High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor Chapter 84 82: The Cunning God

[Azazel Side]

In a luxurious high-rise hotel in Tokyo, I was on standby in a room, diating a eting between Odin and the Japanese gods.

Odin, unusually serious, was reviewing the agenda.

"What's up, old man? Not like you to be nervous," I teased.

He set the papers down on the table and chuckled lightly. "It's not the eting I'm worried about. It's Loki."

Loki, huh…

"I've lived long enough to think my old man's wisdom could solve anything," Odin said. "And it has, mostly. But I was wrong. What matters most is the potential of the young."

"Now you realize that? Bit late, old man," I quipped.

"I'd call you cheeky, but it's true. My past mistakes might've created Loki. And now, the young ones with bright futures are paying for it." His eyes brimd with compassion.

Damn, he's throwing off with that look.

I sighed heavily, scratching my head. "To keep their potential alive, this eting has to succeed. Only you can pull it off. For those kids fighting Loki, do it right."

"Understood," Odin replied, sipping his tea.

I glanced at the clock. The Japanese gods, led by Amaterasu, should arrive soon. A strong alliance with them is crucial, especially with the Khaos Brigade out there.

"Barakiel, how's it going up there?" I activated a communication magic circle to reach Barakiel on the rooftop.

"No issues so far… but they'll show up soon. They've likely pinpointed our location," he replied.

"Sorry, man. I'm dumping this on you again."

It was the sa when Barakiel's wife, Shuri, died. My reckless request cost him soone precious. How many tis will I repeat this mistake?

"Don't worry," Barakiel said. "I'm grateful you assigned this task."

I tilted my head, puzzled. Grateful? I hadn't done anything to earn that.

"I got to talk to my daughter, Akeno, again. She called 'Father' once more."

No wonder he was in such a good mood earlier.

"Glad you two sorted it out. I was worried, you being so awkward and all. Guess it was needless," I said.

"Yeah. Azazel, thanks for looking after Akeno all this ti. I an it."

"Hey, don't go raising death flags! We need you alive," I shot back.

"I know! I'm not dying. I'll live to talk with Akeno as family again!"

He's fired up. Can't bla him—finally reuniting with his daughter. No way he's dying now.

"Alright, I'm counting on you, Barakiel."

"Got it!"

I cut the connection, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. They're finally a family again.

It was Issei, wasn't it? He must've drawn out Akeno's true feelings. I heard he spoke to Barakiel too.

"What's with that grin, Azazel? Sothing good happen?" Odin teased.

Busted. Guess I was smiling without realizing it. Can't help it.

"Yeah, sothing like that."

[Azazel Side Out]

Midnight. Ti for the showdown.

We were stationed on the hotel's rooftop, high above the city, wind howling fiercely.

The president said the eting was about to start, aning Loki's crew would show up any mont.

Sona's team was positioned on nearby rooftops, ready to teleport us if needed.

Saji… still hasn't shown up. He's training at Grigori's facility. Is he really okay?

On the rooftop with us were Barakiel, filling in for Azazel-sensei, Rossweisse in armor, and Vali's team. Up above, Tia and Tannin-ossan floated, cloaked from human sight.

"It's ti. The eting's started," the president announced, everyone's expressions tightening.

Here we go.

"No tricks, huh? Impressive," Vali said with a wry smile.

I glared at a point in the sky.

Crackle! Crackle!

The space above the hotel warped, a massive hole tearing open. Out ca Loki, Hel, and Fenrir.

Fenrir right off the bat, huh?

Loki smirked, reading my thoughts. "Got sothing to say, Red Dragon Emperor? About Fenrir?"

"Yeah. Bringing a beast like that to the human world over and over? You're nuts," I shot back.

"With two Dragon Kings, plus the Red and White Dragon Emperors, I have to take this seriously," Loki replied.

"No backing down, then?"

"Obviously."

As he spoke, a massive barrier magic circle enveloped the hotel. Sona's team activated a teleportation array to shift us to the battlefield.

"Changing venues? Fine by ," Loki said, unfazed, smirking confidently.

Light engulfed us.

When it faded, we stood in a vast, barren quarry—nothing but rocky terrain.

I checked our group. Everyone's here.

"No running away?" the president taunted.

Loki laughed. "No need. I'll crush you all, then kill Odin."

"Your ideas are dangerous," Barakiel said.

"You're the ones with foolish notions, uniting mythologies," Loki sneered.

"No chance for talk, then," Barakiel said, summoning lightning and unfurling ten black wings.

Vali and I stepped forward.

"Let's do this," I said.

"We'll stop him," Vali added.

'Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!!'

'Vanishing Dragon Balance Breaker!!'

Red and white light flooded the battlefield. My body donned the Red Dragon Emperor's crimson armor, while Vali wore flawless white.

Loki's eyes glead. "Magnificent! The Two Heavenly Dragons teaming up against ? This is thrilling!"

That bastard's laughing even now.

He summoned Laevateinn, gripping its hilt. "Co, show the dance of red and white!"

A battle maniac, just like soone else I know.

Whatever. I'm here to take him down. I owe him for last ti.

