And so... the final battle had arrived.
The place we were gathered in was filled with Oppai Dragon fans, and that excitement translated directly into the energy of the crowd—especially since this final showdown would see the Oppai Dragon himself and his heroine, the Switch Princess, fighting side-by-side.
Her role was support from the rear. Honestly, if she entered and started healing from long range, even someone like Sairaorg and his team couldn't afford to ignore her.
With the kind of opponents we were up against, if Issei and the others had to split their focus between offense and defense, there'd be no way we could win.
Sure, Asia could have joined Shirone, who had retired earlier, and watched from the infirmary. But that wasn't why we were here.
We weren't spectators. We came to support them.
So we'd see it through—right here, to the very end.
The battlefield was a vast white plain, the ground glowing beneath our feet, with a dreamlike sky above that looked like deep space.
…Wait, are those floating halos in the sky? We're not about to witness some kind of Human Order Incineration, are we?
Well, not really. It's just a pseudo-space.
[Announcer] "And now, the final confrontation between Bael Peerage and Gremory peerage reaches its ultimate climax! Per Sairaorg Bael's suggestion, the last match will be a full team battle! Representing Bael are Sairaorg himself and, making his debut, the masked boy known as Regulus!
Facing them, Gremory has chosen to hold back Asia, bringing in the Switch Princess—Rias Gremory—and the Oppai Dragon—Issei Hyoudou!"
"Let the final battle... begin!"
After the announcement, the arbiter, Rudiger Rosenkreutz, gave the signal to start.
Issei needed a moment to activate his Balance Breaker, so in that brief pause, Sairaorg addressed the opposing team.
Sairaorg: "Rias... before we begin, let me say this—your servants, they think of you so strongly it's nearly enviable. That's why they're all such formidable foes. Now, only Kings and Soldiers remain on this battlefield... the end draws near."
He then turned his sharp gaze to Issei.
Sairaorg: "Issei Hyoudou. So... it's finally come to this."
Issei: "...I don't bear any grudge against you. You and your team have fought with honor and pride. But still... don't expect me to just punch you without feeling anything! I'm not that mature yet! Right here, right now—I'm taking vengeance for my fallen comrades!"
Issei's voice carried all the weight of his fury and resolve.
Sairaorg's expression softened—pleased.
Sairaorg: "Such extreme emotion... That's who you are, indeed. The fury I saw in your eyes moments ago told me everything.
You've held that rage in check for so long. You've done well. Now—no more holding back! Bring everything you've got and unleash it on me!"
"Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!!"
Issei: "Then don't mind if I do!!"
Clad in Cardinal Crimson Promotion, Issei charged forward. Sairaorg matched his charge head-on.
The first exchange—a heavy cross-counter to the face.
Well, maybe not a counter since they both landed blows at the same time. Cross-punch? Whatever you call it, Issei's first strike, packed with every ounce of emotion, cracked his helmet and forced Sairaorg back.
Issei: "That punch carried the will of every one of my fallen comrades!"
Sairaorg: "...A refined blow. I could feel your spirit driving it into my bones!"
Wiping the blood from his nose, Sairaorg's fighting spirit flared even brighter.
Meanwhile, another battle had begun—Rias versus Sairaorg's "soldier."
The masked, orange-haired boy had discarded his disguise. His body began to twist and morph grotesquely, tearing apart his noble outfit from within as he expanded in size... until he finally transformed into a massive golden lion, fur shimmering with divine presence.
Azazel (shocked): "No way... That's the Nemean Lion?!"
Announcer: "Could you explain?"
Azazel: "Originally one of the original Heracles's trials. But later, it became one of the 13 Longinus.
It's a battle axe that can split the earth in a single swing, deflect projectiles, and transform into a colossal lion.
I can't believe it's one of Sairaorg's pawns... Wait, that Sacred Gear shouldn't fuse with the host. So where's the wielder?"
Sairaorg responded, having overheard.
Sairaorg: "You're right. Its owner is already dead.
By the time I found it, the previous host had been killed by some shady cult…
But even without a wielder, this thing transformed into the lion you see—and slaughtered every enemy in the area.
That's when I made it my servant. I figured it was fate—my mother comes from the house of Vapula, the lion-ruling lineage."
Ravel: "Indeed. Lady Misla, Sairaorg-sama's mother, was originally of House Vapula, known for their dominion over lions."
