"Neo of the black: Dragon End Nova!"
A voice resounded, followed by a dark Cardinal beam with shimmering white particles that shot forward.
The beam traveled in a straight, wide line, slamming against the wide-eyed phoenix.
"Wha—!?"
But before that… a few minutes before that-
Today was the day Rias was supposed to battle Riser to defend herself from him.
However, her peerage was too weak.
Even with their new additions, Hyoudou Issei, the supposed Red Dragon Emperor, and Asia Argento, they were powerless against a force like Riser.
Or was it her fault?
After all, from the very beginning, Riser's peerage outclassed them in every way, be it numbers or overall strength.
And yet, they had done well, even against such an opponent.
Rias was proud of them, though tears streamed down her face as she looked at Issei, who had done his best against Riser.
Akeno, Kiba, Koneko. They had all fought well, but now they were eliminated.
She'd be lying if she said she didn't wish they could all stand here, unarmed yet undefeated, laughing everything away after their victory.
A pity.
The only ones left standing were her, Asia, and Issei, still doing their best to fight Riser, despite being on the losing side.
The Queen, whom her own Queen, Akeno, had tried to eliminate because of the Phoenix Tears, still remained in the game.
If it had been just them against Riser alone, it would have been manageable.
But it was three against two. No, two against two.
Asia wasn't a fighter, so things were pretty much balanced out.
In this case, one could swap out Asia for a Phoenix Tear.
She had zero combat abilities.
Additionally, even with her healing power, it was still too slow compared to Riser's regenerative capacity.
More importantly, to heal, she had to be within close proximity to the person she wanted to heal, which was an even greater disadvantage.
If their opponent truly wanted to end this, never mind Asia, both Rias and Asia could be taken out, handing Riser the victory in this Rating Game.
Moreover, Rias was beginning to feel the exhaustion of keeping Riser's Queen, Yubelluna, from interfering between Riser and Issei.
No, rather, it was the other way around.
Rias was panicking, unbeknownst to herself, while Yubelluna was the one keeping her at bay.
And yet, as this went on, Issei was having the time of his life.
The time of his life doing what, exactly? Getting his ass handed to him by Riser.
Even though his regeneration consumed stamina, and Rias had managed to land a few hits on him with her Power of Destruction,
forcing him to use more stamina to heal, he still had far more endurance than Issei.
As if a newly reincarnated devil could ever be on his level, Red Dragon Emperor or not!
Not after all the battles he'd fought to get here.
"Hehehehe~! Grovel before me, pawn!"
Riser sneered, one foot pressing cruelly on Issei's head before he slammed it down against the rooftop with a crack.
"Issei! Riser—! You—!"
Rias shouted in a fit of helpless rage, her eyes glowing with fury as she thrust both hands forward, however—
"Buchou!"
Asia's voice rang out just in time.
Rias too would have come to notice the bright magic circle that had lit up underneath her feet.
"Dammit!"
Seeing that, she leaped away from her position, barely dodging the explosive magic circle that soon erupted with an explosion comparable to that of a grenade's explosion.
"Kuh!"
She gritted her teeth, landing beside Asia while clutching her shoulder.
Thin trails of smoke rising from where the explosion had seared her skin.
Even though she had managed to dodge in time, the explosion had still grazed her skin.
"Fufufu~ No, you don't~"
Yubelluna purred seductively, floating above them as Asia quickly tended to Rias.
Meanwhile, not far away, Riser caught the look on Rias's face—and laughed like a madman who'd just stepped on a rose.
He slammed his foot into Issei's face again, then dragged it viciously across the grit-covered rooftop, peeling skin and scraping bone.
"Hahahaha! All bark and no bite, are we? You can't even fight back, can you? Can you?"
Riser's face twisted into something unbecoming as he reveled in his dominance.
"Issei! Please! Just stop! There's no need to push yourself this far!"
"Issei-san!"
They pleaded. But one thing about the boy was that he was tenacious, one had to give him that.
"N-No way... A… A guy like him—I will—Kuack!"
