"I see… so we really have no choice but to fight Loki ourselves and whatever he'll throw at us."
Issei said, summing up everything he had just heard from Sirzechs and the other leaders of the Three Factions Alliance and their allies, who were all seated around the round table in the meeting room at Lucifer Castle in Lilith, the capital of the Underworld. He had gone there with Rias and Odin, whom they had personally escorted to the castle together with Azazel and Baraquiel to take part in the meeting regarding the threat of Ragnarok by Loki.
"Loki is from my Pantheon." Odin said with a heavy sigh, his usual playfulness almost entirely gone as he lowered his head apologetically to the leaders sitting around the table. "And for that, I take full responsibility."
"Don't worry about it, old man. He might be after you, but Loki's always been an Evil God, through and through," Azazel said, folding his hands behind his head. "As the God of mischief, it was only a matter of time before he stirred up troubles, especially after you publicly declared your intent to ally Asgard with other Pantheons for the sake of peace and shared prosperity. Trust me, I know how controversial that kind of decision can be to some."
"We have Khaos Brigade as proof of that." Sirzechs added. "The best we can do now is prepare. This alliance between Asgard and Takamagahara is the next big step toward bringing our world closer to true peace, the very thing we're all striving for. If Ragnarok is what stands in the way, then it's also our responsibility to prevent it."
"But can we really handle a God as our enemy?" Shemhazai asked. "When he has not only his creations, including the God-slaying wolf Fenrir, but also several Northern realms making up his army?"
"I guess we can exclude the undead from Helheim. If you ask me, I think not having to deal with enemies that are already dead is a huge relief." Azazel said with a chuckle, reminding everyone of the earlier battle. Even Issei wasn't entirely sure what had happened, though he had a feeling it had something to do with his subclass, Shadow Monarch, which was technically an advanced form of the Necromancer, one that held control over the dead. If that was the case, it would make sense why the Draugr and Hel-Walkers had responded to his presence.
What didn't make sense, however, was why they had all bowed to him when he had no connection to them. Did his powers also extend to all forms of undead, or was there something else about him that commanded their submission?
Either way, Azazel was right about them not having to worry about the army of Helheim anymore, as they had likely made up the largest portion of Loki's forces. Loki would be foolish to deploy them again knowing Issei was there to fight him, so that was a clear advantage in the battle to come.
"Still, we won't be able to expect any reinforcement from Asgard." Sirzechs pointed out in a serious tone, with Odin nodding his head in confirmation "The earlier attack by the Jotun on their realm made it pretty clear that their warriors are unable to leave and lend us their aid."
Issei understood why, having been briefed on what had happened even before arriving at the meeting. When Loki had launched his own assault on them and Odin, Asgard was struck at the same time by the Frost Giants of Jotunheim. The sudden attack had forced Thor and his army to stay behind and defend their home, leaving them unable to send help once word of Loki's betrayal reached them. The battle had been devastating, with several districts of Asgard being left in ruins and the Bifrost Bridge heavily damaged. It was clear that Loki had orchestrated everything, coordinating both attacks to divide their strength and isolate them from any divine support as he attempted to assassinate Odin.
"So we are on our own?" Rias asked with concern in her voice.
"Not necessarily." Aphrodite replied from her seat at the side of the table, raising a finger to emphasize her words. "I spoke with Zeus earlier and informed him about the situation. He's expressed interest in sending reinforcements to help safeguard the upcoming meeting between Lord Odin and the Shinto Gods."
"However, a battle between armies will leave catastrophic damage." Serafall pointed out, with Aphrodite nodding her head in agreement. "It wouldn't just destroy Kuoh. If the fighting spreads, and it will spread, the entire region will be devastated."
"Hence why we need a better plan of defense." Cid concluded, snuffing out his cigarette in the ashtray next to him. "I would like to avoid an all out war if possible. Too many innocent lives would be caught in the crossfire if this turns into open warfare.
"That means the primary target has to be Loki." Sirzechs stated seriously "We take him out, it'll be the end for his army,"
"Onii-sama, we can't postpone the meeting to another day, can we?" It was at that moment Rias decided to ask.
"Unfortunately, Rias. I don't think it will matter." Sirzechs replied with a shake of his head "If we move it to another day, then Loki will most likely wait till then to launch Ragnarok."
"And since we have no idea where he's hiding or preparing his army, postponing the meeting won't solve anything. If we want to stop him, we need to do it when we know for sure he'll show himself, which is in Kuoh, in three days." Ajuka pointed out in a serious tone.
"So you are saying that we use the meeting as bait, Ajuka-sama?"
Sona Sitri said as she entered the room with Tsubaki and Saji, who grinned and waved his hand at Issei. Smiling, the Sekiryuutei nodded back to his fellow Pawn in acknowledgment, knowing that soon they would be fighting side by side, as the Sitri Peerage had been summoned by Serafall to assist in the upcoming battle. From the look of it, it seemed Sona and her servants were all thrilled to join them.
"That's right." Ajuka confirmed. "If Loki truly plans to interfere with the meeting between Lord Odin and Lady Amaterasu of Takamagahara, he'll walk straight into our hands."
