my new life in highschool dxd

Seeing the battle was over, I looked around at the battlefield. The devastation was immense—scorched earth, shattered trees, and the remains of our adversaries scattered everywhere. I turned my gaze to Issei, who was sitting down, breathing hard. He was using the Harmony Breathing Art I had taught him, trying to recover from the intense fight.

I've noticed scales starting to form on his body. Given that he possesses a dragon sacred gear and practices a dragon cultivation art, I shouldn't be surprised. It's only natural he'd start transforming into a dragon himself.

Kousei:we should go before we draw any more attention to ourselves

I said, breaking the silence.

Issei looked up at me, a wide grin spreading across his face.

Issei:Dude, c'mon. We're invincible. Did you see what we just did?

I facepalmed, tossing him a healing pill and a qi rejuvenation pill.

Kousei:Yeah, we did great, but we can't get cocky. We released a lot of energy in this fight. I'm worried we'll draw more attention.

Issei bit into the pills, chewing thoughtfully.

Issei:Attention from who? We just took down an ultimate-class devil. We can handle anything they throw at us.

I sighed, shaking my head.

Kousei:Issei, we took Gudwon by surprise. Plus, the array that was already in place to stop our energy from spreading was destroyed. They could send even more ultimate-class devils our way.

He swallowed the pills and stood up, stretching.

Issei:So what? We just beat one. We'll beat the next one too.

Kousei:It's not that simple

I replied, frustration creeping into my voice.

Kousei:We had the element of surprise and the upper hand this time. But if they send a coordinated group of ultimate-class devils, it won't be as easy."l

Issei shrugged, still exuding confidence.

Issei:We'll just have to be stronger then. Keep pushing our limits.

I admired his optimism, but I knew better than to underestimate our enemies.

Kousei:issei, listen. We need to be smart about this. We've already made a lot of noise. If more devils show up, we could be overwhelmed. We need to regroup, recover, and plan our next move carefully.

Issei's grin faded slightly, and he nodded.

Issei:Yeah, okay. I get it. But you know, we can't just keep running forever. At some point, we'll have to stand our ground.

I nodded in agreement.

Issei:You're right. But now's not the time. We need to make sure the Nekoushous are safe first. Then we can worry about taking the fight to our enemies.

Issei punched his palm, a determined look in his eyes.

Issei:Alright, let's do this. But next time, let's make sure they know not to mess with us.

I couldn't help but smile at his spirit.

Kousei:Deal. But for now, let's get moving. We've got a village to evacuate.

We started walking back towards the Nekoushou village, our senses on high alert. Despite our victory, the weight of what we had to do next pressed heavily on my mind. Protecting the innocent, ensuring their safety, and then dealing with the larger threat—it was a lot to take in. But with Issei by my side, I knew we could handle it.

As we approached the village, the Nekoushous who had been hiding cautiously emerged. Their eyes were wide with a mix of fear and hope. The leader, Kuroshi, stepped forward, her expression filled with gratitude and relief.

"You did it," she said softly.

Kuroshi:you defeated them.

I nodded, trying to keep my tone calm and reassuring.

Kousei:yes, but we need to move quickly. More could come. We're going to evacuate you to a safer place.

Kuroshi's eyes widened.

Kuroshi:But where can we go? The underworld is vast, and we're not safe anywhere.

Kousei:We've prepared a teleportation formation

I explained.

Kousei:It will take you to the Fallen Angel territory, where Azazel will ensure your safety. You can trust him.

The Nekoushous exchanged uncertain glances, but Kuroshi nodded resolutely.

Kuroshi:if you say it's safe, we trust you.

Issei and I got to work, setting up the teleportation formation with the materials I had brought. The intricate patterns and symbols glowed faintly as we infused them with our energy, creating a gateway to safety. As we worked, I could feel the tension in the air easing slightly. The Nekoushous were beginning to believe in their escape.

Issei stood guard, his senses sharp, ready for any sign of trouble. Meanwhile, I focused on ensuring the formation was perfect. We couldn't afford any mistakes.

Finally, the formation was complete. I turned to Kuroshi and the other Nekoushous.

Kousei:It's ready. Step into the circle, and you'll be transported to safety.

One by one, they entered the circle, their forms shimmering before vanishing in a flash of light. Kuroshi was the last to step in, giving us a grateful nod before she too disappeared.

As the last of them vanished, I breathed a sigh of relief. "We did it."