He tried to rise, tried to speak, but another savage kick cracked against his shin, rattling his vision.
He knew that if he gave up now, Rias would be forever unhappy.
She'd be forced to marry this devil. And as long as Rias didn't want that, he would do his best.
However, before he could even finish his words, a sharp kick to the shin sent a shock through his body, his brain rattling like a broken screensaver on crack.
Yet, despite all that, he simply clung to Riser's foot.
"... I..."
Even his voice was no longer audible.
"Still clinging on so pathetically? Fine then," Riser sneered, brushing blond strands from his face.
"This Riser shall finish you off properly."
Riser proclaimed in his usual third-person speech as he raised his foot once more… this time winding up with lethal intent—
"Issei!"
"Issei-san!"
The kick came down with a consciousness-ending force, as though this were the last of him.
Issei could only watch as the kick came. However, before that could happen—
『Hey. Kid, swap with me.』
CLAP—!
In the blink of an eye, the world around him vanished, replaced by a boundless, pitch-black void.
A weightless emptiness stretched in all directions. No ground. No sky. Just darkness.
Issei stood there, blinking rapidly, his breathing shallow as he tried to steady himself.
His head turned slowly, eyes darting through the oppressive dark.
"Where..."
Had he died?
That couldn't be right. He wasn't that weak... right?
But something wasn't right. Something gnawed at his chest, an unease not for himself, but…
"Prez…"
That sudden gut-punch of fear, what was happening to her right now?
Just as he thought that, as though to fulfil those wishes.
In front of him was a massive image that appeared, showing everything in the outside world.
"Huh?! Wait... Riser? That bastard!"
Without thinking, he launched himself at the screen he dashed at the ethereal wall showing images of the outside world, only to fail and pass through it.
"Dammit!"
He stumbled, landing clumsily on the other side, hands scraping through nothing.
Spinning around, the screen remained intact behind him.
"Wh—what the hell is happening!"
Issei shouted with a confused expression.
Since no answer came, and it didn't seem like he could interact with it, he decided to watch.
One thing he noticed, however, was that… It was like time had been paused.
"Wait, I think I heard a voice too."
Saying that, he kept his hand on his chin as he mused, and just then.
『I was the one who summoned you here, pervert...』
Issei paused at the voice that sounded from nowhere, turning his head to all sides.
"Wait! What did you say?"
Just what had he done to suddenly deserve that insult!
Oh, yeah, he's a pervert. But no… that didn't matter at all now!
"Wait, who are you!?"
『Behind you, dunce.』
The voice said that as Issei slowly turned to the voice… Rather than voice, a person?
Same height, shoulder-length black hair, and dead-like ominous red eyes.
Unlike him, this person was fully clothed, watching him with an expression that unnerved him.
Especially those dead fish glassy, blood-red, and completely devoid of life eyes that seemed to be looking at trash rather than humans.
"Okay, what the hell?! Why is there a creepy dude inside my body?!"
『I could say the same, pervert. Believe me, I didn't ask for this.』
The stranger folded his arms, exhaling through his nose with a dramatic sigh.
『This is not how I imagined my reincarnation going, let me tell you that. Sixteen years stuck in this walking hormone factory? It's been torture.』
Issei blinked.
"Sixteen—wait, what are you even talking about?!"
Hearing some of the incomprehensible things he didn't understand, he looked back at the image.
Time was still stopped.
No, that's not it. It was simply that time slowed down to an extreme degree while he was here.
"Alright. Enough messing around. What's happening? Tell me."
『Ugh. Talking to you's already exhausting. Fine. Let's skip the foreplay.』
The figure stepped forward, jabbing a finger toward Issei's chest.
『You're done. Cooked. Once this little chat ends, you're going back out there… and you're going to lose.』
『Then, you'll just watch while your precious Rias gets handed off to that walking gold-plated pile of ego.』
He let that sink in while watching Issei's expression change by the second.
Now, the words hit harder than any of Riser's kicks.
Issei's lips parted, the panic returning, the urgency welling up in his throat.
