"No good! I knew it, but this is seriously awful!"
A blush flushed across Asia's face as she tried to deny it, "Th-That's not... I mean—yes, it's panty time!"
Despite nearly refuting it, she forced herself to affirm the bizarre declaration.
However, the perverted dragon king didn't look pleased when he saw Asia pulling out a pair of panties from her pocket.
"Wrong. I'm not in a panty mood right now. I want Asia-tan's school swimsuit."
Just shut up and take the damn panties, you perv-dragon!
I was about to protest, pointing out how there's no way Asia would bring a school swimsuit all the way to Romania, when she casually pulled one out and handed it to Fafnir. Everyone stood in stunned silence. Apparently, President Sona had noticed the way Fafnir stared at Asia in her swimsuit when she introduced him, and advised her to bring it along.
President Sona, you're incredible! Just how far ahead does your flexible mind see?!
"Fafnir, do you want to go swimming or something?"
As the misunderstanding surrounding the strongest evil dragon grew worse, Azazel-sensei suddenly pulled out a legendary item, or rather, a replica of it, said to be effective against Crom Cruach. After Fafnir devoured the swimsuit, he somehow produced a bazooka-like weapon, handed it to Azazel-sensei, and the shot was fired.
Albion, witnessing Fafnir's panty—no, swimsuit—frenzy for the first time, was on the verge of hyperventilating, while Ddraig desperately tried to calm him.
"Hah... hah... Ddraig, I used to resent you for that ridiculous title I was given. But after seeing Fafnir, I understand. There must be some kind of cosmic irony in this era that brands all legendary dragons as perverts."
"I get it, Albion! Even Ophis might've been labeled a nympho if the timing had been just slightly different. We, who stand as dragons above all yet fall short of divinity, may simply be powerless against the fate of this era."
"Ddraig... want to talk privately later, just the two of us?"
"Sure, Albion. Only those who've lived it can truly understand."
"I'm sorry for everything, Ddraig!"
"Albion!!"
...What the hell? Are these two about to reconcile after hundreds—no, thousands—of years of fighting? Well, as long as Albion's rage isn't aimed at the "Oppai Dragon" anymore, I'll just stay out of it. Wouldn't want to reignite that fire.
Anyway, the legendary magic shot, touted as a guaranteed hit, crashed into the target, sending up a cloud of smoke. But when I looked, I saw it—a man with a dragon-shaped face had caught the shot in his mouth and completely nullified it.
Not even a scratch?!
"To think you've powered up and come back thanks to the Holy Grail..." Vali muttered, wryly smiling.
But Crom Cruach's expression twisted with confusion.
"Powered up? Holy Grail? I was never destroyed in the first place. I simply left the stage when Christianity became too much of a hassle. I've been traveling the world ever since, broadening my horizons and strengthening myself."
Wait... so this guy's that strong without any enhancements?!
"He's been training this entire time... Partner, he might now rival—or even surpass—me and Albion at our peak."
Oh crap! He might be even more dangerous than Rizevim, who's considered one of the transcendents like Sirzechs!
"It's often said dragons seek battle. I've always wanted to test myself against you, White Dragon Emperor. That desire has only grown."
"Same here. But now's not the time."
Both were smiling, fully aware they loved fighting, but Crom Cruach withdrew his fighting spirit and stepped aside, allowing us to pass.
"I was merely told to delay you for ten or so minutes. If you can't go all out, then there's no reason for me to waste my time here."
And with that, the strongest evil dragon vanished.
So he's the type who only wants to fight when it's a fair match, huh?
Totally different from Grendel—that guy wouldn't care either way.
"Either way, if we can move forward without a fight, that's ideal. He said 'delay,' which means we don't have any time to waste. Let's go!" Rias urged.
We rushed down to the lowest floor's ritual chamber.
If he was only holding us off for the time requested, then something really bad is happening!
Suppressing the anxiety rising in my chest, we finally reached the ritual hall. There, at the center of a glowing magic circle, lay Valerie, her face twisted in pain.
Beside her stood that bastard, Marius.
"Valerie!!"
"Gas...per...?"
Hearing Gasper's cry, Valerie turned to look at us. We wanted to rush to her immediately, but the magical barrier surrounding the circle stopped us in our tracks.
Our' team immediately went on the offensive, but even Xenovia and Kiba's attacks couldn't scratch the barrier!
Then I'll—!
"Now, now. I wouldn't attack recklessly if I were you. If the spell structure is disrupted, Valerie's soul might be shattered right along with her."
