Chapter 89— Clash of The Heavenly Dragons

Kusari

Xenovia-san, Yuuto, and I were nearly to where Azazel had fallen by the old school building when we felt it.

Issei’s killing intent erupted.

It spread across the school grounds.

I pushed myself to move faster after feeling it.

I pulled ahead of Yuuto and Xenovia-san by using Misstep to blink forward.

We had seen Vali betray Azazel during his fight with Katerea and strike him down to the ground.

That was right after Gasper’s Sacred Gear ability had been lifted from the school.

We were already moving that way but after seeing Azazel fall and then Vali and Katerea fly down towards him we increased our pace.

Shortly after there was another pulse of energy from an unknown Balance Breaker being activated by them.

Whoever it was must have been on our side as shortly after Katerea Leviathan was launched upwards and away from the old school building by a light spear before an explosion detonated on her body.

I was able to spot it before it happened with my Veil sight and warn Xenovia-san and Yuuto before the massive explosion rocked the schoolground and strained the barrier around us.

We were lucky that she had been sent away from the direction that we were coming from.

And now there was a massive amount of killing intent coming from Issei and the power I felt from him spiked.

I arrived near Rias and Gasper-kun, quickly checking over them while my legs burned and I gasped for breath from over using Misstep to get here.

Gasper-kun looked scared, shaken, and mostly uninjured besides some spell blocking his eyes.

Rias looked slightly injured, but it was nothing serious.

She noticed my arrival and turned to me.

“Buchou, what’s going on?” I asked before she could say anything. “What happened to Issei-san and why is he in his Balance Breaker?”

I looked around the area as I questioned Rias.

Vali was floating in the air looking down on us.

Issei stood below him, pressure radiating off of him as his armor had just formed.

Azazel-sama stood off to the side watching them, injured and missing half of an arm.

“I-Issei-senpai needs help!” Gasper-kun said.

“Vali betrayed us.” Rias answered. “He joined sides with the terrorists because he was opposed to the peace talks. He believed that if there was peace that he would not have anyone to fight, so he accepted the Khaos Brigade’s recruitment when it was offered. After Azazel defeated Katera Leviathan Vali threatened Ise’s parents in order to get him to fight.”

I looked to Issei who had just finished activating his Balance Breaker.

I knew what would happen next.

He would throw himself at Vali until one of them was defeated or dead.

He would not retreat and he would not think about pacing, positioning, or technique.

The best I could do was wait for the one moment he actually needed me and try to intervene where I could.

“Xenovia-san and Yuuto-san are right behind me.” I said. “We will need to help Issei-san in his fight with Vali-san. He won't be thinking straight and will throw himself at Vali-san without thinking of anything more than just hitting him.”

“I don’t think that's a good idea, kid.” Azazel-sama said while approaching us.

“Why not?” I asked, glancing back at Issei and Vali as they spoke while they prepared to fight. 

“Because, Omen-chan, these are the two Heavenly Dragons. This isn't a fight that anyone should try to get between.” Azazel said, looking serious for once. “Plus, Hyoudou Issei needs this. If he is able to reach further and control more of his Sacred Gear then it will help him greatly in the future. Also, I doubt Vali will take kindly to any of us trying to get in the way of his fight and I’m not exactly in the best shape right now. None of us are”

He gestured to the stump where the rest of his arm should have been.

I looked at Rias.

She looked conflicted between understanding Azazel-sama’s logic and her desire to help Issei.

Finally she looked at me.

“We will only interfere if we are given an opening or the fight goes too far. Ise is the Sekiryuuti. It is his destiny to fight the Hakuryuukou, and we need to let him do that on his own. If we don’t he may not be able to grow into the Devil that he is meant to be.” Rias said.

I did not entirely agree with the idea of it but I would stand aside, for now.

“I understand Buchou.”

Yuuto and Xenovia-san arrived then and moved to join us.

“Ah, so it is a battle between the Heavenly dragons! This is a battle that not many can claim to have seen.” Xenovia-san said as she joined our group.