"Yes! Please! Help me save—!"
『—No, no!』
The male raised his hand, stopping Issei before he could continue.
『I won't benefit jack, you see. So we're making an oath, a binding vow.』
Naturally, this all was a ruse.
He had no such ability to begin with. No, well, he had, but not the kind to make a binding vow with.
But one thing was sure: he was eager to leave this place as soon as possible, especially after a painful sixteen years in this darkness.
Of course, he could see the outside world, but it was torture watching a dude's everyday life, not especially when the person was Issei.
At some point, he even thought he'd gone crazy. No, he actually did.
But finally, at this crucial moment! He was finally able to reach out to him.
Getting out of this body was just a matter of time.
"If I agree, will you help me?"
Issei asked, cautiously. Still unsure. Still bleeding hope.
And honestly? The guy would probably agree even without the vow.
He was dumb like that. Naturally, only if he does fulfil his own part of the promise.
After all, as much as he'll hate to admit it.
Sure, living sixteen years inside his body at least made him understand how the slightly honest part of him thinks.
Yet, this didn't mean he sympathises with him in any way, no way.
『Yes. Yes. So, what's your answer?』
"Fine… I agree."
After a little more deliberation, he finally accepted. Making him stretch out his hand slightly, pointing it towards Issei.
"Wait, what are you…"
『Relax, it's part of the so-called vow.』
A black orb floated into Issei's 'consciousness' that was currently here.
Naturally, this held no substance, at least not now.
This was all he could do with what he'd learnt alone.
Not to mention, throughout all this time, Issei's magical powers were literally almost nonexistent.
This was the best he could do; all the while was salvage.
But that was enough; by the time he'd have helped Issei, he'd have learnt a lot by then.
"So… how does this work?"
『Easy~☆』
CLAP(PA)—!
BOOM!
A deafening boom tore through the rooftop like a thunderclap at point-blank range, followed instantly by a scream that came from deep in Rias's chest.
"ISSEI!"
Next it was Riser who crackled as the smoke filled the rooftop.
"Hehehehe—hahahahahaha!"
It was a three stage laughter of joy, filled with mania as he turned towards Rias, who flinched under his gaze.
"See? This is what happens when you dare to challenge Riser!"
His voice was soaked in smug triumph, practically drunk on the moment.
He cracked his knuckles and let out another wheezing snort of amusement, then—
Tap!
A light tap on his shoulder.
"Hahahaha… mhm?"
Rizer then slowly turned his head; Rias and Asia too, who were just a few metres away, engaged with Yubelluna.
Not that they were even fighting much.
"Issei-san…"
It was Issei who patted Riser's shoulder. However, no, this wasn't him…
Lifeless. Ominous. A cold, predatory red that bore no trace of the usual clumsy, kind-hearted idiot they knew.
『Here. You can have this.』
Issei(?) said that, raising his right hand, slowly pressing it forward towards Riser's spine.
『This is how you use your powers.』
『Dragon shot.』
A blinding red light shone, encircling both of them, and what happened was someone being flung away.
BAM!
Their body slammed into the rooftop a few meters away, skidding across the scorched tiles with a strained grunt.
It was Riser.
"Riser-sama!"
"I… Issei…?"
Both women of the two looked at the strange scene. Obviously, Issei had been battered.
His body still had those bruises on his body, blood still dripping down.
Yet… how was he standing?
It was simple.
This… other Issei didn't register the pain coursing through the body. Not really.
The agony didn't vanish; it simply waited—paused, held in reserve like a debt collecting interest.
Whatever punishment the body endured now, the moment he handed it back, Issei would inherit it all at once.
『I see… His body was already weak, so he couldn't put out much power again…』
『Fine then. I guess I'll have to end this in one big move.』
Across the rooftop, Riser stirred with a grunt—blood smearing across his lip as his body jerked upright.
"You…!"
He spat with bared teeth.
"How dare a low-class devil look down on Riser?!"
Phoenix flames licked across his skin as his regeneration kicked in, weaving his wounds shut with supernatural speed.
