Sure enough, this old man wanted to know how strong he was. Eiji wasn't surprised, but he wondered if he hadn't been showing off enough that the people of this world didn't know roughly his power level?
At least Ewald should know who he had killed.
Even the three gods from Greek mythology called the Trinity; Hades, Poseidon and Zeus died in his hands for provoking him.
Did Ewald not know?
Maybe because in the original work Ewald was such a great swordsman that Team DxD had to work together just to defeat him.
This old man is too arrogant? No, that's not it... Eiji suddenly remembered an arc related to Ewald. This was actually the reason why he could guess why Ewald disliked him. The details didn't need to be mentioned now but basically it was because he was the symbol of the Seven Faction alliance's Peace Treaty!
Eiji was about to agree and slap Ewald with his own skills and sword but at this moment—
Two beautiful girls stepped up and stood in front of him with a sword in each hand. Their school uniforms had also changed into tight black bodysuits with golden stripes.
Irina and Xenovia were now wearing Shadow Garden's combat outfits.
"You want to see how strong Eiji is? Cristaldi-san, I'm afraid that's impossible because saying that in front of me, you have to fight me first!"
"Hmph! Even though you are my former master and one of the strongest exorcists, Cristaldi-san... You think you can challenge Eiji casually? I alone am more than enough to defeat you."
Hearing what his two traitorous former disciples said, Ewlen's face looked grim and even flushed with anger.
He really did not expect that one day Irina and Xenovia would dare to say such words to him. Still, Ewald narrowed his eyes at the two girls' combat attire and the oppression they exuded when drawing their swords at him.
With such oppression, no wonder they dared to be arrogant in front of their former master.
"Irina, Xenovia! I don't know what kind of drug Eiji gave you. It seems that after leaving the church and the exorcist organization, you two have become increasingly disrespectful of the elderly and infatuated with that boy."
Ewald glared at Eiji.
Eiji complained in his heart.
[Why do people often suspect me of giving drugs to my women? Obviously they became like that only because of their love for me!]
[After all, I have helped them when they were in trouble and seduced them with my charm.]
[This is love, pure love.... Well, my skill in bed might also be a factor.]
Eiji's inner voice made the heroines fall silent.
Although it was true, many of them wanted to refute because it wasn't completely pure love.
For example, they realized after tasting Eiji's yogurt, they were addicted and more obsessed with it.
Irina and Xenovia were no exception.
Seeing that his two former disciples did not dispute what he had just said, Ewald wondered if it was true that Eiji gave them drugs?
Regardless, he raised his sword, the Excalibur Replica.
"With your respective holy swords, come forward and attack me. I also want to see how strong you are now."
Right after Ewald said that casually and confidently, the floor under Irina's feet shattered into pieces just because of her physical strength and her figure suddenly appeared behind Ewald.
The Excalibur Mimic in Irina's hand turned into a Japanese-style sword, a silver Katana that when swung, beautiful blue waves followed its trajectory.
Irina used Water Breathing— First Form: Water Surface Slash.
Ewald was a little surprised because he knew Irina was just using her physical strength to suddenly appear behind him. However, what sword technique was that?
He could hear the sound of the waves crashing behind him which made him feel a chill on his neck.
That was not the sword technique he had taught Irina in the past.
Still, Irina was a cruel former disciple because directing her attack towards Ewald's neck, she wanted to cut off his head!
Even so, Ewald easily blocked Irina's slash. His and the girl's swords collided and created an impact sound that echoed in the training ground. Ewald was ready to say that Irina's sword technique was too noisy and easy to read, it was worse than the sword technique he had taught her.
However, Ewald underestimated Irina too much because at that moment, the waves in Irina's sword path flew up and slapped his body so hard that he was drenched and his internal organs shook. Not only that, Irina's physical strength seemed to be no less than his! The girl was able to push him back 15 meters in their sword collision.
"Cough!" Ewald clutched his chest and coughed with blood at the corner of his mouth. His expression became serious, his figure quickly appeared in front of Irina like a flash of light and he began a wordless counterattack.
Each slash was extremely fast and contained holy power, Irina parried each attack but before long, the difference in skill level made her go on the defensive.
Especially since Ewald's slashes were faster than hers, but that was natural. The Excalibur Replica was a sword that had the ability to mimic every ability of the Excalibur Fragment. What Ewald was currently using was the Excalibur Rapidly ability which was able to increase his speed.
Although not as powerful as the real thing, Ewald's sword skills made the sword even more terrifying.
*Clang!*
The sound of rapidly clashing swords filled the training ground. Irina was not to be outdone either, especially when Eiji was watching her. In over a hundred exchanges, Irina used all forms of water breathing techniques. Not only waves; each of her slashes became like a beautiful dance in the training ground that created various water wonders including the eastern dragon that slapped Ewald many times.
Ewald was amazed, this was the first time he had seen the sword skills demonstrated by Irina and wondered who she had learned from?
Was it Eiji?
