"This power...! You didn't release that technique as an artillery strike—you're maintaining that energy around your blades while swinging them?!"
My eyes widened at his words.
She didn't fire off Cross Crisis—she's keeping that monstrous power coated around her swords, unleashing it with every single physical strike?!
It made total sense. With that much concentrated force, even the clone of Vals would be hopelessly outmatched in raw power.
And what made it possible was Xenovia's evolution. By connecting with the two Holy Swords on a profoundly deep level, she could unleash strength of this magnitude...!
Maurice had said that the wills of past wielders resided within those Holy Swords. Did that mean the power of heroes like Roland and Cardinal Strada was backing her right now...?
If so, her current potential was completely immeasurable!
Even while being pushed back, the clone of Vals used his exquisite swordsmanship to parry Xenovia's furious onslaught, shouting through gritted teeth:
"It's true that with power of this scale, you could even reach the realm of the Gods! However—!"
Channeling heavy magic to reinforce his own blades, he locked weapons with Xenovia in a tight deadlock.
"You cannot maintain this form for long! The incoming tide of wills and power is far too much for your body and mind to endure! You have a few minutes at best! Do you honestly think you can defeat me all by yourself?!"
Looking closely, I could see blood trickling from the corner of Xenovia's mouth.
Just as he said, maintaining that level of transcendent power was placing an astronomical burden on her body.
Multiple magic circles expanded into existence around the clone of Vals.
From those arrays emerged countless glowing arrows of light—all targeted squarely at Xenovia.
No matter how powerful Xenovia was right now, dealing with that massive barrage while parrying his sword strikes simultaneously would be nearly impossible!
Just as the launched arrows were about to pierce Xenovia—a radiant golden wave swept in, shattering the barrage to protect her!
"As if I'd stay asleep while my partner is out here fighting!"
With a fierce cry, a figure charged headlong at the clone of Vals—it was Irina, who should have been unconscious!
Irina slashed at Vals' clone with blinding speed!
『Irina, don't push yourself! Your wounds are extremely severe!』
"Look who's talking! You're completely battered yourself, Xenovia! Telling us not to push ourselves was impossible from the start!"
Even while worrying for each other, the two executed flawless, synchronized teamwork, engaging the clone of Vals in an intense, breathless offensive exchange.
It was nothing short of miraculous. Even as a two-on-one, they were fighting the clone of Vals on equal footing.
But this won't last long.
The only reason they could stand their ground right now was because Xenovia was maintaining that abyssal form. The moment that deep blue radiance vanished, the tables would turn instantly. They would be cut down by Vals' clone once again.
I forced my unresponsive, agonizing body to push itself up off the ground.
"I can't just stand here and watch! When the two of them are fighting at the cost of their very lives, how could I call myself a man if I don't stand up right now?!"
Right before the Evil Dragon incident, when Issei-kun attempted to save Ophis from Shalba Beelzebub by remaining behind in that artificial space constructed by the Hero Faction, he had given us an order:
—"As members of the Occult Research Club, you guys have to protect the girls no matter what!"
I am a member of the Occult Research Club. I am a devil of the Gremory House... I am Rias Gremory's Knight!
If I can't even protect the girls here, how could I ever dare to call myself that?!
No! Even if it costs me my life, I will protect them!
So please...!
"My body... move...! MOVE...!"
As I felt a surging frustration toward my flesh for refusing to obey my will, a hand gently reached out to support my trembling body.
It was Maurice.
"Calm down, Yuto. Impatience will only kill the true strength you possess. Relax your body, and take a deep breath."
How can you say something so relaxed right now...? I almost blurted out, but for some reason, I found myself accepting Maurice's words without resistance.
His tone cleared the overwhelming heat consuming my mind, draining the useless tension from my body. I took a deep breath, exactly as instructed.
Still supporting me, Maurice spoke quietly.
"You harbor two Sacred Gears within you. Each governs Holy and Demonic properties respectively. They say it was caused by a glitch stemming from the death of the God of the Bible and the Demon Lords... but it really is a strange thing."
Maurice let out a soft chuckle before continuing.
"Two opposing powers coexisting and holding hands. To me, your power feels like a symbol of peace."
My Holy-Demonic Sword was a combination of forces that should never have existed together. It was often called a bug triggered by the absence of the God of the Bible. Though various research institutions treated it as an object of study, this was the first time anyone had ever spoken of it in such a light.
"Old man Strada said it before, didn't he? That the boundary between Holy and Demonic is the true source of your strength. Your power reaches its genuine potential when Holy and Demonic elevate one another. Hey, Yuto... isn't it about time you brought out your new answer? You've thought about it before, haven't you?"
"—!"
This man... he saw right through what I was thinking.
During that training realm, I had obtained new power. I had cleared Maurice's trial and elevated my two Sacred Gears to the next dimension.
Yet, as I grew stronger, a desire began to form within me—to realize an idea I had pondered for a long time.
To turn the impossible into possible... precisely because I wanted to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Issei-kun, I—
Sensing something from the look on my face, Maurice stepped back, giving me space.
The Demonic power I possessed.
The Holy power granted to me by my fallen comrades.
I created a single Holy-Demonic Sword, and closed my eyes.
—Let's go, Isaiah.
A voice called out from deep within me.
That voice cast a warm light through the darkness I had been groping through.
I reached my hand out toward that light.
Toward that brilliant, crimson radiance.
Toward the light that was guiding me forward.
The instant my fingers touched that red light—
"The Holy-Demonic Sword is... turning red...?"
The Holy-Demonic Sword I had created began to emit a brilliant crimson radiance.
The vivid, warm light wrapped gently around my entire body.
And then—
"Sacred Gear Fusion: 『Crimson-Clad Champion: Paladin of Betrayer』!"
[Kiba's Side Out]
Kiba's new form will be revealed in the next chapter!
~ Afterword Mini-Episode ~
Diarmuid: "Big bro... Azazel took my fried chicken..."
Issei: "Alright, leave it to your big bro. I'm gonna go choke him out real quick. Turn him into a chicken wing."
Azazel: "CHICKEN WING?! I'M GONNA GET EATEN?! I just snatched ONE piece that was sitting on the table! Besides, there's still a whole mountain of it left!"
Issei: "Even if it's just one piece, that doesn't change the fact that you ate Diarmuid-chan's fried chicken!"
Miu: "Azazel-sensei... GUILTY!"
Azazel: "NOT YOU TOO! WAHAHAHHHHHH! I'M GONNA GET KILLED BY THESE SIS-CONS! THEY'RE GONNA TURN ME INTO A CHICKEN WINGGGG!"
Amen.
~ End of Afterword Mini-Episode ~
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