"Heeh, so that's your trump card, huh?" Kousuke muttered, the corner of his lips curling up. As he expected, Vali had something up his sleeve. There was no way someone like him would challenge him only with that level of strength alone.
As much of a battle junkie as Vali was, he wasn't stupid. He knew better than to hold back in front of someone like Kousuke. And indeed, now he truly looked like a worthy opponent...to be squashed that is.
[It seems that thanks to the power we stole from you with Divine Dividing, our body have been strengthened more than we can possibly imagine, but we can now control this form somehow. So, thank you.]
The White Dragon Emperor spoke in a calm and dignified tone. However, Vali's voice overlapped with Albion's, a clear sign of perfect synchronization. It was no longer just their speech, their thoughts and movements flowed as one. At this very moment, they had become a single entity, merged through the Juggernaut Overdrive mode.
"Then… 80%."
Kousuke vanished again, reappearing on the White Dragon Emperor's left side. But this time, they managed to catch his fist just in time. It was as if they had seen the move before it happened. Despite floating in the air, the impact of their clash still shattered the ground below.
[You should go all out as well. Otherwise, it won't be us, but you, who loses.]
Their tone was firm and decisive. Kousuke stared into their eyes: emotionless, devoid of fear or pride. When he pulled his fist back, they didn't counterattack. Instead, they waited. Kousuke couldn't help but chuckle.
"Acting cute now after getting a little power-up? Fine then," he muttered with a wry smile. All of sudden, his hair flared up as if affected by the mysterious power dwelling inside him. It quickly turned dark red, mirroring fresh blood. He looked up at White Emperor Dragon and smirked. "Two can play that game."
"100%."
There was no dramatic flare, no aura surge. Just words. But those watching, especially the White Dragon Emperor could sense it. Kousuke had changed on a fundamental level. As if only now was he revealing a glimpse of his true self to the world.
[Finally… our battle will be legendary—]
"200%."
!!!
"Did I ever say 100% was my full power?" Kousuke said with a teasing smile. He enjoyed the sight of the White Dragon Emperor's expression flickering. It was just for a moment, but he can senses emotions within it. But what shocked everyone more was they noticed a web-like crack appearing on the barrier. It seems that the barrier is trying its best to contain his explosive power, however it weren't going well.
"300%."
[It can't be… His strength has already surpassed ours.]
"Shit! We've got to do something before the barrier breaks! Kuoh Town won't survive if that power leaks out!" Azazel shouted, panic etched in his voice as he noticed a small hole forming in the sky, like reality itself had been torn open.
Even Michael and Sirzechs grew visibly tense as Kousuke's power kept climbing. And the worst part? Even if they all joined forces now, none of them believed it would be enough to restrain the threat below.
"Lend me a hand, Sirzechs, Michael!"
""On it!""
The three combined their power to patch the barrier. It worked—barely. It was like placing a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. The structure held for now, but it wouldn't last forever. All they could do was hope the fight ended soon.
Sirzechs glanced toward Rias, who was kneeling alongside her peerage. All of them struggled to remain standing under the unbearable pressure. But at this point, none of them could look away.
None of them had expected the man who always jokes around and flirted with his girlfriends often to be hiding such unfathomable strength. For a moment, Issei thought he was looking at the back of a stranger. What sort of thing did his friend went through that requires such strength?
"You said you wanted to see my full power, right? I'll entertain you. 400%."
With those words, his already red hair darkened further, becoming so deep it no longer reflected light. Even the color of his skin began to fade, becoming pallid, like the color was being drained from his body. His presence had shifted completely at this moment.
[Stop! At this rate, you're not just going to destroy the barrier, and if that power gets out… it will be catastrophic!]
Even the White Emperor Dragon was starting to panic. They didn't expect for Kousuke's strength to reached such depths. It almost feels like they weren't facing a human, but another Dragon God.
"No, not yet."
Kousuke's crimson pupils shimmered with something unstable—madness, perhaps. Whatever was inside him, it was leaking out. The observers began to feel lightheaded. Some lost control of their own powers just by standing a little too close.
"Stop! Look at the people below! Your power is hurting them!" Sirzechs shouted, that snapped Kousuke back to his sense. His emotionless gaze shifted downward.
Tsubaki and Akeno were on their knees, pale and trembling. Blood trickled from the corners of their lips. They weren't physically hurt, but their souls were affected by whatever starting to awakened in his body. Even with the protective enchantments they worn around their necks(a gift from him), it wasn't enough. His eyes trembled at this scene.
Kousuke inhaled deeply before exhaled, slow yet steady. He then looks up at the sky still trembled like a torn fabric, and the barrier groaned like a wounded beast. Then, he turned around.
"You wanted to see my limit, didn't you?" he said quietly. "Well, congratulations. It'll be brief, but you'll see a glimpse of it."
[Just what in the world are you?] the White Dragon Emperor asked. Their voice now carried disbelief. This presence… it didn't belong to any being they knew.
No divinity. No draconic aura. No Sacred Gear. Despite his threatening presence, Kousuke is undoubtedly human, yet that's what made him even more terrifying to them.
"I'm just a guy trying to keep to himself," Kousuke muttered nonchalantly. "500%."
The number echoed like a death sentence, then he vanished.
No sound. No buildup. Just stillness followed by a pressure wave that roared through the air like a sonic boom.
A blur. That was all the White Dragon Emperor saw before their vision shattered.
A single, focused punch to the chest, refined with monstrous strength and perfect technique, blasted through their armor like paper. The Juggernaut Drive screamed, its power spiked erratically before shattering like glass under immense pressure.
The White Dragon Emperor was launched skyward, slamming into the barrier above. A thunderous crack rang out. He didn't fall right away, he hung there for a moment, like a meteor frozen in time, before gravity took him down.
Kousuke descended slowly. His body still radiated heat and force, but his energy had started to fade. It receded like a tide—calmly, without a trace. Even his hair returned to normal. The madness in his eyes softened into something else, restraint, maybe. Or exhaustion. He landed gently, hands in his pockets.
A second later, the White Dragon Emperor's limp form hit the ground, crashing at the front of Kuoh Academy with a shockwave that sent dust and debris into the sky. A crater was formed, yet the barrier somehow miraculously survived. Only faint cracks remained.
Everything turned silence. No one dare to speak, not even Azazel. Michael and Sirzechs exchanged a glance, unspoken thoughts racing behind their eyes. 'Who was this man?'
Even with all their knowledge, they had never seen a human like this. But they all etched his name into their minds.
"…The battle's over," Sirzechs murmured. "Yet I've got more questions than answers."
Meanwhile, Kousuke walked past Vali's unconscious body without even glancing down. He couldn't care less whatever happens to the guy. He wouldn't die at least, Kousuke still had that much kindness in his heart.
Akeno tried to approach him but stumbled along the way, yet he caught her just in time. A worried look etched on his face. "I'm okay," she whispered.
"I know," he replied, steadying her. "Still… sorry. I got carried away."
Tsubaki arrived at his side, her hand brushing against his before they interlocked with one another. Then she said with a sigh, "It's over now."
"Yeah… it is." he replied with a smile. Above them, the sky cleared. The artificial red hue dissolved into light as the barrier slowly faded, taking the ruins with it. Everyone shared similar thought at that moment, they had returns to reality.