[Kiba Yuuto's POV]
"I see… So you're honing your strengths while still seeking new possibilities. A fine Knight, indeed. Rias, I truly envy you for having such a Knight on your team. The Gremory household really is a gathering of prodigies who work hard, isn't it? Utterly terrifying, honestly."
"Then allow me to charge in!"
Sword in hand, I led my summoned knight battalion forward into battle.
Normally, Shirone's illusion magic would keep her hidden, but we couldn't afford that risk this time. So I'd take the front lines. …No, let's be honest—I couldn't just stand behind someone I see as a little sister. My pride as a man wouldn't allow it.
Sairaorg destroyed the armored knights closing in on him one after another with nothing but his fists. He even swatted away Shirone's Kasha with brute force. But I kept reinforcing my knights as fast as he could break them, pressing the assault.
"Your speed is decent. Your sword technique's solid, too. But you haven't fully refined your skills. If you're going to fight without dodging my punches—then you're not nearly tough enough!"
With a wide, sweeping kick, he shattered several of my summoned knights in one blow.
"And another thing! If your weapon doesn't pack enough force—like the Holy Demonic Sword—you'll never reach my body!"
Despite forming a full circle of knights around Sairaorg—including the air above—they all attacked him simultaneously. But he ignored them completely and charged directly toward me!
He's not even bothering to dodge or block?! He's sacrificing everything for a direct strike?
Caught off guard, I was a fraction too slow to react. In that instant, his left hand grabbed the hilt of my sword.
This is bad!
"Get away from him!"
Multiple Kasha shot into Sairaorg's face, stabbing into him and searing his flesh with purifying flames. His head jerked back from the impact, and the ongoing holy fire started eating at him—but even as blood ran from his nose and his face burned, his gleaming eyes locked straight onto me.
"RAAAH!"
SMASH!!
With a roar, he brought down a powerful chop using his remaining right arm—straight onto both of mine.
CRACK!
My arm bones shattered instantly.
Then came a follow-up kick to my left leg, reducing it to splinters.
Damn it! As a sword-wielding Knight, losing my arms and a leg meant my main strengths were completely neutralized!
After that, he brushed away the burning Kasha on his face and took a few steps back.
His face was bloodied and burned—his nose and cheeks scorched—but it wasn't anything deep. His body, cloaked in Touki, had formidable resistance.
Agonizing pain coursed from every limb except my right leg. As I tried to stay conscious, Xenovia's voice came through the comms.
Sorry. I'm always showing up late, aren't I? But—I'm ready now.
With her words, a dazzling pillar of divine aura erupted from the holy swords around her.
Now's our chance!
"Blossom in glory! Holy Demonic Sword!!"
Around Sairaorg—above, below, on all sides—the Holy Demonic Swords materialized, all aimed straight at him. Simultaneously, Shirone's Kasha carved a blazing circle on the ground, forming a purifying flame barrier.
Even Sairaorg would struggle to push through a double-layered assault like this.
But we only need one opening—just long enough for Xenovia to strike!
"TAKE THIS!!!"
The sheer pressure of Ex-Durandal's divine wave blasted away even Shirone's illusion mist, revealing Xenovia herself—but at this point, concealment wasn't needed.
Sairaorg gazed up at the massive descending pillar of light. He exhaled deeply, reared back his right arm, and gathered every drop of his Touki into it.
He's not going to dodge. He's going to meet it head-on!
Her holy blade came crashing down. His fist flew upward.
A sacred greatsword versus a bare fist.
Anyone watching would call it madness.
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Their roars collided with the clash.
Just one swing—but Xenovia was already drenched in sweat.
She'd thrown everything into it—literally poured all her aura into that single strike.
CRASHHH!
With the sound of glass shattering, the holy aura blade shattered into shards.
The impact rebounded violently—Ex-Durandal shuddered—and Xenovia staggered, her stance breaking.
Sairaorg closed the distance in that instant and delivered a crushing uppercut with his left hand to her midsection, launching her into the air, where a storm of kicks finished her off.
Her Ex-Durandal went flying, landing nearby, buried in the ground.
She collapsed—her body wrapped in the light of retirement. She was completely unconscious.
Dammit… Not even that full-force strike from Xenovia was enough to reach him?
"...A magnificent blow. Because of that, I'll have to use a Phoenix Tear before the final battle—I want to face my next opponent in top form."