Kuroka: "Vapula… Right, lions. Well, they're feline, so that's plus five affinity points from me~"
Issei: "That's not how you're supposed to rate affinity!"
If you started awarding points just for that, you'd have to be besties with Issei and Ladra from Sairaorg's team!
Azazel: "A Sacred Gear that functions without a host!? And it reincarnated into a devil!?
Is it the Longinus itself that's amazing? Or the Evil Pieces that allowed it? Or was it some kind of miracle combination!?
Sairaorg! Once the match ends, bring that lion to my lab! I need to study it like crazy—I mean—study it very carefully!"
...Did he just almost say "tear it apart like crazy"?!
He probably wouldn't destroy it outright... but it's totally in character for Azazel to try and install laser-beam eyes on it.
Sairaorg: "Its power is unstable without a host. It tends to go berserk if left alone. That's why I can only summon it when I'm fighting alongside it— If it loses control, I'm the only one who can restrain it."
Azazel: "Fine by me! Bring it to my lab—I'll use Grigori tech to reduce the risk of a rampage!"
Typical Azazel—still riding high on excitement.
Still, if Sairaorg accompanies Regulus, the lion, to the lab, it should be safe enough for proper research.
Rias: "So my opponent is this lion. A Longinus-class Sacred Gear... How fitting. I lack nothing."
Rias blasted the lunging lion with her signature Power of Destruction.
Even with her recent magic training, her raw destructive energy was still her most potent weapon.
The other spells she used were more about control: lightning to blind, fire to obscure vision, terrain manipulation to throw off footing—anything to help her land a direct hit.
Meanwhile, Issei's fight resumed now that the commentary on Regulus was done.
Issei transformed his right arm into the White Dragon Emperor's gauntlet and unleashed a flurry of blows.
Physically, they were evenly matched—so the addition of Issei's "halving" ability would tip the scales in his favor.
Sairaorg knew it. That's why he kept dodging every strike from Issei's right side.
Sometimes, he weaved just enough to counter. Other times, he broke away entirely to reset.
But whatever else he did—he always dodged that right arm.
Dodge. Dodge. Dodge.
DODGE. DODGE. DODGE. DODGE. DODGE!
...You get the idea. He didn't let it touch him once.
Issei (frustrated): "Damn it! I still can't land a hit with this thing!"
Even so, his other attacks were connecting—and Sairaorg, focused entirely on evasion, had fewer chances to counter.
In short, the fight was still evenly matched.
The same could be said for Rias's side. Though she hadn't learned Rosseweisse's defense magic, she focused on evasion through spells.
Even with all the flashy explosions, both sides had only minor injuries... for now.
But the lion had taken a direct hit from Rias's destructive magic and only came out lightly wounded. If it came down to stamina, Rias would be the first to wear out.
Yet the first to falter was the one you'd least expect—Sairaorg.
In the relentless close-quarters battle, he staggered ever so slightly. A momentary lapse—like dizziness.
Issei: "Now! Welsh Dragonic Rook!!"
BANG!!
Seizing the opening, Issei activated his True Rook form and slammed into Sairaorg with thunderous force, sending him flying.
Then, without hesitation, he transformed again—True Bishop—and unleashed a massive cannon blast.
Ravel: "Just now... Did Sairaorg-sama freeze for a moment?"
Azazel: "Yeah. He's running on less blood than usual, pushing his body to dodge that right arm.
Even a brief drop in oxygen to the brain, and that's what happens."
Ravel: "So all the effort Xenovia and the others put in... it's finally paying off!"
The cannon struck Sairaorg dead-on. He bled but still tried to rise.
But before Issei could follow up, Rias's scream rang out.
The broadcast cut to her side—where a wounded, blood-streaked Regulus still stood tall, guarding the heavily injured Rias.
Her uniform, laced with defensive spells, had been shredded. Blood ran down her exposed skin.
Frankly, she was just shy of being half-naked.
Regulus motioned for Issei to use a Phoenix Tear.
Sairaorg nodded in approval, and Issei used one of the precious vials to heal Rias.
Kuroka: "Mmm~ If it were me, I'd've finished her off in one blow, nya~"
Azazel: "Yeah. I'm the kind of guy who takes the win when it's within reach."
Irina: "But isn't that kind of... lame?"
Ravel: "A choice between the 'King's Path'—noble, risky, uncertain—and the 'Conqueror's Path'—practical, efficient, and reliable..."
=============
50+ Advance Chapters Available on Patreon.com/Veltoria