Issei clapped me on the back.

Issei:see? We can handle anything.

I chuckled, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

Kousei:yeah, we can. But let's keep our guard up. This is just the beginning.

Issei nodded, his eyes glinting with determination.

Issei:Right. Now, let's get back and plan our next move.

With the Nekoushous safe, we could focus on the bigger picture—taking down the true threats and ensuring peace

As we were about to leave, Issei and I sensed another powerful aura. We turned back and saw a woman with silver hair and red eyes, dressed in a maid outfit. My heart sank as I recognized her: Grayfia Lucifuge, Sirzechs' wife.

Her aura was immense, radiating an overwhelming sense of power.

Kousei:Oh shit, shit, shit, shit

I muttered under my breath.

Issei, ever the bold one, whistled appreciatively.

Issei:Damn, that's one hot maid.

"We're fucked," I said, my voice low.

Grayfia:So you're the ones who caused all this?

Grayfia's voice was calm and measured, but there was a dangerous edge to it.

Kousei:Yup, we're fucked

I repeated, feeling the dread settle in.

The system's voice rang in my head: "HIGH LEVEL ENEMY DETECTED."

Issei, with his typical reckless grin, surged forward. "Issei, no!" I shouted, but it was too late.

Issei activated his sacred gear, the Boosted Gear, which roared to life with a crimson glow.

"BOOST!"

The gauntlet's voice echoed, increasing his power manifold. Crimson flames enveloped him as he charged at Grayfia with his technique, Dragon Soul Ascendance.

Grayfia didn't even flinch. She raised a single hand, and a barrier of icy magic materialized in front of her, effortlessly absorbing Issei's attack. The clash of energy sent shockwaves through the area, but Grayfia remained unmoved.

Issei pushed harder, his muscles straining as he poured more power into his attack.

"Inferno Lotus Fist!"

he roared, aiming a blazing punch at her. The fiery energy of the attack intensified, but Grayfia's barrier remained unyielding.

With a flick of her wrist, Grayfia deflected Issei's punch, sending him tumbling backward. She stepped forward, her expression serene yet commanding.

Grayfia:is this the best the Red Dragon Emperor can do?

she asked, her tone almost disappointed.

Issei growled, refusing to back down. He activated his Balance Breaker, the Scale Mail armor forming around him.

Issei:I'm not done yet!

he shouted.

BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST

BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST

BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST

BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST

BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST

BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST

BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST

BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST

The gauntlet's voice echoed again, doubling his power.

He launched himself at Grayfia, moving with incredible speed thanks to his Harmony Breath technique.

"Whirlwind Waltz!"

he shouted, his movements a blur as he unleashed a flurry of rapid strikes.

Grayfia's eyes narrowed slightly as she parried each of Issei's attacks with minimal effort. Her movements were precise and fluid, her strength evident in every motion. She caught one of his punches mid-air, her grip like iron.

Grayfia:your power is impressive

she said, her voice calm.

Grayfia:But it's undisciplined. Allow me to show you true mastery.

With that, she twisted her hand, and a surge of icy magic exploded from her palm, engulfing Issei.

Issei cried out as the freezing energy wrapped around him, immobilizing him in an instant. Ice crystals formed on his armor, spreading rapidly and encasing him in a solid block of ice.

"No!" I shouted, rushing forward to help. But Grayfia's gaze turned to me, and I felt the weight of her power pressing down on me, freezing me in my tracks.

Grayfia looked back at Issei, who was struggling to break free from the ice.

Grayfia:You have spirit, but you lack control

she said. She raised her hand, and the ice shattered, sending Issei flying back and crashing into the ground with a heavy thud.

Issei groaned, trying to push himself up, but Grayfia was already upon him. She delivered a swift kick to his midsection, sending him skidding across the ground. He gasped for breath, his armor cracking under the force of her attack.

Grayfia:Your bravado is commendable, but you are outmatched

she said, standing over him. She placed a hand on his chest, and a surge of icy magic coursed through him, rendering him completely immobilized.

Issei's eyes widened in shock and pain.

Issei:D-Damn it...!

he gasped, his voice strained.

I watched in horror, my mind racing. Issei was strong, incredibly so, but Grayfia was on a whole different level. She was toying with him, demonstrating the vast gap in their power.

Grayfia turned her gaze back to me, her expression calm but deadly serious.

Grayfia:And you

She said,

Grayfia:o you intend to challenge me as well?

