[Venom!!]
A curse so thick it was visible—similar to the one used by Saji Genshirou in his Balance Breaker—manifested from the bits. Any Evil Dragon that entered the space began to cough up blood and fall from the sky.
Azi Dahaka watched with interest. "The dragons are suffering? Ho… this is…!"
"This is the power of Albion… of Gwiber, which you wanted to see. The poison of 'Reduction.'"
Albion took over. "My poison reduces everything that isn't inorganic. It erodes blood, bone, flesh, and even the soul. Even a God—a transcendent being—would find their very essence 'reduced' by this venom. The only being it never worked on was the Red Dragon Emperor, Ddraig Goch."
Albion continued his tale. "Meeting Ddraig changed me. I wanted to be a dragon as truly strong as him. I wanted to be a dragon who could win through strength alone, without relying on poison."
Albion's poison wouldn't work on the infinite Ophis or the dream-dwelling Great Red. But for anyone else, it was a death sentence. Yet, Albion had sought a different path: Halving and Reflecting. He had polished himself to develop those abilities.
If he hadn't met Ddraig, Albion would have just been a dragon with a nasty trick. If they hadn't met, the "White Dragon Emperor" wouldn't exist. They would never have been called the Two Heavenly Dragons.
Azi Dahaka looked at Albion. "Are you not going to use it on me?"
"I told you. It is a power I cast aside. Ddraig and I elevated each other with our fangs, our claws, our spirit, and our pure power! If I am to claim the title of Heavenly Dragon alongside him, I have no need for poison!"
That's the spirit, Albion. Because you feel that way, I can—
"Exactly what Albion said, Azi Dahaka. Or is the current us not enough for you?"
Azi Dahaka… laughed.
We lunged at each other without another word. His magic collided with my Lucifer and White Dragon powers, erasing everything in the vicinity. The shockwaves alone vaporized the mass-produced dragons. Even the Allied Forces nearby retreated, sensing the sheer danger of our proximity.
When was the last time I felt this exhilarated? When I first traded blows with Issei? No—this was even more!
I focused my 'Half' ability in front of me, closing the gap instantly to get inside his guard. Azi Dahaka anticipated the move, layering multiple barriers to block my charge. My fist collided with the barriers in a shower of sparks and lightning. I flared my Lucifer aura—and shattered the barriers through brute force!
My fist buried itself in his flesh. I felt the impact reach his organs. Azi Dahaka coughed up a mass of blood, but he struck back simultaneously, unleashing a forbidden flame that charred my armor. The sections of my suit that touched the fire disintegrated.
Ignoring the agonizing pain, I fired a point-blank burst of Lucifer's magic, vaporizing one of his three heads.
"—!"
Azi Dahaka was shocked to lose a head, but he didn't stop. He countered my rush with a kick reinforced by magic.
I parried with 'Half' and 'Reflect,' using my fists and demonic power to tear into him. He responded with every elemental spell and forbidden art in his repertoire, combined with brutal physical strikes.
My armor was crumbling, and the damage was piling up. But he had lost his left head now, and blood was gushing from his entire body. Finally, the legendary dragon dropped to one knee.
To finish it, I coordinated with the bits to rain down a massive amount of mana. Azi Dahaka deployed a defensive circle while firing off counter-spells.
In the midst of the chaos, he cast a new magic circle. It wasn't aimed at me; it enveloped him. His wounds began to close, and his lost heads regenerated.
"Healing magic…"
Regenerating lost limbs required either absurd amounts of mana or a forbidden art. Looking at his ragged breathing, he had likely used both.
He charged again, his wounds healed. We clashed once more. The more damage I dealt, the more power he threw back at me.
Segments of my armor were now beyond repair. But Azi Dahaka had lost his regenerated heads again, along with his wings and one arm. This time, he didn't heal them.
Neither of us had anything left to spare.
But—
"NOT YET!"
Azi Dahaka launched himself off the ground. I tried to dodge, but—I lost sight of him.
"Guh?!"
By the time I realized it, a searing pain shot through me. Azi Dahaka had sunk his fangs into my side!
He must have used the last of his mana for a short-range teleportation. What tenacity! What an obsession with battle!
His fangs crushed my armor and tore deep into my flesh. At this rate, he'd rip me apart!
In that moment, as death flickered before my eyes—I saw their faces. My mother, my brother, and my sister. The smiles they wore in that quiet country town.
I swore to protect them. Even if we never meet again, even if they never remember me. I made a vow!
"I… can't die here!"
"This is the moment, Vali!"
My power surged. Just as I thought I had reached my limit, a new spring of energy erupted from within.
I see. I understand now. Issei Hyoudou… this is the source of the power you used to overcome every impossible foe. This is it.
The chest and stomach plates of my armor slid open, revealing a firing port. Aura began to concentrate there, humming with a terrifying resonance.
Sensing the danger, Azi Dahaka tried to pull away, but I grabbed hold of him. If I let go now, I don't know what would happen. Even wounded and drained, he was still a legend. More than anyone, I knew what this dragon was capable of.
That's why—
"—This is the end."
[LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLucifer!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
"""Satan Lucifer Smasher!!!!!!!!!!!"""
A colossal, absolute beam of silver and jet-black light swallowed Azi Dahaka whole.
The blast subsided. All that remained was a deep trench carved kilometers into the earth and a shimmering mist of silver and black aura falling like snow.
And Azi Dahaka, on the verge of death.
He was nothing but a single head now, fading fast. Yet, even at the end, the legendary Evil Dragon wore a defiant smirk.
"...Satisfied. That was… the best fight. …Well, I'm a stubborn one. I'll come back eventually… Wait for me… for two or three thousand years… I'll definitely… come back to fight you again."
His last remaining head began to crumble into dust. Right before he vanished completely, he whispered:
"...Let's do this again… someday… Lucifer…"
Those were his final words.
He turned to dust, leaving nothing behind. Yet, even now, I felt like he was a foe who could appear before me again at any moment.
I looked up at the sky, where the silver and black snow continued to fall.
"Yeah. I'll be waiting. My rival, Azi Dahaka."
Shortly after.
"Looks like things are wrapped up over here."
A voice called out from behind. I turned to see Azazel, his twelve black wings spread wide. He looked at my new form, his eyes widening with surprise before he gave a satisfied nod.
"So that's the form you chose. It's magnificent. Much more like a 'Lucifer' than Rizevim ever was."
It's strange. Hearing that from Azazel made me feel a bit itchy, yet undeniably happy.
Maybe it was the influence of that dream world. I look at Azazel and I—
No, I'll keep it to myself. If I say it, he'll never let me hear the end of it. This is fine for now. This is enough.
But…
"Azazel."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
Azazel's eyes went wide. "Whoa, did Azi Dahaka hit you in the head? What's gotten into you?"
"Heh. Nothing at all."
[Vali's Perspective: End]
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