high school dxd: volume 1-25

[... What was that? Hey hey hey.]

"——!?"

I'm in shock. That was Triana [Rook] which specialises in attacking, you know?

He got hit by it directly, but he seems as if nothing happened. The only change is that there is a bit of his blue coloured blood coming out from his mouth. That's the only damage I gave him?

Grendel breathes violently from his nose, and then complains.

[Is this it? Isn't your host too weak? You were crazy strong before, Ddraig. Seriously, pitiful!]

...Oh man. So Triana won't work.

[Partner, lets transform into True-Queen. I also can't ignore the words he said just now.]

Yeah, Ddraig. You are right. I still haven't punched enough for Gasper, Ravel, and Koneko-chan's sake!

I then read out a powerful chant.

"—I, who is about to awaken, am the Sekiryuutei who holds the truth of King up high! Holding the infinite hopes and unbreakable dreams and walking the path of righteousness! I will become the Emperor of the Crimson dragon—"

If I lose here, I won't be able to face up to my seniors who have perished!

I can't continue to be beaten like this!

" " " " "And I will lead you to the path of Heaven glowing in deep crimson light!" " " " "

[Cardinal Crimson Full Drive!!!!]

Bright crimson aura envelops my body, and it dyes my armour a deep crimson colour!

Seeing the change in my armour, Grendel laughs once again.

[Crimson? What the? Interesting! That's really interesting, Ddraaaaig! You are clearly stronger than before!]

Grendel jumps forward! Fast! It doesn't seem like he has a huge body at all!

He shortens the distance between us immediately, and slashes down with his claws! I fly and dodge it at high-speed, and nail my right fist into his face as a counter!

...Shit! I also felt it before but... The hit just now is perfect in terms of its impact and timing. But, it's heavy! It's thick! It's hard! What is it with this guy's defence...!

I don't have any sensation where I can hit him away when my punch lands on him! It's thick and heavy! It makes me think what his scales and skin are made from.

[Grendel had one of the hardest scales among the extinct Dragons. A half-hearted attack won't work, partner.]

"But on the other hand, we can't use Dragon Blaster nor Crimson Blaster here."

They have high attack powers, but they are attacks which can also blow away the surroundings right away. I won't be able to shoot them here since I don't know how strong this place is built. If I shoot them without thinking, this field may perish.

[I'm sorry, but right now you won't be able to use them anyway. Since they may explode since I got my consciousness back.]

After all, the True-Queen is still unstable to begin with. But I'm in the situation where I want one powerful attack.

[Partner, what is installed in your left gauntlet?]

Having Ddraig say, I remembered about that. ...Yeah. I have this. It's something too good for me, but it won't be a waste to use it here!

[Here I coooome! Ddraig-chaaaan!]

When Grendel shouts that out, his stomach fattens! He's trying to spit out something!

What Grendel spits out is—huge fireball! Fires are Dragons special attacks after all!

I dodge them by spreading my wings and moving to the sides—but Grendel who has moved to that spot out of nowhere is present! This Dragon moves too fast!

...So the fireball is a bluff huh!

He puts his fist towards me! And I don't have the time to dodge it!

GOSU!

The strike from his giant fist hits my whole body! And the shock passes through my whole body...! Shit...what insane attack power...! It's just a normal punch, but it carries more power than Sairaorg-san when he's wearing the lion's armour...!

I break my balance up in the air, and Grendel swings his hand down to slam me to the ground!

I got hit by it directly from my back, and I get slammed to the ground violently!

...Gaha...!

Because of the motion and force of being slammed down, I cough blood from my mask! Intense pain runs throughout my body!

...Like I thought, his power is insane! T-This guy's strength isn't just that of a Dragon-King...!

[Guhahahahaha! Get squashed!]

I then see a giant foot that is coming down at me! I will get squashed! I can't let that happen!

I roll my body to the side to avoid being stomped by the enemy, and fix my posture right away. The stomp from the giant body misses and cracks the ground, which then shakes the whole field!

I fly up to the sky immediately! Along with flying up to the sky, I kick towards the enemy's jaw!

[BoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoost!!]

I kicked Grendel's jaw really hard!

It was a clean hit, and I felt some resistance. ...But the sensation I felt is hard and thick!

He's so heavy that it's impossible to kick him away! This isn't only because he is big! His defence is really high! And he has quick movements...!

[Dragons are the strongest creatures. Among them, the Dragon-Kings, and those in classes which surpass them are such powerful foes that they will become a threat. Don't forget that. ...Especially the "Evil-Dragons" and those close to it are violent as well as being tough!]

