(DxD: Black) Ch. ???: LxLxL

"...!"

"Alice, is something to matter?"

"No... Nothing." I lied. There's something going on, and Divine Dividing reacted to it just like me. What was that? We're still in the Dimensional Gap, yet something reached from so far away and in a place not even causality works well. I know I should be excited since this only means something big is coming up, but why can't I stop trembling? Any ideas, nii-chan?

**{...}**

Vali-niichan?

**{ALICE, YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED THIS BY NOW, BUT THIS FEELING IS INDEED THE FEELING OF A DRAGON AWAKENING. AND NOT JUST ANY DRAGON, BUT ONE WHO HAS A SIMILAR AURA TO MINE.}** Arubin spoke inside my mind, and I gasped in surprise for that. Wow, does that mean a potential heavenly dragon awakened just now? That's awesome! But what's with that feeling of dread? Not even near... What's-his-face, the Heretic Plague Dragon, or that Oliver dude, the current Sekiryuutei, I felt that. Not to mention, he did not speak, but Nii-chan's nervousness is kinda creeping onto me.

"Really! That's really rad! Let's go wherever it is and check on it!" I spoke, but suddenly something inside my heart made me sit back on my spot. What's that about? It's nii-chan again! He's somehow holding me down on place. "W-What? Hey, what's the big idea, nii-chan?"

**{Brat, if you want to live long enough to try to surpass the likes of The previous Lucifer's son and the Singularity, I can only say to let this one pass. Trust me, you don't stand a chance, she needed to be sealed by Issei Hyoudou himself plus one of his daughters in order to be put under control.}** Haaaaah~?! What's thaaaaaat~?! Nii-chan is telling me to not to fight someone?! What kinda of witchcraft is this? He saying he's actually a girl in this universe is more believable than that! What makes you think I won't defeat this new treat?! Didn't I say I want to surpass you, and you support me in this idea 'til the end?! **{Heh, even I wouldn't be able to defeat that at your age. Because... This new thing that has awaken... Is my daughter.}**

"Oh, ya mean that nekomata girl you had with Kuroka-ane? She doesn't seem that strong."

**{WATCH YOUR MOUTH TALKING ABOUT MY DAUGHTER!}** Whoa~! I was just joking, but Nii-chan is also a doting daddy~! We're learning a new thing everyday! However, he soon cleaned his throat, recomposed himself and began to talk again in his usual smug self. Heh; no, you already lost, Vali. **{\*COUGH!\*, yes, Kurohana is one of them, and very good in the arts of senjutsu. But there was another one, as you know. One who... Could pretty much match with me despite being just a little girl. The one I'd have loved to fight before... That. I wonder what the rulers of the underworld are thinking, unleashing Lilim now...}**

"Tch. Who knows." I sighed, sitting back on my place and looking at the kaleidoscope environment of the Dimensional Gap. Nii-chan's daughter, the spawn of the fake Ouroboros dragon Lilith... According to him; she's stupidly pretty, and strong too! I want to fight her one of those days... But I also value my life, and since nii-chan says it, I guess a no's a no. "Fine, then. I'll leave that one alone. But! If we ever cross paths, I'll fight her!"

**{And I'll be there to help both of you. Stay alert, Brat.}**

"Aye, aye, sir." I said to the shine on the back of my right hand, and it soon vanished. Huhuh~, man, I'm this close to snap into something, and I dunno what.

"Lisa, are you taking to Lord Albion or Lord Vali again?" And snapping me out of my stupor, Morgy called for me on the plaza of the ship, standing right where the ceiling of this dimension should be... Or maybe it's the wall? The dimensional Gap is a tricky place to pin down!

"Yep, but nothing much. Something about... The underworld or blah-blah-blah. Don't you worry about that, Artie." Because if you do, you'll be just one more pulling me down on my ass, and I don't want that. She sighed, and instead held on one of her hands a small golden rune. Oh. "Oh, what's that?"

"It's a signal the ship received from the human world. Apparently, someone with quite the power is trying to summon us by using dragonic runes and pinpointing the Divine Dividing." Holy cow! To pinpoint Arubin and I inside the Dimensional Gap is quite the feat! No doubt the sender means business! I stood up from where I was sitting and turned with dreamy eyes to my girlfriend(jk!).

"Really? Really really?! A signal that reached me in the Dimensional Gap! This being must be a first-rated one!" I said with so many expectations! "What is it says?! I bet it wants to fight me or something!"

"It doesn't say anything, but it's coming from the human world, and wants to talk with you. Shall we be going?"

"Yes! Of course! Hahahahah!" I laughed, using my Divine Dividing to fly all over the ship and then land... **\*CAHAM!\***, crash into the front of it(I really need to learn how to land one of those days!), putting my foot down on it's head and giving the command. "Okay, Ryuutenmaru! To the human world we go! FULL SPEED AHEAD!"

It said nothing, only wailed as it turned to another direction and followed it's path back to them human world! Whatever is calling; I'm eager to find and fight you, and maybe get my head off the lost opportunity nii-chan made! Hah! No matter, I'm my excited now! Let's see who's behind this signal!

I can only hope I won't be that bored until I meet the heretic dragon again, whatever his name was!

.

~~X~~

.

"...!"

"Oliver-nii, is something wrong?"

"No... It's nothing Suruga-kun." I lied. There's something going on, and Boosted Gear reacted to it just like me. What was that? Here in our new condo in Kuoh, something reached me and my Boosted Gear. I don't know what it is, or why can't I stop trembling? Any ideas, nee-chan?

**(...Lilim?)**

Robertina-neechan?

**(YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED THIS BY NOW, BUT THIS FEELING IS INDEED THE FEELING OF A DRAGON AWAKENING. AND NOT JUST ANY DRAGON, BUT ONE WHO HAS A SIMILAR AURA TO MY RIVAL.)** Ddraig spoke inside my mind, and I gasped in surprise for a moment. Wow, does that mean a potential heavenly dragon awakened just now? So, that what's with that feeling of dread? Not even near Sasamoto, or the Hakuryuukou, I felt that. Not to mention, the name Robertina-nee just spoke. Lilim? It's a name that gives nervousness onto me.

**(Oliver, you remember who the previous Hakuryuukou was right.}** Um, yeah?! Lord Vali, the strongest White Dragon emperor in history, if i'm right. **(Yes, the thing that just awakened... Is Uncle Vali's own daughter.)**

.

~~X~~

.

So, the daughter of the Strongest Hakuryuukou who ever lived and his maiden, the fake Ouroboros dragon of infinite, Lilith. Sealed inside the entrails of the Gremory mansion, by several ribbons holding her presumedly immense power back, with both the powers of the Vanishing Dragon and the infinite of The dragon deity Ophis. I gotta say, it has been a hell of a year ever since Rina-chan started a peerage and, no matter how you look at it, this goes beyond anyone's expectations, to be visiting here of all places. I turned to bro who has been contemplating this place for quite some time...

"**Lilim... Livan... Lucifer**, Lord Vali and Lilith's daughter..." She repeated over and over again, looking at the same time frightened and mesmerized by the figure crucified by the other side of this place. Can't blame him, I'm a little surprised and honored myself to be here.

"Yep, that name is a pretty sick joke when you think about it. Lotta Ls though. Is too" I laughed nervously, not even bothering if he got that or not, as we all turned to the girl that now and then was twitching and moving a little on her resting place. If my dear Nero passed the message right, then Zenjirou must know what to do. "However; we're not here to discuss ridiculous names..."

"If we were, I can think half a dozens on top of my head..."

"Akio...!"

"Ma'just sayin'..."

"Nashiro-chan, can you read her aura? Anything abnormal?" I said to the Oppai-loli nekomata, who walked to my side and blinked her eyes a few times looking at her... Cousin by the other side. I don't know how, but nowadays Lilim began to act that frenetically, and every time that I pass around that part of the Gremory territory, I can her hear in a way that I can't explain. She can only be reacting to the Heretic Dragon and the new Sekiryuutei and Hakuryuukou. Zenjirou already reached both **[BALANCE BREAKER]** and **[JUGGERNAUT DRIVE]**, and even has a fragment of the Boosted Gear's powers, so maybe that was the reason why she's so unquiet these past months. I turned to Nashiro-chan. "So? Any news?"

"Yes, nyan. Lilim's energy seems to really want to get out of the seals, so much it is actually trying to implode itself away, nyan." She said turning back to me, then to the Brass dragon. Strange minds think alike indeed, while his grey eyes contorted in a confused frown, only to blink once.

"Let me guess, I'm probably the one to blame, or something I did with my Destroyer Astra and Boosted Gear jewel is making Lilim react like that." Those mean the same thing, you dummy. Akio, Basara and Xion came closer to him, as he unsummoned his Sacred Gear back into his body.

