- Long chap ✏ -
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Kiba was injured greatly by Siegfried's attack. He changed his sword into a ice holy-demonic sword and froze the wounds on his shoulder and thighs. He then used a fire holy-demonic sword to melt down the ice restraining him and jumped backwards.
"It’s only a temporary treatment, but the blood should stop with this." thought Kiba as he clutched his injured arm in pain. His legs also lost its strength and he began to kneel down on the floor
“Yuuto…….!”
Rias calls the knight's name with a painful expression. She’s holding onto Erin's evil-piece with both her hands and it seems like she is desperately waiting for something.
“……Kiba is also going to die... No… I can’t endure anymore of this..”
Asia became panicked as she points her hand at Kiba. She is trying to send the aura of healing to the boy but what appears is a very weak aura. Seems like she can’t emit her usual amount of aura due to the shock she received
Rias and Akeno try to attack by shooting out demonic-powers, but their outputs and powers are much weaker than their usual ones. Siegfried takes it down with a single strike with ease. Koneko's nekushou powers and Ravel-san’s wing of fire are also weak. Just like Asia, they are also shocked on the scene that they can’t release their power that much.
Siegfried sneers at the situation of the group
"Horrible. I can’t even think it’s the same Gremory group I fought the other day. You have been giving me good killing intents so I thought you guys were going to intrude in the fight between me and Kiba Yuuto and I was waiting for it. But for you guys to be this bad….."
"FUCK YOU!"
Issei summoned his Balance Breaker and dashed at Siegfried. He threw blasts after blasts without thinking, due to the intense emotions he was feeling. Siegfried easily countered his attacks and found an opening to beat him
*(BOOGSH!)*
"And just like that, you are going to be defeated because you let your emotions control you. Tsk. Pathethic." spoke Siegfried in distaste after Issei transformed out of his armor.
*(Flash!)*
"I know for a fact that if problems occur, you're one of the people I can count on to support the group."
Erin's smiling face flashed back on Issei's mind. He clenched his fists and shook away his unshed tears as he rushed to Kiba
"Kiba.. We have to protect them. We have to protect everyone in Erin's place!"
Issei took out a Phoenix tear from his pocket and poured it on Kiba's wound. The pain instantly disappeared but it didn't regenerate Kiba's left arm.
Even though the wounds healed, the amount of blood loss decreased Kiba's
stamina a lot. Not much strength is left in his legs and when he tried to stand up, his legs just shivered.
"Erin Vermillion died in vain. She and Shalba took each other down when shewent to chase him who took Ophis away, right? They got stuck in the Dimensional Gap and Shalba’s
presence disappeared after that. If Shalba was alive he would have declared war against us and demonstrated the power of the Old-
Maou faction in the Underworld."
Siegfried said while pacing back and forth, as if giving a lecture to the group
"If Erin Vermillion ignored Ophis and
returned with you guys, then right about now she could have prepared and went after Shalba once again. Putting Ophis aside, she could have taken down Shalba afterwards if she'd done that. This was a bad move for the Blue Empress.She should have thought ahead and not act brashly."
"............................."
Issei stood paralyzed while Kiba's mind became white and blank.
"Erin Vermillion died in vain."
"She died in vain... Erin did?" mumbled Issei absentmindedly
What was going through Kiba's heart was sorrow, regret, and the promise he made with the Goddess. While shivering, he gathered strength in his legs and he stood up little by little. He released a battle-cry and poured out all of his feelings into his scream
*(Flash!)*
"Let's stand up even if something happens and fight alongside everyone."
"Hai. We need to stand up no matter who our opponent is."
Step by step, Kiba got closer to
Siegfried while creating a holy-demonic sword in his palm.
“The Blue Empress isn’t a woman who you can speak ill about! Don’t talk ill of my friend!”
Kiba's yell is mixed with his cries. Siegfried just scoffed at this and looked down on him
"It’s no use! Even if you try to become like that Blue Empress, you have your limits. No matter how much talent you have, you are just a reincarnated Devil who was reborn from a human! The damage you received will stop you from moving."
"Stop speaking Bullshit! How dare you look down on us and speak garbage about Erin!" Issei rushed to Siegfried like a mad man. He only attacked with his fists but it didn't stop him from releasing his anger at the enemy
"Even though you also reached your limits, you're going to continue this pathetic fight?!" Siegfried punched back Issei with force and the boy was sent to the ground. Issei coughed up blood from the impact but he still glared at Siegfried
"I.. I don't care if my fists got worn down.. I don't care if my armor reached its limits.." Issei proceeded to stand up. "I only know how to rush forward without thinking.. so I'll just go with that. I don't wanna think, I just want to beat you!"
*(CHING!)*
"Erin's evil piece is..."
Rias stared at the piece she is holding. It is emitting red lights and slowly floated into the air. Its red glow became even brighter in the dark night and it came flying towards Issei and Kiba.
The light gets even stronger as the evil piece floated between the two boys. Due to the intensity, the boys closed their eyes for a slight moment. When they opened their eyes, a single sword is floating in the air- The Demonic-emperor sword Gram.
" Erin's evil-piece.. delivered the sword Gram?”
Issei also felt an aura envelop him. He blinked in surprise as he felt his power replenishing
"My.. my power is being restored.. On top of that, I can feel it getting stronger!" gasped Issei in surprise
"[ I can feel the Blue Empress lending us her strength. Partner... this is the warmth given to you by a dear friend. This is the warmth which restores our power to break down the enemy!]"
"Let's go Issei! Kiba!"
The boys thought that they heard Erin's voice. Tears started to flow from their eyes and they aren't stopping.