Serafall beamed, her usual cheerful demeanor returning as she looked at her sister and her servants. "Good thing my little So-tan's peerage is ready to help. With both the Gremory and Sitri households working together, we'll make sure we stand victorious in Kuoh." She said brightly, making Sona flush and lower her head in embarrassment at being called by the nickname her older sister had for her in front of everyone.
"Don't worry. It is possible for us to keep Loki and his main force from Kuoh." Ajuka said assuringly, making Issei turn his head to him just as he was about to ask if they really had to fight in Kuoh, after Serafall and Cid had pointed out it'd be best for them to avoid a direct, all-out war against Loki and his army. "I have a plan in mind that I'd like to discuss with you all later. For now, though, we need information. Anything we can gather on Loki and his army will help."
"That shouldn't be a problem," Azazel stated with a chuckle. "There's someone who knows Loki very well. We can ask him for some valuable information."
"And who are they?" Issei asked, his curiosity piqued.
"One of the Five Dragon Kings, the Sleeping Dragon, Midgardsormr." Azazel answered, making Issei and others widen their eyes at the name.
"The World Serpent?" He asked as Azazel nodded his head in confirmation "I mean… isn't he one of Loki's creations like Fenrir? Will he aid us?"
"That depends." Azazel said, leaning back in his chair. "Midgardsormr isn't exactly loyal to Loki anymore, but he doesn't side with anyone either. He's just dismissive towards anything these days. Still, he knows more about Loki than anyone here. If there's someone who can give us an edge, it's him."
"But do we know where he is?" Sirzechs asked.
"Roughly." Azazel replied. "He's been in a deep slumber somewhere in the northern seas, near what used to be his domain. It's nearly impossible to meet him face to face, but we can open a Dragon Gate and summon his consciousness to us. Even if he's asleep, his consciousness is still fully awake and will have no choice but to talk to us."
Ajuka rubbed his chin in a thoughtful manner. "That would require a massive amount of draconic power. Are you sure it's possible?"
"We have Issei here, a Heavenly Dragon." Azazel explained, gesturing his hand to Issei "We also have three other Dragon Kings and a former one on our side as well. Tannin and Tiamat will come when we call them. Fafnir is with me, so we can borrow his powers any time."
"Oh, that's right. We also have Vritra right here." Shemhazai added, drawing everyone's attention to Saji, who shifted nervously in his spot under the sudden attention he was given by some of the most prominent figures in the world.
"A-are you sure I can be of any help?" He admitted, scratching the back of his head. "Everyone else is a monster… even Hyoudou."
"Of course." Azazel said with a relaxed smile. "After all, you hold the most parts of Vritra within you, so you can muster the greatest amount of his powers, making you a factor for creating this Dragon Gate that we need to summon Midgardsormr."
"I… I see." Saji said, nodding his head in understanding.
"Let us know as soon as you learn anything important, Azazel," Sirzechs said. After Azazel had nodded his head to him in response, he then looked at Ajuka and continued "Alright Ajuka, let's hear this plan of yours. What do you have in mind?"
It was almost morning when the meeting finally came to an end, allowing Issei, Rias, and Azazel to return home at last. The other leaders had departed to handle their own assigned tasks, while Baraquiel, Cid and his team of Heroes had taken it upon themselves to escort Odin back to his hotel, which had been placed under the highest level of security to prevent Loki from making another surprise assassination attempt.
"Issei!"
"Issei-kun!"
"Rias!"
"Rias-onee sama!"
The moment the three arrived in the VIP meeting room on the sixth floor of Hyoudou Residence, several voices called out. Issei blinked as his eyes adjusted to the familiar surroundings, taking in the sight of everyone gathered around the room and realizing they had been waiting for them there all night. Akeno, Ingvild, Ravel, and Koneko were seated around the long table, while Kiba and Xenovia stood nearby with steaming mugs of coffee in their hands.
Irina and Asia, meanwhile, were asleep on one side of the couch while leaning against each other, leaving Gasper to occupy the other end, his paper bag mask half slipping off the pillow he was resting his head on. The moment they heard everyone, though, they woke up, their tired faces lighting up in relief at the sight of Issei and Rias standing before them.
"Hey, everyone. We…"
Before Issei could finish, his eyes finally caught the familiar figures standing near the windows on the far side of the room. One of them leaned casually against the wall, his silver hair catching the light, while the other stood beside him with a playful grin plastered across his face. There was also a third man, a bespectacled young man with blond hair and blue eyes, dressed in a well-tailored business suit that gave him a refined, composed air.
"…Vali?!" Issei blurted out, disbelief clear in his voice.
"Yo! Long time no see, Sekiryuutei!" Bikou greeted cheerily.
"I take it that Azazel hasn't told you about us." Vali said, making Issei turn his head around to look questionably at his Chemistry teacher, who had a relaxed smile on his face as he waved a hand dismissively in front of him.
"Vali and his team are the reinforcements I mentioned to Loki," Azazel explained. "Our enemy is a god, after all, so I asked if he'd be interested in lending a hand in exchange for a fight against a god-tier opponent. He agreed right away."
