High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

To think it can use both the power of the Red Dragon Emperor and the Joker...! That’s just cheating...!

”Now then, shall we move on to the finale?”

As if answering Vika’s voice, the Demon God began to move! It swung the Holy-Demonic Sword with a colossal arm dozens of meters thick! A single swing was enough to summon a tempest of absolute destruction!

”Agh, you absolute cheat-code little girl!”

Alice-san retaliated, striking the Demon God with lightning that glowed platinum-white. However—

『Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!!』

The multiplication voice echoed from the gauntlet, and the Demon God’s aura flared exponentially! The thick wall of aura repelled Alice-san’s lightning, snuffing it out completely! To nullify an attack from Alice-san in her Valkyrie form...!

In that case, I raised my magic staff and fired Stardust Breaker. Yet even that was easily blocked!

The Demon God’s eyes flashed red. Instantly, countless spears made of wind, ice, lightning, and fire materialized around it. And then, every single one of them came raining down on us!

I took Sarah into my arms and took flight, but because of the massive storm Belle had summoned earlier, the places where we could dodge were extremely limited. Add that giant Demon God to the mix, and safe ground was practically nonexistent.

I wanted to join Alice-san to destroy that Demon God and the paintings altering the environment, but—

”Get out of the way! I don’t have time to deal with you right now!”

”How cold. Aren’t we friends who’ve been trying to kill each other up to this point? Stick with me until the very end!”

Alice-san had her hands full dealing with Vika. Evading the Demon God’s attacks while simultaneously handling Vika’s assaults imposed a devastating drain on us. Not just physically, but mentally as well.

As for me... trying to fight while carrying Sarah was blatantly reckless. But if this battle dragged on any longer, Sarah wouldn’t hold out...! We had to break through here as fast as possible and reach Asia-san...!

As my panic mounted, Sarah spoke in a faint voice.

”...Don’t worry... about me... At this rate...”

”Denied! The option to abandon Sarah and live is rejected! We’re all going back alive! Anything less is the worst possible outcome!”

We swore to everyone that we’d survive and return to our ordinary days! I promised Mom and Dad, too, that I’d come home together with everyone!

”I’m going to protect Sarah. Just like my big brother protected us. Because I am Hyoudou Issei’s sister, Hyoudou Miu!”

”That’s right!”

Following my words, Alice-san shouted out. Parrying Vika’s spear, she flew over to my side.

”We will never abandon anyone, and we will protect everything. ———Even if we have to bend dimensions or break the laws of the world, we’ll see it through. If our Master says so, there’s no way his peerage isn’t going to follow suit, right?”

With a bloodied face, Alice-san flashed a fearless smirk.

That’s right. My brother has overcome every impossible situation, every unfair reality thrown at him. We are the peerage of the Red Dragon Emperor, Hyoudou Issei. We won’t give up, and we’ll figure a way through whatever absurdity comes our way!

Alice-san spoke up.

”Now, I have one plan to break through this situation... Want in? It comes with Ignis-san’s stamp of approval, so it should guarantee a comeback victory.”

”...That’s not another one of those ’Nipple Beam’ things from earlier, is it?”

”It’s one of the rare serious ones. Though, using it takes some time.”

”So you need me to buy time until you’re ready... is that it?”

”Precisely. It’ll only take a few minutes. Can I rely on you?”

”Well, it’s not like I have much of a choice.”

I let out a strained smile. A plan that could break this dead end. On top of that, a serious one with Ignis-san’s stamp of approval. Then there was no choice but to bet on it.

”Sarah... Please take care of Diru-chan...”

”Of course. So, Sarah is her real name, huh?”

”Yeah. Um, Alice-san...”

”You don’t need to explain. I’m sure there’s a lot behind it. In that case, I’ll keep calling her Diru-chan for now. I’ll only use that name after she reveals it to me herself.”

Alice-san smiled softly and gently patted Sarah’s head, who had passed out somewhere along the way.

After enveloping Sarah in a defensive barrier, I stepped out in front of Alice-san. Facing me were Vika, Belle, and the Demon God Belle had created. To be honest, this wasn’t an enemy I could fight alone.

Behind me, Alice-san began her preparations, placing her spiritual spear against her chest to draw out her power. She said she needed a few minutes, but considering the caliber of our opponents, doing so was a monumental task.

Looking at me as I stepped forward, Vika spoke.

”The Princess pulled back... looks like she’s got a plan. But do you seriously think you can buy time against the two of us all by yourself? That’s beyond reckless. Do you just want to die in vain?”

She was right. If I slipped up, dying in vain was a very real possibility. Even so...

I met Vika’s gaze head-on and hurled my words straight at her.

”It’s not about whether I can or can’t! I have to do it, so I will! Besides, I have no intention of dying here!”

I flared my black aura. Raising my power as a deity to its absolute limit, I blasted forward a wave of pure pressure.

Taking the full brunt of my max-power pressure, Vika faltered slightly, taken aback.

”To unleash this much pressure at a time like this...! If I let my guard down, this might actually get dangerous! Fine then—let’s see what you’ve got!”

Flaring her own aura, Vika lunged forward! At the same time, the Demon God began exercising its absurd strength! Vika’s storm of divine constructs combined with the Demon God’s weather manipulation, raining down upon me in a terrifying barrage!

I couldn’t retreat from here, nor could I run away!

”So I’ll just force my way straight through! Stardust Breakeeeer!”

Seven-colored light shot forth from my magic staff, colliding directly with the enemy’s assault... but I was clearly being pushed back! I couldn’t completely cancel it out...!

As I kept firing Stardust Breaker, Vika appeared directly above me and hurled a spear down. Unable to dodge in time, the weapon pierced straight through my leg.

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