We—the Red Dragon Emperor's peerage, along with Diarmuid and Lisha—cut through the field with Ignis and stormed inside.
Waiting for us were Rias and the others, along with old man Strada. And Maurice, who was our reinforcement here.
Plus, Valus and Walburga!
I knew it. Qlippoth interfered!
Valus is currently engaged with Old Man Maurice! The fact that the Old Man is landing hits on Valus—who Kiba couldn't even touch—is insane, but the fact that Valus is keeping up with that Old Man shows just how high his skill level is.
I honestly can't tell which one is more amazing anymore!
And facing off against Rias and the others is the Purple Flame Witch, Walburga! They don't seem to have started fighting yet... but weird markings have appeared on Walburga's body. The aura she's wearing is far more sinister and dense than when we met before.
...What did she do?
Lisha narrowed her eyes.
"...That is a dangerous vibration. I sense a power bordering on taboo."
"She probably just took some weird drug, right? That's exactly the kind of thing Qlippoth does without hesitation."
Alice let out a grand sigh.
Well, that theory is plenty plausible. It's hard to imagine her power jumping this much in such a short time otherwise.
As we analyzed Walburga's power, Rias shouted out.
"Issei! You're safe!"
"I'm pretty wobbly on my feet, but yeah, somehow."
As I replied with a wry smile, Alice muttered beside me.
"...Even though you sucked my boobs again."
Yeah, sorry about that!
After dealing with Assem and then the army of Evil Dragons, I was at my limit... Alice came back after finishing her fight with Vika, so I asked her for a favor.
I mean, I got hit with an Alice Punch first... but she let me do it.
"...Thanks for the meal."
"...Idiot."
Alice turned away, her cheeks flushed.
Uhm... really, sorry. And seriously, thank you.
Alice's boobs... were the best.
"Issei... kun."
Rose, clad in her Valkyrie armor, let out a voice thick with emotion. Her eyes were moist, and she covered her mouth with her hand.
Hmm... did I make her worry?
"I'm home, Rose. It's okay. As you can see, I'm—"
I spread my arms to show her I was safe, but Rose's shoulders began to tremble—
"Geez! Do you people have a grudge against the barriers I construct or something?!"
"...Huh?"
Rose suddenly exploded in anger. She was practically fuming.
Uh, um, did I do something...? The barrier...?
"Maurice cuts the barrier, and then Issei punches a hole in the barrier to come home! What are you doing, you master-disciple duo?!"
"That's what you're mad about?
I thought you were worried about meeeee?! That's a little shocking!
Wait, the Old Man cut the barrier too?! He used that technique, didn't he?!
Anyway, I'll apologize! I'm sorry!
While crossing swords with Maurice, Valus called out to me.
"Well, if it isn't the Hero-dono. I thought you were heading toward my father? Did Lord Rizevim interfere?"
"Yeah. Exactly."
We cleaned up the Evil Dragons, but... things got messy trying to challenge Assem again, so we decided to return here. Even if we tried to enter the castle, there was a powerful barrier blocking us anyway.
Well, this was strictly an investigation of the Netherworld. We can say the primary objective was achieved.
I am concerned about what Assem said when we retreated from the Netherworld, but... I can worry about that later.
Right now—
"Yo, Walburga. You're looking a little intense there."
"Oh my, if it isn't the Red Dragon Emperor. Fufufu, I don't care much for this appearance... but it has certainly made me stronger-n."
"You used some weird drug, didn't you? You'll use any means to win, huh."
Walburga flashed a nasty smile.
Yep, I really hate her. Her personality is the worst.
Her boobs are huge, though!
"...You were looking at that woman's chest just now, weren't you?"
"Nn?! No! I wasn't looking! Really!"
You're too sharp, Alice!
It's okay! I like Alice's boobs way more than Walburga's! Alice's are cute! They're growing into beautiful breasts!
Ah... speaking of which...
Remembering something, I looked back and forth between Alice and Rias.
...That's right. I have to ask the two of them for something later... Oppaiser resupply.
Alright, once this battle is over, I'll hit them with my killer move: the Moonsault Jumping Dogeza! I'll get to see those two cuties again! Even if they hit me, I don't care! I want to resupply with them!
To do that, I need to wrap this up quickly!
"I'll handle this. I think I can do it now."
Stepping forward with a bold declaration was Xenovia.
In her right hand was Durandal; in her left, Excalibur.
It looks like she separated Ex-Durandal back into two. She returned the fused Holy Sword to its original forms.
