After having encountered Rias who chose to face Bina-shi, I — Hyoudou Issei was challenged by Kiba. I flew down to the carpark of a certain shopping mall along with Kiba …The things that Kiba said just now made me remember certain words that left an impression on me. I wonder if you still remember it, Kiba.
—I want you to follow me.
When I just became a Devil, you came to my classroom and said that, didn't you? The place that you guided me to was — where Rias and the other members of the Occult Research Club were. After that, I truly stepped into the supernatural world. I bet you don't remember the things that you said back then. But I will never forget them, ever . You — were the one who guided me to this world. If the one that came to me at that time was Akeno-san or Koneko-chan, I might not have the same feeling I have right now. However, I am truly grateful that the one who helped me at that time was you. You are a man that I respect, one of the people whom I want to surpass, as well as a comrade who has supported me. Kiba then held his Demonic Emperor Sword Gram and told me.
"Ise-kun, before we fight, there's something that I want to tell you. —I am really grateful that you are my friend, and I would like us to keep being friends. That's why, I'll fight you with all my might today."
Following his wonderful words, he started to shroud himself in an aggressive aura. I responded to him by enveloping myself in a crimson aura and replied up-front.
"Hahaha, I can't help but feel shy after being complimented by the handsome one. Calm down. After all, we'll stay friends forever. —But, well, I guess we'll fight for today?"
"Yeah. I am Rias-neesan's sword after all."
"That's right, and I am the [King] of the Hyoudou Issei's peerage."
After both of us confessed those things to each other, I — chanted the Dragon Deification's verses in order to fight sincerely.
"—The Crimson Red Dragon dwelling within me, awaken from your dominance"
A dazzling crimson glow emitted from the gem on my right gauntlet.
[—The Crimson Heavenly Dragon I possess within me, rise up to become a King and roar]
Ophis' voice echoed out from the gem—.
"—The jet-black God of Infinity"
The gem on my left gauntlet unleashed a jet-black aura. An incredible crimson aura enveloped my entire body.
[—The glorious God of Dreams]
The jet-black aura of infinity was then encased over it—.
"[—Watch over the false forbidden existence we shall become that transcends the boundaries]"
My crimson armour was then tinged with a jet-black pattern. The power of the Dragon God had fully manifested. And then, we recited the final verse together—.
"[—Thou shalt dance like radiance within our inferno]"
"<<[D∞D!! D∞D D∞D!! D∞D D∞D D∞D!!!! D∞D D∞D D∞D D∞D D∞D D∞D!!!!!! D∞D D∞D D∞D D∞D D∞D D∞D D∞D D∞D D∞D D∞D D∞D D∞D!!!!!!!!]>>"
All of the gems resounded with a voice which said [D∞D!!] and permeated through to the soul. An ∞ symbol emerged on all of the gems!
"[<
—Dragon Deification, complete. Well, it's actually Pseudo Dragon Deification though… But, whichever it was, there's no difference to its power. As the crimson and jet-black aura started to be released from my body, I raised my fist towards him. Kiba responded by pointing the tip of his Demonic Emperor Sword Gram at me as well. Demonic Emperor Sword Gram… It was one of the strongest even among the other Demonic Swords. Known for its terrifying sharpness, it even had the strong ability of [Dragon Slayer], the natural nemesis of me who's a Dragon. There's also Kiba's Sacred Gear, [Sword Birth]'s Balance Breaker — [Sword Of Betrayer], which enabled him to wield the Holy Demonic Sword. For a Devil like me, I also couldn't let my guard down against that one.
Kiba — suddenly disappeared without a sound! As soon as I grasped the situation, I also flew away from that place! At the same time, I tried to summon Ascalon that's stored in my left gauntlet! Both of us then moved at an imperceivable speed while we kept checking each other, and finally clashed in the middle of the parking lot! My blade and Kiba's sword clashed! The fierce fight in the parking lot had begun! …I can't afford to directly touch Gram with its Dragon Slayer ability! I'll stop it with my Holy Sword Ascalon! …That being said, Gram's Dragon Slayer ability was undoubtedly strong! Just by clashing these blades, the Dragon Slayer's aura hit me! It's only natural that I get the chills! As we continued the close-quarters fight, Kiba then smiled boldly.
"…It seems like you can easily match my speed in that form!"
"Well yeah! I mean, what do you think was the result of all those countless sparring sessions we did? I've learned your fighting style and habits!"
That's right, I've done countless sparrings with Kiba in the training space. I've learned what techniques he might have trouble dealing with. I've learned so many things. Kiba then continued.
"Well, I've also done the same!"
As Kiba increased his aura, a number of armoured knights started to appear! This was the sub- species Balance Breaker of the Sacred Gear [Blade Blacksmith] that Kiba had — [Glory Drag Trooper]. The armoured knights wore dragon-like armour and each held Demonic sword in their hand.