"Sorry to disappoint you, Eiji. I don't seem to be able to defeat my former master." Irina who had just stopped exchanging swords with Ewald said. She was panting because even though she was able to push her former master this far, she was unable to defeat him!
"It's okay, Irina. After all, he's your former master. It's only natural that he's strong enough."
Eiji was not disappointed because he had expected Irina to not be able to defeat Ewald. Even with the buff of the Master-Servant contract and the perfect water breathing style. The title of one of the two strongest exorcists was not just a name, Ewald was really an old man who in the original work needed several main characters to defeat him.
He is like an extra character whose power is no less powerful than the main characters and villains of the original work. Wait, come to think of it, he can also be included in the villain category because of his role in an arc.
The same goes for another powerful exorcist who forms a duo with Ewald.
Irina's achievements to injure and push Ewald so far have at least been better than the original work.
Hearing Eiji and Irina's conversation, Ewald was a little annoyed but said. "You've improved a lot, Irina... Did you learn that sword technique from Eiji?"
Hearing this, Irina smiled. "That's right! To be more precise, the water breathing technique is one of the breathing techniques that Eiji taught me."
"Breathing technique?"
Not sword techniques but breathing techniques and that's just one of them?
Ewald didn't understand the breathing technique that could create water, but Eiji seemed to be a very strong swordsman.
"Irina, you are weak and still need a lot of practice. Now it's my turn, I'll avenge you!" Xenovia shouted heroically. The green aura of the Boosted Gear whose appearance was deliberately concealed so as not to cover her tight bodysuit and the orange aura of Variant Detonation enveloped her body.
The oppression she unleashed was like a Red Dragon Emperor suddenly descending on the training ground and running amok.
Not only Ewald, the exorcists and other people in the church were shocked. Ever since Irina had fought with Ewald, there had actually been a few other people watching, but now more people in the Vatican Church were watching!
Many of them were surprised to see the former exorcist, Xenovia, who would be fighting Ewald.
The training ground that had been quite quiet suddenly became crowded.
"Xenovia, I don't want to hear words like that from someone stronger than me because she received more gifts from Eiji."
Irina said that flatly before walking back to Eiji's side. Eiji comforted her by telling her that later he would find her a gift so as not to lose to Xenovia.
Irina was happy to hear this and looked forward to the gift from her lover.
"....." Xenovia was a little embarrassed that Irina said that out loud. She held Durandal in her hand tightly and glared at Ewald as if she wanted to vent her frustration on him.
"So Xenovia, you got that kind of power from Eiji? I now understand why you and Irina defected from the Church."
Ewald said calmly and this time he activated another Excalibur Fragment ability. He used the Excalibur Nightmare ability to create multiple copies of himself. Each of the copies of himself also used Rapidly thus creating a terrifying combo.
Even so, Xenovia was not afraid. Still, she was annoyed at what Ewald said and said.
"You're wrong! I followed Eiji because I initially fell in love with his gentleness and power. This power is just a gift from my future wife and I will use it to protect him and defeat his enemies!"
"Xenovia, I'm glad you said that but call me future husband."
Eiji sighed.
Xenovia pretended to be deaf and seemed unwilling to correct his words.
[This tomboyish girl... Maybe later I should teach her how to be a good wife in bed.]
Bed? Eiji, you pervert!
Many heroines understood what Eiji meant.
Xenovia was excited and couldn't wait to defeat Ewald and receive lessons from Eiji. So under everyone's gaze, her figure suddenly disappeared and suddenly appeared in front of one of Ewald's copies while taking a powerful swing with Durandal.
"Haaaaaaa!"
The Ewald copy was able to block the attack easily but he did not know about Xenovia's Variant Detonation. So when their swords collided with each other—
*Boom!!*
The copy was killed by the explosion. The explosion was so big that it engulfed several other copies of Ewald.
Ewald was surprised but he immediately commanded his remaining copies to attack Xenovia from a distance using the Excalibur Mimic ability and turned their swords into whips with pointed tips.
A normal or moderately strong person would definitely find it difficult to dodge the attacks from Ewald's copies which numbered around 100. However, Xenovia was definitely not one of those people. With the physical strength, magic and buffs from the Boosted Gear.
Her figure was like a black shadow moving at super sonic speed while swinging her greatsword.
The result...
*Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!*
Many explosions were created that destroyed the training ground. If not for the barrier in that place that was strengthened by Eiji's magic, the Vatican Church would have been destroyed by that fight. The spectators panicked and at the same time marveled at Xenovia because she fought to that extent with Ewald.
The real Ewald even suffered some injuries from being hit by the explosion that the copy suffered. He struggled to attack Xenovia before he used his Excalibur Destruction ability and bravely clashed swords and blasts with the girl.
Their battle situation that was initially disadvantageous to Ewald was now balanced. Although Xenovia was extremely fast after receiving fifty buffs from the Boosted Gear, Ewald whose body was old was somehow able to keep up with her speed.