An unprecedented holy aura was leaking from the two blades. The divinely shining power wrapped around Xenovia's body, increasing in brilliance.
This is the current Xenovia. She seems to have grasped something during this battle.
Seeing Xenovia, Walburga let out a shrill laugh.
"Ah-hahahahaha!"
Walburga threw her arms wide. Behind her, the burning cross of purple flame intensified. The black aura mixed with the fire, and its sinister nature grew more violent.
"Then I'll show you! Witness me and my Balance Breaker!"
Walburga's fighting spirit soared, and in response, the purple flames expanded. The swelling fire changed shape, beginning to form a specific figure.
It was—a dragon.
A super-giant dragon, easily two hundred meters tall! And it had eight heads!
"Yamata no Orochi!"
With the eight-headed dragon made of purple flame looming behind her, Walburga spoke.
"This is my Sub-Species Balance Breaker: Incinerate Anthem of the Hegemonic Flame - Antiphona Calvario♪"
Looking at the Evil Dragon crucified on the flaming cross, Strada spoke up.
"I have heard that the wielder of the current Holy Cross changes its form and characteristics based on the model they crucify. I assume the model this time is that eight-headed Evil Dragon."
Walburga confirmed it.
"The sword Yaegaki-kun carried held only half of Yamata no Orochi's soul. I absorbed the remaining half into my purple flame. The true form of this Sacred Gear is an Independent Avatar type, you see-n♪"
That Holy Cross is an Independent Avatar type... So it's the same type as the dog Ikuse travels with.
But to choose an Evil Dragon of all things... If it changes characteristics based on the crucified model, I hope it doesn't have Yamata no Orochi's venom.
I stood beside Xenovia and looked up at the floating Walburga.
"Alright, I'll support Xenovia. That cool with you, Xenovia?"
"Yeah. There is nothing more reassuring than having Issei fight by my side."
Our auras—mine and Xenovia's—began to rise.
Walburga shouted.
"Do you think just the two of you can do anything against me?!"
Walburga thrust her hands toward us, deploying countless magic circles! A rain of attack magic and breath attacks from the purple flame Orochi came crashing down!
Clad in my draconic armor, I deployed my feather bits. The bits' bombardment neutralized the breath attacks, while their shields blocked the magical assault.
I flapped my dragon wings and took to the sky!
"Don't you think you can beat us, either!"
The eight heads lunged at me, but I shot them all down with the bits. However, the purple flame dragon regenerated immediately, returning to its original form. Furthermore, the power-up Walburga's magic attacks were heavy—a single hit was enough to gouge deep craters into the ground.
...Taking those hits head-on in my current state would be tough. I used way too much stamina fighting Assem.
Well, I can still provide support. Xenovia is raring to go, after all!
"Let's go, Issei. It's time to end this!"
The two Holy Swords Xenovia held were releasing a high-density, high-concentration aura, yet they remained stable.
Xenovia spoke.
"I became a wielder of sorts by controlling Durandal's unmanageable aggression with Excalibur. I learned techniques to acquire Excalibur's various traits. But the true nature of both Durandal and myself is to move instinctively. My original style was the truth all along."
"However," Xenovia continued.
"Simply seeking reckless power was also far from the truth. I took the long way around, re-examined myself, and was finally able to rediscover my original style."
After countless battles, she had finally returned to her true form. But the Xenovia of today is on a completely different level than she was in the past.
A rough, yet quiet aura.
She has finally learned to control Durandal's power.
Xenovia crossed the two Holy Swords into an 'X' shape and shouted!
"It is precisely because of my history and experience that I could return to this! Because everything became my flesh and blood, I can now accept Durandal! Now, let's rampage, Durandal! And you, Excalibur! Support me and elevate me alongside Durandal!"
The holy auras of Durandal and Excalibur were unleashed! A blinding light illuminated the entire field, sending a pillar of aura high into the sky!
Walburga tried to stop her, firing the purple flame dragon and magic attacks, but our comrades blocked them! Like hell we'd let you interfere!
"We are three swords in one! Now, let's go together!"
Xenovia swung the crossed Holy Swords down in a single motion!
A massive holy aura formed a cross and fired forward!
Everything in the path of the holy aura was swallowed and severed! Finally, it sliced the giant purple flame Yamata no Orochi into a perfect cross!
But the holy aura didn't stop there.
It surged onward, closing in on Walburga, who hovered beyond the purple flames—
"—I'll name it Cross Crisis."
The Purple Flame Witch was swallowed by the strike Xenovia unleashed.
-------------------------------
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