High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

Chapter 82: Chapter 80: Mock Battle

”Never thought I’d get to rematch you here,” Vali said, smirking confidently.

He looked genuinely thrilled.

Vali and I stood in a custom space Azazel created, a barren field slightly larger than our school’s grounds, modeled after a Rating Game arena.

We were here for a mock battle to gauge our current strength for the fight against Loki. On the day, we’d face him together, so we needed to know our limits.

”A rematch? This is just a light spar. Go too hard, and we’ll burn out before Loki,” I said.

”You won’t hold back, though, right?” Vali asked.

”Of course not. No point otherwise,” I replied.

Rules: standard Balance Breaker only—no second-tier Balance Breaker for me or Juggernaut Drive for Vali. His Juggernaut Drive burns too much magic, and my second tier’s the same. We can’t afford to exhaust ourselves before Loki. Vali was bummed he couldn’t fight me at full power but agreed. Time limit: ten minutes, signaled by a buzzer.

At the field’s edge, a space held the Occult Research Club, Student Council (minus Saji, at Grigori), Azazel, Barachiel, Odin, and Rossweisse, all eager to watch the Heavenly Dragons. No spectator booth, so they were shielded by a barrier.

Akeno kept glancing at Barachiel but hadn’t spoken yet.

Azazel and Odin were... eating popcorn? Seriously?

”They’re not taking this seriously,” I muttered.

Vali chuckled. ”Azazel’s always like that. Ignore him.”

Fair enough.

”Let’s start,” I said.

The air shifted. Red and white auras flared, growing stronger.

When they clashed—

”Balance Breaker!” we shouted.

Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!

Vanishing Dragon Balance Breaker!

Red and white light flooded the field. When it faded, Vali stood in white armor, his aura denser than before. He’d trained hard, just like Kiba. Geniuses who work hard are unfair.

”Your aura’s impressive. You’ve grown since Shalba,” Vali said.

”Underworld training was brutal—sparring two Dragon Kings,” I replied. Tiamat and Tannin went all out. I nearly died multiple times but got stronger.

”Let’s see your progress!” Vali grinned.

”Bring it!” I roared.

BoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoost!

I multiplied my power, aura blasting from my boosters. Standard approach: left straight punch with ki!

”Hand-to-hand first? Fun!” Vali dodged, sounding thrilled.

We clashed in melee. My right arm’s useless, so I used ki circulation to boost speed and power. Each hit could hurt even Vali.

Our punches and kicks shook the field. His attacks were heavier, sharper than before. But I wasn’t losing.

He aimed a kick at my right side—my weak spot since I can’t guard it. Dodging cuts my attacks.

”You’re reckless, charging with one arm,” Vali taunted, kicking.

He’s right—head-on’s dumb.

But—

I took the kick, using the impact to spin and land an overhead kick at his face.

”What!?” Vali crossed his arms, blocking. The impact pushed him back, damaging his gauntlets, his arms reddened.

Minimal damage, though.

”Your reflexes are insane,” I said, half-impressed, half-annoyed.

It was a counter—taking a hit to catch him off-guard while redirecting force to reduce damage. He hesitated briefly, but not enough.

A crack split my helmet; blood trickled. Even redirecting, it hurt. A direct hit would’ve been brutal.

”Your melee skills are better, but how about ranged?” Vali said, repairing his gauntlets and charging magic. Arrays formed around him, like Loki’s or Rossweisse’s.

”Norse magic for Loki. Freshly learned, but potent,” he said.

He studied a Norse magic book recently? Learned it in days!?

Genius!

His magic blasts mixed with raw power chased me. Stronger than before—getting hit’s not an option.

I dodged, prepping a counter.

”Just dodging?” Vali teased.

”Shut up! You’re spamming!” I snapped.

”Then I’ll trap you,” he said, spreading light wings.

Half Dimension!

Space warped, shrinking everything around me.

”His ability halves things,” Ddraig explained.

What!? Halve Miu and everyone’s chests!?

”That’s your concern!?” Ddraig snapped. ”The barrier protects spectators.”

Still, it’s Vali—anything could happen.

”This limits your escape,” Vali said.

He’s right. Narrowed space makes dodging harder. I can’t counter his barrage with Agni—it’s too many.

Time to act.

As I prepared, Vali’s wings flickered. Albion?

”Vali, crush that Heavenly Dragon disgrace!” Albion roared.

What!?

”Why’s he pissed?” I asked.

”What do you mean!?” Ddraig shot back.

”Silence! My rival isn’t some Breast Dragon Emperor!” Albion raged.

That’s the issue!?

”Wait! That’s Issei, not me!” Ddraig protested.

”Don’t pin it on me! I didn’t choose that name—Azazel did!” I yelled.

I can’t deny some fault—reaching Balance Breaker via oppai poking...

”You know how I felt watching ’Oppai Dragon,’ a hero show mocking my rival!? I’ve cried since!” Albion wailed.

”I cried too! Every mention rips my heart! Imagine being called Breast Dragon Emperor!” Ddraig sobbed.

