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Above Itogami Island, the protective barrier Bokue had deployed with a single step operated stably and slowly, firmly blocking all aerial assaults outside. Endless magical bombardments like torrential downpour couldn't even make the barrier emit slight rumbling.
Like drizzling rain falling on absorbent sponge—vanishing without trace in the blink of an eye, not making a single sound.
"That's..."
Below in the meeting room, Vali—who'd wanted to intervene but was pressed back down by Bokue—narrowed his eyes, looking through the window toward the sky above. He couldn't help muttering to himself.
"Could it be Juggernaut Drive?"
Due to the defensive barrier's obstruction, the sky's specific situation was somewhat unclear.
But through gaps between barrier patterns, he could still faintly see that massive dragon form above.
As the strongest White Dragon Emperor throughout history, Vali knew clearly this was something only achievable after using Juggernaut Drive.
But the problem was... this guy never used his Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet, right?
"No, probably not."
As if hearing the silver-haired youth's self-muttering beside him, the red-haired Maou who'd also come to the window looked up at the sky's scene, gently shaking his head.
Then Sirzechs raised his hand, pointing at somewhere in the sky.
In his indicated direction, a figure—appearing somewhat small due to excessive distance—stood atop the barrier.
"See it?"
"...What??"
Vali initially didn't react. But when following the red-haired Maou's indicated direction to clearly see that human figure, he suddenly opened his mouth slightly. Somewhat shocked expression froze on his face.
That was undoubtedly Bokue himself.
But... how was that possible?
If that was Bokue, then what was the red heavenly dragon in the sky?
After all, whether Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet or White Dragon Emperor's Light Wings—bluntly speaking, essentially similar to Kamen Rider's transformation devices.
Simply put, whether transforming into Invincible Gamer or God Billion, body size could vary—but you yourself always remained inside as the person within.
How could it directly separate like this??
"So, want to go up together for a look? Though Bokue doesn't want us interfering, just going over to watch the excitement—he probably won't say anything."
Noticing his "godson's" expression changes, beside him Azazel spread his hands suggesting.
"Of course, considering the danger level of combat above, just us old guys going up is fine. Young people should remain below."
"Hmph..."
Without excess words, Vali directly used actions to replace his answer.
His White Dragon Emperor's Light Wings suddenly unfurled behind him. Leaping out the window, he transformed into a reverse-falling meteor soaring skyward.
Seeing this, Azazel could only smile somewhat helplessly.
"Alright, then let's depart too."
Words settling—the next second, several more streaming lights soared skyward.
❁❁❁❁
Scene switch—thousand-meter altitude above.
Bokue no longer stood in air. Rather, he sat cross-legged atop a red dragon head.
Looking backward, the massive mountain-like dragon body extended a hundred meters, blocking sun and sky. Its spread wings—merely lightly flapping—could stir hurricanes capable of shaking the earth.
"Haah... hah... mmm, where is this?"
Seemingly having just awakened from prolonged slumber, Ddraig immediately yawned several consecutive times. Not until sensing the nearly negligible weight atop his head did he suddenly recover.
"Ah! You're that guy... why are you sitting on this great one's head! Wait, where'd I get a head from? Plus, what's this situation??"
"Simply put, I revived you."
Bokue propped up his cheek, tone casual.
"Revived??"
Ddraig's tone instantly rose a major step.
Though he didn't need speaking through his mouth—more similar to resonating through structures within his chest cavity—due to excessive shock he still instinctively opened his dragon maw wide.
"Wait, what are you saying... wasn't I already with Albion during the three-way war when we..."
"You just lost your body—your soul didn't dissipate."
Bokue continued explaining.
"So I helped remake a body for you first. Then extracted your soul from the Sacred Gear. Then stuffed it into the finished body. So aren't you revived?"
Huh?
The young man's description sounded like explaining how to put an elephant in a refrigerator. So much so that Ddraig momentarily forgot shock, instinctively nodding along.
"...Sounds somewhat reasonable."
"Right?"
Bokue shrugged.
"Mmm..."
After full four-five seconds of silence, Ddraig suddenly recovered.
"Wait! Where's the logic?? Plus, you... I remember now! You're this generation's host, right! The one constantly suppressing my consciousness, keeping this great one unable to wake!"
"Yeah, that's me."
Bokue accepted with absolutely no psychological burden.
"Why??"
Ddraig couldn't take it anymore.
He was the magnificent Red Dragon Emperor! In life, one of the Two Heavenly Dragons. Even after being killed and made into Sacred Gear, still a legendary Longinus. So many people wanted obtaining him! Previous hosts all prayed to him for power!
Yet reaching this generation's host—completely ignoring him wasn't enough. Even directly suppressing his consciousness.
Is this your attitude toward the magnificent Lord Ddraig?? This quiet and you still want Balance Breaker??
Oh wait, someone indeed didn't want it.
"Because it's disgusting." Bokue's knuckles lightly tapped the dragon skull below. "Just imagine someone twenty-four hours daily knowing everything you do, constantly able to probe your memories and emotions. Isn't that explosive?"
"Really?"
Ddraig seriously considered.
"Mmm, feels okay... previously I fought Albion daily. Even with spectators... no, having spectators is normal. After all, with our battles' scale, basically visible from any distance."
"...That's you."
Bokue suddenly felt the urge to punch his dragon head.
Logically speaking, his daily life wasn't entirely fighting with nothing else.
Even back when traveling Shenzhou looking for fights, most time was spent journeying. Eating, drinking, sleeping were daily life's main threads. Plus, occasionally Kuroka pestered him to "have a round."
If additionally having a dragon chattering as narrator—that would be far too explosive.
Moreover, he didn't like broadcasting his private life to others.
"Well, let's temporarily table this discussion."
Ddraig slightly raised his dragon head, looking at skybound light cannons bombarding toward him. Suddenly raised quite constructive question.
"By the way, are we currently on a battlefield?"
"..."
Though radicals' attacks were already quite dense, before the magnificent Two Heavenly Dragons they were merely drizzling rain. Barely made Ddraig notice.
"Yes."
Bokue was succinct.
"Currently angels, Fallen Angels, and devils are conducting peace negotiations. What you're seeing now are radicals wanting to stop peace negotiations from completing."
"Oh right, incidentally White Dragon Emperor also came. Though he's currently still Sacred Gear state. Only you've revived. So after resolving these small fries, you can go mock him mercilessly."
Mmm...
As the young man's words fell, deep prolonged dragon roar echoed through the sky dome.
"Excellent. Give me ten seconds."
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