High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

Chapter 144: Chapter 140: Game Day! To the Aerial City!

Game Day

”Wow, amazing!” I said, staring at the floating island from the gondola.

Asia and Xenovia gazed out the windows too. The Gremory team, set to compete, rode together. Ravel was already at the venue, preparing. Other Occult Research Club members were coming with Venerana via another route to cheer us on.

Agreas, a floating island in Agares territory, powered by Old Maou-era tech only Ajuka understands. Beelzebub’s team handles its core. A floating city controlling air traffic and a tourist spot—unlike anything in Ast-Ade.

Waterfalls cascaded from the island, a surreal sight.

Three ways to reach Agreas: magic circle jumps (VIP or special events only, restricted to preserve mana), airships (most common), or gondolas like ours. Rias, knowing the gondola’s view, recommended it. Clear day—perfect for this stunning scenery!

But not everyone’s thrilled.

”Sniff... I swore no more powering up with breasts, but...” Ddraig sobbed.

Since the bath incident, he’s been a mess. He held back after my Balance Breaker, but my new potential unlocking via breasts broke him.

”You trained normally for Tenbu and Tengeki! Why breasts now!?” Ddraig wailed.

Because I’m Oppai Dragon!

”I wanna go home! Be a shut-in!” he cried.

Your home’s where!? His speech changed!

”It’s fine. He’s advancing, however it happens,” Ignis comforted.

”I’m the Red Dragon Emperor, feared by all! My host powering up with breasts? Unacceptable! You wouldn’t get it!” Ddraig snapped.

Sorry, Ddraig. It happened. Accept it.

”No way!” he roared.

He’s pissed. Gotta keep apologizing.

”Don’t whine, or I’ll mess with you,” Ignis teased. ”Maybe turn the Sacred Gear pink? Play with the past hosts’ girls?”

”Stop!” Ddraig screamed.

Ignis, what!? Rubbing past hosts’ breasts? Jealous—no, stop her! Belzard! Elsha!

”Sorry, we can’t,” they said.

”I’d get groped too,” Elsha added.

”Watching’s more fun,” Belzard said.

Hopeless! The gear’s turning pink!

”Issei-kun, you’re sweating. Okay?” Kiba asked.

”Not really...” I said. Hang in there, Ddraig!

Rias met my eyes, blushing hard. Since the bath, she’s like this—recalling her bold Switch Princess moment. She begged me not to tell, but the girls at home sniffed it out, and she confessed. Women’s intuition is scary.

”Real experience?” Ignis teased.

Yeah...

But Rias seems more confident now. Alice? Her breasts grew 5mm since that day! No error—we measured multiple times. She cried tears of joy. Excited for her future growth!

Their Switch Princess awakening brought changes. My potential’s door opened, but it’s training-dependent. Still, progress is progress.

”The venue caused a stir upstairs,” Azazel said, gazing skyward.

”How?” I asked.

”Maou faction wanted Gremory or Maou territory. Bael faction pushed for Bael’s. Nasty fight,” he said.

Really?

”Maou aren’t hereditary. For lineage-obsessed high-class devils, Great King Bael outranks Maou. Top of the 72 Pillars,” Azazel explained.

”Old Maou faction caused similar fights, right? They never learn?” I asked.

”Different issues, same pride,” Azazel sighed. ”Devils, like humans, care about appearances.”

”Agares settled it,” Koneko muttered.

Azazel nodded. ”Archduke Agares mediated. Middle management, Maou proxy. Tough job.”

Poor Archduke.

”Is our game a proxy war for Lucifer and Bael?” Kiba asked.

”Some see it that way. Bael faction even opposed Issei’s participation,” Azazel said.

”Me?” I pointed at myself. Hated for nothing?

”You glared at devil bigwigs at the youth summit for mocking your dreams. Some see you as a threat now,” Azazel said.

Oops. That backfired.

”Some view this as a Maou-Bael proxy war, but don’t worry. Even if you lose, Sirzechs won’t suffer politically. Bael’s backers just get clout,” Azazel said.

”Sairaorg has political allies?” I asked.

”He’s too principled to be swayed, though,” Azazel said.

True. Sairaorg’s driven by his dream.

”Forget politics. Chase your dreams full force,” Azazel said.

”Yes!” we shouted.

The gondola reached Agreas.

Fans and media swarmed as we disembarked.

”Huge crowd,” I said.

”You’re that famous,” Azazel replied.

Flashes and cheers surrounded us as staff and bodyguards led us to a waiting limousine.

”Welcome,” Ravel said inside.

”Sorry for the wait. Thanks for prepping,” I said, sitting.

Media cars trailed us. TV stuff, but being the target? Wild.