"Didn't you say you lost contact with them?" Rias asked, gesturing toward Vali.
"Surprise, surprise. I still had his number, so…"
Before Azazel could finish, Issei grabbed him by the collar, yanking him forward until their faces were inches apart. His eyes glowed a deep, ominous red as they narrowed dangerously, and the entire room fell silent as a suffocating pressure filled the air. Even Vali's grin faded slightly, his expression sharpening in interest.
"Next time, sensei, if you decide to invite terrorists into my home," Issei said, his voice low and dangerous. "you talk to me first. Got it?"
Azazel quickly raised his hands in surrender, the corners of his mouth twitching in a mix of nervousness and amusement.
"Got it, got it." He said, easing his tone. "But before you bite my head off, hear me out. We need Vali and Albion for the Dragon Gate. Without the White Dragon Emperor, it'd be nearly impossible to balance the Gate's draconic energy with you adding your own into it. Trust me, it's just a necessity."
Rias sighed, crossing her arms as Issei finally let go of Azazel, who didn't waste any time to adjust the collar of his shirt "You could've at least warned us, Azazel."
"Yeah, I'll admit that part's on me," Azazel said with a sheepish grin. "But look at the bright side. We've got both Heavenly Dragons under one roof now. That's one more advantage in the battle ahead, right?"
Issei opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, a pair of slender arms slipped around his neck from the side, causing Issei to snap his head abruptly to the side to see Kuroka smiling playfully at him while holding herself close, her half-exposed breasts pressing into his side. Koneko instantly looked alarmed, while
"That's the scary red dragon I remember," Kuroka purred, her tone playful as she tilted her head. "But why so serious, nyah? Don't tell me you're not interested in seeing me again." She pouted slightly, leaning in until her breath brushed against his cheek.
Koneko's eyes widened in alarm, her tail bristling as she stepped forward. "Nee-sama, let go of him!"
Kuroka only giggled, her golden eyes glinting with mischief. "Aw, what's with the attitude? I just wanted to say hi to my favorite dragon."
"Nevertheless, we will be joining Ragnarok to battle against Loki, whether you like it or not." Vali spoke up, turning all eyes to him as he removed himself from his spot and walked toward Issei with a hand extending forward. "So for the time being, I would like to propose a truce between us. I'll be looking forward to fighting Loki alongside you, Issei Hyoudou."
Issei just stared at the hand being extended toward him for a second, weighing his options before finally reaching his own out, allowing Vali to take it as the two of them shook hands with each other.
"Just call me, Issei." He said "And try to keep up. I'm not saving your ass if you get kicked around by Loki."
"I don't expect you to." Vali responded, smirking slightly as they released their grip.
With that, the tension in the room finally began to ease. The rest of the discussion went by without incident, with Azazel handling most of the arrangements before leaving to contact the Dragon Kings the Factions were associated with. By the time the sun had risen and morning had arrived, Vali and his team had been given the spare rooms in the basement level of the Hyoudou Residence to stay until further notice.
It was a practical decision, with Issei assigning Tempest to keep a close eye on them. Having them stayed there also put them far enough from the main floors to avoid unnecessary trouble, since it was quite clear no one in the house really enjoyed having them around.
Everyone else began to disperse soon after, heading to their rooms for some long overdue sleep. The night had been long for them, after all.
Thankfully, it was Sunday so they all could sleep as much as they wanted.
Walking beside Kiba down the stairs, Issei stretched his arms over his head, rolling his shoulders.
"You aren't feeling tired, Issei-kun?" Kiba asked, glancing over to Issei after letting out a yawn himself. "We've been up all night, after all."
"I mean… I feel fine." Issei answered with a shrug.
Now that he thought about it, he hadn't felt sleepy much recently. Every night, he only went to sleep out of habit, and not because he was tired after a day, no matter how busy it was.
His gaze then drifted on ahead when he spotted Ravel walking past the hallway, her golden hair swaying as she made her way toward her room.
"Ravel!" He called out, giving Kiba a pat on the shoulder "Hey, you go home and get some rest. We are gonna need it."
With that said, Issei quickened his pace, breaking into a job to catch up to Ravel as she stood waiting for him in front of her room.
"Yes, Issei-sama?" She asked, curiosity in her eyes as she looked at him.
"Here, I forgot to give this back to you earlier." Issei replied as the Phoenix Soul bow appeared in his hand in a burst of flame, its feathers glinting faintly as tiny fire embers fell from them to the floor. "Thanks for lending it to me."
Ravel looked between him and the bow for a moment before shaking her head lightly, a gentle smile forming on her lips.
Issei blinked, taken aback by her words. "Huh? Wait, I can't just—"
Before he could finish, Ravel continued, her hand already reaching for the doorknob of her room.
"I saw how you fought with it." She pointed out clearly. "The shot you fired was vastly stronger than anything I've ever seen from the Phoenix Soul before. Even my eldest brother couldn't draw out its strength so easily, and yet you made it look effortless."
"Besides, I have a feeling that I'll be more used to you supporting me strategically from behind the backline. I'm not much of a fighter, Issei-sama, and I want the Phoenix Bow to be of real use in the battles ahead, something that I can't do myself. At least, not the way you can, Issei-sama."