Yeah, I really do think that is the case here, Ddraig!

Even after being hit on his jaw, Grendel continues to throw his punches normally!

I block them by thickening the armour on my arms to the state of [Welsh Dragonic Rook]...but the force of his punches are overwhelming, and I get smashed to the wall!

...The damage on my back! Because of the pain of clashing to the wall, it's hard to breath! Rather, I have been receiving insane shock even through the armour!

[His attack power and defence are insanely high!]

You are exactly right, Ddraig...

Grendel and I then start a fist fight! This Dragon which throws swift punches and kicks which you can't believe it's coming from someone with a huge body! I can't let my guard down since he will attack me from the blind spot with his tail when he sees the chance!

...So being a giant-type Dragon allows him to have this many movements huh! There is an overwhelming difference in terms of our body size! Being hit by his heavy blow makes me fall down like a fly being smacked down with a fly swatter! ...I can feel dull pain every time that happens.

[I'm enjoying this! You can exchange hits with me despite being small! I can't get enough of thiiiiiis!]

Having the expression of ecstasy on his huge face, he starts to attack happily!

...I'm attacking him with my best punches, kicks, and dragon-shots, but he's still coming ahead to me without feeling a thing!

[The damages are definitely going through to him, partner! But, that guy...was originally a broken Dragon who had nails missing in his head from the beginning. He even enjoys receiving damage!]

...It only makes me feel chills and creepiness, Ddraig...!

The one who fought equally against this armour is, Sairaorg-san. The one who surpassed it is Cao Cao.

This Grendel...I wonder how his power will rank. A bit higher than being equal to me huh. He's more troublesome than Cao Cao in a different way. Rather than Cao Cao who will end after being hit, I started to get tired fighting this guy who seems like he won't be ending no matter how much I hit him...

But I will return a hit which is strengthened to the max back to you. I can't be getting cornered one-sidedly after all!

After taking a breath, I shorten the distance to Grendel!

At the same time I gather the Dragon's aura to the Ascalon that is installed in the left gauntlet!

Dragon-slayer—.

No Dragon can withstand this! If it hits—, then it's my win!

Grendel repeatedly releases the fireballs to me! Three shots!

I dodge the first shot in the air, and I evade the second one by flying in a low altitude closely to the ground! The third one—.

[Guhahahahaha! Here I come, Ddraig!]

He appears before the third shot comes at me, and he's flying above me. He also releases flames from above me! A wide-range flame from above! And the third shot of the fireball which he released before is coming at me from the front!

I put strength into my right arm, and shot out a large block of demonic-power! Dragon-shot!

The flames from above...seems like I have to fly into it!

I will charge forward within the flames...and then defeat him!

After my Dragon-shot cancels the fireball which is coming from the front, I went flying above like that! I jump into the flames which are coming from above me! Huge amount of flames burns me without mercy! Hooooot! I would have turned into dust if I didn't wear my armour!

[It's clearly more powerful than the one Grendel breathed out in the past!]

But, Ddraig! I just need to overcome this!

Grendel gets happy from the bottom of his heart when he sees me charging forward within his flames!

[For real!? You, you really are the beeeest! I love idiots like yoooou!]

I passed through the flames—!

"I will pay back the debts of my juniors to yoooooou!"

[BoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoost!!]

I nail my right fist which has the power of Ascalon's dragon-slayer ability working on it to Grendel's stomach that has an expression of ecstasy on his face!

[Solid Impact Booster!!!!]

DOGON!

A low-ditch sound comes from my heavy blow! That blow creates a sound of collision which echoes throughout the field.

Grendel who receives the blow directly coughs a lot of blue blood from his mouth while falling on the ground. The whole field shakes by the impact of having a giant body fall.

...I felt that the attack went through. I also used the ability of dragon-slayer on it. With this—.

...But an unbelievable thing happens before my eyes.

——Grendel starts to stand up.

After taking a breath, he spits his blood on the ground, and then moves his neck while making noise.

My blow of [Welsh Dragonic Rook] that has the power of Ascalon's dragon-slayer...doesn't have that much effect on him!?

Grendel gives an evil smile to me who is in shock.

[That hurts! It hurts to the maaaax! But, that was a good punch! Guhahahahaha! Interesting, it sure is interesting! This pain makes me realise that I am alive! The real thing will start from here! Fine! Fight to the death, fight to death I tell ya! You and I! Let's fight until one of us dies by having our body shattered! Ddraaaaaaaaaaig!]

