much qi takes time alone."

"I'll help. Two of us should manage, right?"

"Kid, your qi's a mess. Moving's tough, isn't it?"

True. Overusing Chain Ring Qigong left my body screaming. Asia's healing can't fix qi-based damage—it needs natural recovery.

"Suppress the pain and move. It'll heal eventually," I said.

"Youngsters and their recklessness," Sun Wukong chuckled, agreeing.

I patted Kunou's head. "Step back, Kunou. We'll save your mom."

"Issei…" she murmured.

"No worries. I keep my promises to girls," I said, smiling.

Sun Wukong and I placed our hands on Yasaka. Her qi was chaotic. Hang on, Yasaka, we'll free you.

"Ready," I said.

"Anytime," Sun Wukong replied.

A soft light enveloped Yasaka as we purged the evil qi together.

"Come back, Mother!" Kunou cried.

Yeah, come back! Kunou needs you!

I cranked up my technique's output.

A radiant glow erupted. When it faded, Yasaka stood in human form.

Success!

"Where…?" Yasaka swayed, consciousness returning.

Kunou rushed into her arms. "Mother!" Yasaka hugged her, stroking her head. "What's wrong, Kunou? Still a crybaby, huh?"

Asia, healing the others, teared up. I get it—such a touching moment! Everyone else was crying too. I'm choked up myself.

Oh, crap. My strength's gone. I used everything.

As I collapsed, Miu caught me. "You okay?"

"Wanna say yes, but… probably not." I couldn't stand. Bedtime when we're back.

"I'll take care of you," Miu said.

"Haha, I'll take you up on that." Women's glares hit me. Trouble later? Kiba's just watching from a distance, smirking. Typical.

Too tired to think. Later.

"All's well that ends well," Sun Wukong said, sealing the moment.

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