"Miu, you and Tia handle Hel. Heal the team when needed—Asia might not keep up alone," I said.

Asia's healing is incredible, but with this opponent, injuries will pile up fast.

"Got it. Leave it to ," Miu nodded, standing beside Tia to face Hel.

Hel had already summoned over a hundred monsters.

Midgardsormr said she's immobile while summoning, but… that's more than expected.

"Heh, the mighty Dragon King Tiamat honors as her opponent," Hel mocked.

"Spare the flattery. And it's not just ," Tia retorted.

The president, Akeno-san, and Reina stepped forward. They're joining Tia and Miu against Hel.

"Devils and a fallen angel dare face ? Know your place," Hel sneered.

What a nasty personality. Sha, since she's a beauty.

"Rias Gremory, you three handle the monsters. Miu and I will focus on her," Tia said.

"Understood. Akeno, Reina, let's go!" the president commanded.

"Got it!" Akeno summoned lightning, and Reina readied her dual pistols.

They charged into battle against the monsters.

Ti for us to move.

Vali shot forward, cutting through the air, leaving a trail of light as he closed in on Loki. I followed, boosters flaring with aura.

Loki grinned, unleashing a massive magical barrage at us.

"Take this!" I roared.

'BoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoost!!'

I swung my fist, shattering his attack with a deafening clash.

Vali, dodging the barrage, unleashed the Norse magic he'd shown in our spar. Multiple magic circles ford around him.

"Try this!" he shouted, firing a salvo larger than Loki's, enough to engulf the quarry.

Our allies were far enough to avoid the blast.

When the dust settled, a massive crater remained, too deep to see the bottom. Classic Vali—insane power right from the start.

But…

"Hahaha! Impressive!" Loki floated unscathed, shielded by a defensive magic circle.

Long-range attacks won't work unless tid perfectly.

Close combat it is.

I pulled out my secret weapon: a replica of Mjolnir, strapped to my waist. I channeled aura, shrinking it to half my height. Heavy, but manageable.

Loki's eye twitched. "Mjolnir? No, a replica. Odin entrusted you with that? Unforgivable!"

His aura surged, shifting from calm to wild. He's pissed Odin gave this.

I don't care. I swung Mjolnir upward, charging at Loki. This hamr can unleash god-slaying lightning.

Let's see how he handles it!

Loki, sensing its danger, retreated sharply.

My swing missed, hitting the ground.

BOOOOOM!!

A massive crater ford. The power's there, but… no lightning?

I swung again, confused. Nothing.

What the hell!?

"Hahaha!" Loki laughed at my pathetic flailing.

"Shut up!" I snapped.

"Amusing, but that hamr only obeys a pure, strong heart. Got so impure thoughts, don't you?"

"...Because I'm a perv?"

"An interest in won's bodies, hmm? Youthful impurity."

Don't agree with ! It's depressing!

"No need to sulk. All n have such desires," Loki said.

What is this!? The enemy's consoling ?

Tears welled up. My pervy nature's screwing over at the worst ti.

I'll reform… nah, I can't ditch my perv side!

I stopped channeling aura and stowed Mjolnir. "Fine! I'll take you down without it!"

I surged my power, sparks flying as my armor transford.

"Second Forbidden Form—Zenon, Heavenly Warrior!! I'll smash you with my fists!"

Loki readied Laevateinn. "Interesting. Let's get serious!"

Xenovia tossed sothing my way. "Issei! Take it back!"

I caught it—Ascalon, the holy sword I'd lent her.

"Perfect timing, Xenovia!" I gripped Ascalon in my left hand, pointing it at Loki.

"Here I co, Loki! Haaaa!!"

'Accel Booster!!'

'BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBoost!!'

My second-form armor amplified my power exponentially. Boosters erupted with aura, propelling toward Loki.

"A holy sword? It won't pierce Laevateinn!" he scoffed.

CLANG!!

Ascalon clashed with Laevateinn, sparks flying. We traded blows mid-air, each strike shaking the surroundings.

"You wield a sword too? It's been ages since I faced an equal!" Loki exclaid.

"Yeah?" I kicked Laevateinn's hilt, creating an opening.

"Now!" I swung Ascalon at his abdon, full force.

But a defensive magic circle blocked it at the last second.

"Damn it!" I cursed.

"Close, but not enough," Loki smirked. "Thought you had ?"

I grinned back. "Think you blocked it? You're not just facing ."

A white flash appeared behind Loki.

"You forgot about ," Vali said.

"You're right. I'm up against both Heavenly Dragons." Loki deployed another magic circle to block Vali's strike, then called out, "Fenrir!"

Fenrir, locked in combat with Tannin-ossan, turned toward Vali.

"Now!" Barakiel shouted.

"Nya♪" Kuroka grinned.

WHOOSH!

A magic circle appeared around Kuroka, summoning massive chains from the ground—Gleipnir, the magical chain. Too bulky to carry, Kuroka had stored it in her own dinsion.

Tannin-ossan, Barakiel, Vali, and I grabbed the chains and hurled them at Fenrir.