Issei looked at her for a moment, unsure of what to say as he couldn't really argue with her logic. After a moment, Issei finally gave a small, appreciative nod. "Alright… I'll hold on to it then. But once this is over, it's yours again, got it?"
"Alright then, Issei-sama."
"Have a good sleep, Ravel."
With that, Ravel opened the door of her room to step in, leaving Issei behind to return to his own room for a change of clothes.
[A fine addition to the battle ahead, partner.] Ddraig suddenly spoke up, prompting Issei to summon the Boosted Gear onto his left arm so he could talk to his dragon directly.
"What? The Phoenix Soul bow? Or Vali and Albion?" Issei asked, half-joking as he made his way downstairs. He opened the door to his room to step inside, stretching his arms out a little before moving over to his wardrobe. "I thought you would have more to say about this partnership, but you were pretty quiet back there, you know."
[And so was Albion.] Ddraig replied. [I guess… we just couldn't comprehend the possibility of our vessels actually working together for the first time ever. Every time we met in the past, it was always fight, fight, and fight.]
Issei chuckled amusedly at that, pulling his jacket off and tossing it onto a nearby chair. "I guess there's a first time for everything." He paused for a second before continuing on "By the way, Ddraig…"
[Yeah?]
"When we fight Loki... If he's really working with Khaos Brigade, there's a chance Bedelia and Sillad will show up again." Issei said seriously, holding up his arm to look at the glowing jewel in the back as if he was looking directly at Ddraig "But even if they don't show up, things escalated out of hand… we will use that technique."
[Exactly my thought as well, partner. I'll be ready.] With that, Boosted Gear disappeared, leaving Issei alone in his room before Rias entered to get some sleep.
"It's you again!" the man barked, pointing a finger at Issei, who could only chuckle sheepishly while scratching the back of his head. "You're here to tell me and my wife to leave our store behind again, aren't you?"
"I'm truly sorry." Issei said, lowering his head apologetically as the man's wife emerged from the back with an amused smile on her face, carrying a bag packed with everything the two would need while away from home. "But another earthquake will hit soon. You need to…"
"I'm not that old, brat! I still remember everything you told me the last time." The man cut him off, huffing as he slung the bag over his shoulder. "And just like before, if anything happens to my shop, I'm blaming you."
"You got it!" Issei laughed, waving goodbye as the elderly couple headed down the street. Once they were out of sight, he turned his focus back to the rows of shops and apartments around him, ready to continue helping the remaining residents who lived in the district evacuate.
The first phase of Ajuka's plan was, of course, the full evacuation of Kuoh Town. There was no guarantee the plan would work, not when they were facing an enemy as cunning and unpredictable as Loki himself, so they had decided to clear the entire town before the summit between Asgard and Takamagahara began. It was the safest course of action, in case Kuoh turned into the battlefield they were all trying to avoid.
So just like last time during the Excalibur Incident, Sona and Rias had reached out to the local authorities of the town, who were close associates with their families, to carry out the evacuation announcement. Issei decided to lend the evacuation crew his help just like before, since he quite literally had nothing better to do while waiting for Azazel to contact the Dragon Kings. His parents were among the first to be evacuated, so he didn't have to worry about them and could focus on helping the rest of the townspeople instead.
And since this was their second time, the process had been going much smoother than before. It had only been half a day, but most of the townspeople had been safely evacuated from their home.
"Issei-kun."
As Issei finished helping another elderly couple cross the street, he heard a familiar voice call out to him. Turning around, he saw Akeno waving as she approached with a small smile on her face.
"Hey, Akeno. What's up?"
"Azazel-sensei is looking for you. The Dragon Kings have been assembled, and the ritual to create the Dragon Gate is ready."
"Already? Wow, that was fast." Issei blinked, surprised.
Akeno nodded. "Everyone's waiting in the backyard garden back at home."
"Got it."
Issei said, and was about to find a secluded area to spread out his wings and take off to head home as soon as possible until he noticed the faraway look Akeno had in her eyes as she gazed across the street, toward the family of three walking together. The father was carrying his laughing little daughter on his shoulders while the mother followed close behind, smiling softly as she watched over her child. They looked happy, peaceful… unbothered and completely oblivious to the danger looming over their hometown.
"You know what? I'm just gonna walk home." Issei suddenly said, making Akeno turn to him in surprise "You wanna join me?"
"Oh… sure." Akeno replied with a small nod. The two of them began walking down the quiet street together. With most of the townspeople living in the area having already been evacuated, the roads back to their home were unusually silent except for the faint sound of the wind rustling through the trees and the distant hum of emergency vehicles.
For a while, neither of them said anything.
"Rough sleep?" Issei then asked as he glanced over to Akeno, breaking the silence that had befallen them. She was among the members who had stayed up all night to wait for him and Rias to return… or maybe she just couldn't do it knowing there were terrorists roaming around their home. Either way, it wasn't hard to guess she hadn't gotten much sleep.
There could also be that other matter too, which was rather obviously the case. Either way, it wasn't hard to see that she hadn't gotten much sleep.