Kiba not only had Gram, but also other Demonic swords such as Balmung, Nothung, Dáinsleif, and Tyrfing. Although all of them were owned by the former Hero Faction's vice-leader Siegfried, Kiba got all of the Demonic swords including Gram after he defeated him. …For God's sake, I was astonished once again by Kiba's stash! Luckily, it was impossible to use two Balance Breakers at the same time, which meant that Kiba couldn't use his Holy Demonic Sword and the [Glory Drag Trooper] together.
"Go!"
As Kiba ordered the Dragon Knights, they came at me at a high speed while carrying their Demonic Swords! Kiba then followed up by charging at me as well! I tried to evade the special abilities of those Dragon Knights' Demonic Swords while trying to defeat them by kicking and punching them one by one. The defeated Dragon Knights who disappeared and left their Demonic Swords behind — were instantly recreated as they picked up the swords and charged at me one more time! No matter how many times I defeated them, they'd be resurrected and come at me again! Kiba, who found an opening, slashed my back with Gram! I could feel the strong shock the moment it got in contact with my body! …It was an attack that permeated through the soul. So this was the technique that Kiba learned from His Eminence Strada, huh! A strategy in which the user increased their destructive force at the moment of impact! Not only that, the Dragon Slayer aura also permeated along with the shock! …I could feel the strange pain and suffering throughout my whole body! However, Gram's attack barely scratched my armor and didn't go as far as destroying it. This was a big thing, you know! One of the strongest Dragon Slayers, Gram, couldn't completely destroy Dragon Deification's armor! I quickly repaired the scratch on my armor. Upon seeing that Gram couldn't destroy the Dragon Deification armor, Kiba ground his teeth.
"…As expected, your jet-black armor is on a whole different level! If that's the case!"
Kiba then backed off for a moment and made his Dragon Knights disappear. He then clenched his swords and said to me,
"Let's attack you with numbers."
Following that, Kiba then increased his aura not on his whole body, but only on his torso and legs. …It's something that I'd never seen before. This had to be his new technique! After that, propulsion device-like shoes and rocket boosters were formed on his feet and back using his aura. Looking at it closely, there were also small boosters on the shoes. A moment later, a large amount of aura shot out of the boosters on Kiba's back and shoes.
"This is inspired by [Glory Drag Trooper]."
That's what Kiba said. So he was inspired by the Dragon Knights' armor and put an aura-blasting armour on his body, huh!
"I'm going now."
Kiba said as he seemingly vanished. I tried to chase him using my eyes and senses, but his speed had already exceeded my recognition, to the point where I couldn't even locate his presence due to his overwhelming speed! Kiba's speed completely surpassed the speed of sound as he moved around me! He then attacked me while moving, and every time I tried to react, I would get cut again. I continued to be attacked without being able to react! Although Kiba's attacks only managed to scratch my armor, the shock and the Dragon Slayer aura permeated through the armor. Due to this, the damage would worsen and turn into an unbearable pain!
"Shit!"
Every time I tried to punch Kiba, he would've already disappeared. I couldn't do anything! While I struggled to deal with Kiba's godly speed, I heard an announcement.
<<—Team [Sekiryuutei of the Blazing Truth]'s [Queen], Retired!>>
—.
It was an announcement for my team's retirement, Bina-shi's retirement. …I see, so Grayfia-san was defeated by Rias…! —I couldn't afford to lose! However, this speed… The aura boost was clearly superb. Damn that Kiba, he looked like he had significantly concentrated his power and improved the accuracy of his aura control.
…Control? I then realised something and…I knew that I had to try it out. Anyway, I concentrated and attempted to touch Kiba! Every time Kiba's god-speed attacks damaged my armor, I felt an unbearable pain throughout my whole body… However, I heightened my senses and remembered the sparring that I did with him. …His habits, his fighting style…I must've encountered all of them. Think…about his habits and he himself! I then flashed back through the countless numbers of Kiba's fighting patterns and aligned them with the damage I was receiving. And then, I remembered a certain pattern and thrust my fist out.
—This is it! This is where Kiba will come! My prediction was right. My hand — touched Kiba's body. I didn't let that moment escape!
[Transfer!!]
I transferred my power into Kiba at that exact moment. Suddenly, the booster on Kiba's back and shoes started to release an excessive amount of aura. The booster let out too much aura because of my transfer.
"Guwa!"
Kiba couldn't control his speed and, as a result, he crashed into the carpark. …I was right. Kiba was a technique-type. In order to achieve the accuracy that the technique produced, he must've used the precise amount of aura that he needed. He adjusted his aura blast to the point where he was just barely able to maintain control as he increased his speed. So, if the amount of aura was increased, he wouldn't be able to control it and would go wild. I was right. The moment I touched that guy and transferred the Red Dragon Emperor's power, Kiba was… Kiba, who crash-landed into the carpark —twisted his leg. He wouldn't be able to continue fighting at such a high-speed anymore. It was precisely because of such godly speed that he had this injury.