”You’ll need managers, especially Rias and Issei. Win or lose, your fame’s spiking. It’ll calm eventually, but expect this for now,” Azazel said.

”Seriously? Reyna’s your manager, right?” I asked.

He sighed. ”She’s my secretary, but really a watchdog, reporting everything to Shemhazai. Am I that untrustworthy?”

”Yes,” we said in unison.

”Don’t sync up!” Azazel groaned. ”You need managers. Ravel, how about Issei’s?”

”Me?” Ravel pointed at herself, surprised.

”You know devil society and can support him. Plus, it’s educational. He’s a perv, though,” Azazel said.

Unnecessary jab! But true.

”Ravel, I’d appreciate it. I’m clueless about devil stuff. You’d be a huge help,” I said.

”If I’m enough, I’ll do it,” Ravel said.

”Settled. Details later,” Azazel said.

”Yes!” Ravel replied, fired up. Responsible girl.

The limousine reached the massive Agreas Dome, the game venue, beside a lavish hotel with a grand lobby and chandelier. Devil life’s gotten me used to fancy places.

A bellboy led us to our private room to wait until the night match.

In the hallway, a chilling aura approached—a group in hooded, floor-length robes, radiating menace. At their center, a skeleton in priestly garb, hat, and staff, exuded overwhelming power.

We tensed, eyeing the skeleton.

”Well, well, crimson-haired Gremory and the fallen angel governor,” it said, voice magically projected.

It speaks!

Azazel smirked. ”Hades, god of the Underworld’s depths, hating devils and fallen angels. You, here, with Grim Reapers?”

A god! His aura fits.

”Fafafa, crow. Things are noisy up here, so I’m inspecting,” Hades said.

”Only you oppose faction cooperation, old skeleton,” Azazel said.

”Will you slay me like Loki?” Hades taunted, his robed group radiating killing intent.

Here? Before the match? Spare me!

Azazel sighed. ”Just be open like Odin. Your shady rumors don’t help, skeleton grandpa.”

”Crow and bat chirping makes me want soundproofing,” Hades sneered.

Crow for fallen angels, bat for devils. Rude.

Hades’s glowing eye sockets fixed on me. ”Red Dragon. I miss rampaging with the White Dragon in hell’s depths.”

What’d you do, Ddraig?

”Just stuff,” he said.

That’s not ”just”!

Should I apologize?

”Fafafa, no matter. I’m not here for your souls tonight,” Hades said, passing by.

We exhaled, tension easing.

”I heard of Hades from senior Valkyries. His gaze feels soul-crushing,” Rossweisse said.

Yeah, it’s suffocating.

”That skeleton’s pressure is unreal,” I said.

Azazel cracked his neck. ”He’s top-tier among faction leaders, stronger than me or Issei.”

”Top-tier, huh,” I said.

”Don’t cross him. His Grim Reapers are creepy too,” Azazel warned.

Reapers as escorts? Terrifying!

”Evil god?” I asked.

”No, neutral to humans, just hates other mythologies’ beings. I hate him too,” Azazel said.

He’s blunt. I’d say Hades is more... unsettling.

”Dehahaha! Here, Azazel!” a booming voice echoed.

”Here too, Azazel! Gahaha!” another joined.

Two burly, bearded men approached, hassling Azazel, who sighed. ”Zeus and Poseidon, loud as ever. If only Hades were this straightforward.”

Those shirtless guys are Zeus and Poseidon!? Famous gods, so loud!

”Don’t you need a wife, Aza-boy? Lonely bachelor!” Zeus teased.

”I’ll hook you up with sea maidens!” Poseidon added.

”No thanks,” Azazel groaned, overwhelmed.

They’re friendlier than Hades!

”Here you are,” a familiar voice said.

Tannin, in tiny dragon form, floated over.

”You’re here too?” I said.

”Both teams are tied to me. Gotta watch,” Tannin said.

”Heard you trained Sairaorg,” I said.

”He begged me. Couldn’t refuse. I’m curious how far he’ll push you,” Tannin grinned.

He’s hyped. Sairaorg’s grown stronger.

”This match exceeds youth-level. I expect greatness,” Tannin said.

”Count on it!” I thumbs-upped.

My debut, a step toward Rias’s dream. We’ll make it epic!

Rias and the others looked pumped.

”Odin-sama!” Rossweisse yelped, spotting Odin with a new Valkyrie.

Odin saw her, shouted, ”Oh no!” and fled.

Rossweisse roared, ”Wait, you old pervert! Who’s that new Valkyrie!?” Transforming into her Valkyrie armor, she chased him.

Her grudge runs deep.

Rias sighed, hand on forehead. ”Issei, Yuuto, Xenovia, can you handle it?”

”Got it...” I said.

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