"Pretty much, Zenjirou-kun. You might not believe, but a link between souls is stronger than you might give credit for, even if it's just a fragment." Akio said with a small spark coming from her palm, courtesy from her grandma. "It might be because of the Sacred Gear; it might be because Hyoudou Issei's Essence lies in it now thanks to the jewel. The thing is, Lilim is reacting to it, and if this continues, well, we'll have a God-class walking nuclear silo going around the underworld."

"OH Okay. I already almost died a few times, let's see if this time things go right." He frowned and summoned his crimson-tinted Destroyer Astra with Ascalon and Naegling again, his voice dripping with sarcasm. However, I did such a face he soon dropped his usual snarky self, and began to charge his own powers, taking deep breaths as his destroyer astra began to announce his **[BOOSTS]**. "Okay, I'm good to go. Amurokros said I'll be able to enter Balance Breaker in a few moments. So; what's the plan? Ask nicely for her to not wreck the place seems to be out of question."

"There's only one way for us in this, Oppai Eater: we must eliminate her." Ortlinde said with a serious voice, pointing at Lilim and frowning from her stand point. Zenjirou seemed to want to counter again his ridiculous nickname; but he seemed to just quiet down when the silverette gave him her serious stare. She pointed again at the descendant of the White Dragon Lucifer, and snapped her fingers. "Her seals is getting weaker by the second, but they're still trying to suppress the immense power inside of her. We must unseal Lilim at once and defeat her before she starts to stabilize and take control over her powers."

"And we can't simply try to kill her from here because...?"

"Her seals also serves as a powerful shield against outside forces, so no one will go around and unseal her accidentally. Not to mention; she has her own Version of Lord Vali's **[REFLECT]**, so normal attacks, even with her on that state, won't do a thing. The only one who could unseal her, from both her Shield and restrains... Was Hyoudou Issei." Alderehilde completed. Zenjirou took a small step back, but soon determination came back into his eyes, and he nodded, looking back at his new crimson and silver Sacred Gear. "So, as you can suspect, that's why Aria's boytoy gave Ascalon to you: since you're the only one who can actually use **[PENETRATE]** and **[DESTROY]** and bypass her body defenses. We want you to use **[PENETRATE]** on and **[DESTROY]** Lilim..."

"Phrasing there, Ortlinde..."

"Using Ascalon and your other dragon-slayer so that we can finally finish her off." And Ortlinde sighed, adjusted her tie and crossed her arms. Zenjirou held the grips of his dragon-slayers tightly, still deeply looking at the daughter of the Morning Star, and blinked once, twice. Tch, too much pressure, maybe? I would also be like that in this situations I reached for him to pat him on the shoulder, and give him a reassuring thumb up. I dunno if this is the correct way, but I guess this is what an older sister should do in this situation.

"Don't worry, bro, That's why we're here! We're gonna distract Lilim around; so then when you're ready, you won't need that much power for the finishing move." I said to him, patting his shoulders with friendly taps and trying my best to give my best grin. He looked at me, then to his Destroyer Astra, then to my own hand and, in a show of kindness, he his on my own, blushing a little.

"Thanks, Aria-nee. I wish... I could make you stop trembling too." He gave himself a defeated sigh. Wait, what? It didn't take too long for me to notice how unquiet my hand was. Hahah... C'mon, Aria. You're the descendant of the most badass Red Dragon Ever, the Hero of the underworld, and the holy maiden of the Twilight Healing, you shouldn't fear anything... Except maybe Berolina putting her finger on the toaster again, but the point is! You can't show weaknesses, not when your younger siblings are watching. You're the cool big sister, remember? I nodded for him as well, and he gave me the thumbs up.

"I think we're good to go. Sorry to break the mood, but the more Lilim continues to ooze energy, more the seal will weaken and more control over her power she will have once awaken. We gotta go fast." Ortlinde said, reaching for us and pointing back at the crucified girl on the other side of the room. I'm the one who usually scolds her for not reading the mood, but now she's right. We can be all lovey-dovey later, it's kickass time now. I removed my hand from Bro's shoulders, and pulled my sleeves for the upcoming beatdown. Of course, first we need to useal her...

"Okay, so how do I unseal her? I mean, Ortlinde-san said senpai and Evelyn-san were the only ones who could do that, and since he's the one who got the Boosted Gear..." Zenjirou asked, looking at Lilim and every other direction around her probably to find something that might help. Oh boy, knowing him, he probably won't like the answer, but this time it's a must. I was about to say for him, but Basara came closer to him first to whisper something on his ear. Zenjirou frowned in a annoyed way and blushed, looking at everyone around, while Basara laughed it off and shared a high-five with his sister. The brass dragon tossed his arms. "Really? I mean... Really?"

"Hahahah... Yeah, this came as no surprise for you, right?" I laughed nervously, as everyone had a different reaction: Akio and Shinon laughed under her hands, the twins were holding their own, Nashiro blushed and giggled, while me and Ortlinde shared a stare, and shrugged. Gramps... Would never change. Zenjirou sighed, and again eyed everyone funny. "Yes, I know what that means: we won't say a thing, right guys?"

"**\*SIGH!\***, let's just end this before my headache gets any worse." He sighed, massaging his temples a little and grunting irritably. He sharpened his eyes in determination, now looking at the girl by the other side. I smiled for him.

"Alright, let's settle this and get ourselves some booty dragon!" I said picking one of the veils that was on the floor to offer it to him. I think from this distance from her is good enough, so there won't be surprise attacks, at least not ones I won't react to. Bro suddenly went all quiet, taking deep breaths and still with that blush on his face. "C'mon bro, don't be shy. We won't say a thing, and this is actually necessary for u-..."

*"... Get down... Suck on your... Lilim."*

"Eh...?" That caught me unguarded. When I was about to hand him that piece of veil, he mumbled something under his breath. I dunno, but that sounded a little too suggestive. I reached my ear closer to her for me to hear better. "Did you say something, br-...?"

**"G-G-G-... GET DOWN HERE AND LET ME SUCK ON YOUR TITTIES, EVELYN!"**

**"...?!"**

"Pffff~... **AHAHAHAHAH! HE SAID IT! HE ACTUALLY FUCKING SAID IT! THE ABSOLUTE MADMAN!**" And the atmosphere turned into a joke as soon as Zenjirou said those words, blushing even more and hiding his face in embarrassment as the words 'titties' echoed through the whole area, taking some giggles and chuckles from the rest of us. The worst came, however; when the Quarta siblings high-fived in the air, laughing at the new red dragon's expenses! "This is going to our book, Xion-nee!"

"Yeaup~! May those be marked as Sasamoto Zenjirou's words for all eternity!"

"Fuck you, you guys! That was a prank?! I'll destroy you two instead!" And Zenjirou lifted his Ascalon and Naegling on the air and prepared a murderous slash against the Twins, who were still dancing in total euphoria and ready to take on him as a joke! Before anything could happen, **\*BAM! BAM! BAM!\*** Akio, Nashiro and I reached for all of them and hit them hard on the head, a giant swollen thump appearing on their heads.

"Please stay on the game, you three! This is not time for games, nyan!" Said the nekomata with a pouty face, as I fanned my own hand since Bro's defenses have escalated to that point, and Akio was blowing her own hand since there was a cut in there from Xion's reflex attacks.

"Nashiro is right. Let's get this over with, or we'll have to put the children to sleep earlier." Smiled the Himejima Queen, lifting one of her hands and letting some sparks fly around, with was enough to scare the Quarta siblings. Zenjirou was still pouting and trying to hide his blush, so I again patted him on the head, sighing.

"You can have your revenge back on those two later. For now, try to save your forces for Lilim. I heard she's just as a battle addicted as her father, so don't let your guard down." I said to him, and after a while, Zenjirou looked back at me with those by dead-fish grey eyes and nodded with sharp eyes. He knows what to do know. With that out of the way, I handed to him that piece of the red veil, and wrapped around his left hand. "What you have to do, actually, to free Lilim is to use **[DRESS BREAK]** with your **[DESTROY]** and **[PENETRATE]** abilities on those veil-seals. This will cause a chain-reaction that will cancel them one by one until they reach her. Think you can do it?"

"..."

"...?"

"Y'know, it's because of shit like that it's so easy to believe senpai or Evelyn-san would put a voice-command on this seal." He sighed, and I laughed. Yeah, no surprise here. He finished wrapping some of those seals on his arm around his Destroyer Astra, and taking a deep breath, he summoned a crimson magic rune on his arm, which them began to appear across and through that veil, reaching others and tangling between them all, more like the lights on a Christmas Tree. In the end, the entire room was filled with red circles that ran across the veils, the biggest one right in front of Lilim. I looked back at bro, and he took one final breath, lifting his trembling hand and closing his eyes. "O-Okay... Here we go. Look, I don't remember how to use **[PENETRATE]**, so I'll give this in one go. Let's go. Brass Dragon, I believe in you."