Hearing that, I hesitated. I'd been ready to punch the barrier with Ddraig's power, but he was right. If we interfered with the extraction of a Sacred Gear fused with her soul, the worst could happen.
Azazel-sensei was already using a small magic circle to analyze the spell, but the look on his face turned grim.
"This... This protection code... It's from the God of the Bible!? How do you know a spell even we don't?! Is this another of Rizevim's gifts?!"
"That man taught me a lot—about Sacred Gears and the Holy Grail. In return, I helped him revive the legendary evil dragon."
Even Azazel-sensei couldn't break the spell quickly?!
But as the magic circle emitted its final glow, the Holy Grail appeared from Valerie's chest, and the magic circle faded.
The barrier disappeared. Gasper immediately rushed to her side and embraced her—but without the Holy Grail, Valerie's breath was fading.
Just before her life slipped away, she told Gasper: There's someone else inside you.
The source of Gasper's black power?
Even as death closed in, she worried only for him. With a smile, her hand went limp and fell to the floor.
"VALERIEEEEEEEEEE!!!"
Gasper's anguished scream echoed through the chamber. Just witnessing that scene made me feel like I'd lose my mind.
In that moment, a voice as revolting as it was out-of-place echoed through the room.
"Ah, how beautiful yet utterly farcical. I never thought Valerie had any worth beyond the Holy Grail—but it seems she had a flair for drama. Now then, Rias-sama Gremory. Would you be so kind as to let me witness your annihilation?"
"Gladly. I've reached my limit with you. Disappear!"
Enraged at Marius for mocking Gasper, we all prepared to attack. But before anyone could move, Rias had already unleashed a blast of dense destruction magic—so powerful it erased Marius from the ankles up.
Only his feet and the floating Holy Grail remained.
I thought that was it, but no—his body began to regenerate.
From deeper within the chamber, vampires emerged, wearing ecstatic expressions.
"Yes, his regeneration has improved."
"He's like a phoenix now."
"We've overcome all weaknesses—sunlight, crosses, running water, silver, all of them. A new era of vampire supremacy begins."
"No more mutts like angels or livestock humans daring to defy us."
"Indeed. We stand at the pinnacle of our race. Nothing can stop us now!"
...These guys are insane.
Like the unchecked fantasies of a child given flesh.
But then, a voice filled with hatred rumbled from the depths.
[Heh heh heh... pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.]
Suddenly, the chamber was enveloped in darkness—not just absence of light, but a writhing blackness gushing from Gasper as he held Valerie's body.
The shadows consumed his form, reshaping him into a monstrous beast.
[Let's see this "evolved" power of yours. Show me what it's made of!]
What stood there was a beast of pure shadow, shaped like a dragon.
Gasper—this is your other self?!
The vampires panicked, but Marius tried to calm them.
"Relax. That must be the real Gasper Vladi. But come now, there's no reason to fear a mere half-blood—not when we hold the Grail."
"Y-Yes... we've ascended. Nothing can—"
Before he could finish, a crocodile-like shadow beast erupted at his feet and devoured him whole.
The others retaliated, conjuring beasts and venomous creatures, but Gasper's summoned monsters were stronger. One by one, they were eaten alive.
Even escape was impossible. Their abilities—mist form, bat transformation, teleportation—all were sealed by Gasper's Sacred Gear: tThe Evil Eye that Stops the World — Forbidden Balor View.
Not even resistance was allowed.
Marius, watching it all, still wore a composed smile—until his body stopped regenerating.
"Im-Impossible! I'm touching the Grail directly! How can I not regenerate?! Gasper Vladi—are you telling me your power surpasses even the Holy Grail?!"
Azazel-sensei was the one to respond, picking his ear with a bored look.
"Maybe. But tell me—did you really think a few years of study would be enough to draw out the Holy Grail's full potential?"
Right. That makes sense. If you could master something like that so easily, you'd need to be on par with the God of the Bible.
And this guy? He's nowhere near that level.
Desperate now, Marius begged for his life, offering to use the Holy Grail to revive Valerie.
[Shut up. Whether Valerie can be revived and whether you die are two separate issues. If it's possible with the Grail, I'll do it after killing you. You have nothing to offer me but your life.]
With those words, the shadow beasts swarmed him.
Not a trace of his body remained.
As the battle ended, Azazel-sensei approached Valerie's body, holding the Grail. His expression—genuine shock.
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100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
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