Chapter 577 - 567 The Entruster and the Entrusted

Chapter 577: Chapter 567 The Entruster and the Entrusted

"It’s a promise, Issei. You have to come back... no matter what."

Yeah, I promise.

I’m definitely coming back.

I swear it.

"Let’s go, Excelia."

"Yes, let’s go. Spread your wings, Issei. Link the hearts and wills of everyone!"

Eight dragon wings unfurled from my back.

From each of the wide-spread wings, a single bit detached, arranging themselves in a ring around me.

The floating bits blazed with an intense radiance, releasing a shower of iridescent particles.

A rainbow-hued brilliance overflowed from my center—!

"Quantum Burst Full Over!!!!!!!!!!"

A new voice chimed from the jewel embedded in the gauntlet on my left arm.

At that exact moment, the rainbow particles began to bloom like the petals of a flower.

Not just this world that Asem had constructed.

Crossing worlds, crossing dimensions—reaching all realms: the Underworld, Heaven, the Mortal World, every single domain.

The rainbow petals spread infinitely wider, infinitely farther away—!

And right then, a deluge of emotions rushed into me—emotions from thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of millions of people!

"Ghh...! My consciousness is slipping away... I’m about to be swept under!"

Ignis—Excelia had said that becoming the "Vessel" would mean feeling this, didn’t she...!

The countless wills pouring into my core were wrapping around my very existence, dragging me in!

It felt just like being caught in a raging torrent!

I had no idea how much longer I could stay me!

I thrust both hands forward, pushing back the sea of searing heat that Asem had unleashed!

"Tch! You mean to push this back?! ...Impressive!"

Asem’s face twisted in astonishment.

Yet, what I managed to push back was only a fraction of an inch.

It merely delayed the moment of total destruction.

After that slight recoil, Asem’s power and mine locked into a fierce, grinding stalemate!

"Gugugugugugu... ahhhhhhhhhhh!"

"Nuuuuuu... hahhhhhhhhhh!"

Battered and bloody, we roared at the top of our lungs.

Our armor had been shattered and completely gone ages ago.

As for Asem, half of his body remained entirely missing.

The power of Trihexa should have returned by now, so why wasn’t he healing...?

Could it be that that bastard—!

As I caught on, Asem answered my unasked question with a grim smile.

"It seems you’ve noticed. Yes, I am pouring everything—both my own and Trihexa’s existence—into this single strike! The power of regeneration, and my very life as well!"

"Literally an attack risking everything, huh...! When you do it, the scale is just on a completely different level...!"

At this rate, whichever of us burns out first loses.

Even though I’ve released Excelia’s power, at this rate I’m going to—!

Excelia’s voice echoed in my mind.

"No. You are still only using a fraction of it. You haven’t forgotten, have you? What is your power? What is your desire?"

Excelia gently guided me.

My power, my desire.

What am I?

What kind of existence am I?

That’s right, I am—!

"Please! Lend me everyone’s strength! Give me everyone’s feelings, everyone’s will, damn it all!"

I pleaded, begging out loud as I screamed.

I am the Catalyst of Change, the One Who Links.

The feelings of everyone make me stronger.

I want to protect everyone, to protect this world.

And him, too...!

So please.

It might be a selfish, one-sided wish.

Even so, give me everyone’s feelings...!

"This is...! Issei!"

Ddraig shouted, as if noticing something monumental.

The very next instant, the rainbow-colored power radiating from me surged up to an entirely different stage!

The overflowing rainbow light grew denser, more massive by the second!

And with that surge, we successfully pushed Asem’s attack back even further!

Locked in our struggle, Asem realized the truth and spoke in understanding.

"I see. The power of the revolutionary, the connector. Turning the thoughts of people across the entire world into your own strength...!"

"That’s exactly what it is!"

Right now, what reached me was the voice of the Underworld.

The voices of children from the Underworld echoed clearly in my mind.

The voices of children cheering for me!