"Well, not really… I mean…" Akeno trailed off, realizing that Issei had already figured that out himself.
"To be fair, I don't think anyone can sleep soundly knowing the end of the world might happen in a few days," Issei said, trying to lighten the mood with a half-joking tone, though it didn't quite land. "Still, it's kinda crazy to think that half a year ago, I was just a normal high school student in this town. Now I'm getting ready to fight an Evil God."
"You've come a long way, Issei-kun." Akeno smiled faintly at that, her eyes softening as she looked ahead.
"We all have." Issei smiled as he shoved his hands into his pockets. He then paused for a second before letting out a sigh, turning to Akeno to say seriously "Which is why I'm hoping that you, and everyone else, will go into the battle against Loki with everything you've got. We all need to stay focused and give it our all, so that when it's over, every one of us can go home together."
Akeno didn't reply to him right away. Her gaze dropped to the ground, and the faint smile she'd worn earlier slowly faded. The silence stretched for a few seconds before she finally spoke.
"I know. And I will, Issei-kun. It's just…" She hesitated, her voice softening. "Things have been… complicated lately. With my father being here…"
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Issei said, stopping and turning slightly toward her, leaning his back against the wall of a nearby house. "But… What really happened between you two? Because your father… Baraquiel-san, he doesn't seem like the kind of person who'd ever want to hurt you. Honestly, he seems to care a lot about you."
Akeno's head snapped toward him, her mouth opening as if she wanted to argue. However, the moment their eyes met, the fire in her expression faded. She looked away, her shoulders lowering as she let out a quiet sigh.
She then told him her story.
It began with a chance encounter between a human woman named Himejima Shuri and a fallen angel named Baraqiel. What started as an unlikely meeting soon blossomed into something beautiful. Against all odds, they fell in love, and from that love came a child, a girl they named Himejima Akeno.
For a time, their small family knew true happiness. Baraquiel was devoted to his wife and daughter. He did his best to be there for them, to make their life peaceful and full. But happiness was fragile.
Baraquiel's origin as a fallen angel made him enemies, not only among the Three Factions as it had once been before the Kuoh Peace Treaty was signed, but within Shuri's own family as well. The Himejima clan, known for their strict traditions and deep roots in exorcism, saw Shuri's relationship with Baraquiel and Akeno's very existence as a stain upon their bloodline.
And when tragedy struck, it did so mercilessly.
Baraquiel wasn't there when the enemies came. He couldn't protect the woman he loved or his own daughter. Shuri died that day, and Akeno's happy family was shattered with her.
For a brief time, she was taken in by her mother's relatives, but what twisted form of kindness she received was short-lived. She was only ten years old when she found herself alone in the world. For the next year and a half, Akeno wandered across Japan, surviving however she could, relying mostly on the purification techniques her mother had taught her to drive away evil spirits for people in need and keep herself alive, all the while being haunted by bitterness and the gnawing feeling of abandonment from the father she once adored.
Her life only began to change when she met Rias, who took her in and gave her a home. But no matter how much time passed, she remained chained to her past, her deep resentment toward her father for not being there, and an ache for the mother she would never see again.
"I know that I need to move on… just like how you showed me that I needed to accept who and what I was." Akeno gritted her teeth, holding up her hand as small arcs of Holy Lightning danced between her fingers "But no matter what, I just can't bring myself to face him… my own father."
Her voice cracked slightly, the light in her hand fading away. She let out a small, shaky laugh, lowering her gaze. "I'm such an idiot, aren't I?" she finished, the words barely above a whisper.
For a moment, silence hung once again between them. Akeno closed her hand, extinguishing the last spark of lightning, and drew in a slow breath.
"Maybe one day… I'd be able to bring myself to forgive him."
Issei watched her quietly. He knew that pain… the pain of losing someone, of feeling powerless when it mattered most. He didn't say anything right away, letting her words linger in the air until they settled, and watched as her expression softened, sadness mixing with the faintest trace of relief, like saying all that out loud finally eased a weight she had carried far too long.
When he finally spoke, his tone was gentle. "If that day ever comes, know that I'll be there for you, Akeno. I'll always be at your side when you need me."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she gazed at him. Slowly, she stepped forward, her arms lifting before wrapping around him. Issei smiled softly as he returned the embrace, holding her close until she finally pulled back on her own.
"Thank you, Issei-kun…" She said, smiling gently as she rested her head against his chest. "I think I needed that."
Issei grinned, nodding. "Anytime."
He said simply before offering Akeno his arm, letting her hold onto it as they walked home together. As they drew close, Issei was not surprised to see the towering figure of Tannin standing in the backyard garden of his house, his arms crossing over his chest as he had on his face a look of displeasure. There was probably some kind of barrier around the house to prevent the townspeople of Kuoh who had yet to evacuate from seeing him.
"I'll leave you to it then, Issei-kun," Akeno said with a small smile, giving him a light wave as he leaped over the fence with ease and landing on the garden floor in front across from Tannin, who finally noticed him and became way more relaxed than before. Standing near him was none other than Tiamat, who was there in her human form, something that Issei had seen while watching professional Rating Game matches with Rias, where she worked as the referee, interfering in the event of unusual circumstances like the retirement system failing.