**[YES!]**

Yes, here we go. To destroy the uncontrollable monster of the underworld, the daughter of the Morning Star, and heiress of the Infinite...

**"[DRESS...!]"**

**\*SNAP!\***

**"[... BREAK!]"**

**[DESTROY!]**

**[PENETRATE!]**

Bro simply snapped her fingers, and out of the sudden, with the sound of breaking glass, the rune around his wrapped hand vanished, and the Crimson veil around it also ripped itself a apart. It didn't stop there, one by one those magic runes would activate, and little by little that long piece of cloth would rip apart like old dust out of existence.

This happened through all the entire hall, Crimson rubbish going everyone as they began to finally reach for Lilim, as cold as ice sweat ran down our foreheads. Only now I noticed how I'm trembling, and I dryly gulped the inevitable. There's no other way, if we don't stop her now when her powers are still sealed and she didn't regain her full strength yet, the Underworld might be in great peril. In the end, the only one of bro's **[DRESS BREAK]** symbols was the one in front of Lilim, and when all stopped, there was a moment of silence, and then **\*DOOOOOON!\***, a bright silver light illuminated the entire room, making us cover our eyes for protection! A loud crashing sound was heard, and after a few seconds, the lights died down, and the only thing left on that cross was... Lilim herself. She was immobile, quiet, and when gravity finally reached her, she fell and smashed on the ground like a ragdoll.

"Battle formation, quick!" I commanded, and everybody soon reached for their weapons for the possible clash, I also picking an artificial dragon-slayer from my artifial Sacred Gear, **[SOLOMON'S GATE]**. The girl from the other side, whose silver hair has grown so much that she looked like that videotape ghost, started to move, and so slowly tried to support her own body with her skinny arms. First one arm, then the other, then legs supporting her upper body and head pointing upwards, she looked more like a child than anything else with those movements, looking away from us and exploring the wall she once was sealed in, away from the world.

"Ah... Ah..." I think that came from her, but I couldn't hear it very well, and was so low since we were some kilometers away. I even thought of loose up a bit and maybe ask if she still has some solid thoughts, but my blood froze the moment she began to shake her head, pending her head only to a side, and then slowly turn around, the sound of joints cracking reaching us with chilling aura. I saw nothing behind those dirty and long layers of hair, but suddenly something shined through them! "B-B... Brass... Welsh... Dragon...?"

"...!"

**\*ZOOOM!\***

**\*DOOOOON!\***

"WOOOOOAAAAH..!" I couldn't even blink, and Lilim covered the whole distance from her point to right next to us, the sheer shockwave of her dislocation causing us to be blown away! She was almost reaching for us with her hands and magical runes, but I reacted in time, and smashed my sword against her, sending her flying all the way back to the other side, as she clashed against and broke the inverted cross she was sealed on! My arm almost broke with that violent impact, and took me a few seconds to realize that it also shattered my dragon-slayer in a million pieces. Oh shit, Shin-niichan will scold me again. I turned back to the group. "Is everybody okay?!"

"Yeah, it was just the scare. We're good." Said bro standing up with the rest of our group, taking Ascalon again and clenching tightly on his Gauntlet. "I'll enter Balance Breaker now! If I use it right now, maybe I'll be able to reach her and attack!"

"Don't, Zenjirou-san! You'll become an easy target like that." Before Zenjirou could don the Brass Plate Mail, however, Raelynn lifted one of her hands, and lowered his Sacred Gear, along with Ascalon. "She's aiming for the Welsh Dragon's power, so for now you have to blend with us. Not to mention, if you enter Balance Breaker now, your own stock of power will deplete faster. For now, concentrate on **[DESTROY], [EQUATE]** and **[PENETRATE]** and find the best way to attack."

"She's right, nii-chan! Lilim's senses are erratic now, so she won't be able to see or sense correctly us for a while, nyan! Save the Scale Mail for later, nyan!" Nashiro came closer to hug Zenjirou from the back, and after those points, he grunted between his teeth, yet lowered his Destroyer Astra and gripped tighter on Ascslon. They're right, Zenjirou's the easiest and Weakest target amount us, yet he's our trump card against Lilim. The Nekoshou now began to exhale a cursed mist around is, and soon enough our aura was hidden inside of it. "I just used youjutsu to hide our presence better from her. She'll attack us regardless, but it'll harder for her to spot Zenjirou-nii. That will buy us enough time, nyan!"

"U-Ugh..." And speaking of the devil, we all turned to the direction where I threw Lilim at, and she so slowly began to slide down the cross she was hanging from. Her body slipped away from it, and was about to touch the floor, but then the Quarta siblings were faster and both shot a sword beam against her, pinning her on the way again!

"Score! Nice one, Xion-nee!" The youngest twin said with a thumb up. Xion gave him a thumb up, but then a shot of light and flash of lightning cut their talk, and hit the dragon-girl in a show of lights and explosion, sparks going everywhere!

"Yare, yare. What a troublesome child, just like they say Lord Vali was. Better attack before she come for us!" Smiled the marksman nephalem, gathering again light energy on her hands to form a bullet of light, and the sadistic heiress gathering again energy on her own hands, that in the end summoned a giant lightning dragon that roared and went for it's target, exploding in an even larger electric nova! "People like that... Should be punished~."

"You two talk too much, Shinon-nee and Akio-nee. Just get the job done." Sighed Ortlinde, summoning another armada of magical runes of several colours and shouting countless elements at the same time, and Raelynn, summoning a tsunami of water towards Lilim, both even further pushing Lilim to the wall! In the end, I concentrated my own power, and shot a **[DRAGON SHOT]** covered in flames against her, that exploded in energy, power and flames! When the dust cleaned for a while, the only thing left by the other side was Lilim, the wreckage of the wall and the cross burring her underneath them, as she stood there, immobile, trying but failing to stand up.

"W-Wow... Incredible." Said my bro gulping down hard, sweating just by seeing us completely annihilating the other side and using all of our powers against that single target, who couldn't even get up for now. Oh, right. It must be the first time he sees us like that, I think it was a good. He turned to me, and blinked a few times. "H-Hey, Aria-nee, I think you guys have all the bases covered here. Am I... Really necessary here?"

"Don't be fooled now, Oppai eater. Look!" Ortlinde called for him, and at the same time; we all turned to that direction, where Lilim suddenly stood up from the group in one move, shaking off the crumbles on her back like they were nothing, and again with her head pointing upwards. By the gasp from Zenjirou, he must've noticed this as well: despite our beatdown on her... Her entire body was clean and intact, not a single bruise or scratch on that pale skin, not to mention the blinking white aura around her. I heard him gulp, wordlessly asking how that was possible. "Surprised? That's... Lilim's absolute defense, the ultimate shield she created using her own dragonic heritage. It's so strong, only the welsh dragon or someone with his power can bypass it."

"Shit... I need to focus." My bro said under his breath, and we all nodded to each other. Yes, there is no other way, we have to destroy that shield.

Lilim wandered her own head around again, like if the ceiling was some kind of masterpiece, and after a while, her stare landed on us. Even covered by her long bangs, I could still see those blue eyes staring at my soul and freezing my blood, and in another blink, the only thing left where she was is a blow of dust. Fast!

"Alder! On your left, nyan!" Nashiro said, Shinon being faster and summoning a light spear to blow the other silverette away before she could reach Alderehilde! She's using other strategies instead of recklessly attacking! This is bad, she's starting to develop self-awareness! If she awakens fully, this might be a trouble! "Everynyan, Magic won't harm her, but can push her away! If we can just pin her down like that...!"

"Nashiro-chan, heads up!" The Oppai-loli nekomata was careless, so Xion had to hit Lilim with he proto-ExD to shove her away, while Basara picked the former away from the danger zone. Again Lilim caem down flying across the place, as we all jumped to safe distances from her. I turned to Xion, and just by the impact, her sword was already starting to break. "Oops. Guess who's gonna be yelled at in the next family dinner, guys."

"Fortunately, you." Akio was now gathering a dense quantity of energy on her hands and mixing with her light element, creating a ball of pure lightning! For a while, we all stayed quiet, but then, we heard the sound of something coming in high speed in our direction, a silver flash cutting the darkness of the depths of Lilim's chamber! Faster than she could, the dark-haired priestess created a golden rune in front of her and blasted her attack!

And from the palm of her hands, what came out wasn't just a dragon, but three, made out of pure blinding energy, that roared and cut through the darkness with their bodies made out of light! Lilim stopped on her track, creating a pathway of destruction during her brake, to stare back at the three monsters coming from her! Anyone would be in such surprised state until it was too late, but not Her, not the descendant of the morning star! Instead, she pulled her head backwards, and suddenly...