“Is everything alright, Buchou?” Yuuto asked, watching Isse with concern.

“For now.” Rias said. “Vali has pushed Issei to the point where he will fight him after threatening his family. I will allow him to fight against the Hakuryuukou as the Sekiryuuti until it is nescessary to intervene.”

Yuuto glanced at Issei with concern.

“Vali really threatened his family? I can understand now why he is releasing such a killing intent.”

Xenovia-san frowned at Vali.

“That is a disgusting tactic to use to get Issei to accept his challenge.”

“Now that everyone is caught up, be quiet. They’re about to start their fight.” Azazel-sama said.

We all grew quiet as we listened to the two of them talk.

“Good, Hyoudou Issei! Look Albion!” Vali said excitedly. “His power spiked due to the rage in his heart. He’s pulling as much of the Dragon's power out as he can.” 

Albion replied aloud for us all to hear.

[It’s his strong emotions. Sacred Gear uses their host's emotions as fuel. Hyoudou Isse’s power increased due to all of his rage being directed at you. Only those who are straightforward and simple in their desires can channel the full strength of a Dragon’s power.]

“Hmmmm… so his affinity with Dragons is greater because of his simplicity.” Vali replied. 

Issei looked as if he was tired of listening as he shouted at Vali

“Quit going on about things I don’t understand!”

“Hahaha that exact reaction is why you’re known as an idiot!”

Vali chuckled before shouting back

Issei shouted in anger as the jests in his armor activated and launched him forward toward Vali.

He went straight at Vali to tackle him but he easily dodged out of the telegraphed attack.

Issei caught himself mid air and threw himself at Vali again, this time extending Ascalon from his gauntlet and unleashed a flurry of wild swings at his opponent.

Again, Vali showed the difference in experience as he dodged with minimal movements.

[Vali, be careful of that blade. It’s a Dragon slaying sword, and if one of his attacks lands it will be severe.] Albion spoke as Vali dodged.

“Good to know, Albion. However, it won’t matter if he can't make contact!”

I could see how Issei was becoming more frustrated as Vali practically danced around each of his attacks.

“Ise-san!” Asia-called out in a panic.

I turned to see Asia, Koneko, and Akeno rushing towards us.

They must have headed here right after the time stop was lifted.

“Why are Ise-san and Vali-san fighting?! What’s going on?” Asia asked, voice thick with worry as she arrived next to us.

I went to reply, but Azazel-sama answered first.

“The two Heavenly Dragons are fighting after Vali betrayed us and then provoked Hyoudou Issei into fighting. Your [King] said that you aren’t to interfere unless it's completely necessary.”

“Oh, is that so Buchou?” Akeno asked while staring at Azazel-sama and smiling cooly.

“Yes, Azazel is correct. This is a fight between the Heavenly Dragons and we shouldn't interfere unless necessary. This is something that Ise needs to do on his own. We have to believe in him.” Rias said.

She hadn’t looked away from the fight for a moment.

Her hands were clenched at her sides.

Her shoulders were tense with worry as she held herself back from rushing forward to help him.

“There.” Azazel-sama said. “Now you can all wait until later to ca–”

There was a loud crash as Vali landed a blow on Issei’s chest.

He was blown backwards from the force and his armor was cracked and damaged from the blow.

“So this is all my rival can muster? How embarrassingly weak! You're far from a match for me!”

“Ise!” Buchou shouted seeing him injured.

Asia gasped and covered her mouth.

Akeno’s smile left her face.

Yuuto grimaced.

Xenovia-san didn't react, but her eyes were locked onto the two of them with a dangerous intensity.

Gasper-kun wiped at his eyes trying to remove whatever Vali had done to him.

“W-What happened to Issei-senpai?!”

“He’s fine, Gya-kun. He took a hit, but Issei-senpai is tough.” Koneko said with a frown on her face.

[Divide!]

Vali’s gauntlet cried out and Issei stuttered in the air before activating his own Sacred Gear.

[Boost!]

