"Phew, finally done…"
After the exam, I took a breather in the Promotion Exam Center's cafeteria with Miu, Alice, and Ravel. I've been in this cafeteria a lot, but whatever—I need to relax. Hours of testing deserve that much.
"Ise-sama, I brought more tea," Ravel said.
"Thanks, that helps."
Ravel's so thoughtful. Top-tier manager!
Alice, eating pudding, chimed in, "Blowing a hole in the exam venue's wall? Overkill."
"You told me to go all out!" I shot back.
"Who, me~?" she dodged, avoiding eye contact.
Yeah, I misjudged my strength. Didn't expect the guy to fly that far. I did hold back, though.
"How much will fixing that wall cost?" I muttered.
"You'll have to discuss that with Rias-sama," Ravel replied.
Miu tried to cheer me up. "Let's worry about money later. The exam's done—relax!"
"Yeah, I'm beat. These brainy tests drain me more than fighting."
School tests, promotion exams—mental fatigue hits harder than physical. Moving my body's way easier.
"Let's rest a bit before heading to the hotel," Ravel suggested.
"Agreed. Gimme some of that pudding," I said, snagging a bit from Alice.
We didn't know it then, but events were already in motion.
[Kiba Side]
An hour earlier, Akeno and I, done with our exams, arrived at the hotel.
"Yo, you're back. Good work," Sensei said, downing a drink.
Drinking in the afternoon, huh?
In the hotel's private restaurant were everyone except Gasper (off training), Rossweisse, Ise (still testing), and Ravel, Miu, and Alice (who went to check on him). Miu and Alice seemed really worried about Ise's exam. Could they be…?
Buchou approached us. "Akeno, Yuuto, good job. How'd it go?"
"I felt confident," Akeno said.
"Same here," I added.
The written exam went smoothly, and I defeated my opponent in the practical. We're likely passing—confident, even.
I glanced at Ophis in the corner, munching pasta. Hard to believe she's the Khaos Brigade's leader. Kuroka and Lefay were eating sweets. Fenrir was absent, hiding in Lefay's shadow—hotels don't allow pets, even legendary ones.
Kuroka, a wanted stray devil, hid her cat ears and tail, wearing a robe like Lefay's and sunglasses, altering her aura to avoid detection.
Sensei, tipsy, turned to me. "Kiba, your talent's insane, like in the Baal fight. Exceptional."
"Exceptional?" I asked.
"You're a young devil with unreal potential. Awakening two Balance Breakers, even if one's acquired? Unheard of. And you're still growing."
"But isn't Ise more exceptional?"
He's got immense power with room to grow. To me, he's exceptional.
"Sure, he's nuts. Reaching beyond Balance Breaker? Unprecedented. And that's not the only weird thing about him," Sensei said.
He's probably referring to Ise's wild journey—sent to another world, gaining power, becoming a hero, and defeating a Demon King. His path is insane.
Though, his Balance Breaker trigger was… odd.
"I'm lucky to have Ise nearby," I said.
"Yeah, he's a lewd idiot but straight as an arrow. A great guy to aim for," Sensei agreed.
"Exactly. He's my ultimate goal."
I mean it. I want to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him, in strength and spirit.
"By the way, Kiba, how's the other thing?" Sensei asked.
The other thing—one of my new possibilities. I achieved one: Holy Sword Creation's Balance Breaker. But the other…
I shook my head.
"Don't sweat it," Sensei said. "It's just my hypothesis. No guarantee you'll reach it."
He's right, but I believe it exists. It's on me to figure out what I'm missing.
I noticed Asia, staring at her juice, barely eating, deep in thought.
"Asia-san, something on your mind?" I asked.
"I'm thinking about learning more about my Sacred Gear…"
"Enhancing your healing?" I clarified.
She nodded, then asked Sensei seriously, "Can my Twilight Healing reach Balance Breaker?"
Sensei sipped his drink. "Definitely. You're around Ise, who causes all sorts of anomalies. With training, you could reach it, maybe even an irregular subspecies. You're already showing unusual changes."
Asia tilted her head. "Me?"
"Yeah. Twilight Healing heals wounds but doesn't restore stamina or stabilize aura. You can now. That's highly irregular."
He's right. Asia's healing speed has improved, and she can restore stamina and aura slightly. It's slow, but it's new. No records of this before.
Our Sacred Gears evolved… after that other world.
Sensei muttered, stroking his chin. "If we consider Ise's power, your growth… it makes sense…"
"Sensei?" I prompted.
