High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

Chapter 553: Chapter 543 As Vali and Albion’s voices overlapped

As Vali and Albion’s voices overlapped, the crest of Demon Lord Lucifer surfaced upon every single jewel embedded in his armor. Then, the entire armor burst into an intense, blinding radiance! A powerful, divine light illuminated the entire area! Finally, Vali, Albion, and Ophis shouted in unison!

”[Look upon our brilliance, shining like gems, and bow down!]”

[LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLucifer!!!!!!!!!!!]

[Dragon Lucifer Drive!!!!!!]

The instant that thunderous announcement echoed out, a colossal aura was unleashed, violently shaking the surroundings! As the whipped-up gale and blinding light subsided, we opened our eyes to find a set of armor standing before us—a masterpiece of pitch-black and silver, as beautiful as it was terrifying to behold.

—Vali Lucifer, having unleashed the combined power of the White Dragon Emperor and the Demon Lord Lucifer.

So this was his Diabolos Dragon form! I could feel Vali’s evolution through my Sacred Gear, but man, what an insane aura he was exuding!

While almost everyone present was swallowed by Vali’s new form, left dazed far beyond mere astonishment, another power was unleashed.

Sairaorg-san’s battle aura surged violently. Together with the lion on his chest, he recited his own chant!

”Though this body and soul should fall into the deepest depths a thousand times!”

[My King and I shall charge up the royal road tens of thousands of times until this body and soul fade away!]

The lion armor transformed, shifting into a fierce, aggressive silhouette.

”Roar! Pride yourself! Slaughter! And shine!”

[Even if this body is that of a demonic beast!]

”Dwell within my fist, O Radiant Majesty!”

The area surrounding Sairaorg-san was blasted away by a storm of fighting spirit! The unstoppable tempest of destruction grew larger and larger!

Sairaorg-san and the lion Regulus recited the final verse together.

”[Breakdown The Beast, release: Crime Overrrrrrrrrrr!]”

A colossal burst of battle aura erupted, expanding to a scale that rivaled Vali’s just moments before! Then, stepping firmly onto the earth from within the raging storm, Sairaorg Bael revealed himself.

—The Lion King, clad in purple-gold armor.

So this was the Breakdown the Beast...! Just looking at it made me shudder; the sheer aura of supremacy was unreal...! He looked like the literal incarnation of destruction!

Looking at the two who had unleashed their true power, Asem remarked in a calm tone, ”To think you’d pull out two trump cards right off the bat—quite the generous distribution, isn’t it?”

His eyes shifted back and forth between Vali and Sairaorg-san, observing them closely. Just like when he faced me, this guy Asem was...

[It seems he has a habit of gauging whether someone has room left to grow. Vali Lucifer and Sairaorg Bael both possess ample potential to grow even stronger. He might be testing that theory,] Ddraig chimed in within my mind.

One of the reasons Asem had ignited this war involving every major faction was to prepare for the inevitable conflict with another world. People had grown during this battle, including myself. Besides Vali, Kiba was one of them. Though exhausted from the fight so far, the vibe Kiba gave off was different from a moment ago. He had definitely gained new strength. ...Though earlier, he looked like his mind had completely collapsed from the strain of playing the straight man.

While I was lost in thought, the battle between the three of them resumed.

Without making a sound, Vali and Sairaorg-san vanished from their spots. Closing the distance to Asem in an instant, they unleashed a synchronized punch.

It was a strike whose mere shockwave destroyed the surrounding terrain. Even Asem didn’t try to catch it like he had earlier; instead, he parried both fists away.

Conversely, Vali and Sairaorg-san dodged the counter-punches thrown back by Asem. Asem’s fists were also powerful enough to shatter gods with ease. No matter how strong those two were, taking a single direct hit would undoubtedly be fatal. Having exchanged blows with him for the first time, they seemed to realize this mid-combat, choosing to dodge completely rather than attempt to parry.

And yet—cracks began to form on their armor. The pressure from Asem’s punches alone caused the armor to chip, and anywhere his attacks grazed vanished entirely.

Asem pointed his index finger at Vali, and aura concentrated at the tip—unleashing a pitch-black beam! A power of annihilation that erased everything it touched!

”Dodge it, Vali!”

”Kh!”

Reacting to Azazel-sensei’s warning, Vali dodged at the last possible second. But the jet-black beam shot past him, impacting far in the distance—and violently shook the entire region! Moments later, the shockwave generated by the explosion reached us, blowing away numerous warriors!

Sairaorg-san shuddered. ”To possess this much power from such a minimal movement...!”

Asem answered with a nonchalant expression. ”Whoa now, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t get surprised by something like this. This is only the beginning.”

In the next moment, a giant bubble enveloped Asem’s body. That was—

”Don’t forget I’m here too! —Take a taste of the Storm of Condemnation!”

The moment Dulio aimed his palm, forces began churning inside the bubble! Lightning, torrential rain, and massive hail began to fall, and every conceivable natural disaster erupted inside the bubble, battering Asem! Due to the raging storm, the interior of the bubble was impossible to see, but...

A few seconds later, with a loud pop, the bubble burst. Having taken the storm head-on, Asem was—completely unscathed.

”Hmm, a rather interesting ability.”

Cracking his neck as if he hadn’t felt a thing, Asem acted completely unfazed, prompting Dulio to give a bitter smile.

”Haha... Well, it was broken once by Trihexa, so I kind of knew what to expect... but this is still pretty shocking.”

”No, no, your power is certainly effective enough against gods. It just doesn’t reach me.”

Asem declared it flatly.

Suddenly, just as Asem tilted his head, a spear emitting a holy wave brushed right past him. Cao Cao had targeted him from behind.

”Hmm, dodging a surprise attack like that so easily, are we?”

”I am aware of everything on this battlefield. Surprise attacks won’t work on me, Hero-kun.”

”The current me isn’t a hero. —Just a human. Just Cao Cao.”

”I see. I don’t dislike that attitude.”

The moment Asem turned around and swung a blade-like wave of energy, Cao Cao used teleportation to vanish from the spot. Cao Cao teleported at random to prevent Asem from grasping his location, searching for an opening... but that trick didn’t work on him.

”I’ve used that tactic myself before. Your whereabouts are completely clear to me.”

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