“Come on now! Make this a fight to remember!” Vali shouted while firing a hail of bullets made of demonic power at Issei.

Issei tried to avoid them, but there were too many.

He was pelted across his body as he tried to protect himself.

“Your attacks are obvious, Issei-kun,” Vali said while attacking. “You just rush in and flail around with that sword. It’s such a waste of potential that you have such an amazing Sacred Gear but have no clue how to use it.”

Asia made a small whimper seeing Issei getting more and more hurt.

I used Veil Sight as I watched them.

The flow of power through both Sacred Gears was visible to me.

Vali’s was efficient, like he was extremely familiar with it and had it balanced to the point that it looked almost perfect.

Issei’s was violent by comparison.

It flared randomly, spent too much energy in the wrong place, and was like a tap turned fully open with how roughly it moved through him.

While Vali was still hurling dozens of bullets at him I saw Issei gather a massive amount of demonic power.

“At this rate the showdown between the Hakuryuukou and the–”

Issei launched himself forward again with his boosters.

He barreled through the barrage of demonic bullets.

Issei’s armor was breaking away with each hit he took.

His helmet’s mask was shattered by one of Vali’s bullets, revealing Issei’s face wearing a snarling grin.

Vali deployed a shield in front of himself as he began to mock Issei again.

“Are you just going to charge at me again? If you just repeat the same move again I’ll easily be able to–”

[Transfer!]

I saw the moment that Issei transferred a mass of his power into Ascalon and punched through Vali’s shield, shattering it and landing a blow on Vali’s stomach.

Vali bent back with the blow and his armor took a large amount of damage.

Cracks appeared across it and the mask of the helmet broke away.

“Yes! Go Ise-kun!” Yuuto cheered.

“Get him Ise-kun!” Akeno joined in as well.

“...Break him Senpai…” Koneko cheered quietly.

Rais was silent as she continued to watch the fight without blinking.

Issei moved to grab the base of one of Vali’s Hakuryuukou wings.

“Apparently, these help you store the energy you steal with your Sacred Gear. So if I break them…”

[Transfer!]

Issei staggered slightly after transferring power to Vali’s Scale Mail.

“If I give you more power than you can emit, then your armor will fail!”

Vali let out a pained voice as the jewels on his armor began to flash different colors.

The massive pressure of power that had been coming from Vali the whole fight vanished.

Vali crossed his arms in front of himself to defend against Issei’s next attack, but when Issei swung the gauntlet containing Ascalon forward to punch him, it blasted through Vali’s defenses.

Both of his gauntles were destroyed first, then the whole Vanishing Dragon Scale Mail armor fell apart.

Vali stumbled back, coughing up blood and clutching his stomach from the Dragon slaying infused attack.

But instead of frustration or despair, Vali smiled widely.

“There it is! Amazing! That sort of thing is what I would expect from my rival! Now I–”

Issei didn’t let Vali continue as he punched in the face, cutting him off.

“I won't be satisfied until I've beaten you into the ground.” Issei snarled

Before he could land another blow Vali’s armor reformed around him in a flash of white light.

“He’s recovered already?” Akeno asked.

“Vali is truly a formidable opponent.” Xenovia-san added

“In the past the battle between the two hosts of the Heavenly Dragons only ended when one was unable to continue or one fled.” Azazel-sama explained. “With the barrier still in place their fight will only end with one of them being knocked out or killed.”

“Ise-san…” Asia quietly said.

Issei paused for a moment.

“Hey, Ddraig. My Sacred Gear will respond to my feelings and can evolve from them, right?”

Then I saw it.

A white jewel, knocked free from Vali’s armor, on the ground by his feet.

Issei picked it up and spoke to Ddraig again.

“I have an idea, what do you think?”

“What is he doing?” Xenovia-san asked.

I think I knew, and it was a horrible idea

“I can’t die yet Ddraig!” Issei said. “I haven't taken Buchou’s virginity yet, so if it's just pain then I can handle it!”

“He’s taking it in,” I said.