But Riser's breath was shallow.
Sloppy.
However, Issei and Rias had already done most of the job, chipping away at his stamina.
While his immortality looked absurd to the average person... If he didn't have the stamina to keep up with it, then it's wraps.
But as a devil with the physiology of a phoenix, plus being high-class, he has more than the average devil or human.
『Regardless… It doesn't matter. Hey, Ddraigy, help me here.』
[...You, you're not my host. Who are you?
『Does it really matter? Fine. If you don't want to give me it, I'll get it myself.』
『Receive.』
[Power is forcefully taken!]
[What?]
The dragon of domination was stupefied. He, the dragon of domination, had his powers taken by another ego?
『Receive.』
[Power is forcefully taken!]
『It's not enough, receive.』
[Power is forcefully taken!]
While that happened, Rizer slowly got his bearing as he looked at the strange devil.
He wasn't foolish enough not to know something had changed.
Same with the rest.
This current Issei wasn't using the powers of the Red Dragon of Domination.
"The red dragon emperor's power is… turning black?"
Rias muttered in speechlessness, seeing as with every forceful receival of power…
The red was fading to black. But yet, what was odd was that the black seemed to have twinkles of stars within them.
Like, his aura gave them the feeling of a starry sky.
"Kch—so what!"
Finally remembering his third-rate lines, he lunged at Issei (?), and truly, it was the best tactic he could have hoped for.
Issei(?) jumped back, still muttering 'receive', and then the Red Dragon Emperor followed with 'power is forcibly taken'.
『Tsk. This body cannot hold more than this…』
Right… Ducking the swipe of Rizer's arm, clearly, Issei's body was getting more sluggish by the minute. But…
『Thank you, Red Dragon. Your penetration principle, I'll use it to good use.』
[Penetration has been taken…?]
[Wait—what?!]
Once more, dodging Riser's fist, Issei (?) planted his right knee into the stomach of the devil.
"Gah!"
『To add on top—Penetration.』
"Guuu—gwah!"
Adding [Penetration] pierced through Riser's magical defenses and forcing him to double over before being blasted backward across the rooftop.
"Guuu—GWAH!"
Riser crashed and slid, the impact carving a new trench through the stone tiles.
Still, he managed to stop himself, panting.
"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! DAMMIT!"
His fists trembled as fire erupted from every pore of his body.
"Screw it ALL!"
Flames spewed from his body as he raised his hands high, flames coalescing and forming a ball of fire.
『Pathetic. Beyond regeneration, even your fire's not worth noting.』
Issei(?) muttered that. Maybe he was being arrogant, but really, he was able to do this after seventeen years of pain.
Inside a body he couldn't move or interact with.
Thanks to the fair amount of time he'd been exposed to Ddraig's power, he was only able to do this.
Seventeen years of research.
『Feel its power–!』
Lines of light began to draw toward him from nowhere, streaking through the air, converging into his palm.
CHZZZHHHHHHT!
Tiny at first, but that wasn't the limit; he then pushed it further to become denser.
He didn't stop when it felt "enough.".
Instead of just condensing the bare minimum, even if he could no longer control it, as long as he redirected it before it burst, then it didn't matter.
More than the original counterpart.
Compressed into a super high compression version of it. And with its lacquer black colour.
We named it –
『Neo of the Black: Dragon End Nova!』
"Eat this! My strongest attack!"
At the same time Issei (?) had finished, Riser had also finished.
However, for the remaining deadweight around, they were in even greater danger.
A cardinal black streak of light poured out from the compressed ball of lacquer, clashing against the flames.
However, the flames were devoured.
The black light penetrated the flames' light, swallowing it, fuelling the attack.
Black signified the endless seventeen years of pure black he had seen.
The overwhelming black that consumed everything, including his sanity.
As it did, the world turned and faded to white and black, turning on itself. A point of origin, in which was a four-pointed star.
[Impact frames IRL].
Then—
KRACK—BTTHHOOOOOOOOOM!!