High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

Chapter 405: Chapter 395 The Hero Who Does Not Wake

[Kiba’s Perspective]

The battle against Trihexa’s legions in the Norse world had finally drawn to a close. With the immediate threat repelled, the members of ’D×D’ disbanded, each returning to their respective posts.

Dulio, Irina, and the rest of the Angel faction returned to the Celestial headquarters to oversee its reconstruction. Reya-san headed for the Grigori facilities in the Underworld’s Fallen Angel territory to assist with repairs. Meanwhile, Sairaorg Baal and Seekvaira Agares, having finished their own treatments, hurried off with their respective retinues to suppress the riots breaking out across the Underworld. Sona-senpai’s Sitri peerage followed suit to assist them.

As for the Gremory and Hyoudou peerages—myself included—we made our way to the Serafall Memorial Hospital in the capital, Lilith. It is an institution renowned throughout the Underworld, boasting world-class medical equipment and an elite staff.

It is here that Issei-kun now lies.

To call it ”hospitalization” feels almost like a misnomer. Thanks to Asia-san’s healing, his physical wounds have vanished completely. His body is whole, yet he refuses to wake.

Five days ago, during the operation to reclaim Agreas and the surprise strike on Qlippoth, Issei-kun drove Rizevim into a corner. In a desperate bid to turn the tides, Rizevim had injected himself with a specialized stimulant derived from Ophis’s snakes, mutating his own flesh. He even stooped so low as to unleash mass-produced Evil Dragons upon Kuoh Town, trying to break our spirits by targeting those we love.

That was the moment Issei-kun shattered his limits.

A rainbow radiance had erupted from him, stretching across Agreas and all the way to Kuoh Town. That light transcended dimensions, acting as a shield for both us and our home. Even now, days after the battle, the memory feels more like a fever dream than reality.

Stepping into an entirely new realm of power, Issei-kun utterly overwhelmed Rizevim, crushing him despite his grotesque augmentations.

But... the price of such god-like power was staggering. After witnessing Rizevim’s end and sharing a brief, cryptic exchange with the otherworldly god, Asem, Issei-kun collapsed. He has been unconscious ever since. He was rushed to the hospital immediately following the operation, but despite exhaustive examinations, the doctors found nothing physically wrong with him.

His consciousness remains adrift, but Trihexa will not wait for him to wake. After ravaging the Heavens, the beast has turned its malice toward the Norse world.

As the counter-terrorism team ’D×D,’ we have a duty to fight. Entrusting the still-unresponsive Issei-kun to his parents, Nina-san, Walkyrie-san, and Diarmuid—who is still recovering from Nidhogg’s assault—we departed for the Norse front. (In truth, it was Miu-san who forcibly ordered Diarmuid to stay behind and rest.)

Now, having successfully defended the Norse world, we have returned to this hospital.

A moment ago, an emergency broadcast from Lord Sirzechs aired on the lobby television. Even here, near the reception desk, I can see patients and their families huddled together, their voices thick with anxiety. Words like ”war” and ”evacuation” drift through the air like a heavy fog. It is only natural to feel terror when a conflict escalates to a level where even the gods themselves must take the front lines. It is for these people—to protect their peace—that we must continue to fight.

Rias-senpai, having finished the check-in at the desk, returned to our side.

”The paperwork is done,” she said, her voice steady but soft. ”Let’s go to Issei’s room.”

Entering the room, we found Issei-kun still lost in sleep upon his bed. His parents were there, alongside Nina-san and Walkyrie-san, who have joined his peerage, and Diarmuid.

...I had hoped against hope that he might have opened his eyes while we were away in the Norse world, but it was not to be.

Seeing his motionless form, the women, led by Rias-senpai, let expressions of profound sadness wash over their faces. On the battlefield, they are warriors who face Evil Dragons without flinching, yet here, seeing the man they love unable to wake, they are simply human.

Nina-san and the others had been watching the news with grim intensity, but they greeted us with sighs of relief as we entered.

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