Yuuto turned to me. “What?”

“He’s being a reckless idiot,” I added, “Though if it worked it might give him the edge he needs.”

“What are you trying to do?” Vali asked

“Hahaha! Vanishing Dragon! I will be taking your power for myself!” Issei shouted

Then he smashed his own jewel on his hand and drove the white one into place.

The reaction was immediate.

Silver-white aura flooded up his right arm.

He locked up and began to scream in pain.

Vali’s expression darkened.

“You’re trying to absorb the Hakuryuukou’s power for yourself?”

[Ddraig, what is your host doing? Our existences are opposites. This will only lead to your own destruction. Do you intend to annihilate yourself?]

Vali spoke before Ddraig could reply.

“No, it might work, or you might be right and it will just kill him. Either way, I can't let that happen.”

Vali launched forward to stop the fusion before it was completed.

If he managed to reach Issei before he could finish absorbing the jewel, Issei might not survive.

“Rias!” I shouted.

“Kusari! Now!” She replied.

I lifted an arm, already forming my spell.

I was exhausted from the fight and worn down from the hits I had taken throughout the night.

The coldness in my chest and the pain running down my arm were signs that I had already pushed myself far enough tonight.

But a regular attack wouldn't be enough to stop Vali from reaching Issei.

He was the Hakuryuukou, whatever I threw at him would get reduced to nothing if he got the chance.

So I pulled harder while forming the spell.

By the time the bolt finished forming I knew that I would regret it afterwards.

Everything seemed to slow down for a moment.

Black-violet light gathered in my right hand, compressed beyond what I had any business forcing out after the rest of this night.

It hurt instantly.

I lined up my aim as Vali rushed towards Issei.

Yuuto said my name.

Koneko grabbed my other hand.

Too late.

I fired.

The largest Baleful Bolt I had ever attempted tore across the field with enough pressure behind it that the grass blackened in its wake.

It screamed through the air at its target.

Vali turned and saw it in time.

Barely.

He was already committed to the attack and had to split his response between the shot and Issei’s transformation.

[Divide!]

The sound from his gauntlet sounded from across the field.

The bolt dimmed a fraction.

It wasn’t enough to stop it.

The rest hit him full in the side and sent him tumbling across the broken ground hard.

The field went white at the edges from pain.

My arm gave.

I bit down on the cry before it escaped, but the sound still forced itself out of me in some smaller broken form.

The sleeve of my uniform had burned open from wrist to just below the elbow.

The skin beneath looked wrong immediately.

Blackened slightly and torn in places, the nerves alive with a pain so bright it nearly made the rest of the world vanish under it.

Including the Riser Phenex battle, this was starting to become a habit.

I chuckled to myself at the thought before my knees threatened to fold.

Yuuto and Koneko steadied me

“Kusari-san—”

“It will be fine. Asia, could you help me?” I said cutting Yuuto off.

I was still standing, and that was enough for now.

Asia rushed to me immediately.

“Kusari-san your arm…” 

As Asia began her healing I felt the full extent of it.

The backlash had climbed all the way into my shoulder.

My hand would not fully close.

Koneko and Akeno were glaring at me from the side.

“Buchou said that we would intervene if necessary, and she gave me permission.”

“Oh, I heard. But that doesn’t make what happened to you acceptable, Kusari-chan.You saved him, but I think we need to talk about other options besides you repeatedly mutilating yourself.” Akeno said.

“...Kusari-senpai, I understand why you needed to do it, and someone needed to help Issei-senpai, but you’re important too.”

Akeno was smiling at me in a way that I knew that I was going to suffer later.

Koneko looked more sad than angry with me.

But the trade was still worth it.

Because Issei was still alive.

He was still forcing the white jewel into himself.

And Vali was on the ground instead of on him.

That was enough for now.

I lifted my head through the pain and looked past the blur at the center of the field.

Issei was still absorbing the jewel.

Vali was still recovering from my attack.

And between those two facts, I had bought exactly the opening I meant to.