It was as though darkness itself had been given physical form, its entire body wreathed in pitch-black flames.
Issei and the others trembled uncontrollably.
Any intelligent creature instinctively fears darkness and the unknown. Darkness strips away one's primary sense of sight, while the unknown nullifies the wisdom and experiences one relies on to survive.
And humans were beings particularly adept at imagining the worst.
What's happening to Gasper?
Is Gasper in danger?
Can Gasper return to normal?
The more they pondered these questions, the deeper their anxiety grew.
At that very moment, another change overcame Gasper.
That pure, untainted blackness swiftly expanded, consuming the surrounding space. In the blink of an eye, all light was banished, plunging everything into absolute darkness.
Seeing the encroaching darkness about to engulf them, Issei and the others felt a stab of panic—but the darkness didn't harm them. Instead, it formed a cage, trapping only Euclid within.
"What… is going on?"
"What's happening to Gasper?"
"Is this because of Gasper's [Sacred Gear]?"
Rias and the others, unsettled and confused, instinctively turned to Azazel, as he was the most knowledgeable about Sacred Gears present.
However, even Azazel wore a grim expression, his brows deeply furrowed.
"No... this isn't the power of [Forbidden Balor View]. I've never heard of [Forbidden Balor View] possessing anything like this."
Euclid, unfazed by his perilous situation, merely watched Gasper with icy calmness, though his eyes held a hint of surprise.
"I see... So this is your true form? To think a monster like you was born among the vampires... No wonder they decisively threw you to that false Maou's sister."
Unlike the darkness surrounding Rias and the others, the darkness imprisoning Euclid felt alive, radiating tangible malice—a curse slowly devouring his flesh. Yet, Euclid remained unafraid, leisurely commenting on Gasper's appearance. After all, this was merely a clone made with the [Sephiroth Graal]. Nothing inflicted upon it, not even Ophis's attack, could harm his true body.
"Even now, you're still calm?"
Gasper, now a monstrous form of darkness, approached the cage, his glowing red eyes locked on Euclid, mockery flickering within them.
"You're that confident in your abilities? You believe we can't harm you?"
Had this been earlier, Euclid would confidently say, "Of course." Yet now, under Gasper's gaze, unease churned uncontrollably within him.
Black claws burning with dark flames pressed ruthlessly upon Euclid's head. Gasper's voice, deep with hatred, resonated ominously.
"My powers aren't complete yet, so I can't kill you outright with a mere glance. However, my curse will follow your connection to your true body, devouring your soul and mind bit by bit in endless despair and agony. Even after death, this curse will linger on your shattered soul. Spend eternity repenting for your sins!"
Before Euclid could respond, Gasper gave him no chance. The surrounding darkness morphed into countless distorted beasts, tearing Euclid's head to pieces with savage claws and fangs.
An agonizing scream, one that rattled the very soul, echoed the moment Euclid was devoured.
Even when reduced to a mere head by Ophis, Euclid had remained impassive. Yet now, his screams pierced through the silent air.
After Euclid's death, an eerie, heavy silence settled over them.
What Gasper had just done was deeply unsettling, and his current form even more worrying.
Rias and the others silently stared at Gasper's monstrous form, allowing the oppressive atmosphere to linger.
"Why's it so dark in here? Don't you know how to turn on the lights?"
At that voice, anxiety melted like snow beneath the sun, everyone letting out relieved breaths. That voice had such reassuring power.
Joyfully, Rias and the others turned toward the source—Jeanne Alter, smiling warmly, walking toward them.
"Jeanne-san!"
"Jeanne-senpai!"
"Jeanne!"
They were genuinely glad she was safe. They were glad she had returned to them.
Jeanne Alter nodded gently, standing before everyone as her gaze settled on Gasper's transformed figure.
"Jeanne-san! He's not an enemy! He's Gasper!"
Rias hastily called out, worried Jeanne Alter might mistake Gasper for an enemy and attack.
Jeanne Alter heard Rias's warning but remained unsurprised, as though she'd already known.