"Sorry. Asia, your healing's already top-tier, with impressive long-range results. Focus on protecting yourself next."
Ise pointed this out during our Rating Game training against Riser. Asia's our key healer, but enemies will target her first.
"You need self-defense to let Ise and others fight freely," Sensei continued. "You learned basic magic barriers from Miu, but that's not enough. I'm thinking you should contract a powerful beast to act as your shield."
"A powerful beast?" Asia asked.
"Yes. Rias, Asia contracted a Blue Thunder Dragon, right?" Sensei asked.
Buchou nodded. "Yes, it's her familiar."
A young high-tier dragon from the Familiar Forest. It plays in the clubroom and lives with her at home.
"Asia might have a knack for taming beasts," Sensei said. "She could contract a legendary one. For a shield…"
He muttered again. A beast guarding Asia would let us focus on offense, expanding our tactics. What kind will she choose?
Then, a slimy, unpleasant sensation hit me.
This feeling—
"Oops, looks like Vali got outplayed," Kuroka said. "The real target's here."
A familiar mist enveloped the area.
We rushed out of the restaurant. The hotel was empty—same as Kyoto. We'd been forcibly teleported to a replica of the hotel, just us.
Only that mist-user could do this.
In the lobby, two men sat on a black sofa. Fireballs shot toward Asia and Irina, but Ophis stepped in, effortlessly dispelling them.
Ophis… protected them?
"Thank you," Asia said.
Ophis stayed silent.
I looked at the men—familiar faces. A youth in a school uniform with a robe and another in a school uniform under a hanfu, tapping a spear on his shoulder.
"Well, well, Governor Azazel, Gremory household. Been a while since Kyoto," the hanfu youth said.
"Tch, you picked now to strike, Cao Cao?" Sensei growled.
The Hero Faction leader with the ultimate Longinus. He kidnapped the Nine-Tails in Kyoto and fought us. The eye scar Ise gave him… it's gone? Even Phoenix Tears couldn't heal it.
Cao Cao stood, scanning us. "No Red Dragon Emperor?"
"Not here. Why'd you teleport us to this field? Something rotten, I bet," Sensei said.
Cao Cao's gaze shifted to Ophis. "Ophis, I thought you were off with Vali. Caught me off guard."
Kuroka stepped in front of Ophis. "That's our line. Thought you'd chase Vali."
"I sent a team after him. They're probably fighting now," Cao Cao replied.
What are they talking about?
Lefay raised her hand, cleared her throat, and explained as Fenrir emerged from her shadow, glaring at Cao Cao.
"Here's the deal. Two reasons: First, Ophis-sama's super interested in Oppai Dragon. Second, Vali-sama noticed someone tailing Ophis-sama."
She held up two fingers. "Vali-sama set a trap to confirm it. Bringing Ophis-sama to Oppai Dragon's house served both goals. If lucky, we'd lure out our team's threats for a showdown. So…" She pointed at Cao Cao. "You were targeting Ophis-sama. Vali-sama took her to Oppai Dragon's house while using a fake Ophis-sama—Bikou transformed—as bait."
I was stunned. Cao Cao's after Ophis? She's the Khaos Brigade's leader! Why?
Cao Cao nodded. "Vali's clever, as expected. I knew Ophis was curious about the Two Heavenly Dragons. Checking the Red Dragon Emperor paid off. Here we are."
He tapped his spear, smirking.
Ophis spoke quietly. "Cao Cao, you target me?"
"Yes. We need Ophis, but not you as you are."
"Don't understand. But I won't lose."
"Of course. Head-on, I can't touch you. You're that strong."
No kidding. Even Cao Cao can't beat the Infinite Ophis. No faction dares challenge her.
But… that confident look? Does he have a plan?
His Balance Breaker? He's never shown it. Could the ultimate Longinus's Balance Breaker work? No, he said he can't win head-on. Something else, then?
A dazzling light caught my eye. Magic circles glowed under Kuroka and Lefay.
Kuroka grinned. "If you're playing dirty, we'll up the ante. Let's call him, Lefay!"
Fenrir stood at the circle's center, its glow intensifying. Light burst, enveloping us.
When it faded, Fenrir was gone, and—
"Well done, Kuroka, Lefay. Long time no see, Cao Cao."
Vali Lucifer, the White Dragon Emperor, stood with a fearless smirk.
[Kiba Side Out]
The Hero Faction's back! Next chapter will likely continue from Kiba's perspective.
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