"Not yet! It's not the end yet!"
Kiba readied himself and made the booster on his back and shoes disappear. Once he did that, he changed his Sacred Gear and created a countless number of Holy Demonic Swords around me. As an endless wave of Holy Demonic Swords kept showing up around me, the sharp ends of those swords were pointed at me! I responded by taking out Ascalon II in my right hand along with the Ascalon in my left hand—
[Blade!]
[Blade 2!]
—And increased my aura at once.
"[<
After increasing the aura on both Ascalons, I destroyed all of the Holy Demonic Swords that came at me—. The white and black remains of the destroyed Holy Demonic Swords were shining as they spread around the parking lot.
"Not yet!"
Kiba still hadn't given up as he created one more Holy Demonic Sword in his hand and shrouded it with a high-density aura. Kiba…! That's right! The men of the Gremory peerage…don't give up until the very end!
"Go!"
In response to the Holy Demonic Sword that was thrown by Kiba, I—.
"Kibaaaaaa!"
I flooded him with the holy aura from both Ascalons! Kiba's Holy Demonic Sword — despite the fact that it stabbed the right shoulder of my armor, it didn't go through it as it only pierced a little bit into my body. …Still, the Holy Demonic aura spread through the wound and gave me considerable damage. I then quickly removed the Holy Demonic Sword. On the other hand, Kiba suffered a great deal of damage because of my attack, making him fall over with his face down. I fixed my armor and approached him. As I stood before Kiba, he…showed a smile.
"…To think that you would transfer with such timing…"
"That's because I've trained with you countless times. …I know all of your fighting styles and patterns."
"…This is really frustrating. I am supposed to know about you as well…"
I prepared to fire my Dragon Shot. Kiba's expression then turned into a determined one.
"—Do it. I don't want to be defeated by anyone but you in this match."
"Yeah, I know, friend."
I heightened my aura and — released my Dragon Shot at Kiba.
<<—Team [Rias Gremory]'s one [Knight], Retired!>>
The announcer's voice echoed through the space with a lonely silence—.
After I finished the business I had with Kiba, the man in black appeared just as I was just about to leave the parking space. —It was Crom Cruach. …I knew from the intercom that he had defeated Asia and Fafnir. —That being said, it looked like his left arm was injured. …Was it Fafnir's doing? Ddraig laughed upon looking at that.
[Kukuku. Crom Cruach. Who'd expect that you would be injured.]
Crom Cruach wasn't provoked, and he even took it pridefully.
"It was broken by the great Dragon King. This is an honourable wound."
[So it's Fafnir's will, huh. He is a Dragon that broke the arm of Lucifer's son. It's obvious that he would at least do that.]
Crom Cruach smiled with satisfaction in response to Ddraig's words.
"This tournament really entertains me. I had never been wounded prior to meeting you guys. Fufufu, this is a nice era. I truly looked down upon the Human world"
The count for Ddraig's manifestation had ended. The count itself had started along with my fight against Kiba. But, since I hadn't settled my business with him, I held off Ddraig's manifestation. —That being said, if my enemy were Crom Cruach, then it's a completely different matter. The jewel in my armor started to radiate a crimson light. That light then turned into a giant Dragon. It's the arrival of Red Dragon Emperor Ddraig. Ddraig then stood before Crom Cruach and asked this,
[So, you're going to fight me with that wound? Should I hold myself back then?]
"Nah. That's not funny. It's the opposite, Ddraig. —Because I have this honourable wound, I can fight you in my best condition. I believe it's called 'feeling high' in human language."
Upon looking at the Evil Dragon who covered himself in a dense and vast amount of aura, Ddraig also laughed happily from the bottom of his heart.
[Kukuku, that's right. That's how it's supposed to be. A Dragon's battle is about endurance.]
Crom Cruach then prepared himself and introduced his name.
"My name is [Crescent Circle Dragon] Crom Cruach, and [Welsh Dragon] Y Ddraig Goch, I challenge you to a battle!"
Ddraig then spread his wings and responded.
[My name is [Welsh Dragon] Y Ddraig Goch. [Crescent Circle Dragon] Crom Cruach, I accept your challenge!]
"Fufu, this is the first time I've introduced myself twice! Looks like today is my lucky day!"
[What kind of Evil Dragon says that!? Damn, you sure became an interesting guy, Crom Cruach!]
Both Dragons then prepared themselves. Ddraig said to me.
[Partner, go. I'll hold him off here. It's better that you continue your battle.]
"Yeah, I'm off then."
I left those words behind and flew over to Rias's place. Not long after that, I could feel the shockwaves that made the whole field tremble from behind—.