"That doesn't make sense!"
The slightly out of breath Xenovia shouted in battle.
Ewald who was also slightly out of breath heard this and said, "What's wrong, young warrior? Didn't you just say you alone are enough to defeat me? You might have to use the full power of your two Sacred Gear."
Although he didn't know the details, Ewald now knew Xenovia somehow had two Sacred Gear inside her body. One of them was Longinus, the Boosted Gear. While the other was... Although he did not know its name, he knew it was an explosive type Sacred Gear that was almost the same as Excalibur Destruction's ability.
Under normal circumstances, it was impossible for a human to have more than one Sacred Gear inside their body.
However, Xenovia...
It must be because of Eiji. The girl said it was a gift from him.
Ewald glanced at Eiji who was watching their battle on the side of the training ground seriously. Although that boy had done a good thing to strengthen the barrier in the training ground, he still disliked him.
"Old man, it's not good to distract yourself while fighting. My woman might kill you~"
Eiji's playful voice suddenly sounded in his ears.
Ewald did not know how the boy did it and he snorted. Just like when he defeated Irina, he was also confident that he could defeat Xenovia.
Even if he—
[Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!]
Right after Ddraig's voice sounded. The smoke from the explosion that had almost covered the entire training ground was suddenly blown away by the red pillar of flame that enveloped Xenovia.
Her curvaceous figure was now clad in crimson colored female armor. In that form, Xenovia lifted Durandal above her head next to performing another Boost fifty times without pause. The protagonist in the original work would have even blown up her body if she had Boosted as much and as fast as Xenovia did at this point.
But with the Master-Servant contract buff, Xenovia's physical strength was able to bear the Boost 100 times. With a raging green aura like a tornado capable of ruffling the Vatican city around her if not for the presence of a barrier, she then filled Durandal with holy power mixed with dragon power.
Just like Eiji's Excalibur, Durandal created a Pillar of golden light but with circular red flames and was several times smaller in size. However, in the eyes of Ewald and the people from the Church who were watching.
The pillar of light was already so big and tall that it pierced the clouds.
Ewald was actually a little confident he could still block the attack with his holy sword skills.
However, he would definitely suffer a serious injury after doing so. Remembering his plan in the near future, Ewald gulped.
"This is my ultimate move... Accept this. Horyaaaaaa!"
Xenovia shouted her attack, she was about to swing her sword.
But before that—
"Xenovia, you win!"
"...?"
Xenovia almost stumbled when she heard what Ewald said and forcibly canceled her attack.
She looked at the old man who sheathed his sword with a displeased look. If it weren't for Heaven's connection with the alliance and Eiji, especially when Eiji wanted to visit Gabriel, Xenovia would have thought for a moment not to cancel her attack.
The Church people who were watching were stunned as one of the strongest exorcists, Ewald Cristaldi admitted his defeat in a duel against a junior.
Ewald was a little embarrassed but that was all. Compared to face, he preferred his life and health for now!
Because Irina and Xenovia were that strong. Was Eiji as strong as rumored? Of course, Ewald had heard of famous people from various Mythologies who had been killed by that boy. However, because of his nature that hated devils. He suspected that much of the news about Eiji was false and made up by the devils.
After all, although Eiji seemed to be human, he was very close to the devils. He was even engaged to Rias Gremory, Sona Sitri, etc.
That boy was also rumored to have made the Youkai Faction leader one of his women in his harem.
If people said Eiji didn't have a conspiracy, Ewald didn't believe it.
He was a believer in Christianity and the old teachings of the Church who was very devout even though the current situation forced him to ally with the Seven Factions, he still regarded the devils as evil beings that had to be exterminated.
A few minutes later.
"This is the teleportation tool you are looking for. This tool will directly take the three of you to the Fifth Heaven."
At a certain location in the Vatican Church, Eiji and his two women were now in front of an elevator.
Although it was not like an ordinary elevator, it looked beautiful and had a magic circle carved on the inside.
"An elevator? Seriously?" Eiji asked while looking at Ewald, whose arm and neck were now bandaged.
Did you know? Earlier he had offered to help heal the old man's wounds with his magic. It was not because he was worried about him or felt guilty that Irina and Xenovia had injured him. It was purely because he was waiting for a certain arc to be triggered by Ewald and at that moment...
Ewald's lips twitched. "I'm serious, Eiji. If you don't believe me, you can ask Irina and Xenovia."
Hearing this, Irina and Xenovia agreed to the old man's words.
"That's right, Eiji. I once went to heaven using this elevator to deliver a certain report."
"I know but I've never used it."
Irina was experienced but Xenovia was not. Hearing this, Eiji did not hesitate to visit his future wife immediately!
....
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...
A/N: I seem to have exaggerated Ewald's power a bit but hey I did it for the sake of a future face-slapping plot. By the way, the Rent-A-Girlfriend franchise will start in a few more chapters. Kazuya is ready to receive many green hats from our MC.