**\*ROOOOOOOOAAAAR~!\***

She roared, louder than anything since I confront Zenjirou back at Mt. Issei, and out of the sudden, the silver light around her body expanded, forming a translucid sphere around her body that pushed the Lightning dragons away, their bodies of energy bouncing on all directions and sparkling out of existence! However, when she was done, she stopped on her actions and began to deeply breath in and out. There! There's out chance to counter her!

"Nashiro-chan! There it is!" I called for the nekomata, and together with her, I charged against the recovering lucifer, who noticed only too late our charging self! We clashed, and with our forces pushed her away! Lilim missed a few steps back, and stumbled on it as we hit and pushed her with punches and kicks! In the end, we charged together, and with a punch with my dragonic arm and her senjutsu-empowered fist, we blew her away! "Now, Zenjirou!"

"Right! **[DIVIDING WYVERN FAIRY SLASH!]**" I called for my little brother, and taking his time to shine, he held Ascalon and Naegling in both his hands and began to shine in a green and red aura, which extended all over both his swords! He ran for us, and jumped to face the stunned silverette, as suddenly the shine spread like fire around The dragon-slayer, and morphed into the shape of a dragon head! In the end, the dragon head engulfed Lilim, vanishing as they clashed, the shockwave alone trembling the whole place, and with a loud shocking sound, Ascalon and Naegling bypassed the silver aura around her! "C'mon! Amurokros, full power!"

**[BOOST!]**

**[EXPLOSION!]**

**[DESTROYER!]**

**[PENETRAT-...!]**

**\*BAAAAAAM!\***

"HYAAAAAAAAAH...!"

"BRO!" I thought it was going to end, that was the decisive blow, but I was wrong. Zenjirou tried a diagonal cut, but instead of cutting our enemy in half, it only cut part of her hair and shoulder, before her shield came back in full power, in such impact that practically pushed him away at high speed and making clash on a pillar, destroying it completely! I turned around and ran for him! "Don't move, Zenjirou! Guys, take care of Lilim; I'll help hi-...!"

**\*VOOOOSH!\***

"Wha-...?!" I saw a silver flash in front of me, and I didn't react in time as it punched me right on the stomach, sending me flying even further and crushing several pillars on the way! In the end, I landed hardly on the floor, leaving a path of destruction, some pillar rocks all around me. Shit! Even with my hardened skin, I think I broke a few bones.

"Kyaaaaah...!" And when I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Ortlinde flying across the room, all of her magical runes destroyed and leaving a giant cloud of smoke and destruction! I jumped and flew to catch her midair, and we both landed on the floor, with me softening her own landing. "Tch, much obliged Aria."

"No problem!" I stood up from the ground with her as we unfolded our wings to fly back to the battlefield! I cursed under my breath, we lost precious time; and Evelyn... Is adapting her own shield to counter us! "Shit, to think she would counter us with such ease, and in so little time... I underestimated her!"

"That's the power of the infinite for you. Moreover, she's direct descendant of Lilith, so her power is rawer compared to ours." Ortlinde observed, sweat running all over her face despite her green eyes trying to hide it with an analytical stare. We saw another flash of holy light and lightning illuminate a part of the arena and swords clashing at the distance, so we flew as fast as we could to that direction! "We need to hurry and think of a new strategy, or else she'll just observe us just to counter us."

She's right about that! I didn't take long for us to reach the place of conflict, and from here, we could see that Basara, Xion and Raelynn in the sea serpent form were the ones trying to back down Lilim, while she so casually was deflecting their blades with her arms, pushing them away from herself with smooth, swift moves with her hands! Then clashing straight with Raelynn, pushing her away as well!

"Akio-nee! Shinon-nee! Nashiro-chan! Hurry up!" Xion said out loud, which was enough to distract her: Lilim pushed both their swords away, and tripped them simultaneously! Basara held his stance, but she wasn't so lucky, and before she could fall to the ground, the white dragon spawn punched her right on the stomach, sending her flying off away into another pillar!

"Xion-nee! Why, you...!" With his grandsword at hand, Basara charged forward, red energy burning around him, and tried a thrusting move against Lilim, but she was faster, dodging said attack and, in a blink of an eye, both disarmed and pushed Basara away! "Tch, not cool...!"

**\*BANG!\***

**\*ZAP!\***

**\*BAAAAAAM!\***

"So she's finally learning, eh? This might end up... Troublesome." I looked at the direction where those flashs of light and lightning came from, and Akio landed right next to me, pulling her sleeves up and taking deep breaths, with Shinon behind her. "So, any plans now, Aria-nee? I'm open to suggestions since our little trump card seems out of commission."

"Shit... I think the only way to counter Lilim is to fight her until she no longer can stand..." I said folding my wings back and landing on the ground in a battle pose. This is a stupid idea, and is practically suicidal, but I don't have many choices now. Ortlinde, Akio and Shinon took they stay around me, turning now on the direction she last saw Lilim. "Steady, now..."

She's coming... I can feel it...

**\*ZOOOOOM!\***

**\*DON!\***

"Ugh...!" I grunted feeling the bones on my hand breaking with that contact between punches, which pushed me a few meters where I originally were. However, I could stand firm and strong as before, and pushed my colliding fist against Lilim's, which startled her for a second, enough for me to come forward and punch her in the face! There was no damage on her, but it was enough to stun and push her away! "Yeah, come and get me, Lilim!"

She said nothing, only wide her eyes in instinctual surprise as I punched again in the stomach, making her be pushed a few meters away! When she was about to recover from that, as a white lightning, Nashiro-chan appeared right behind her and exploded a chi bomb from her hands, now pushing the white dragon on the ground and creating a crater there! She even tried to jump away, but Suddenly, a strike of holy lightning and three colossal spears of light against crossed me and hit Lilim just right, and before she could even react to that, the Quarta siblings crossed her path and cut an 'X' in her body! After that... We saw it! A hit! We cut her hair and part of her body!

"I see, so even with her absolute defense, we can still damage the shield until we can finally reached her. It's like peeling a potato!" Smiled Basara, now sliding with his sister all the way towards us, taking deep breaths and holding his broken, yet still functional, artificial holy sword. "Oh, man. Remember when you challenged me to kill a Colossus from that game with just the bow and arrow, Xion-nee?"

"Kah, yeah, that was such a ride."

"But we can't lose time with that, nyan. The more she stays free, the more she regains control over her power, nyan!" Nashiro-chan said, looking at the bleeding wound on Lilim's body, which soon closed like it wasn't even there. The silver dragon mesmerized her wound for a few seconds, and blinked once, twice in curiosity, like a child. "She's so easily distracted, we need to take advantage of that!"

"Yes, and once we destroy her barrier, we need to make sure that one chance will be a decisive one." Observed Ortlinde, snapping her fingers and summoning a small circle around them, which broke like glass a few seconds later, making her grunt. "Tch, we need to also put all effort into this shot, because I'm running out of power here. Super annoying."

I hear that, my reserves are also running low, and to maintain that barrier around my body against Lilim's hit is also taking a toll out of me. I looked at everybody, and we all nodded to each other. We need to put all of our energies in this one shot, or else. We all turned to the still distracted white dragon's daughter, and after a while, se noted out presence, charging at us yet again!

"Here we go, guys!"

"YEAH!"

**\*ZOOOOM!\***

**[DESTROYER ASTRA: CRIMSON ARMAMENT PLATE MAIL!]**

"...?!" But when that white meteor was about clash against us, a bronze and silver flash crossed our way, tackling Lilim instead and now pushing her to the other side, the impact now lifting a cloud of dust around us! I protected my eyes against the dust, but I could see a dragonic silhouette hidden in it! "Bro?! Is that you?!"

"Yeah, Surprise there, Aria-nee?" The dust finally cleaned up, and I end up being right about it: right in front of us was the new Plate Mail armor of the heretic plague dragon, shining in bronze, silver, emerald green and now crimson, holding the dragonslaying swords Ascalon with it's left bulky hand and Naegling with it's right, which were bent in a gruesome way and gushing blood everywhere! Holy shit! Did Ascalon do this?!

" Ah, Zenjirou-nii! Your arm; nyan!" Nashiro and Akio were fast enough to try to heal his arm with magic and a Phenex tear, that fortunately bend back to normal in a instant. The armor also put it back in place, and he was go to go.

"I gotta say, Zenjirou-kun, you've also inherited Hyoudou Issei's knack for those dynamic entries from that jewel." Laughed Akio, finishing her healing and helping the dragon to stand up. "The only downside now is that we can't no longer protect you against Lilim; she already sensed you as the sekiryuutei."