"Hahaha! Useless! I've long prepared for Gleipnir—" Loki's mocking laughter faltered.

Enhanced by dark elves, the chains moved as if alive, wrapping tightly around Fenrir.

'AROOOOO…'

Fenrir's pained howl echoed as it was bound.

"Fenrir, secured," Barakiel declared.

One down.

"Haaaa!!" "Take this!!"

Tia and Miu's relentless magic barrage overwheld Hel, forcing her to focus on defense. She summoned more monsters, but the president and the others wiped them out.

They've got Hel handled. With Tannin-ossan's team, Fenrir's no threat if we stay sharp.

That leaves…

"You're next, Loki," I said, pointing Ascalon at him.

He just looked impressed, not rattled. "Still so calm?"

"Didn't expect Fenrir to be sealed so fast," he admitted. "Dark elves enhanced Gleipnir, and that fool tipped you off, didn't he?"

He ant Midgardsormr.

"Yeah, we owe him. Thanks to him, Fenrir's out," I said.

"But you haven't beaten ."

"We will. Starting now!"

'BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBoost!!'

I rocketed toward Loki, who summoned countless chains from magic circles.

Not again!

Vali zood past . "Issei, I'll hold him. Get ready."

He charged Loki alone.

Got it.

I stopped, eyeing the approaching chains. They're tougher than before.

Ddraig, let's blow them away.

'Leaving the front to Albion? No, you're planning that move.'

Exactly! I'll back Vali until he's ready. I can outdo him in bombardnt with that form.

I shifted my armor. "Second Forbidden Form, Artillery Mode—Eclipse, Heavenly Strike!!"

My boosters vanished, replaced by dragon wings and six cannons.

'BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBoost!!'

VROOOOM!

My aura and magic surged, cannons locking onto targets.

"Here we go!! Dragon Full Blaster!!"

'Highmat Full Blast!!'

Six cannons fired, obliterating the chains and canceling Loki's magical barrage. The resulting smoke shrouded the battlefield.

"Impressive, Red Dragon Emperor! A completely different power!" Loki's voice rang through the haze.

"Your confidence will be your downfall," Vali said, bursting through the smoke, his fist charged with imnse magic.

Loki caught it. "How so?"

He slashed Vali with Laevateinn.

"Gah!" Vali twisted, avoiding a fatal blow, but blood stained his white armor.

"You're strong, White Dragon Emperor, but not enough," Loki taunted.

Vali grabbed Loki's sword arm, refusing to let go. "I told you. Your confidence is your undoing."

'Power Dispersion!!'

Loki's overwhelming aura vanished instantly.

Vali's plan worked.

"What!? My power's gone!?" Loki's smugness turned to panic.

I know that feeling. I panicked when Vali hit with that too.

"Back off, Vali!! Dragon Full Blaster!!"

'Highmat Full Blast!!'

As Vali retreated, I fired. The six cannons' aura rged into a single, massive blast, hurtling toward the powerless Loki.

He can't block this, but Vali's effect won't last long. If it wears off, he'll deflect it.

Please, make it in ti!

"Reach him!!" I roared.

My armor's output surged, responding to my will.

"No! Not here!" Loki scread.

My blast drowned his voice, engulfing him completely.

Huff, huff, huff…

I reverted to my normal armor, exhausted from the full-power second form.

I landed and approached Vali, kneeling from his wounds. His skin was scorched from Laevateinn's heat.

"You okay, Vali?"

"It's deep, but I'll manage," he said.

"Reckless idiot. Asia! Heal Vali!"

"On it!" Asia sent a green healing aura from the rear. It enveloped Vali, nding his wounds in seconds. Her skill's unreal.

"Her healing's remarkable. She's mastered her Sacred Gear," Vali praised.

"Right? She's co a long way since we t," I said. Asia's been training hard, growing fast. Even Azazel-sensei's impressed.

What'll her Balance Breaker be like? Depends on the trigger, like Kiba's unique one. No clue what hers might be.

We turned to see Loki, battered and bleeding, crash to the ground.

"Cough… To end so soon…" he rasped, blood dripping from his mouth.

We approached, stopping a short distance away. He was a wreck after taking my full blast while Vali's ability stripped his power.

Even a god can't shrug that off.

"Hahaha… The power of the Red and White Dragon Emperors… Magnificent. I wanted to savor it more, but… my role is done," Loki said.

Role? What role? His goal was to kill Odin and trigger Ragnarök, right?

"I'll leave the rest to Loki," he said.

"!?"

A presence appeared behind us.

"Well done, my double," a voice said.

Vali and I spun around, but—

Slash!

A searing pain hit as our abdons were sliced open. We collapsed, agony and heat overwhelming us.

But the shock was worse.

The one who cut us… it was Loki.

"How… are you here?" I stamred.

It's impossible. The Loki we fought is dying behind us.

Yet, standing before us was undeniably Loki, Laevateinn刺ced into the ground, a cold smile on his face.

"Did you think I'd face the mightiest Red and White Dragon Emperors without a plan?"

Note: New story is out, if you want to check it out.

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