Arriving at the hotel, I sensed something off—multiple presences.

I was supposed to teleport to the restaurant with Ravel after the exam, where everyone was waiting. But they weren’t there. I felt their presences elsewhere, mixed with others.

A bad feeling hit me, and I rushed to them.

Now, here we are.

Xenovia, Sensei, Kuroka, and even Vali lie bloodied and defeated. Irina barely escaped.

“Everyone!” I shouted.

“What’s happening!?” Alice yelled. “Miu-chan, heal Azazel-san!”

“Koneko-san, how’s Kuroka-san!?” Ravel called.

Miu, Alice, and Ravel rushed to the wounded. I left healing to Asia and Miu.

Before me stood Cao Cao, the Hero Faction leader, wielding a glowing spear. Georg, who once battled Miu, was there too. And… a creature—half fallen angel, half dragon.

What’s this aura? This chilling pressure… like I mustn’t touch it.

[“This thing… its overwhelming malice toward dragons!”] Ddraig’s voice trembled.

It scares a Heavenly Dragon!?

“Well, Red Dragon Emperor, you’re late,” Cao Cao said, clapping. “Congrats on your high-class devil promotion.”

“Thanks,” I replied. “So, why’re you here? Not to celebrate, I bet. This mess says it all.”

CRASH!

A vase in the lobby shattered. “Cao Cao… you hurt my friends, my Sensei!” My killing intent cracked the floor and walls. Red aura surged, shaking the hotel.

I summoned my gauntlet and donned my armor.

Cao Cao grinned. “Looks like your Sacred Gear’s working now. But if you go wild, it’ll disrupt Samael’s control. Georg.”

“Got it,” Georg replied, activating a magic circle.

What’s he planning?

Azazel, bleeding, shouted, “Ise! Careful! That’s Samael, the ultimate dragon-slayer! It trapped Ophis and took down Vali! Attacks don’t work!”

What!? Vali’s that injured? And Ophis too?

Those tentacles from the creepy dragon-angel… they’ve got Ophis? And attacks don’t work? What kind of cheat is that!?

Samael’s right arm turned toward me.

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Tentacles shot out with a sound that shook the air. If they got Vali, I’m done if they hit me!

[“My turn, then? Show them a real cheat.”] Ignis spoke.

Right. Ultimate dragon-slayer or not, I’ve got the strongest big sis!

“Burn to ashes!” I deployed Ignis, cloaking its blade in scorching flames, and slashed at the tentacles.

SLASH!

The fiery strike obliterated the tentacles and engulfed Samael in flames.

[“OOOOOHHH…”]

Samael wailed in agony, but Ignis’s flames mercilessly consumed it.

“What!?” Cao Cao’s eyes widened, shocked.

Georg, Rias, and the others looked stunned too. Azazel had said Samael was a big deal.

[“Ise, save Ophis-chan. Something’s being done to her.”] Ignis urged.

The black mass holding Ophis pulsed, draining something. I don’t know what, but I need to act fast—my time with Ignis is limited.

I approached the mass, sweating from the dragon-slaying aura. Gotta end this quick.

I raised Ignis and slashed the tentacles.

SNAP!

The tentacles broke, the mass vanished, and Ophis appeared, seemingly unharmed.

“Impossible… you cut Samael?” Cao Cao stammered.

Georg, dazed, answered, “About three-quarters of it. That’s most. We can’t keep Samael here longer.”

The magic circle sustaining Samael dimmed.

Cao Cao looked relieved. “Good enough.”

He snapped his fingers, and Samael, still burning, sank into the circle, groaning.

What happens to it now?

[“It’ll burn to ashes, as promised. With those restrictions, maybe a month to fully incinerate its body and soul.”]

Ignis is the real cheat. Just a fraction of her power…

I stowed Ignis, the hotel’s temperature dropping. Ophis looked fine, but…

She glared at Cao Cao. “My power was taken. Was that your goal?”

What!?

We froze. Cao Cao just grinned.

“Yes, Ophis. We wanted to control you and use your power. But you’re hard to manipulate—unlike the Red Dragon Emperor. So, we changed our approach.”

He pointed his spear skyward. “We took your power to create a new ‘Ouroboros.'”

Azazel, still bleeding, coughed, “They used Samael to strip Ophis’s power and create a new one…”

Cao Cao nodded. “Exactly, Governor. We wanted an Ouroboros that suits us. Great Red’s not that important to us, and we’re tired of appeasing it. This plan tests our Hero Faction’s ideal: can mere humans defeat an infinite being?”

“Impressive, erasing infinity like this,” Azazel said.

“Not erased. We need a symbol to gather power. Ophis was perfect for that, rallying forces. But an unpredictable dragon god isn’t ideal for control.”

“Very human thinking,” Azazel remarked.

“An honor, Governor. I am human,” Cao Cao smirked.

Create a new Ophis with her stolen power?

Cao Cao pointed his spear at me. “Business done, I’d leave, but… how about a spar, Red Dragon Emperor?”

“Picking up from Kyoto?” I asked.

“I didn’t see your second-stage Balance Breaker then. Show me.”