"That's... What I wanted." His voice came out as tired and breathless, but his words actually surprised us all. Oh; someone got an eureka moment, but we can't let our guard down just because of that, even more that he's in this state. "Guys... I know this might sound crazy, but I got a plan: I'll go ahead and face Lilim while you guys cover me up, okay?"

"That's the stupidest thing I ever heard from you." I declared, slapping the back of his dragonic helmet. No, seriously, I think that last attack made him hit his head! Now that's suicidal! "Are you serious? Not even us are holding her back! And how about your arm?! What it breaks again?! Ascalon... Is still rejecting you, right?!"

"Yes. The impact was such it kinda broke my hand, but I'm confident now!" He said, clenching his free hand while looking at us. The aura around him was stronger now, but I dunno, this sensation of dread doesn't leave me in the slightest. "C'mon, just let me be reckless and idiotic this time. I know it'll work, trust me!"

"It's not about Lilim I'm concerned about, Zenjirou..." I sighed. Basara, however, nodded a his sister, who nodded at us. So they're trusting him, eh? I do want to trust him that bad, but this is so chaotic, any risk is minimal and should be erased. However... I nodded back. "Okay, show me what you got. I got you cover, but you'll only get one shot!"

"Got it! Let's go, Brass dragon!" And with a final **[BOOST]**, Zenjirou activated the jets by his back and flashed all the way into the darkness of the corners of the room! Suddenly, a silver light flashed in our direction, faster than the eye could see, aiming solely for the fast brass dragon!

**"RED... DRAGOOOOOOOOOON...!"** For the first time, I could hear and understand what Lilim was saying, the white energy around her body growing even more! That's I our cue! I summoned my own barrage of magic runes and mixed with fire magic, creating a blast of flame torpedoes which I blasted against Lilim!

We all shot against her while she was on her way to clash on Zenjirou, lightning dragons, light bullets, Norse magic, sea serpents and slash beams all reaching her and exploding, little by little diminishing and eating up her shield until t was just a small glowing aura around her body! We reduced it, but that magical barrier will still protect her, and if Zenjirou isn't quick enough...!

**\*DOOOOON!\***

"And then they clashed! pseudo-White dragon against pseudo-red(brass) dragon, crimson versus silver, the shockwave alone illuminated the whole room with it's exceeding energy, and part of the area around them was destroyed! The central two on the eye of such destruction clashed and held each other, still trying to bypass one another's defenses!

**[BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!]**, screamed both my bro and his Sacred Gear, pulling his right hand for a massive punch, which Lilim mimicked! **\*BAM!\***, they fists collided, and another shockwave destroyed the rest of the surroundings, blowing their auras away! Now what?! Before Lilim could react to it, Zenjirou suddenly lifted his right hand and switched Naegling and summoned Rhongomiant!

"Amurokros, transfer power to Rhongomiant, now!" I heard his scream, and again the Emerald jewels on his dragon body would shine and scream countless **[BOOST]**s and **[EQUATE]**s! The said failure sword was now covered in Bronze and Crimson aura, and in a swift move, he swing his sword forward against his silver-haired target!

**\*DOOOON!\***

**[PENETRATE!]**

"WOOOOOOAAAAAH...!" And he did it! With that swing, Rhongomiant clashed against and forced itself against Lilim's barrier! The blade began to trembled and crack all over, suffering continuous damage, but in the end, it completely cut down the white aura around Lilim's body, finally giving up and shattering in a million pieces, only the grip remaining! Zenjirou didn't lose any momentum on that vulnerable state, and pulled Ascalon now in a thrusting move! He stepped so hard on the floor it cracked, and then he moved forward, his sword in hand, reaching for the exposed skin of Lilim! **"C'MON BRASS DRAGON, FULL POWER!"**

**[EXPLOSION!]**

**[DESTROYER!]**

He moved forward, blasted his red energy against her, and in the end...!

Complete silence.

...

After that attack, we said nothing, and nothing more was heard by the other side. Still with that same pose reaching for her, we couldn't see from here what happened, but I guess we have a clue. I think... We've won now, Lilim's aura dying down until the glow around her disappeared completely... Total victory, and all thanks to Zenjirou.

Huh, to think he was such a nasty brat when I first met him, and now... He saved us. Being that reckless and that stupid, he saved us and a good chunk on the underworld. What do you know? Maybe he'll reach gramps somewhen in the future if he stays like that, and maybe... He can reach even higher than that.

"Tch... That was... Something. Better take him out of there. You guys go call Beelzebub-sama, Alexander or Richard, in case we need some assistance." I loose my body down, and began to walk towards where they were, calling for my bro. "Hey, Zenjirou! We did it! You did it! If you can't move, don't worry, your big sister is-...!"

**\*SLASH!\***

"...?!" My blood froze, my legs didn't work, and my eyes wide for that as my smile dropped. When I was about to reach for Zenjirou, I heard a loud slashing sound, and before I knew it, a diagonal cut splashed bro's blood everywhere while also sending him flying backwards towards me, as his Plate Mail crumbled until it was nothing but dust! We clashed, but I could hold him in time and stop the momentum! "Ah! What the hell?! Bro?! ZENJIROU?! WHAT HAPPENED?!"

He didn't respond, but how could he, there was an enormous diagonal cut that covered his entire chest that wouldn't stop bleeding! H-How was that possible!? I saw him going forward and stabbing Lilim with everything, her aura and smell even disappeared for that! But then, I noticed something, Zenjirou's hands were just holding the grips of his swords! I looked at Lilim's direction, and not only there wasn't a single scratch on her body, her hand was holding something, which she let go and fall to the ground, hitting it with a loud metallic sound...

... It was the Ascalon's, the dragonslayer's, blade.

"Why, you...!" I instinctively lifted a hand for another blast of explosive power! I dunno if was out of rage or fear, but it doesn't matter now! However, in another blink of an eye, she teleported right in front of me and kicked me away, the blast of her dislocation enough to blow both Zenjirou and Me in different directions! "Bro...!"

"Aria-nee...!" When I knew it best, Basara and Xion softened my flight and helped me get down on the floor, where Akio, Shinon, Nashiro, Raelynn and Ortlinde we're blasting all they got against Lilim, who now had her aura back! How's that possible?! "That bitch... I thought she was a goner the moment Zenjirou-niichan... Don't tell me... She tricked us?!"

Damn it! She's getting... Stronger and stronger... Not only her powers are coming back, but that instinct, that battle hunger adaptation is also reaching her brain! This is... This can only get worse from here. Shit, we must hurry and finish her off quickly, otherwise... The whole underworld will be in danger...

.

~~X~~

.

"..."

...

...

...

...

**HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH...! What the FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!** I was so close, so close! I had everything on my head, the plan would go on and I'd defeat Lilim with it! It was just for a second, I didn't hesitate! I didn't think anything else in that moment, so why it didn't work?! How could she broke my sword and use it against me?! I broke my hand just with Rhongomiant, and put everything I got in that last attack, so why, why it didn't work?! **WHY**?!

...

...

It's because I'm **weak**; right?

Yes, this is the only reason possible. I had everything on my hands, but... The only thing that left was power. Just like that time with Rina, who died once because we lost the Rating Game, and almost lost her whole self, and that time with Annie and Takeshi, where they escaped my grasp because I couldn't reach for them, we ended up losing Takeshi, and that time against Miyama, where Berolina-san almost died because I couldn't deal the finishing blow, and that time with Julia-chan and Nina-chan's father, if I were stronger, maybe I would endure his blow, and explain myself so they wouldn't have to go away...

I'm weak... So weak... I don't deserve to have the Destroyer Astra, the Boosted Gear jewel, or be called 'Senpai's legacy'. I don't even think... Existing is fair for me at all if I can't even protect those who count on me in the last minute... If I were senpai, I would probably come around this, and fight Evelyn with everything, but no, I'm just... Me. The one who fails at the worst times, the one who can't do things right, the little and useless Sasamoto Zenjirou...

"Z-Zenjirou..." Something, someone, snapped me back from my stupor, and when I knew best, I was back to the classroom inside my mind, where everything was white and ordered. Was that... Yagura? Takeshi? I turned around, the correction where I heard that voice, and gasped in horror: right in front of me, there was Yagura and Takeshi, Yagura's whole clothes a mess, and they were both bleeding everywhere, Takeshi's Dusk taker arm bend in a horrific way and blood mixing with Yagura's own Crimson and black hair! What the...?! What's that?! "Takeshi, Yagura, what the hell happened to you two?! Why are yo-...?!"

"Get down, Zenjirou!" However, she acted first and pushed me away. Just in time, as the classroom suddenly Bursted in flames and one of the walls was completely trashed by a giant, demonic version of the Plate Mail armor! I wasn't understanding a thing, but the redhead soon picked me and, with Takeshi, began to run away from it! What's going on! "No! I won't it take you away... I won't let it!"