"I'll see you later, Akeno," Issei called over his shoulder before turning his attention to the small gathering before him. In addition to the two Dragon Kings, Azazel, Saji, and Vali were also present, though based on the direction Tannin had been looking, it was quite clear that the descendant of the original Lucifer had been the target of his displeasure.
As Issei approached, Tiamat's sharp blue eyes immediately fixed on him. "Issei Hyoudou, where are my treasures?" She asked flatly.
"We haven't seen each other for a while, and that's the first thing you have to say to me?"
Issei asked, rolling his eyes at the blue-haired dragon woman, who remained perfectly calm as her piercing gaze stayed locked on him. In the back of his mind, Ddraig let out a nervous chuckle, clearly not eager to get involved in that particular conversation.
"Look, I got a lead on one of your reassures, alright? Just give me some more time and I will get it right back to you."
"Hmmm…" Tiamat hummed thoughtfully, folding her arms as she tilted her head ever so slightly.
Luckily for Issei, Azazel decided to step in before the tension grew thicker. "You're late." he said, smirking as he folded his own arms.
"Sorry." Issei replied casually with a shrug of his shoulder. "I got caught up in something way more important."
He then glanced around the garden, noting the scattered magical circles on the ground and the faint energy that lingered in the air as Azazel finished setting up the ritual. "So, how are we going to do this then?"
"Just stand in your assigned spots and start channeling your powers. I think you can guess which one is yours." Azazel pointed his hand to the magic circles on the ground, which emitted the colors of the dragons that were present. Issei wasted no time stepping into the red circle, Vali took the white, Saji went into the circle that emitted black flame, Tiamat moved into the blue, Tannin towered over the purple, and Azazel, holding the golden spear tip that Fafnir was sealed into, walked into the yellow circle.
"Alright, everyone." Azazel called out. "Start channeling."
The moment they began, the air around them erupted with raw draconic power. Magic surged from the circles, connecting them with arcs of light that formed a massive, intricate formation over the garden. The energy swirled upward, coalescing into a vortex that crackled and roared above them.
A moment later, the vortex of energy disappeared, and a massive, serpentine form began to take shape. It was translucent at first, like a spirit made of mist and light, before the glow intensified until a colossal dragon head emerged. Despite the fact that it appeared to be sleeping, its sheer size dwarfed even Tannin.
"Wha…" Saji dropped his jaw as he stumbled back a few steps in shock and bewilderment. "That's just his head?"
"Midgardsormr is known as the largest dragon ever existed. It's said that he's so big he could wrap around the world and bite his own tail, hence the name World Serpent. The Norse Gods have shrunk him down as much as they could to prevent him from being seen by normal humans, but his size is still around five or six times the size of Great Red himself." Tannin chuckled.
"And how big is Great Red by the way?" Issei couldn't help but ask.
"About 100 meters long." Tannin answered before he turned back to Midgardsormr. "As I thought… Hey! Midgardsormr, wake up!" He called out loudly. Issei was pretty sure that if he could, Tannin would have kicked Midgardsormr in the head as well to try waking him up.
"Hn? Wha?"
Midgardsormr was startled at the sudden interruption of his slumber. Slowly, the dragon opened his eyes, his mouth opened widely in a yawn before he started looking around and said "Oh… if it isn't Tannin. Long time no sees."
Midgardsormr then looked around some more, his eyes soon landing on Issei and Vali. Despite the fact that the two didn't have their Sacred Gear out, it was quite clear that he could see them for who they were. "What's this? Even Ddraig and Albion are here, Fafnir, Tannin and… Vritra too? We are just missing Yu-long, but still… Is this the end of the world?"
"No, it's not. We came here today because there are things we want to ask you, so we've invoked your consciousness in this place."
[...GU...GUGOGOGOGOGOGN...]
"Annnd he's asleep again." Issei said with a dry remark, glancing over to Saji to see him shrugging his shoulders back in response.
"Hey, stop dozing off when others are trying to talk to you!" Tannin roared in annoyance. "Seriously! Both you and Yu-Long never did anything about your lazy behavior."
"And you are always angry, Tannin." Midgardsormr said lazily with another yawn "What do you want to ask me again?"
"I want to ask you about your father and brother."
"So it's Doggy and Daddy, eh…? Okay, I don't really care about those two anyway so I will tell you everything I know. Though, Tannin… can I ask you something first?"
"What is it?"
"Why is Ddraig and Albion not fighting?"
"No, they aren't. Currently they want to join forces to defeat Loki and Fenrir." Tannin replied.
"Oh, now that's new and interesting." Midgardsormr commented with amusement shining in his gaze. "Two Heavenly Dragons putting aside their differences to fight a common enemy… Well, back to business. In terms of killing power, I'd say Doggy is more troublesome than Daddy. You'd be a goner if you were bitten by his fangs, but he does have a weakness. The magical chain Gleipnir, created by the dwarves, can capture him. You can use them to seal Doggy's movements."
Azazel was the one to reply. "We have already looked into that. But apparently, the reports from the Norse said that Fenrir himself had broken out of those chains to return to Loki, so they didn't work."