"How should I address you now?" she asked calmly, tilting her head slightly as she regarded Gasper. "Are you Gasper, or perhaps... Balor, the Evil-Eyed God from Celtic myth?"
At this revelation, Rias, Azazel, and the others stared wide-eyed at "Gasper" in shock.
After a brief silence, "Gasper" responded with complexity in his tone.
"I am Gasper Vladi, yet not exactly him—and certainly not Balor. The original Balor was slain long ago by a certain deity. I am merely a fragment of his consciousness, residing within the [Sacred Gear: Forbidden Balor View]. Perhaps I was compatible with it."
Aside from Jeanne Alter, only Azazel fully grasped what "Gasper" said, nodding thoughtfully and murmuring, "I see..."
"So, these shadows and beasts are your power? But [Forbidden Balor View] has had numerous hosts before. Why have you never appeared until now?"
Seeing no hostility from "Gasper," and reassured by Jeanne Alter's presence, Azazel's curiosity surged forth.
"I haven't always resided in this [Sacred Gear]," explained "Gasper" patiently. "This boy was fused with Balor's consciousness fragments while still in his mother's womb, causing my creation. I feel my birth wasn't coincidental... I hold strong feelings for that girl with the Holy Grail. Perhaps she unconsciously awakened its power long ago, causing a reaction with [Forbidden Balor View] that summoned Balor's fragment."
"To think the fragment of the original Balor's consciousness would inhabit an imitation of his own Evil Eye..." Azazel muttered, eagerly absorbed in Sacred Gear discussions.
Realizing the intimidating figure before them was still fundamentally Gasper, Rias and the others gradually overcame their fear, quickly becoming accustomed after brief interaction.
The domain of darkness was soon retracted by Gasper, as no enemies remained.
After Jeanne Alter was briefed by Rias and the others, she gently patted Ophis's head affectionately.
"You did great, Ophis. I'll buy you ice cream later."
Ophis didn't reply, merely closing her eyes comfortably, silently enjoying Jeanne Alter's gentle touch.
Later, Jeanne Alter helped the vampires address lingering problems caused by Khaos Brigade. They hadn't forgotten their other purpose beyond retrieving the [Sephiroth Graal].
In a luxurious room, with plush red carpets, ornate curtains, and an extravagant bed, Jeanne Alter and Azazel silently regarded the beautiful sleeping girl—Valerie Tepes, Gasper's long-sought friend, wielder of the [Sephiroth Graal].
"If Gasper heard this news, he'd probably faint from joy," Jeanne Alter teased softly, gazing deeply at Valerie. "A Longinus of three-in-one trinity. Khaos Brigade stole only one of the three cups, leaving Valerie in a near-death state instead of killing her completely."
"As long as we reclaim that stolen cup, Valerie will awaken," Azazel noted soberly. "But Khaos Brigade vanished without a trace. Despite searching relentlessly, we've found no major leads."
"Oh? You've been worrying about that?" Jeanne Alter blinked, placing hands confidently on her hips. "Leave it to me—I'll handle it."
"You can solve this?" Azazel's eyes brightened eagerly.
Jeanne Alter soon revealed her solution—a massive teleportation circle summoning none other than the legendary Evil Dragon Aži Dahāka.
"Yo! Little Crow, pleased to meet ya!"
"We're only cooperating because of Jeanne."
"Understand your position."
The three heads chattered noisily, while Azazel stared blankly, utterly stunned.
"What the heck? Isn't this the Diabolism Thousand Dragon, Aži Dahāka, revived by Khaos Brigade?"
Jeanne Alter grinned mischievously, enjoying Azazel's confusion.
"You see, inspired by Khaos Brigade stripping their dragon traits, I simply restored their dragon attributes by force."
She smiled triumphantly, explaining how she'd leveraged Chaldean Saint George's unique Noble Phantasm—[Ascalon]—reproducing his exclusive skill from the Type-Moon universe:
[You Are a Dragon.]