**\*DOOOOOON!\***

"Kaaaah!" I heard the sound of something cracking, and blinking back to her, I saw that she and Takeshi was shielding me with her own body against a direct hit from that demonic armor! The impact, however, was too much for us, and sent us flying off the window! Like a jet, we flew a few miles, and end up landing on the floor, rolling around due to the momentum we were in and finally stopping! I was the first to stand up in that warren land, that looked more like a ground zero of a disaster with a sick Crimson sky above, and walked towards Yagura, who wasn't moving at all!

"**YAGURA**...!" I called for her name, and fortunately she reacted to it, slowly standing up on her arms. However, the entire earth trembled as that dragon landed right on our side, making me trip and fall on top of her! "S-Shit... W-What now?!"

**\*ROOOOOOAAAAAR...!\***

"No, you can't have him! Go away!" However, Yagura jumped from her place faster than I and opened her arms in front of her creature, as she was going to shield me from it! That monster roared a sick and deranged cry once more, but that didn't faze her in the slightest, who turned to me. "Zenjirou; run away! Takeshi and I'll explain this to you later, but run! As fast as you can!"

"..." My word froze, it completely froze. Was it fear? Was it despair? I couldn't tell, the only thing I was sure was that I couldn't move. What was that thing? Where was the brass dragon? Where was Amurokros? Where was the Krimson orb? Takeshi and Yagura is trying to protect me from it, yet... I don't feel like running now. I know it must be dangerous, but there's something so... Enticing coming from that monster. I gulped down, looking directly at his pure white eyes, and said. "No."

"...?!" Yagura looked at me with horror; but I didn't react to that. I started to walk towards the creature, as of suddenly stopped it's movement and acts and looked directly at my soul, like it was reading my very mind.

"Hey, you. Do you... Do you want me? Do you want me to cause destruction?" I asked. That nothing said, only opened it's mouth; full of shining scary fangs, and oozed from it a black steam,drooling rolling out of it. Yes, I get it, it wants my body for something, and if this thing is what caused this much mess... Maybe, just maybe. "Okay, you can have! But promise me... You'll help Aria-nee and the others..."

**\*ROOOOOAAAAAAR...!\***

"Zenjirou, idiot, what are you saying?!" I felt something tugging my arm, and turning around, I saw it was Takeshi, bleeding all over the place, holding me in place. I pushed him away, and he fell on the ground, no longer having the energy to stand up. "Stop! Zenjirou you don't understand! That thing... Will kill you! If you let it take control of your body, there's a chance you won't...!"

"Yagura, I don't care!" I screamed back at her and Takeshi! "I know this feeling just by looking at this Crimson monster, but I can heard it, and it's promising me power! With this power, I can save everyone, Yagura! I don't care what happens to me as long as I can at least do things right for once!"

"**YOU WILL DIE! WHERE'S THE RIGHT THING IN THAT?!**" Takeshi screamed back. After that one, all of Yagura's forces died, and she became a crying mess, sobbing on the floor and holding tightly her ground on her feet. "Don't do it, please... Dad already did that... So that everyone could live in peace. You don't have... You don't have to do this, Zenjirou..."

"Sorry, Takeshi, Yagura... But I want to... I want to feel powerful and useful, just... Just this once." I said, and she lowered her head, tears marking the floor. I took a deep breath, and turned to the monster that was now just looking at us, as it was mocking Yagura and Takeshi and, at the same time, congratulating me. I dunno, but I can feel the venom coming down from that single stare. "So... What are you waiting for? Give me power, and I'll let you wreck stuff back!"

**\*ROOOOOOAR!\***

"But if I come back from this alive, and see that you didn't keep you part of the promise... I'll rip you and destroy you myself...!"

**\*ROAR!\***

**[I, WHO IS ABOUT TO AWAKEN...]**

**[I AM THE EVIL PLAGUE DRAGON WHO CONSUMED UPON THE HERESIES AGAINST GOD.]**

As it was mocking me again, I think I heard a laugh coming from the helmet of that thing, but I think it was just my imagination. Without more resistance, I let myself be picked by tha monster, as he held me between his claws like I was some kind of toy. Just by touching it, I could feel how much power it had, power... That soon would be mine...

**[I SHALL DEVOUR THE DREAM, AND RIP THE INFINITE TO NAUGHT...]**

**[I SHALL BECOME THE EVIL DRAGON OF THE HERETICAL PLAGUE!]**

"Zenjirou... No... Please..." As the monster opened it's mouth and was ready to consume my entire being, I heard Yagura's lasts pleas for help, but I couldn't look at her. I'm sorry Yagura...

**[AND I SHALL DRAG YOU FROM THE PEAKS INTO THE GOLDEN PURGATORY!]**

But if it means do something right for once, I'm willing to become a monster.

**[JUGGERNAUT DRIV-...!]**

*'My, would Aria-san and the others be happy to hear you to say such cruel things?'*

"Huh...?"

**\*PAFT!\***

...

W-What happened? The moment I closed my eyes, the world seemed that was going to end and swallow me whole, but instead... I feel calm. I can no longer hear that monster holding me, but instead someone slapped both my cheeks and is now holding me by it.

"W-What...?" I slowly opened my eyes, and for some reason, now I was standing right in the middle of a green, large and sunny garden, a tree covering part of the sun's lights, and the only sound I can hear is the blow of the wind. However, my eyes soon landed on a single thing: a tall, serene and extremely beautiful young woman who was holding my cheeks between her palms, wearing a white tunic with golden crosses all over it, looking at me with blue serene eyes while her whitish blue hair blew on the wind's direction. Moreover, I can't feel anything from her crosses, I was at peace. "A-Ah...! Who... Who are you?"

"Have you... Wake up from your nightmare; brass dragon?" She smiled and giggled. Letting go of my face to tangle her fingers and lower her arms, only now I noticed that she was wearing cuffs on her wrists. I reacted with a jump, and stepped a few ones away from her.

"Ah! W-Who are you?" I asked once again, and once again she laughed at my expenses. No matter how beautiful she is, this is still too trait for me! I don't trust her!

"Heheh, so awkward, but that's your usual response to someone pretty isn't it? I feel blessed." She laughed. Wait, did she just read my mind?! I might be a little paranoid; but this onee-san just shown out of nowhere, so anything is possible! "You can say that... I'm your guardian angel."

"My guardian angel?" I said, crossing my arms and frowning. Eh, no, that one I don't buy. The said Angel apparently could read my body language, as an awkward laugh escaped her rosy lips and she scratched her cheek with a finger.

"Eheheh, not a very good explanation, right? Okay, let me try again: I was the spirit residing inside Rhongomiant. My name is **Ophelia**, and I'm an **angel**."

"...?" Rhongomiant? I snapped my fingers in realization. Yes, Rhongomiant did break during my spar with Lilim, but to think there was a spirit inside of it... Well, it's the best explanation I got so far, so I'll just nod and wait for the best. However, that name, Ophelia, didn't sound strange for me... I jumped away from her and took a fighting stance! "Ophelia... You're that bastard Miyama's mother! The angel Ophelia!"

"Yes, that is correct. Or rather, I were." She spoke, her pretty features souring a little as her smile turned into a melancholic one. I were still holding a battle pose for anything she has against me, but only by looking in her eyes, I could see she wasn't in the mood for anything. A small tear escaped her one of her eyes. "Yes, I'm Ophelia, and in life, I had a husband named Miyama Fuichi, and a son Named Miyama Rei. Was because of such transgression against the singularity and my brothers and sisters in heaven that I was searched for and killed by them with the help of the Devil King Lucifer. Since then, My soul transferred inside the very thing that took my life, and so I've lived inside of it this entire time."

"So... You're really Miyama's mother. And you were sealed inside Rhongomiant since then." I muttered under my breath, looking back at her and her melancholic smile. Even if it's true and she's an angel, strangely I can't feel any kind of animosity coming from her. If anything, I can only feel sadness and love coming from her. Reason soon reached my head, and I jumped again, coming closer to her! "I don't care about that! Where is this place?! What happened?! Where's that dragon?! Tell me! What happened!"

"Oh, how rude." She spoke softly. I don't care if I'm being rude, Aria-san and the others might be dying right now! I have to do something! Please, I want power! "Ah! I think you're referring to that dragon. Don't worry, I vanished it away for you. It might take a while; but it won't recompose itself so soon."

"...!"

"Zenjirou...?"

"**WHY YOU**...!" I was this close, this close to snap again, as I pulled her by the collar of her tunic and prepared a punch right in the middle of that pretty face...! But... I couldn't do it... I mean, what's the point now? That won't... Bring that back, ever, nor will make me stronger or feel better; they'll still gonna die. I lowered my fists, sinking into her cleavage. "It doesn't matter... It doesn't matter anymore... I won't be able to get stronger... And save everyone..."