”I don’t care! We were proud Heavenly Dragons! How did it come to this!?” Albion cried.

”I don’t know!” Ddraig bawled.

What... is this? Heavenly Dragons sobbing mid-battle?

Vali fired magic blasts, sounding troubled. ”Issei, what do I do?”

”No clue! Sorry, Ddraig, Albion, Vali!” I shouted, dodging.

Fine, it’s my fault! I’ll apologize properly later.

I raised my left hand.

BoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoost!

Transfer!

A massive ki blast, twenty times my height, formed.

”You held back for this!?” Vali exclaimed.

”Payback!” I roared, swinging the blast at him.

Too big to counter normally.

Vali stopped his barrage and space-halving, touching the blast.

DividDividDividDividDividDividDividDivid!

Half Dimension!

He halved it to softball size, crushing it.

I poured power into it, but he handled it easily. Still, he’s breathing hard—my chance!

BoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoost!

I charged, aiming for his pause.

”Got you,” Vali said.

Power Dispersion!

My power vanished completely—not halved, gone!

”What!?” I gasped.

”Keep your trump card hidden,” Vali said, striking with a hand chop.

No time to think—focus!

My power returned as his ability faded, but he was faster. I activated ki circulation, pushing my body to its limit despite the strain.

Our attacks connected—my fist, his chop.

Beep!

The buzzer rang, ending the match. We froze.

”Haha...” I laughed.

”Heh...” Vali chuckled.

We pulled back, smirking.

Time up, we released our armor and landed.

”A draw?” Vali asked.

”No, your chop would’ve cut my armor. You win,” I admitted.

My fist would’ve hit, but not as hard.

Messed up at the end.

”That last move was crazy. Nullifies power completely?” I asked.

Vali smirked. ”Briefly disperses an opponent’s power. Stronger foes shorten the effect.”

Terrifying, even for a moment.

”Wait, you made that for me, didn’t you?” I said.

”Maybe,” he dodged, but it’s totally for my second tier.

”It’s taxing. I can only use it a few times,” he said, panting.

Still a nightmare.

I need new moves.

We sat, exhausted. ”Ten minutes was brutal,” I groaned, lying back.

”It was fun,” Vali said.

”Yeah, same,” I admitted, staring at the purple sky—Underworld-inspired?

Time to rest.

”Will that move work on Loki?” I asked.

Vali pondered. ”Against him, it’d last less than a second.”

A second could decide the fight.

Spectators approached. Asia ran to me. ”Issei-san, are you hurt?”

”Just bruises. Vali too,” I said.

Asia sighed, relieved, and healed me with green light. Her healing’s unreal.

”You trashed my field! Wasn’t this a light spar?” Azazel said, eyeing craters everywhere.

Good thing we didn’t use my house’s training room—it’d be rubble.

”These Heavenly Dragons are full of energy. No wonder Sirzechs and Azazel rate them,” Odin said.

”But there’s a higher realm, and they’re still growing. Don’t fight unsupervised—past Dragons leveled islands,” Azazel warned.

Hence the custom field. We’ll need a stronger one for a real rematch.

”Did you gauge each other’s strength?” Azazel asked.

We nodded.

”Good. Keep the field for training, but don’t overdo it. Rest and train,” he said.

Got it. Time to plan for Loki and shower.

We left the field.

At my house’s living room, Vali and I relaxed.

”Tea?” I offered, pouring cold barley tea.

”Thanks,” Vali said, sipping. ”Phew, refreshing.”

”Chilled tea post-bath hits different,” I said, bringing him a cup.

”I’m too comfy here,” Vali said. ”Is that okay?”

”Everyone’s wary, but they know you’re not evil,” I replied.

”I’m still a terrorist,” he chuckled.

”You’ve saved us a few times. Chilling here’s fine,” I said.

”Where’s Kuroka and the others?” I asked.

”Kuroka and Bikou are gaming in a spare room. Arthur’s with his sister,” Vali said.

Arthur has a sister? Kuroka and Bikou are too comfortable!

”Come back anytime for training. No terrorism, though,” I joked.

”Can’t promise that,” Vali laughed.

Two figures approached. ”You two get along well,” Odin said.

”Red and White Dragons usually fight on sight, but you’re different,” Rossweisse added.

Past Dragons clashed instantly, so us chilling is unusual.

”White Dragon Emperor, what’s your type?” Odin asked, leering.

Ero-talk with Vali?

”What?” Vali tilted his head, clueless.

He’s oblivious to this stuff.

Odin pointed at Rossweisse’s chest, butt, and thighs. ”Red Dragon Emperor’s into breasts. You got a preference?”

”I’m not Oppai Dragon,” Vali said, genuinely offended.

Sorry, my fault!

”Come on, you’re a guy. Gotta have something,” Odin pressed.

”Not into that, but... hips, maybe. The waist-to-hip line symbolizes women,” Vali said casually.

”Got it! Butt Dragon Emperor!” Odin declared.

Vali froze.

Later, Vali said Albion cried all day.

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