Finally, his expression cracked.
'But partner... isn't calling him a siscon over and over... kinda a boomerang?'
It's fine.
I'm owning it!
The truth is, I can't stand this guy's guts for making his only family—his sister—cry.
Suppose Miu found someone she loved.
I'd cry.
Hole up for days.
Maybe shut myself in my room for a year.
But if it makes Miu happy, I'd support her!
That's what a real brother does!
Eugrit's fists trembled.
"...Say one more word, and I'll kill you here, Hyoudou Issei."
"Try it, you third-rate punk."
"Such confidence. Fuhahahaha! Then before I kill you, how about this!"
He snapped his fingers.
A small magic circle flickered in his hand and vanished.
And then—
"...Strange. Nothing's happening...?"
Eugrit shot a puzzled glance toward the school.
He tried the circle a few more times—same result.
Nothing.
I smirked at him.
"What's wrong? Feeling off?"
Eugrit spoke calmly.
"...I rigged the mages I infiltrated to explode if captured. ...You did something, didn't you?"
I grinned triumphantly.
"Too bad. I figured you'd pull something like that. Discard captured pawns without hesitation—that's your style. ...I've learned from experience."
Before coming here, that's what we discussed with Alice and the others.
By now, Miu's probably disarming the self-destruct spells on those traitor mages.
"You've outdone yourselves."
"Of course. It's the school my comrades risked their lives to protect. No way I'm letting you destroy it."
Alright, time to take this guy down.
I flared crimson aura around my body and stepped forward.
The armor I donned: Wings of the Heavenly Dragon.
"Rias, stay back."
"But..."
She looked worried.
I flashed a fearless grin.
"Don't worry. This'll be over quick."
Rias nodded faintly and stepped aside.
Eugrit bound Rossweisse-san with magical ropes before releasing her.
The second showdown: the original Sekiryuutei versus the duplicate.
He had his own power plus mine stacked on top.
Last time, I lost.
But—
"I'm taking Rossweisse-san back."
"That's impossible. With her, I can demonstrate my true strength."
"No way. She'd never lend her power to someone like you."
Rossweisse-san declared with resolute eyes,
"Take him down, even if it means taking me with him!"
"Jeez, still saying that? I told you—I'll protect you no matter what. ...Ah, saying that again means punishment later."
'Ufufu, Issei's really getting the hang of being a fiend♪'
Sad but true...
But I'll protect her, no matter what!
"You should know the power gap between us from last time."
With that, Eugrit donned the Armor of the Heavenly Warrior.
Sparks flew around him; his raging aura gouged the ground.
Eugrit was strong—on par with Grayfia-san, said to be Maou-class. With my power added on top.
But that was the old me's power.
"Don't think I'm the same as back then. I evolve constantly—to protect, to win. Right, Ddraig?"
'Exactly. Eugrit Lucifuge—no matter how you wield that power, don't think you can beat Hyoudou Issei with it.'
Eugrit laughed at our words.
"Then try to defeat me. ...Here I come!"
"BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBoost!!"
The multiplication voice boomed from his armor, amplifying his aura!
He charged, fist loaded with that boosted power!
Taking a direct hit would hurt, no doubt. Eugrit's strength was immense.
But—
"If it doesn't hit, it's nothing! Promotion 'Knight'! Ascendant Enhancement!"
'E-drive!!'
Knight power fused into the Heavenly Wings—wings doubling from two to four!
Massive crimson particles erupted from between the feathers!
The Knight piece's enhancement synergized perfectly with the wings, dramatically boosting mobility and evasion.
A speed unattainable in Warrior or Gunner forms.
Enhanced, I flashed crimson and slipped into his guard!
Eugrit couldn't react to my velocity!
"You can't beat me!"
Before his fist could extend, I slammed mine into his solar plexus!
His armor shattered; damage reached his flesh!
I uppercut him skyward!
Eugrit spat blood, firing a massive aura blast my way—but it couldn't touch me now.
Ddraig, handle the bits!
'Got it!'
Soaring through the air, I deployed all Feather Bits.
Sixteen in total.
More wings meant more bits!
But the increased number made control tricky.
Without Ddraig's help, I couldn't manage them.
The sixteen bits streaked wildly through the sky, bombarding Eugrit from every angle.
He dodged some, but blind-spot attacks landed clean.
With each hit, his armor crumbled further.
"If I can't dodge, I'll just shoot them down!"
He switched to Gunner Armor, trying to blast them all—
Useless.
The Knight traits applied to the bits too—they moved at my speed.
If he couldn't track me, sixteen bits were impossible to shoot down.
Half fired cannons; the other half formed aura blades, carving him up.
Long-range barrages and close-quarters slashes.
Plus my punches—he was cornered.
Last time, he dominated.
This time?
Eugrit shook his head in disbelief, helpless.
"Impossible... This can't...!"
"I told you—don't compare me to back then. Honestly, I wouldn't lose in any form now. Rizevim was way stronger."
If Eugrit fought Rizevim now, it'd end in an instant.
I managed to clash with Rizevim this time around.
No way I'm lagging behind Eugrit's hollow power.
I gathered ki, activating the secret art of Cyclic Qi Merit.
Absorbing ambient energy, cycling and compressing it at high speed within.
Golden aura enveloped the crimson, power surging.
"Now, let's end this!"
I seized a Sword-mode bit and charged!
Eugrit tried to counter—too slow!
The crimson blade slashed through him!
Blood sprayed into the air!
"You said it before—if you beat me, you'd claim the title of Sekiryuutei!"
'What a ridiculous notion!'
Ddraig and I roared.
"You'll never be the Sekiryuutei!"
'The name belongs to no one but us!'
I yanked the bit free, unleashing punches and kicks!
His attacks couldn't graze me.
I evaded everything, driving precise, gouging blows.
Combining enhanced Heavenly Wings with Cyclic Qi's secret art—Eugrit had no counter.
His armor couldn't repair fast enough; most shattered away.
As he staggered, I unleashed a sharp uppercut to his jaw!
"Guh!"
He floated up in agony.
I flew ahead, circling to his front!
"I am!"
'We are!'
My fist blazed with ferocious crimson aura.
Dazzling light illuminated the area.
And—
"'The Sekiryuutei!'"
With our combined roar, the glowing crimson fist smashed into Eugrit's face—
My fury-fueled iron punch shattered everything he had.
▽
[Third-Person Side]
"Ahaha♪ He really took him down. Siscon showdowns are something else. Well, Eugrit-kun never stood a chance."
From another world, the god Asem watched Issei and Eugrit's battle via projection.
And then—
"Yeah, maybe I'll give it a try. Feels a bit early, but I did make it♪"
He glanced back at the 'red' thing behind him and smiled.
[Third-Person Side Out]
Ignis: "Next time, the final battle! T·O·S activates!"
Issei: "What the heck is T·O·S!?"
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"