"Zenjirou, that thing would've killed you. It was enough to activate a completely transformation, and you wouldn't be able to come back."

"I... Don't care. If this means defeating Lilim and save everyone, I don't care if I die or live... I just want them safe, and atone for my own weak self." I said, gripping tighter on her tunic, and she began to ruffle my hair. No mater what she does, it won't ever comfort me. This is the end.

"What a mean thing to say." She spoke in a soft tone, as I turned my frown up and looked at her serene eyes. "Do you think those people would be happy to hear that? That Aria-San and the others would be happy to hear you saying it's okay to die?"

"I don't care. I'm weak, and because of that... They almost died. If just for this occasion, I can save everyone, it'll be okay to die. It's not like I did much from up to this point... I'm weak."

"Yes, we're all weak. And do you know why? We need others to live, but that what makes life enjoyable, it what makes being weak enjoyable, with so many of us." She spoke, pushing me even further into her cleavage, and I could only grunt. What does she want? Is she stupid? Those stock words and cliches died a long time ago for me. "Okay, let's do it like that. Can you repeat that in your mind? Take a deep breath, think and repeat those words in your mind..."

"..."

What is that about? Think about what? And repeat that inside my mind? She's probably stupid, which is understandable since she said she's Miyama's mother. Aaaaah, what Am I doing? If this means getting stronger, I don't mind if I live or d-...

...

...

*'Zenji-nyan!'*

*'Master!'*

*'Izuki~!'*

*'Zenji~!'*

*'Heads up, Sasamoto-kun!'*

*'Yahoo~, Zenjirou-kun~!'*

*'Yo, Sasamoto!'*

I doN't care if I live...

*'Amuro!'*

*'S'up, bro!'*

*'Sasamoto...'*

*'Hey there, Zenjirou-kun!'*

*' 'Zenjirou-niichan!' '*

*'Zenjirou-nyan!'*

*'Zenji!'*

*'Zen-ji-rou-san!'*

***'[PARTNER!]'***

***'[Zenjirou!]'***

I... I don't... I don't care...

*'Zenjirou...!'*

*'Zeji.'*

*'Rejoice, brother of mine!'*

*'Bro...'*

*'My little Zenjirou...'*

*'**\*CAIM\*'***

I... I don't... I don't...

*'Yo, Zojo!'*

*'Zenjirou-san!'*

***'[Zenjirou!]'***

*'Zenjirou-san!'*

*'Lu Long-san!'*

*'Lu Long!'*

*'Sasamoto-chin~!'*

*'Red!'*

*'Darling!'*

*'Zenjirou!'*

I... I... I...

*'Hey, Zenjirou...'*

*'Let's play again!'*

...

...

...

I...

**\*DRIP! DRIP!\***

I...

I...

"Uuuuh... Uuuuuh~... Uuuuuuuh...!"

"..."

"I... I don't want to die~... I care... I care..." What's happening to me? My chest hurts, and I can't say that not even in my mind. What is this, this warm feeling inside my heart, it has been so much... Since I last felt like that. My vision was all blurry, and I wanted someone to hug me, which Ophelia-san just did that. This is so weird~!

"Yes, I can feel it. Ever since you started to use me, I could feel all the emotions you felt during your battles, I could connect my heart to yours, and everyone around you." She spoke, holding me closer to her heart and ruffling my hair. I could only wet her clothes and pull me closer to her. "And the only things I felt... Were love, passion and altruism. You want to protect the people you love, you want to make your senpai and others proud of you, you want to guard your Senpai's legacy, that's why you fight."

"..."

"For that, don't ever say you want to die again, because then protecting them would be pointless. They want you to live, and have fun with you. If you die, they'll be sad." She spoke, making me look back at her. Her eyes are so serene and relaxing, I could feel myself almost sinking into her, or maybe it's her big boobs, that work too. In the end, she kissed my forehead, and touched mines with hers. "So, for the sake of everyone that loves you; and everyone that you love, never say those mean things, ever again."

The only thing I could do was to nod. Would I be able to think like that a few months ago? Would I be so hesitant to say that a few months ago? I think... Yes, I would, because there's still people I cherish. What was I thinking back then? Although... I can't say only this one... I think I'm... Pretty well-loved...

It feels good.

"Yeah... You're right; Ophelia-san." I sighed, taking a step back away from her and looking at her eyes. Yeah, she's right, I shouldn't be saying those out loud, and now I feel bad. However, again that arrow pierced my head. "B-But... How about Lilim, and the others?! I need something, anything to stop her, or else she'll... She'll...!"

"Huuuum~, that is tricky, indeed. But I think I have the right answer." Ophelia-san smiled, and snapped her fingers, blinking a few times and turning around the tree right next to us. "But I think I'll need some help over here. Don't you think, guys?"

"...?!" My heart froze the moment I heard that, and yes, appearing from behind that tree, it was Yagura Kuroyuki, the daughter of the predecessor Yaminari Kuroyuki, and leaning on the tress was Takeshi Chiba, my fellow servant before his death, both wit arms crossed and eyes closed, Yagura oozing an uneasy aura and with a frown that could only speak 'murder'. I began to cold-sweat, even more now that she came closer to us. We stared at each for a few seconds, no words between us. What to say... Now? "Ah... Hey, Yagura."

"..." Nothing, figures. I sighed, and gathering all my courage, I took a deep breath to look back at her, and try to bow to her.

"Yagura... I... I'm so sorr-...!"

**\*SLAP!\***

"Ow...!" But before I could even finish my apology, she came closer and slapped the bitch out of me! Okay, that I deserve! However, in the next second, she hugged me, tightly, as tears began to run down her eyes. What... Uh, what?

"You jerk! You should be!" She screamed next to my ear, which began to ring and ring. I think I deserve that too. However, she started to tremble, and tightened our hug. Her voice was now a trembling whisper. "And I'm sorry... For not protecting you. You don't deserve that, no one does. Next time... I'll help you with those issues of yours, I promised."

"..." I couldn't do a thing to that, I couldn't say a thing to that, so I only hugged her back, sharing energy and warmth with that contact. She's so warm. "Yeah, next time. We'll do this... Together."

"Yeah, together." We parted our hug and turned now to Ophelia-san with Takeshi joining us, who came closer to us. Yagura, frowning a little and oozing some black aura, then said. "Well, what's the plan, angel?"

"I was about to touch upon that, Kuroyuki." Ophelia-san said, reaching closer and now extending one of her arms for us. Her hand began to emit a bright silver glow. "Now, put your hands above mine, and we'll be able to share our energy and transferred it to Zenjirou. I'll also try to heal his wounds with it, and don't worry, I can control the right amount without harming his physical body."

"What about the swords?" I said, extending my own hand for her, yet hesitantly. Yagura sighed, and seeing there was no other way, extended her own to touch the back of Ophelia-san's hand, with Takeshi following. I touched on Yagura's, and Ophelia-san smiled.

"Don't worry. I'll also leave a... Gift for you back in the real world, Zenjirou." She smiled serenely, and I could feel my cheeks burn up and blush! Before I could say anything, an enormous shadow covered all the area around and, looking up, I saw it was a giant Crimson claw, floating above a large crimson colored orb. "Ohoh? Are you in as well, brass dragon?"

**[OF COURSE, ANGEL. A DRAGON WONT EVER FORGIVE SOMEONE WHO SHAMED HIM IN A BATTLE.]** Said the brass dragon in his strong, hoarse voice, hovering his hand above us, moving a few meters away to shine his glowing red eyes at us. **[LET US SHOW THE DAUGHTER OF THE MORNING STAR THAT, EVEN IF SHE CAN MIMICKED THE WHITE ONE'S ABILITY, SHE WON'T EVER BE ABLE TO DEFEAT THE RED ONE'S ABILITIES WITH IT. ARE YOU WITH ME, SASAMOTO?!]**

"Y-Yeah... Yeah! We'll show her, partner!" I nodded, mixed between embarrassment yet pride, and soon enough, a bronze aura began to be emitted from our bodies with a crimson aura emitting from the orb, and concentrate on top of our hands in a small ball of energy, suddenly, turning back into dust bright as stardust of energy, as it began to run all over my body! In the end, my whole body was now shining in a bright green and bronze aura, and Ophelia-san smiled even brighter.

"This is... My ability, Sasamoto Zenjirou. Our hearts as one, now it belongs to you." She smiled and giggled. Suddenly, the whole place began to tremble, and little by little, a bright light began to take over my vision, as sleepiness started to creep around me. Well, at least she didn't kiss me. I held my left hand tighter, and nodded to the figures that were still visible inside the blinding lights. "Good luck, Sasamoto Zenjirou. And remember, live for yourself... And the ones who love you."

...

"Yeah."

And then, blankness...

.

~~x~~

.