"Hmm… it could be that Daddy has somehow strengthened Doggy." Midgardsormr mused thoughtfully before continuing. "In that case, you should ask the Dark Elves of Alfheim for help. Some of their elders know a technique that can enhance the magic residing within the items the dwarves created. I'll transmit the location of the elder directly to the Sacred Gears of Ddraig and Albion."
"Vali, you're up. We need Issei here to help with the next phase of our plan," Azazel said, glancing at Vali, who gave a small nod in acknowledgment and summoned his Sacred Gear. After closing his eyes for a second, Vali then looked at Midgardsormr and nodded his head again, confirming that he had received the information.
"What about Loki? How do we deal with him?" Issei asked the question that had been pressing on his mind the most.
"I'd suggest using the Mjolnir against him," Midgardsormr said dismissively, nodding his head sagely. "But a solid blow to the head with any type of destructive force works just as well. Daddy's head isn't that hard, to be honest, so aim for the head. Yes, definitely go for the head."
"Alright, sounds simple enough," Issei said, nodding in understanding. "Thanks for the insight, Midgardsormr."
"Nah, nah. Talking like this is fun in its own way. Either way, feel free to wake me up whenever something interesting happens. I'd love to see it for myself." Midgardsormr stated cheerily. For the first time since the start of their conversation, he didn't sound sleepy.
Issei raised an eyebrow, pausing to consider his next moves, weighing his options carefully as the idea came to his mind. After a moment, he finally spoke up, as all those who were present turned to look at him, with none showing more interest than Tiamat herself.
"Well, if that's the case…"
Time flew, and even before they realized it, the day of the summit between Asgard and Takamagahara finally arrived.
"Lady Aphrodite just called. Looks like the VIPs are all here. The meeting will begin shortly." Azazel said, walking back to them to inform them of the current status of the summit.
Currently, they were standing on the terrace of the building right next to the hotel where the summit was taking place. Numerous protective barriers had been set up around and inside the hotel itself, particularly at the conference room where the meeting would soon be held, so unless Loki launched himself at the hotel with the raw power that surpassed Thor of the Norse Phantheon himself, the gods would be able to carry on with their meeting without interruption. Moreover, should the barrier of the hotel been breached, the meeting would be adjourned and everyone there would be teleported immediately to another venue.
"Everyone, get ready! The enemies are here!"
As if on cue, Baraquiel informed them all loudly as the space above the hotel, becoming briefly distorted before it split down and created a large hole that Loki himself then emerged from along with his deadliest creation, the god-devouring wolf, Fenrir.
"So, full on attack and no tricks, huh? You have my respect for that, Evil God Loki." Vali spoke as he stepped forward and looked up at Loki, who looked down at them with disinterest. Issei narrowed his eyes at that and exchanged a look with Cid, who stood next to him.
A few days ago, Loki had shown himself before them, swaggering and full of confidence. Now, however, he looked annoyed, pissed… as if something distastefully had happened to him. One might assume it was because his previous assassination attempt failed, but Issei could tell at once it was something else gnawing at the God of Mischief.
"So this is your choice, Three Factions." Loki simply replied, as Fenrir snarled while walking around on the platform of magic that its creator had created beneath their feet "It appears that as long as you all still exist, I won't be able to get my hands on Odin's life."
"… are we gonna fight or not? Or are you just gonna stand there and yap your shit off all day?" Issei asked loudly, making Loki narrow his eyes dangerously at him. "Vali!"
"Way ahead of you!"
[WELSH DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER – CRIMSON SCALE MAIL!]
[VANISHING DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER!]
Before Loki could say anything in response, both Issei and Vali activated their Balance Breakers, their bodies instantly encased in vibrant red and white dragon armors. Bursts of draconic energy exploded across their forms, and in a blur of motion, the two launched themselves into the air, heading straight for the God of Mischief.
Loki threw back his head and laughed, dark amusement echoing across the garden. "Wonderful! This is more like it! The Two Heavenly Dragons joined forces against me! I couldn't ask for anything more than this!"
As he extended his arms, attempting to tear open multiple portals to summon his army, a different portal suddenly appeared behind him, its magic circle marked with the unmistakable crest of the Maou Beelzebub. Loki widened his eyes at the sudden appearance of the green magic circle, which emitted a force that pulled him in, but before he could do anything about it, he sensed Vali coming at him from the side, and instantly reacted.
"Tch-" Clicking his tongue in annoyance, the Evil God of mischief spun around and threw up a barrier of defensive magic just as Vali streaked toward him like a blazing white comet. The collision ruptured the air with a thunderous crack, emitting a shockwave that tore through the space of Kuoh and shattering every window around them. For a moment, the barrier held before it shattered under the pressure, sending shards of energy scattering like glass.
But before Vali could press in, Loki smirked. "How predictable!" With a flick of his wrist, he released a burst of dark green magic that struck Vali at point blank, engulfing Vali and sending him hurtling back through the air.
"You're the naïve one, Evil God." Vali smirked just before he hit the ground, just as Loki was able to sense a tremendous force approaching him.