――――――Do your best, Boob Dragon!

Yeah, leave it to me, you little runts!

I’m gonna protect you no matter what!

The thoughts of everyone heightened my power.

And that heightened power unlocked Excelia’s true, dormant nature!

"Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!"

With all my might, I aimed both arms at Asem and released every single ounce of power I had!

The unleashed power of Excelia surged forward to repel Asem’s assault—when suddenly—

Pop, something snapped.

A few seconds later, my entire field of vision dyed crimson....

"What... the hell... is this..."

When I looked, the veins all over my body were bulging, bursting one after another.

That sound just now had been the blood vessels in my temples snapping.

A dizzying, incredible amount of blood poured down my face.

Asem observed calmly.

"I understand now. You released her primordial, original power, didn’t you? To be sure, her power is immense. However, your human body cannot withstand it."

Are you saying I lack the strength...!

Can’t I handle Excelia’s power after all...?!

Damn it, my entire body was screaming in agony!

Just holding this power released was making the sound of my bones cracking audible!

The wills pouring in from all over the world were trying to swallow my ego, yet without everyone’s power, I couldn’t fully release Excelia.

And yet, if I did release Excelia’s power, my physical body wouldn’t hold out.

What am I supposed to do here...!

Excelia’s voice spoke again.

"Issei, you are the ’Vessel.’ The entity into which the collective will of the world pours. But if you merely act as a passive cup, you can never truly unleash your ultimate potential. ――――Accept them. Receive the feelings of everyone, the wishes of everyone!"

"I know! I know that already! But when I try to accept them, something inside me feels like it’s going to shatter! Everything inside my body feels like it’s going to break apart into dust...!"

My mind, my body, everything felt like it was going to vanish into nothingness!

Please, my body, my heart!

Hold on at least until we get through this!

However, my wish was rejected.

Smoke began to rise from the wound on my right hand.

The moment I recognized it—my right hand turned into red particles and vanished into thin air.

It wasn’t just my right hand; smoke began to billow from all over my body, turning into red particles.

My body was disappearing...!

Why?

Am I not good enough after all?

The moment I thought that, past memories flashed vividly before my eyes.

Countless times before, I had tried to protect things and failed. Mountains of regrets.

Was I going to fail again...?

Was I going to lose everything again?

No, I refuse. I absolutely refuse...!

Somebody, please support me.

Come to my side.

Otherwise, I’m gonna—

"It’s okay, big brother."

When that voice rang out, a gentle hand was placed upon my back.

Slowly opening my eyes, I saw Miu standing right beside me.

As our eyes met, Miu gave me her usual gentle, warm smile, and called out:

"Big brother isn’t alone, you know? We are right here with you. Whatever big brother has to accept, we’ll carry it together. Right, everyone?"

Miu turned and called out to those behind her.

Standing there were Alice, Rias, Asia, Akeno, Koneko, Xenovia, Irina, Ravel, Le Fay, Rossweisse, Tia, Sara, Leesha, and Valkyrie.

Kiba, Gasper, Azazel-sensei, and old man Morris.

Vali, Cao Cao, Sairaorg-san, and Saji.

And beyond them, so many other people stood behind me, forming a solid wall of support.

Alice smiled brightly.

"You’re always doing reckless things by yourself. Whatever you want to protect, we want to protect it too. Let us share the burden!"

Rias followed suit.

"That’s right, Issei. We are family, and we are comrades, aren’t we? Whether times are happy or times are painful, we are always with you. From the past, and into the future—forever."

As if echoing their words, everyone nodded firmly.

Then, I caught sight of Kuroka standing right next to Koneko.

With a hand placed gently on her shoulder, Koneko softly whispered her sister’s name.

"Kuroka-anesama..."

"Nyahaha. Well, once it comes to this, we don’t have much choice, do we, Shiro-neko? Besides, Red Dragon Emperor-chin."

Kuroka wore a smile quite different from her usual mischievous grin.

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