"Dragon... Airi...?"

"C'mon, Lilim! I can do this all day... Huff, huff... Those wounds... Mean nothin-...!"

**\*DOOOOOOON!\***

Okay, what now?! I've been sparring with the literal spawn of Lucifer for a long time now, Raelynn, Ortlinde, Alderehilde and Basara out of commission, and Shinon, Akio, Nashiro and Xion running out of energies to face her. Now, out of nowhere, a pillar of dark and Crimson lights emerged out of nowhere, exploding from the ground up to the unseen ceiling. Out of instinct, I turned to that direction, and once that dense, malevolent and strong aura cleaned up, I saw something... No, someone.

"Zenjirou...?" Yeah, and there he was, my one bro, the brass dragon with the powers of the sekiryuutei, in the middle of that pool of energy, holding both the grips of his broken swords, and standing all tall and mighty there, his crimson-tinted Destroyer Astra now reaching all over his arm, and the bleeding on his chest stopping. What is that? Even from here, I don't know, I can feel how dense the area around here is.

"Red... Dragon..." And again I froze in place hearing Lilim's voice. Oh no, not again! I turned to her direction, but it was too late, the only thing left there was a small blow of dust, as the silver flash crossed all the way to Zenjirou! Shit! If she hits her when he's in that state, he won't...!

"Zenjirou, run away!" I said, trying and failing to also reach machspeed! My body was at it's limit, and brute moves were out of question. I tried, but ended up tripping and falling on the ground! Shit! I turned back there and he wasn't moving! Lilim's too fast for him to react! "Bro, run away! JUST RUN AWAY!"

**"RED DRAGOOOOOOOON...!"** Lilim's screamed crossed the entire place, reaching my ears and almost ripping my soul; and Zenjirou was still standing still on the ground, his bangs hiding his face as the only movement he was doin was to make both of his hands, and the grips of his broken swords, get closer and closer. In the end, Lilim got closer to him first and was ready to rip him apart! If only I could...! "DRAGON...!"

"Zenjirou...!"

**[DESTROYER!]**

**[PENETRATE!]**

**\*SLASH!\***

...

...

What just happened?

I was reaching my hand for the distressed Zenjirou, who were about to be sliced in half, but in another second... There he was, right in front of me. It wasn't even a second, it was less than that, he simply bypassed Lilim, and in another second, here he was.

My mind then recalled what happened in the split second, in that split of nano-seconds: when Zenjirou finally touched both the grips of Rhongomiant and the unbroken Naegling, a bright light took over both of his weapons, and without any warning, he pulled that shine shaped like a sword and... There he is.

"Ah... Ah... Ah...?!" I tilted my head to a side, and Lilim, who just a moment ago was a frenzy monster ready to fight, stopped on her tracks in that same spot, as she was shocked about something, other than the fact that Zenjirou disappeared from her line of sight and, even so, she didn't try to search for him or anything, she just... Stopped. Then...

**\*VOOOOOOSH...!\***

**\*SLASH!\***

"G-Gwa-...!"

**\*DOOOOOOOOON...!\***

**"GWAAAAAAAAAAH!"** It happened. In a instant, the barrier that was covering Lilim this whole time and preventing us to even harm her vanished like dust in an instant, leaving nothing but shining sand of energy, in the next instant, a diagonal cut slashed the white dragon's chest, drawing blood and making her react in pain. However, before she could even do that, a slashing sound crossed the entire area from the point Zenjirou were, across Lilim, up to right in front of me, and suddenly, a path of destruction was created, wracking everything in it's way, including the white dragon spawn, crushed like an insect on the ground! That was... Amazing. All in such a instant... I can't even... I turned back at bro to gaze upon him, noticing something: from behind his bangs, I could see...

One of his eyes shining golden, and the other, in a hollow white. And his body is emitting an dark blue aura.

"B-Bro... Is that you?" I said to him. For a moment, silence, and when he was about to open his mouth, suddenly he collapse right on top of me! Ah! What the hell?! I quickly held him upwards to look at me, but for now, he was unconscious. "A-Ah...! Bro! Wake up! Don't you die on me! Don't you die on me, you idio-...!"

"Ugh, shut up, you're too loud, Aria-nee." I stopped my shakings hearing his voice, and now I moved him so that our eyes were crossing each other's gazes. His eyes returned to his normal grey ones in that same frown of his, and suddenly, my vision began to blur. It's really him! Holy shit... I'm so... I'm so... "Hhh... Aria-nee, are you crying?"

"Zenjirou... I... I...!"

**\*PUSH!\***

"Nii-chan!/Zenjirou-nii!" And there goes it's moment. Maybe it's divine punishment for grandma to be known as a massive cockblocker, but the moment I was about to say something, Nashiro-than and Xion pushed me away and practically dived into him! Man, that's a cheap shot! "Are you hurtc nyan?!/ we thought you were dead, bro!/ how's your wounds, nyan?!/ Does it hurt anywhere?! / Take off your clothes so that we can see the damages, nyan!"

"W-Whoa! Calm down you two! H-Hey, watch that hand, N-Nashiro-**saAAAAAAAH**...!" And in a total 180° of the total chaos and despair that was happening up to this point, Nashiro and Xion forcibly ripped Zenjirou's shirt open to look at his wounds. That change of mood was so sudden and unexpected, I couldn't help but to laugh, standing up from the ground to take a better look at the three on the floor probably committing a crime or something. The fun stopped the moment we saw that: Zenjirou's wounds were all healed, even the big one, and the only thing left was an 'X' shaped scar there, which was... Pretty sweet, badass. "Ah, man. Mom'll definitely ask questions..."

"W-Wow. A wound from a dragon-slayer, to be healed at this rate like this, nyan... And to cause such destruction, too, nyan~." Nashiro-chan was bewailed, looking back and forth on Zenjirou's scar across his chest and the defeated Lilim crushed under the wrack behind them, with Zenjirou pushing her hand away when she would get... Too comfortable. Even I can't believe in such, despite the fact I can't stand also a dragon-slayer. What the hell happened with Zenjirou? Was it the Destroyer Astra? The Boosted gear jewel? Or something else? Akio and Shinon, who were checking on Lilim, or the rest of her at least, soon flew over us with a Akio having big grin on her face.

"Yare, yare. There is goes the brass dragon again, pulling things out of his behind on the nick of time. I must say... I'm impressed." Akio's expression softened now in a gentle smile, looking at Zenjirou with curious eyes, while the others were hugging him protectively. The nephalem(Shinon) then pointed her finger at him, or rather, one of his hands, and we all turned for there. "Not to mention, that new sword of yours, I wonder if it has anything to do with it."

Yes. Shinon was right. We were so scared about Zenjirou, we didn't even notice the thing he used to cut down Lillim: it was just one sword, and it wasn't Ascalon, nor Rhongomiant or Naegling, but a new sword: it had the shape of a giant khyber knife with a slightly curved tip and with only one edge, the blade was cobalt blue with a smaller silver blade intersected within, and the guardless grip had the form of a katana's, with two set of chains coming from the blade and, for some reason, attached to the Destroyer Astra by crimson chains. It was a completely new sword, but the most exquisite aspect about it was the fact it had no presence or aura! Nor dragonic, nor dragon-slaying, nor demonic, nor holy, it was... Simply there, like it was a simple insignificant object. A sword with traits of both Naegling and Rhongomiant mashed together with a prick of Ascalon thrown in, with no presence whatsoever, but that cut down the Daughter of the morning star like butter and wracked the entire place...

Holy crap, bro. What the hell happened to you?

"Y-Yeah... Uh... I think the Destroyer Astra and Boosted Gear jewel helped me to create this with the other swords... Or something, ehehe..." He tried to laugh it off, but then he bit his lips between them, and I already could see he was hiding something. But, since he's alive, maybe I can ignore it... For now. In the end, Zenjirou sighed. "I just hope... The church nor Nero-san or Albert will come for my ass for that."

"Nah, I think they'll be cool with it." I said with a handwave, and everyone laughed it off.

Soon enough, Nashiro went around to pour the Phenex tear on our fallen comrades, as Shinon called Beelzebub-sama and Alexander for help in order to take Lilim off the crater. In the end, we were all good, and Zenjirou spent this entire time looking at his new sword. Hahah, can't blame him. I approached him with a pat on the back, also looking at his new weapon...

"Nice sword by the way, bro." I said. He turned to me and grinned, making the tip of the blade point at the ceilings above. "Any name for it yet? I mean, those things need names for... Whatever reason."

He put his hand on his chin in a thinking pose for a few seconds, brooded for a second, and then opened a smile, his eyes shining brightly, reflecting the sword's own...

"I'll call it Ix!"

Ix, eh? I wonder why...

It does sound cool, though...

Next; Nice to meet you again.

Previous; Experience.