[Kiba's Perspective]

Before me stood a monstrous figure, four grotesquely elongated arms sprouting from its back, each stretching toward the ground. This was no longer the Asura-like form Siegfried had once taken—it was something else entirely.

The eerie aura radiating from him was unlike anything I'd felt before.

Siegfried's transformed face twitched into a grin. "Chaos Drive, the Demonic Beast. That's what we call this state. The doping agent? Chaos Break, Demonification. We borrowed the names from Juggernaut Drive and Balance Breaker."

His voice was low, guttural, transformed.

As the demonic Siegfried took a single step forward, an overwhelming pressure forced me to stagger back. His four massive arms, fused with his demonic swords, flexed with unnatural power.

Here it comes!

I dashed forward before I could fully register the attack. In the next instant, a swirling vortex of sharp aura and ice pillars erupted where I'd stood, tearing through the ground and ripping open a dimensional rift.

A combined assault from his demonic swords!

If that had hit me, my body would've been torn apart.

Something's coming from the front!

I shifted my holy-demonic sword into a holy sword and summoned a single knight from my Balance Breaker's legion. Kicking off its form mid-air, I gained distance—but…

BOOOOM!

A massive torrent of destructive aura roared through the space I'd just vacated, obliterating the dragon knight I'd used as a foothold.

I glanced at Siegfried. He stood frozen, Gram still raised from its swing.

What power… Even dodging it, the shockwave sent pain searing through my body. No charge time, just a single swing with the destructive force of Durandal.

This is the true power of the Demonic Emperor Sword Gram.

Landing on the ground, I reverted my sword to its holy-demonic form and conjured seven more blades in the air, each imbued with dragon-slaying power. I kicked off the ground, closing the distance to Siegfried in an instant and unleashing a horizontal slash.

He effortlessly parried it with one of his demonic swords.

If I go on the defensive now, he'll overwhelm me. I conjured another holy-demonic sword in my other hand, shifting to dual-wielding.

"Hah!"

I swung again, but he blocked it just as easily. At the same time, his other demonic swords came crashing down toward me. Each blade carried the devastating force I'd already witnessed.

Blocking them would still deal damage!

I leaped back, but Siegfried, as if anticipating it, swung Gram. A massive, deadly aura surged toward me. I dodged sideways upon landing, but Gram's aggressive aura grazed me, leaving my body battered. The wave carved a trench through the ground, stretching far into the distance.

At this rate, it could hit civilians who haven't evacuated… Several buildings had already collapsed under Gram's onslaught.

"Seven swords!" I shouted, thrusting my hand forward. The blades obeyed, hurtling toward Siegfried.

"They won't work anymore!" he roared, shattering all seven with a single swing of his demonic sword.

But that was part of my plan.

Seizing the moment he struck them down, I darted into his guard. If I could land a direct dragon-slaying blow, I could turn the tide!

My holy-demonic sword struck his body—and shattered.

"What…?"

Siegfried smirked wickedly. "Looks like my enhanced body surpasses even your dragon-slaying holy-demonic sword."

His demonic sword slashed through me.

"Gah…!"

I collapsed to my knees, blood gushing from my chest, staining the ground red.

"That's a fatal wound," Siegfried said, his voice low and mocking. "You can't stand, can you?"

He was right. The pain was so intense I couldn't even move my hands. My strength was fading.

"Since you're here, I assume the other Gremory retainers are nearby?" he continued. "No… not the Red Dragon Emperor. He's dead, isn't he?"

"What… do you mean?" I rasped, my voice barely audible.

He looked at me with pity. "You don't know? Shalba had an arrow coated with Samael's blood. We haven't sensed the Red Dragon Emperor since then. It's likely he succumbed to Samael's curse."

"Samael's curse… killed Issei-kun?" I whispered.

"It's the logical conclusion. No one's reported seeing him in days."

No… that's impossible.

Issei-kun… dead?

No way…

That's not true!

"There's no way…" I growled, my voice trembling. "I… we don't believe that. He's alive… and he'll come back!"

That's right. We believe in him. In Issei-kun's return. Even if Shalba had an arrow coated with Samael's blood, would Issei really fall to it? That's even less believable!

"Fair enough," Siegfried said. "I can't entirely rule out that he's alive. In that case…" His eyes darkened. "I'll just kill the rest of you Gremory retainers here."

My eyes widened. "What!?"

"Is it that surprising? You're a threat to us. If I let you go, you'll only grow stronger. The damage you'd cause us later would be catastrophic. With the Red Dragon Emperor gone, now's the perfect chance to eliminate you."

With that, he turned to leave.

He's going to kill Rias… everyone!

I won't let that happen!

"Wait!" I shouted, my voice hoarse. "I'm still alive…! This fight isn't over!"

Despite the agony, I tried to drag myself after him. I couldn't let him reach the others.

He paused, turning back with a mocking sneer. "What can you do in that state? You couldn't touch me. With that blood loss, you'll die soon anyway. Unless… you're asking for a finishing blow?"

