High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

Chapter 69: Chapter 67: I’ll Beat You to a Pulp!!

”Ugh, uuuuh...” Diodora staggered back, clutching his face, whimpering pathetically.

What a sorry sound. Moments ago, he was all bravado.

He’s not worth Ddraig’s power. My fists are enough.

Issei advanced slowly, each step deliberate. Diodora retreated twice as fast.

”Hey, what’s with the running?” Issei taunted. ”Didn’t you say something about ’one instant’ earlier?”

”Red... Dragon Emperor...!” Diodora snarled, charging a magical bullet and firing. It was decent-sized, but nothing special.

Issei caught it with one hand—crushing it to nothing.

Diodora’s eyes widened. ”Wha—?!”

Issei ignored him, closing the distance. ”Come on. That’s all you got?”

”Shut up!” Diodora screamed, hurling a barrage of chaotic magical bullets.

Issei countered each one with ki-wrapped fists, nullifying them. Smoke rose, but he waved it away, appearing right in front of Diodora. Without hesitation, he slammed a punch into him.

Diodora crashed to the ground, bouncing and rolling. Trembling, he struggled to his feet. ”Tch... Don’t mock me! I’m a high-class devil! Descended from the current Demon King Beelzebub!”

Issei sighed heavily. Seriously?

”High-class devil? Beelzebub’s bloodline? Hah! You’ve got no right to claim that title alongside Rias, Sairaorg, or the president. You only beat Agares with borrowed power, didn’t you?”

The high-class devils Issei knew—Rias, Sairaorg, and others—carried themselves with pride, striving daily to better themselves. But this scum? He didn’t deserve to be in their league. Even Riser, for all his flaws, never stooped to using others’ power. In that sense, Riser was more a high-class devil than this guy.

Why did Ajuka, someone so great, have to be tied to a disgrace like Diodora? It pissed Issei off to think this creep could drag Ajuka’s name down.

Diodora gathered magic again, firing countless bullets.

What a one-trick pony. Didn’t he get that it wouldn’t work?

The barrage seemed to hit Issei, and Diodora cackled. ”Hahaha! All that talk, and this is it, Red Dragon Emperor? A lowly reincarnated devil can’t match a high-class devil like me!”

He kept firing, smug.

But—

”Where’re you aiming?” Issei’s voice cut through.

”?!”

Diodora froze, attacks stopping. He spun around.

”How... are you behind me?!” he stammered. ”Then what did I hit?!”

”My afterimage,” Issei said.

A roundhouse kick slammed into Diodora’s arm, the crunch of breaking bones echoing through Issei’s leg. Diodora had been firing at a ki-crafted afterimage from Issei’s Renkan Keikikou, dodging at the last second to circle behind. The idiot hadn’t noticed, wasting his magic.

”Gaaah!” Diodora screamed in agony.

”Hurts, huh? Bet it does,” Issei said coldly. ”But Asia felt worse.”

He landed a brutal body blow, sending Diodora flying into a temple pillar. The impact shattered it.

”You tricked her! Hurt her! Made her cry!” Issei roared. ”Anyone who hurts Asia—my family—gets crushed, no matter who they are!”

A red aura erupted from Issei, shaking the temple. It took form behind him—a massive red dragon glaring at Diodora.

”Eek!” Diodora yelped, terror-stricken. He spread his devil wings, trying to flee.

Issei kicked the ground, cutting him off in a flash. ”You’re not escaping!”

Grabbing Diodora’s face, he slammed him into the ground. Landing, Issei approached. ”I told you, didn’t I? I’d show you despair.”

”Nooo! Stay away!” Diodora wailed, conjuring a magical barrier.

What a coward. After all he did to Asia, he couldn’t handle a beating?

The thought fueled Issei’s rage. ”You think this flimsy barrier can stop me?”

He swung his fist, shattering the barrier like glass.

”Why?!” Diodora screamed. ”Why doesn’t my magic work?! I’ve been enhanced by Ophis’s snake!”

Issei grabbed his collar, forcing him up, and drove a fist into his gut, followed by a face punch. ”Never felt pain before, huh? That’s why you hurt others so easily. Time to learn what pain feels like!”

A ki-charged fist tore into Diodora’s stomach. The sickening sound of crushed organs rang out—probably some broken bones too.

But Issei wasn’t done. Not by a long shot.

He tossed Diodora into the air, unleashing a barrage of kicks and punches. Like with Kokabiel, he turned Diodora into a punching bag, striking precisely to keep him conscious. No mercy. He’d beat him until he was broken.

In seconds, Diodora was a bloody ragdoll, blood splattering everywhere.

”Ugh... ah...” Diodora groaned weakly.

”Partner, maybe it’s time to wrap this up,” Ddraig said. ”His eyes are dead.”

”Yeah,” Issei said. ”Let’s end it.”

Taking a deep breath, he surged his ki with Renkan Keikikou, dropping into a stance, fist drawn back. As Diodora fell, face turned toward him—

”Here goes!”

A devastating punch smashed into Diodora’s face. He crashed through pillars, embedding into the temple’s far wall. His eyes were lifeless as he slumped.

”Is he dead?” Xenovia asked, approaching.

”Nah, I didn’t kill him,” Issei said. ”Death’s too easy for him. He’ll live and wallow in despair. Besides, he’s still a high-class devil tied to Ajuka, the Demon King. Killing him might cause trouble for Sirzechs and the others. I’ll let them decide his fate.”

”I see...” Xenovia said.

”They’re kind but strict,” Issei said. ”He’ll get what’s coming.”

”If he goes near Asia again—” Xenovia started.

”We’ll wipe him out completely,” they said in unison, glaring at Diodora.

