Chapter 158 - Reunion Between Old Enemies
The White Dragon Emperor aka Vali stood still, his gaze fixed on Mahiro, without saying a word.
Yet, everyone present could feel the oppressive aura emanating from Vali.
For a moment, the silence was overwhelmingly heavy.
Suddenly, Vali's aura flared, surpassing the disturbance caused by Kokabiel's Spear of Light earlier.
"Planning to fight here, White Dragon Emperor?" Mahiro chuckled lightly as the armor instantly covered his body.
Vali remained silent, his eyes still locked on Mahiro. The air was thick with tension, making Rias and the others uneasy.
They knew well they couldn't interfere in a clash between the White Dragon Emperor and Mahiro, especially in their Balance Breaker forms.
"Forget it, this isn't the right time or place."
After a few tense seconds, Vali's aura subsided, bringing calm once again.
"My purpose here is to retrieve Kokabiel," Vali said.
"He's in pieces. Take what's left," Mahiro said, glancing at the ice fragments scattered on the ground.
Vali took a deep breath and replied, "Forget it. Azazel sent me to bring him back, but now that he's dead, there's no need. A death like his, in battle, is fitting."
"Azazel, the Governor of the Fallen Angels?" Rias asked, unable to contain herself.
"This was all Kokabiel's doing, and Azazel feared he'd cause too much trouble, so he sent me," Vali explained.
"But now that Kokabiel's dead, what happens with the Fallen Angels?" Sona asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
Hearing Azazel's name made Sona uneasy. It wasn't just anyone who had died—it was a fallen angel cadre recorded in the Bible.
If Azazel decided to hold Mahiro accountable, things could get dangerous for him.
However, if it came to that, Sona had already made up her mind to set aside her pride and contact her sister.
"Don't worry, I expected this to happen," Vali said, giving Mahiro a glance. "Kokabiel was just unlucky to cross paths with the Red Dragon Emperor."
"That old fool probably never imagined he'd meet his end at the hands of a young man he looked down on," Vali added with a sigh.
"You seem to know him well," Mahiro remarked, his tone cool.
Indeed, just as Vali said, even after seeing Mahiro enter Balance Breaker, Kokabiel had arrogantly believed he wouldn't lose.
"Now that Kokabiel is gone, I need to return and report to Azazel," Vali said, ready to leave.
"Red, this host of yours isn't bad," a deep voice suddenly rumbled from Vali's armor.
"Alive and well, White," came a similarly deep voice from Mahiro's armor.
Mahiro raised an eyebrow in interest.
Ddraig had been silent ever since Mahiro claimed the Boosted Gear from Issei.
Even though Mahiro had tried to communicate with him, Ddraig never responded.
Yet now, unexpectedly, Ddraig had finally spoken.
"They... they're talking!" Rias exclaimed, stunned by the exchange between the two Sacred Gears. She had never seen anything like it before.
The records didn't mention this.
Not just Rias, but everyone else looked equally confused by the sudden conversation between Ddraig and Albion.
Sacred Gears were supposed to be mere tools, without any self-awareness. Yuuto's Sword Birth, for example, was just a magic sword creation ability—nothing more.
But now, these two Longinus were behaving as if they had minds of their own, even casually greeting each other.
It was a complete shift in their understanding.
Even Jeanne was shocked. Although the Hero Faction had a few Longinus users, none were like the Red Dragon Emperor and White Dragon Emperor.
"I never expected to meet like this again, Red," Albion said.
"Indeed," Ddraig's voice carried both nostalgia and excitement, like someone seeing an old friend after years apart.
"Our hosts this time have incredible potential," Albion continued.
"Agreed," Ddraig responded. "Your host is strong, mastering Balance Breaker at such a young age is no small feat."
"Isn't it the same for your host? Even younger than mine, and he's already mastered Balance Breaker," Albion replied.
Mahiro couldn't help but smirk. "Is this... flattery?"
"It's true, my host is strong. But be careful—this time, you might really lose," Ddraig admitted, hesitating before he spoke.
Since being claimed by Mahiro, Ddraig had retreated deep into the Boosted Gear, choosing to stay dormant.
Ddraig wasn't particularly fond of Mahiro. After all, he'd seen how Mahiro seized the Red Dragon Emperor's power.
Although Ddraig didn't understand exactly how it happened, he didn't approve of the method.
Ddraig had always considered himself to be an upright force in the past.
However, Ddraig had to admit one thing: as a host, Mahiro was far superior to Issei.
In less than a month since the Boosted Gear was taken, Mahiro had already mastered Balance Breaker.
His talent was frightening.
In fact, Mahiro could be called a once-in-a-lifetime host.
Never in the past had the Red Dragon Emperor had such a powerful wielder, and perhaps never again in the future.
"You're very confident in your host this time, Red," Albion remarked.
"But my host is no ordinary White Dragon Emperor. He's more formidable than any of his predecessors."
Mahiro couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Are they... done flattering their hosts?"
These two heavenly dragons, whose consciousness had been sealed by the God of the Bible and turned into Sacred Gear spirits, seemed to have nothing else to discuss except their hosts.
"Either way, we're destined to fight again someday," Ddraig said.
"Yes, and then we'll see whose host is truly stronger," Albion responded.
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