“So, that’s your Balance Breaker.” A radiant halo and seven orbs floated around him.

His aura’s calm but denser than before.

“Still in adjustment, incomplete,” he said.

Kiba shouted, “Ise-kun! Each orb has a unique ability!”

“Seven abilities? That’s insane!” I said.

“Says the guy with that sword,” Cao Cao quipped.

Sure, Ignis is wild, but seven abilities? And I can’t tell them apart.

Guess I’ll test them.

CRACKLE!

Sparks flew around me. Boosters appeared on my shoulders, arms, and legs, reshaping my armor.

“This is my second-stage Balance Breaker—Tenbu. As you wanted.”

Can’t use Tenbu’s full power in this cramped space with injured allies.

Cao Cao studied me. “Different from Juggernaut Drive. Unlike any past wielder. I’ve seen many Sacred Gear users, but none evolved like this.”

“I’m one of a kind. Here I come!”

We both entered the Zone simultaneously.

[“Accel Booster!”]

[“BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBoost!!”]

Doubling my power, I blasted aura from my boosters, charging Cao Cao with a fist.

“Faster than expected!” he said.

“Not just fast!” I unleashed a boosted punch.

He blocked with his spear, redirecting my attack. The force shattered a pillar.

I spun, firing multiple energy blasts.

“Scary! A direct hit would end me. Mani,” Cao Cao said. An orb created a black vortex, swallowing my blasts.

They reappeared near Asia!

“Alice!” I shouted.

“Got it!” Alice stepped in front of Asia, slicing the blasts with her silver spear.

I exhaled. Close call.

“Ise! Don’t attack recklessly!” Rias warned.

“Got it! Miu, strong barrier!” I called.

“Everyone, group up!” Miu said.

They gathered, and Miu deployed multiple spatial barriers, blocking redirection or teleportation. Miu and Alice could handle threats.

One orb down, six to go. This is trickier than I thought.

Looking at Cao Cao, I saw glowing humanoid figures—eight, all wielding spears.

“Gishi—creates clones,” Cao Cao said.

“Like Kiba’s new Balance Breaker,” I noted.

“Haha, maybe. I’m curious about Kiba’s ability, but that’s for another time.”

The clones attacked, spears spinning from all directions. I dodged, landing punches. Some evaded, but direct hits erased them.

“Not as skilled as Kiba’s,” I said, parrying a spear from Cao Cao himself.

“It’s in adjustment. Needs work,” he said. His right eye glowed gold, and my gauntlet began to petrify.

That eye’s not just healed—it’s something else!

I shattered the gauntlet, regenerating it. His spear pierced my shoulder.

“Gah!”

“I told Azazel—it’s my new Evil Eye,” Cao Cao said.

I fired an energy blast, but he deflected it.

Glancing at the hotel clock, he muttered, “Time’s up.”

He returned to Georg, deactivating his Balance Breaker.

Time?

“I enjoyed your second-stage. Interesting, but simple,” he said.

Simple, huh? Compared to his versatile abilities, maybe.

“Georg, where’s Ophis’s stolen power being sent?” Cao Cao asked.

“To our research facility, programmed during the summon,” Georg replied.

“Then I’m heading back.”

Vali, bleeding, stood. “Cao Cao, why not kill us? With your Balance Breaker, you could’ve wiped us out before Ise arrived. Sealing Asia’s power would’ve ended the Gremory team.”

Cao Cao paused. “I added a no-kill rule to test control. Honestly, my Balance Breaker needs more tuning. I used this to study its strengths and weaknesses.”

“You’re underestimating us,” Vali growled.

“Aren’t you the same, Vali?” Cao Cao shot back, then looked at me. “Red Dragon Emperor, we’ll meet again soon.”

“Running?” I asked, clutching my shoulder.

“It’s time. And… I’d have won this round.”

I couldn’t deny it. Tenbu’s power is explosive, but it’s useless if it doesn’t hit. Like in Kyoto, Cao Cao’s skill outclasses mine. With his Balance Breaker and Evil Eye, it’s beyond a simple power-up.

I’d have lost.

“Georg, call the Reapers. Hades wants the weakened Ophis. Try the swap teleport with me and Siegfried,” Cao Cao said.

Reapers? Why?

“It’ll work,” Georg said.

“As expected from Mephisto Pheles’s descendant, Dr. Georg Faust,” Cao Cao praised.

“My ancestor’s legacy is heavy,” Georg muttered, handing Cao Cao a paper.

Cao Cao’s eyes narrowed. “So, the Old Demon Kings repay aid like this. Expected, but they cooperated enough.”

What happened?

Georg vanished via a magic circle. “He’s outside, preparing my swap with Siegfried,” Cao Cao said. “Soon, Reapers under Hades’s orders will arrive for Ophis, with Siegfried. If Hades takes her, what happens? Protect her and escape. I’d prefer the Two Heavenly Dragons survive, but I won’t stop my team or the Reapers. Be careful.”

With that, Cao Cao turned and left.

“You’ll regret not finishing me,” I said.

He smirked and disappeared.

————————–

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