...So this guy is this tough huh...! Even I started to have sweat coming out from me.

His toughness surpasses the word of being "tough"...! Just how much do I have to do in order to defeat him!?

[He still stands with joy even with that damage he got right now!? Damn crazy Dragon...!]

Ddraig also says it with disgust.

Then Grendel makes his stomach three times bigger! Another fireball! I became cautious, but the giant Dragon changes the direction of his body and—

[But before that, there's a change of plan! All of you, it's decided all of you will die!]

He shot several fireballs towards my comrades!

Bastard! Wasn't this supposed to be one on one!?

"Ku!"

"I won't let you!"

Rossweisse-san stands at the front, and makes lots of defence-type magic-circles appear!

Akeno-san also has the wings of a Fallen Angel appear, and creates the thunder and light that has the shape of a dragon!

"——Water." Kaichou envelop a silent, but a strong blue coloured aura around her. Water appears and gathers around her! Enormous amounts of water that Kaichou is controlling with her demonic-power acts as a wall and covers our comrades.

The fireball released by Grendel gets stopped by Rossweisse-san's magic-circle of the defence-magic, and then gets erased by Akeno-san's Raikouryuu! The explosion and heat spreads throughout the field, but the wall of water that Sona-kaichou created blocks them!

——! There are still two fireballs left! The giant fireballs are heading towards my comrades once again!

"——Alright, let's begin! You will be fighting as well, Fafnir!"

Saji makes a magic-circle made from black flames appear in front of him, it captures Grendel's fireball once it goes into it!

"Vanish!"

He starts to trim away the power of the fireball with Vritra's ability. The black flame is eating away Grendel's fireball and it's trying to weaken its impact.

[Asia-tan, protect.]

Fafnir releases a block of aura shining in gold from his mouth, and he completely erases Grendel's fireball that Saji was stopping! Wow, a combination attack between Dragon-Kings!

It's a bit regretful that I'm feeling it's okay to leave Asia in Fafnir's hands who has just done a job which was worth the price!

And, for the last fireball, the duo of Xenovia and Irina—.

"I will cut it down with Durandal!"

She cuts the Dragon's fireball with a single slash by combining the power of Destruction and Rapidly which enhanced its speed and power! She then continues to cut the fireball into pieces. Despite being cut into pieces, the force acting on Grendel's fireball hasn't died!

"Looks like I will be the one to finish it!"

To finish it, Irina uses the mass-produced holy-demonic sword which seems to have the element of ice added to freeze all of the fireball which has been cut into pieces.

All of Grendel's fireballs which went heading towards my comrades have perished! He did take us by surprise, but he shouldn't look down on my comrades!

But the action right now is such a cowardly act!

"You! You said this was a one on one! Why did you attack my comrades!?"

I punch his face while shouting that out, but he wipes the blood from his nose with his hand and then puts on an evil grin.

[My bad, I just like killing after all. I can't maintain my tension if I don't kill every now and then. But, looks like I failed. They are strong, your comrades that is. —So I will kill all of you! Hit! Torment! Stomp! Bite! Then I will make all of you into asssssshes!]

...He's pissed to the max! His silver eyes are glowing so brutally with hostility and killing intent!

Grendel's hostility is directed towards me—and my comrades.

"Hyoudou-kun! We don't have to tag along with fighting him one-on-one anymore! Let's attack him together!"

It's just like Kaichou said. It's a different story if that guy doesn't want to fight one-on-one. We will beat him together!

"Roger!"

...Even though I said that, I'm at my limit at maintaining this crimson armour. It's a form where it's hard to stabilise its power to begin with. And since Ddraig has just come back, it seems like it won't last long...!

[Then let's start the second round, the red one. —No, the crimson Ryuutei-chaaaaaan!]

It happens when Grendel spreads his wings and was about to come at me——.

His body stops. We come to know that reason right away.

——That's because something that looks like a black shadow is wrapping around Grendel's foot.

I became suspicious, then I look towards the shadow, —no, I look towards the place where the darkness is coming from.

...Gasper is standing there who has creepy shadows appearing around him.

He has his red eyes glow bewitchingly, and his body looks powerless.

The darkness wriggles, and is heading towards Grendel. ...So that's Gasper's hidden power... He's emitting a very terrifying aura. The darkness spreads even further, and it seems like it's trying to devour this whole space.

[...What is that? Never mind. Is it okay for me to kill that as well? It's okay right!? There are so many strong shitty brats here! This is a good era! It's worth destroying it!]