"Even though there is only the evil piece left.. You still care for your comrades.. and me!" Issei wiped away his tears using his sleeve. "Arigatou, Erin!"
"You are such a soft-hearted person, Erin." Kiba said who felt his strength coming back. "Let's go Issei! Let's defeat that man at all costs!"
Siegfried's eyes widened as he stared at Gram's appearance. It glowed intensely and started to radiate towards Kiba
"I-Impossible.. The Demonic-Emperor sword stolen by the Blue Empress is responding? And to Kiba Yuuto of all people?!"
"[Welsh Dragon: Balance Breaker!]"
"Take this you piece of shit!"
Issei flew to Siegfried and released an explosion. The latter got caught up with the intensity and Issei delivered another barrage of attacks
"Ack!" Siegfried backed away from Issei as he received a damage. "Such insolence! Just because you received a power-up!"
*(BOOM!)*
Issei and Siegfried continued their fight. On the other hand, Kiba focused his attention on Gram
"So Erin managed to deliver the sword even in the afterlife." spoke Rias through tears. After delivering the sword, Erin's evil piece returned back to her arms.
"And Gram has re-chosen its owner.. in a sudden situation like now."
“Come Gram! If you are choosing me, then I shall accept you!” shouted Kiba to the sword.
Hearing this, Gram glows even more. It flew up and it impaled the ground in front of Kiba.
Siegfried shakes his head and couldn't believe the turn of events.
"Something like this…..! Something like this can happen!? The Blue
Empress can move even when she's only a chess piece!? You are telling me that she can still fight and make Kiba Yuuto and the Red Emperor stand up on their feet?!"
"That's right! So don't underestimate Erin and our group!" replied Issei with vigor as he punched Siegfried again with force.
"Even though Gram had chosen me, I won’t be able to wield it with only
one hand." Kiba thought as he gazed at the sword. Just then, he was approached by Asia, Koneko, and Ravel.
Koneko lifts Kiba's arm which was cut off and placed it towards the wound on the boy's shoulder. Asia puts her hand on the damaged area and she emits a green light. Ravel supports Kiba while he is getting healed.
Receiving a gentle aura, Kiba's arm started to reconnect and the three girls started crying while talking.
“Erin said, 'Asia, you also have to fight'. It feels like she said that through the evil piece before."
“I think she said 'Please help my best friends' to me as well.” Koneko smiles as she applied senjutsu to help in healing Kiba's wounds
“I think I also heard it. Erin-sama’s voice…… 'Please help Koneko-chan and the others.' Seriously. Saying it to me who isn’t part of this group….. She’s too kind!" Ravel said and smiled after wiping off her tears.
"Please fight alongside everyone. Yes. If it’s that person, she would
definitely say that.”
Rias steps forward while holding onto Erin's evil-piece. Even though her eyes are wet with tears, you can see the strength inside them.
“Now my adorable servants! Let’s
blow away the enemy before us as the Gremory group!”
Kiba pulled out Gram from the ground. He can feel an enormous power radiating from the sword and it strengthened his resolve once more.
"Let’s fight once again. But it will be different from before. It’s not just me, but this time it will be the Gremory team!" thought Kiba as his eyes glinted
*(BOOGSH!)*
Issei's attack blasted Siegfriend and the knight crashed on the wall. Rias, Asia, Koneko, and Ravel look sharply at Siegfried. The red head released a
huge block of power of destruction from her hand and it went forward towards the enemy
"Not yet! Even so, I’m a descendant of a hero- "
A light flashed on top of Siegfried which cut off his words. Enormous holy-lightning came down from the night sky and it attacked him along with his surroundings.
Akeno is up in the air and she is spreading her six Fallen-Angel wings. Her appearance having multiple wings made her look like a Top-tier Fallen-Angel.
“This is my last resort. Fallen-Angel transformation. I made my blood of
Holy-lightning denser by asking father and Azazel.” a bracelet with magical symbols was worn by Akeno. The magical symbols are popping up with golden light and it seemed to enhance the girl's powers
"Please show your usual smile to everyone. Those were the words you spoke to me earlier. I'm sorry Erin. I was about to discard the feelings you left behind." Akeno wiped away her tears. "But I'm okay now. I can also fight now!”
Siegfried’s whole body is burnt after receiving a full blow of lightning. There is smoke coming out from various parts of his body. After that, Rias' power of destruction which she shot earlier went at him. All of Siegfried's dragon arms which had become thicker and larger perished
"Now this is the finishing blow Siegfried!
Kiba rushed forward and thrusted Gram into Siegfried. The sword
impaled the enemy's body and Siegfried throws up loads of blood.
"I …am being defeated…….?" Siegfried pats softly on Gram which betrayed him. The demonic-sword burns his
hand as if it rejecting him. Siegfried laughs at himself after seeing that.
“We won, Erin.”
Kiba pulled out the sword from Siegfried’s body. There is no more blood coming out of Siegfried and cracks started to appear instead.
Siegfried's body eventually started to crumble and during this process, he narrows his eyes and laughs quietly.
"Haha… Erin Vermillion continued to fight even if she got killed.."
Issei landed beside Kiba and spoke to the enemy
“Why don’t you use the Phoenix tears? The Hero-faction can get their hands on it from their own connections right?"
"In this state, our bodies can’t be healed by Phoenix tears….. Though the reason for it is still unknown….." replied Siegfried in a dejected tone
"So there was such a demerit like that for this enhancement." mused Kiba.
Siegfried sighed and started talking to himself
"I knew it….. The warrior from the Church who was raised in that
warrior institute… can’t have a proper life."
After saying that, Siegfried's body crumbled and he disappeared for good.
- End of Chapter -