As I lay there in frustration, I heard his voice. And then I saw it—
His right hand, the one that blocked her sword, had been split open all the way to the wrist.
He was clenching it into a fist to minimize the bleeding, but blood still dripped steadily from it. Seems his Touki shielded him from the sword's holy power, but even so—his right hand was done for.
Xenovia, your strike did land!
Now Shirone stepped forward to face him.
"You're still going?"
"Of course. Forcing you to use a Phoenix Tear means we've already fulfilled one of our roles. But—we can still wear you down. Phoenix Tears instantly restore injuries, magic, and stamina. But they don't regenerate lost blood. If your body has just enough to function, it stops there. So—every drop we draw from you counts."
"I see. You aim to chip away at my upper limits, my endurance. In that case—I'll end this quickly!"
Since Sairaorg had the edge in speed, Shirone stayed rooted, relying on martial arts at close range. The more aggressively he moved, the more he'd bleed from that right arm—exactly what she wanted.
"You're not using those white flames anymore?"
"I don't want to cauterize the wound Xenovia-senpai gave you!"
They clashed at point-blank range—strikes and counters flying back and forth. Sairaorg had the upper hand in power, speed, and size, but with his right arm damaged, Shirone managed to avoid a fatal blow.
Still, even glancing hits from him could inflict serious damage.
Even with a higher defense than me, Shirone was taking heavy punishment. Her bruises were visible through the gaps in her outfit—deep, dark marks—and I could only imagine how bad it was underneath.
What am I doing while she fights alone?
Didn't I swear to uphold the Occult Research Club's Code of Manhood—the one Issei came up with?
Gasper showed incredible resolve.
And Shirone, bruised and battered, was facing Sairaorg head-on.
There's no way I, their senior, can just lie here doing nothing!
I haven't been retired. I've still got my right leg. So what if my arms and left leg are useless? That doesn't mean I'm finished!
Crawling like a worm, I twisted my torso, bracing on my right leg and back muscles until I forced myself upright into a kneeling stance.
But what now?
The Glory Drag Troopers don't have the attack power to support Shirone meaningfully right now.
The Sword of Betrayer, my twin Holy Demonic Sword, might do damage to a vital spot like the eyes or throat—but no skilled warrior would leave those unguarded.
So I have to unleash my best, strongest strike—with just my right leg.
That's all I can do now.
With my decision made, my eyes caught sight of a final opportunity.
[Kiba POV Ends]
======
The fight between Shirone and Sairaorg Bael was reaching its peak.
Her movements were clearly slowing, the toll of accumulated bruises showing across her battered body.
Her greatest weapon against devils—the flames of purification—had limited effect against Sairaorg's raging Touki. Worse, she couldn't use them freely without risking cauterizing the injury Xenovia had inflicted.
Pure martial skill was her only choice—but it couldn't match his power.
"This is exhilarating! I never imagined anyone besides Hyoudou Issei could go toe-to-toe with me like this! But the longer this drags on, the more it turns in your favor—so I'll end it now!"
BOOM!
"Gah!"
Sairaorg's right fist—his broken arm—drove deep into her stomach.
"Y-You… used a shattered arm…?!"
Even as pain twisted her face, Sairaorg's expression was strained. Yet he grinned.
"If I plan to use a Phoenix Tear afterward, I can afford to push my limits."
A surprise attack always does more damage.
Blood burst from Shirone's mouth as the retirement light surrounded her—but even in that state, she smiled, wrapping her body around his arm to pin him in place.
"Now, Yuuto-senpai!"
"What!?"
"UWAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
She had seen it coming.
The moment where the man with broken arms and shattered limbs rose again—for one final strike.
Spinning his body midair, Sairaorg's eyes locked on a rapidly approaching projectile—Ex-Durandal, flying straight at him—with Kiba Yuuto trailing right behind, preparing to kick the sword's hilt.
Nearby, one of the knight armors had just finished a throwing motion—it must've hurled the sword, and Kiba used a single leap powered by all the aura in his right leg to follow it.
The sword tip pierced Sairaorg's side.
At that exact moment, Kiba's kick struck the hilt.
A flawless, perfectly timed assault—no room for error.
Though Kiba lacked Xenovia's raw power, the element of surprise amplified its effect—just as Sairaorg himself had proven moments earlier.
=============
50+ Advance Chapters Available on Patreon.com/Veltoria