"HEY, LOKI!..."
Snapping his head toward that direction, his eyes widened even further when he saw Issei streaking at him while tendrils of water twisting and writhing around him like living serpents. The water then surged upward as Issei threw his fist out, coalescing into a massive, coiling wave that shaped itself into the head of none other than Midgardsormr, the World Serpent himself, his eyes burning with draconic fury and his fanged maw aimed directly at the God of Mischief, who was stunned at the sight.
"...Migardsormr sent his regards!"
Issei shouted as he threw his fist and the water dragon at Loki, who managed to raise another barrier just in time to shield himself from the attack. However, the force behind the blow was too much for any defensive magic to contain, and the barrier shattered instantly upon impact, allowing Issei's fist to strike Loki square in the chest, sending him hurtling through the portal in a torrent of water and crimson energy.
The world shifted instantly, and in a blink of an eye, Loki found him crashing into the ground of a barren wasteland, an endless expanse of cracked rock and earth beneath a dull, dark sky. A faint, oppressive wind carried the scent of ash while lightning split the distance, briefly illuminating the emptiness. It was desolate, lifeless, and completely cut off from the world they had just left.
Loki snarled as he regained his footing. Before he could fully pick himself up, however, Fenrir came flying through another portal and crashing down behind him, his form a massive silhouette being struck with arcs of purple and holy lightning, writhing in restrained fury. Several magic circles flashed behind Issei as Vali, Cid, Rias, Sona, Azazel, Baraquiel and their respective groups arrived in the barren land, gathering around Issei as they stood facing Loki and his most dangerous creation.
"This is the special dimension Ajuka made." Issei said, smirking behind his helmet as he took a stance beside Vali. "Somewhere we can put you in and go all out without having to worry about anything. You won't be able to interfere with the summit of the gods now."
"Then I'll just trample over your corpses to get there." The Evil God declared, his eyes blazing with fury as he extended his arms and tore open the space to summon his army.
Issei smirked, his aura flaring violently along his crimson scales. "You're welcome to try."
And with that, Ragnarok had officially begun.
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Race: Reincarnated Devil / Dragon
Class: Level 50 Dragonsworn / Level 42 Shadow Monarch
HP: 26,241/26,241
MP [Current Attribute: Draconic/Demonic] : 9250/9250
Link Gauge: 120/120
Title: Champion of the Dragons
Strength: 280 (28)
Vitality: 224 (22)
Intelligence: 247 (25)
Dexterity: 229 (23)
Perception: 204 (21)
Charisma: 200 (21)
Unique Class Skills: Fire Imbue (LV3), Shadow Extraction (LV1), Shadow Storage (LV1), Karma (LV1), Shadow Exchange (LV1).
Active skills: Doubling (LV4), Transfer (LV4), Penetrate (LV4), Sprint (Max Level), Vital Slash (LV1), Observe (LV2), Ruler's Hands (LV1), Phoenix Shift (LV2).
Active spells: Fire balls (LV4 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Firewall (LV4 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Lightning Strike (LV2 – Lightning Dragon Pact Affected), Water Blast (LV2 - Water Dragon Pact Affected), Earth Shield (LV1), ...
Current Pacts: Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) – Pact LV3, Chaos Karma Dragon Tiamat (Fire) – Pact LV1, Rassei (Lightning) – Pact LV1, Ingvild Leviathan (Water) – Pact LV4, Midgardsormr (Water-Poison) – Pact LV1.
Current Shadows: 520 / 550 (Wolves 29. Panthers 18. Shadow Troopers 118. Shadow Elementals 27. Magicians 34. Shadow Elves 42. Fallen Angels 13. Orcs 69, Soldier Ants 170)
Elite Shadows: Asterius (Knight), Vulcan (Knight), Tempest (Knight), Lycaon (Elite Knight), Tora (Elite Knight), Blade (Elite Knight), Gladio (Elite Knight), Glacia (Elite Knight), Katerea (Elite Knight), Aegis (Elite Knight).
Exclusive Items: Boosted Gear (LV5), Razan's Blade (LVMAX), Magitek General's Helmet (LVMAX), [High-ranking Demon] Armor Set (LV1), [Obsidian] Jewelry Set (LV1), Kamish's Awaken (LV?), Key to the Demon's Castle, Ascalon R1 – repaired (LV40), Staff of Avarice (Given to Glacia), Yarn of Ariadne.
Potions: Healing Potions x15, Mana Potions x15, Greater Healing Potions x10, Greater Mana Potions x10, Miracle Potions x3…
Gold: 10.123.320 (G)
Ultimate: Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker – Boosted Gear Crimson Scale Mail (LV.2 – Pact Affected), Soul Link (LV1).
Finisher: Rage of the Fire Dragon (Crimson Scale Mail), Twinflare (Soul Link – Bishop Promotion), Hammer and Anvil (Soul Link – Rook Promotion), Draconic Assault (Soul Link – Knight Promotion)
Tower of Ascension sigils: Sigil of the Shadow Commander – Igirs (Incomplete), Sigil of the Shadow Ice Bear -Tank (Incomplete).
End of Chapter 43