He resumed walking.

"Guh…"

The pain overwhelmed me, and I collapsed again. My body wouldn't move. My limbs were numb, my vision blurring.

Rias…

Akeno-san…

Koneko-chan…

Asia-san…

The Gremory clan is in danger, and I… I'm failing them here…

"Kiba! While I'm gone, I'm counting on you to protect everyone! As men of the Occult Research Club, we guard the girls! Got it?"

Issei's words from that moment echoed in my mind.

What am I doing, giving up? I made a promise to him—to protect everyone!

Move, my body!

Stand and wield your sword!

Issei-kun never gave up, no matter the odds!

I can't lie here!

I conjured a holy-demonic sword and drove it into the ground, pouring every ounce of strength into it. Forcing my trembling body upright, I used the sword as a crutch. My legs shook, unable to take a single step.

Siegfried noticed and turned back, his eyes wide. "No way… standing with that wound? I underestimated you. I take it back—you need to die here. If I leave you, you'll come after me."

He approached slowly, deliberately.

Even standing, I can't swing my sword. Is this pointless?

Please, my body.

Sword Creation.

Just a little more strength… to defeat the man before me and protect everyone.

Answer my will!

If there's more potential within me, let it awaken now!

I raised my sword to the sky with a trembling arm and roared, "AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"

My holy-demonic sword erupted with a fierce aura. White and black—holy and demonic—swirled violently, unleashing a tempest of raw power.

"What!?" Siegfried stammered, visibly shaken. "Where is this power coming from!?"

It's only natural he'd be stunned—a dying man standing and roaring with newfound strength.

I shouted, "I made a promise to Issei-kun! To protect Rias… to protect everyone! As a man of the Gremory clan, I swore to see it through! I won't let you pass! Answer me, Sword Creation!"

The chaotic dance of holy and demonic auras subsided, giving way to silence. A gust of wind swept between us, kicking up dust.

My aura calmed, dense and serene, as I drew my holy-demonic sword close to my chest.

I exhaled deeply.

And then, I began to chant—

"This sword is a mirror of my soul."

The black and white aura from my sword enveloped me.

"For one with a strong soul, this blade shall not break."

The black aura shifted, forming a flowing black coat. My Kuoh Academy uniform transformed into a sleek, black outfit, accented with white lines as the holy aura intensified.

"He who pours all into a single strike shall cut through anything."

My holy-demonic sword glowed brilliantly, its double-edged form morphing into a single-edged blade—a katana.

"Fear not, retreat not. Advance with oath and pride in your heart."

Thank you, Sword Creation, for answering my will.

"Uphold your resolve, protect your comrades."

Thank you, Issei-kun. Because of you, I've reached this point. Have I gotten even a little closer to you?

"Charge forth, Twin Sovereign Knight!"

WHOOOOSH!

A gale roared around me, yet my aura remained calm, focused. Siegfried stared, bewildered. "What… is that form?"

The power radiating from me was unlike before. My appearance must've changed drastically, too.

"Balance Breaker, Second Tier: Paladin of Betrayer," I said. "This is the new possibility I've awakened within me."

"You've reached the same realm as the Red Dragon Emperor!?" he exclaimed.

Something like that. Compared to Issei-kun's power, mine pales, but there's room to grow. With training, maybe one day…

"Your wounds haven't healed!" Siegfried snapped. "How many swings can you manage in that state?"

He was right. The gash in my chest still bled, my body screaming in protest.

So—

"One strike," I declared. "This one strike will end it."

I sheathed my new holy-demonic sword and lowered my stance. I had no strength left for multiple swings. Everything would ride on this one blow.

"One strike? Bold words," Siegfried said, raising his demonic swords and a blade of light, his aura growing dense and menacing. Gram responded, its aggressive aura intensifying.

I closed my eyes, sharpening every sense. Nothing else mattered.

This one swing would carry everything.

I opened my eyes and took a step forward.

In the instant we passed each other, a single flash of light gleamed.

"…Impossible…" Siegfried muttered, blood spurting from his mouth. A deep gash ran across his torso, blood pouring out. "I couldn't even react…"

My sword had sliced through him.

"Battōjutsu: Shadow Pursuit," I said.

"Your body… should've surpassed your dragon-slaying sword…" he gasped. "Even with increased speed…"

"My holy-demonic sword surpassed your body," I replied. "That's all."

Siegfried gave a wry smile, collapsing to his knees, his breathing ragged. Blood pooled around him, staining the ground.

"Why not use Phoenix Tears?" I asked. "The Hero Faction has its own supply, don't they?"

They'd used them in Kyoto. He likely had some now.

He shook his head. "In this state… Phoenix Tears don't work. We don't know why."

So that's the cost of their enhancement—a trade-off for immense power, they lose the ability to heal. Crucial information. I'd need to tell the others.

"…That's how it is," Siegfried murmured. "Warriors raised in that church's training grounds… we never live normal lives…"

With those final words, he drew his last breath.

And then, my consciousness faded.

[Kiba's Perspective: End]