They rushed to Asia. ”Asia!” Issei called.

”Ise-san! Everyone!” Asia cried as the group gathered.

Issei gently patted her head. ”Sorry we took so long. They made you hear awful things, huh?”

Asia shook her head. ”I’m okay. I knew you’d come, Ise-san.”

Relief washed over her, tears of joy welling up. Now that Asia was safe, Issei planned to take everyone to the underground shelter Azazel mentioned and join the fight with Irina and Raynare.

Kiba and the others began working to free Asia from the device.

But Kiba’s face darkened. ”The shackles won’t budge.”

What?!

Issei tried, but they wouldn’t move. Even in Balance Breaker armor, he failed. ”Damn it! They won’t come off!”

No way. Not even the Red Dragon Emperor’s power could break them?

Use Tenbu Zenon? No, that risked hurting Asia.

Everyone tried—holy-demonic swords, holy swords, magic—but the shackles held firm. Were they specially made?

Issei stormed to Diodora, slapping him awake. ”Ugh... Red Dragon Emperor?!”

”Shut up!” Issei snapped. ”What are these shackles? How do we remove them?”

Diodora muttered weakly, ”The device... can only be used once. But it won’t stop unless activated. It’s tied to Asia’s Sacred Gear—it won’t release until her power triggers.”

”Keep talking,” Issei growled.

”It’s a Bounded Field from a Sacred Gear user,” Diodora said. ”The mist-based Dimension Lost, the strongest barrier-type Sacred Gear. It seals or banishes anything in its infinite mist. In Balance Breaker, Dimension Create, it crafts any barrier device the user wants. Once activated, it can’t be stopped until it runs its course.”

Kiba pressed, ”Activation conditions and its ability?”

”Conditions: my signal, another’s, or my defeat,” Diodora said. ”The ability... it amplifies and reverses Asia’s Sacred Gear.”

Reverse her healing? That meant—

Kiba asked, ”The range?”

”This field and the observation room,” Diodora said.

Everyone froze. Asia’s healing was immense. Amplified and reversed...

”It could wipe out every faction’s leaders!” Kiba said.

This was bad. It’d ripple through the human world, Heaven, and the Underworld.

Miu stepped forward. ”It can’t be broken from the outside, right?”

”Yeah,” Diodora said.

Miu turned to Issei. ”Onii-chan, can you transfer the Red Dragon Emperor’s power to me?”

”What’s your plan?” Issei asked.

”If it can’t be broken from outside, I’ll undo it from within.”

”Smart,” Issei said. ”But this is a barrier even Odin couldn’t break. Think you can handle it?”

The shackles and field were from a Longinus user, rivaling a Norse god’s skill.

Miu leaned in, whispering, ”I’ve got a special magic Dad taught me.”

Sirius’s trump card? News to Issei.

”Is it strong enough?” he asked.

”It’s not perfect with my power,” Miu said, eyes fierce. ”But with ours combined...”

She wanted to save Asia too. Their bond was real.

”Worth a shot,” Issei said. ”Let’s do it!”

”Yeah!” Miu nodded.

”Ddraig, lend us your strength!” Issei called.

”Of course,” Ddraig replied.

BoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoost!!

In Balance Breaker, Issei amplified his power. Miu formed a massive magic circle around Asia’s barrier.

”Transfer!” Issei sent his power to Miu.

Her aura surged, radiating immense energy. Eyes closed, she chanted a spell. Everyone watched, tense.

Miu opened her eyes. ”Asia-san, I’ll save you.”

She spoke the magic’s name: ”Durhi Zeen, the One Who Sees Through Even Gods.”

The magic circle glowed blue-white.

Crack!

The shackles fractured, and the barrier collapsed instantly, freeing Asia.

It happened so fast, everyone stood dumbfounded.

”Funya...” Miu swayed, exhausted.

Issei caught her. ”Whoa, easy.”

That magic—Durhi Zeen—was from another world, a top-tier spell that analyzed and dismantled any substance or ability, even divine creations. Its drawback was massive energy cost and restrictions, but Sirius knew it? Why didn’t he use it against Issei?

Later. ”Great job, Miu,” Issei said. ”Didn’t know you had that up your sleeve.”

”Hehe, yeah...” Miu said. ”Go to Asia-san.”

”Koneko-chan, can you take care of Miu?” Issei asked.

”Yes,” Koneko said. ”Miu-senpai, I’ll use senjutsu to help you rest.”

”Thanks~” Miu said.

Issei rushed to Asia. ”Asia!”

”Ise-san!” She hugged him tightly.

”I knew you’d come,” she said.

Xenovia’s eyes teared up. ”Asia! If you were gone...”

Asia wiped her tears, smiling. ”I’m not going anywhere. We’re always together.”

”Always!” Xenovia hugged her.

Their friendship warmed Issei’s heart. He glanced at Kiba—no way he’d hug him.

”Thanks, Miu-san, everyone,” Asia said, bowing. ”For saving me...”

”No worries,” Miu said. ”We’re family.”

Rias hugged Asia. ”You don’t have to call me ’buchou’ anymore. You’re like my sister.”

”Yes, Rias-oneesama!” Asia said.

”Asia-senpai’s back!” Gaspar sobbed, Koneko patting his head.

With things settled, Issei said, ”Alright, Asia, let’s go.”

”Wait,” she said, praying briefly.

”What’d you pray for?” Issei asked.

”It’s a secret,” she said, smiling as she ran to him.

Suddenly, countless presences appeared. A man above aimed his palm at Asia.

”Asia!” Issei shouted, shielding her.

”Miu! Protect the others!” he called.

Light engulfed them.

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