I clenched my fists, my mind racing. I knew that engaging her directly would be suicide. I had to think of something, some way to turn the tide.

I felt an immense surge of power as I pushed myself to the peak of the Soul Refinement Stage (8th Stage). My golden aura, infused with cosmic energy, radiated a brilliant blue outline. Purple sparks danced around me as I activated the Aura of the Avenger. The ground beneath me trembled with the force of my power, and the air crackled with energy.

Issei, still reeling from his encounter with Grayfia, looked at me in shock.

Issei:Kousei, you're this strong...?

Even Grayfia seemed momentarily taken aback, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the energy emanating from me.

Grayfia:A human, with such power... and this qi, it isn't normal qi.

I clenched my fists, feeling the raw power coursing through my veins.

Kousei:Grayfia Lucifuge, you may be a devil king's queen, but don't underestimate me.

She smiled faintly, her eyes glinting with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

Grayfia:very well, show me what you can do.

With a burst of speed, I launched myself at her, using Wind Steps to close the distance in an instant.

"Tempest Slicer!"

I shouted, swinging my sword in a wide arc. The blade, infused with my energy, cut through the air with a sharp, slicing sound.

Grayfia raised her hand, conjuring a barrier of ice to block my attack. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the area, but her barrier held firm. She countered with a wave of her hand, sending shards of ice hurtling toward me.

I twisted my body, using my enhanced agility to dodge the shards. "Not bad," I muttered,

Kousei:but I've got more tricks up my sleeve.

I activated Gale Palm, sending a powerful gust of wind toward her. The force of the wind shattered her ice shards and pushed her back slightly.

Grayfia's eyes widened slightly, and she retaliated with a spell.

"Frozen Lance!"

she intoned, and a spear of ice materialized in her hand. She thrust it toward me with incredible speed.

I met her attack head-on, using my sword to parry the ice lance. The impact sent a jolt of pain through my arm, but I held my ground.

"Whirlwind Waltz!"

I shouted, using the momentum to spin and deliver a series of rapid, precise strikes.

Grayfia matched me blow for blow, her movements fluid and graceful. Each clash of our weapons sent sparks flying, the sheer force of our battle tearing up the ground around us. Despite her power, I could see a hint of surprise in her eyes.

Grayfia:You are indeed formidable

she admitted, her voice calm even in the heat of battle.

Grayfia:it won't be enough.

Kousei:Let's see about that

I replied, channeling more energy into my attacks.

"Frost Bite Gale Slash!"

I swung my sword in a powerful arc, unleashing a wave of icy wind that chilled the air around us.

Grayfia responded with a barrier of fire, melting the ice before it could reach her. The clash of elements created a burst of steam that obscured our vision. Using the cover, I activated Elemental Fusion Proficiency, combining the elements of wind and fire to create a vortex of blazing energy.

"Cosmic Veil!"

I called out, surrounding myself with a shimmering barrier of cosmic energy. The barrier absorbed Grayfia's next attack, a barrage of magical projectiles, and reflected them back toward her.

She dodged gracefully, her movements a blur. "Impressive," she said, her tone still calm.

Grayfia:But you can't rely on tricks alone.

I gritted my teeth, feeling the strain of the battle. I knew she was right; her power was immense, and my stamina was wearing thin. But I couldn't afford to back down now.

"Inferno Burst!"

I shouted, channeling my remaining energy into a massive explosion of fire.

The blast engulfed Grayfia, the heat searing the air. For a moment, I thought I had gained the upper hand, but as the flames subsided, I saw her standing there, unharmed, surrounded by a shield of ice.

"My turn," she said, her eyes glinting with determination. She raised her hand, and a blizzard of ice and snow swirled around her.

"Absolute Zero!"

The temperature plummeted, and the ground froze solid. I could feel the cold seeping into my bones, slowing my movements. Desperately, I activated Meridian Cleansing Techniques to purge the cold from my body, but it was a losing battle.

Grayfia stepped forward, her power overwhelming. "It's over," she said, her voice carrying the weight of finality.

But I wasn't ready to give up. Summoning the last of my strength, I charged at her, my sword blazing with golden light.

"VENGEFUL STRIKE!"

I roared, aiming a final, desperate strike at her.

Grayfia met my attack with her own, a powerful burst of magic that sent shockwaves through the air. The impact was immense, and I felt myself being thrown back, my vision blurring as I hit the ground hard.