Grendel is taking this situation with great joy! Shit! Damn battle-maniac! I won't let you lay a finger on my junior!

It happens when I try to get Grendel's attention back to me.

"——No, Grendel. Please stop right there. It seems the experiment has been a success. We could have had a better investigation if Kiba Yuuto was also here, but this should be enough."

The man wearing the robe stops Grendel.

Grendel then makes a shout of dissatisfaction.

[Don't stop me! It starts from here! I will slaughter them all! The real thing starts when both sides become high to the max! Let me battle them! I'm going to discard my regret from back then! This time I will finally eat, get eaten, break, get broken, and kill!]

...He really is brutal. So there was a Dragon like him huh.

It's my first time seeing a Dragon who is attached to battling this much. It makes Vali look innocent instead! Not just to me, but he is also giving out hostility and killing intents to both his enemies and ally.

The man wearing the robe then says it to Grendel with cold words.

"—Do you want to return to being a corpse? You are still in the tuning stage. If you overdo it..."

Grendel makes a noise with his tongue when he hears that, and he puts his fist down.

[...Chi, damn, can't help it then. Since you brought that up. Then I only have the option to stop.]

...He put his fist down. ..."Corpse"? What does that mean? Tuning stage? There are so many questions...

A communication-type magic-circle appears immediately near the ear of the man wearing the robe. The man listens to it, and then nods his head.

"...Good news, Grendel. It seems like they are having a really tough time against the white one. Let's go to their side this time."

[Oho! So it's Albion this time! I can't get enough of this!]

Hearing the man wearing the robe, Grendel puts on a grin.

Albion? White one? It's Vali! Don't tell me the reason why Kuroka wasn't at my house is because—.

Grendel points at me.

[Ddraig the shit, Vritra the gloomy, and the panty-bastard. My playtime with you will be on hold. Next time. Next time, it's that. I will kill you all. I will kill all three of you together, okay? Guhahaha!]

The Dragon Gate opens, and it envelops Grendel while having the circle emit dark green colour.

When the light stops—the giant Dragon is gone.

Confirming that, the man wearing the robe takes off his hood.

The one who appears under it is a youth with silver hair—. But, the youth's face looks familiar. ...It seems like I saw him somewhere before... I then remember the face of the strongest [Queen] who always takes care of me.

The silver-haired man then says.

"I am Lucifugus. Euclid Lucifugus."

——!

L-L-Lucifugus...!? What's that supposed to mean!? No, that's right! It's natural for him to look similar! He looks like Grayfia-san!

"You aren't their boss, right? Then, who is unifying the remnants of the Khaos Brigade!?"

Saji asks. The man just narrows his eyes.

"You will come to know the identity of the current boss of the Khaos Brigade very soon."

It seems like Kaichou realised something after hearing the man, Euclid.

"...I see, so the one who intruded into this town and brought the magicians inside is you, correct? If it's someone with the same aura as Grayfia-sama, then it may not be weird for you to pass through the barrier."

Hearing that, Euclid says it with a cold voice.

"Please tell this to my elder sister, Grayfia Lucifugus, who went so low as to become a servant of the Gremory. —If you are living as you like by abandoning the role of Lucifugus, then I also have the same right to do so—."

...Elder sister...? T-Then, this guy is—

The man who named himself as Euclid Lucifugus disappears within the teleportation magic-circle—.

——At the same time, this field starts to collapse as if it has fulfilled its duty.

The space crumbles as if a piece in a puzzle is missing. The kaleidoscope view which is a trait of the dimensional gap becomes visible. This place won't last long.

Gasper who unleashed his mysterious power has collapsed on the floor.

"It looks like this place will collapse! Let's evacuate through the teleportation magic-circle!"

Under Sona-kaichou's command, Akeno-san activates a magic-circle which will let us return to that underground space. Everyone gathers at the centre of the magic-circle after retrieving Gasper.

Then Ravel activates a small magic-circle to her hand, and releases it towards the capsule. The magic-circle which was released hits the capsule, and then disappears after making a single glow.

"...I will at least have myself do this."

She mutters something which I couldn't understand.

"I see. So that's what you mean."

It seems like Kaichou notices something when she saw that. She also does the same and releases the magic-circle towards the capsule.

While finding their action suspicious, I also couldn't hide myself being disturbed at the identity of the man wearing the robe.

...Grayfia-san's brother and a Dragon that was supposed to be terminated. ...What is going on?

What is about to happen, Grayfia-san...Sirzechs-sama...