"Hey, Vali, don't go overboard," a deep voice rumbled from Vali's armor.
"Your training's incomplete. Using Juggernaut Drive now's a bad call."
"I get it, Albion," Vali replied. "But without Juggernaut Drive, we're out of options, right?"
Albion fell silent.
The reminder hit: Vali's group had no escape.
The surrounding space was severed, the battlefield a sealed pocket dimension.
Fleeing meant waiting three minutes for Wapor to break through or defeating Roy outright.
"I'll support you as best I can. Just don't lose control and go berserk," Albion said.
"Got it. I'll keep it together," Vali answered, his aura surging wildly.
A resentful, ominous chant echoed across the battlefield.
"I am the awakened!
The Two Heavenly Dragons, stripped of all by the principles of domination!
My body envies the infinite, my heart seeks the dream!
I shall embody the White Dragon's supremacy, leading you to the pristine limit!
Juggernaut Drive!!!"
Blinding light erupted from Vali, his Balance Breaker armor morphing.
Sharp edges sprouted, limbs elongated into claws, horn-like protrusions crowned his head, exuding a terrifying aura like an awakened dragon.
"Juggernaut Drive? Is he suicidal?" Michael's eyes flashed with shock.
Juggernaut Drive temporarily unleashed Albion's sealed power.
It granted immense strength but carried severe drawbacks.
Most White Dragon Emperors died within minutes of activating it.
"Vali's different from past hosts," Azazel sighed, explaining. "As Lucifer's descendant, he's got massive mana reserves."
"He can use mana to offset life force, activating Juggernaut Drive without side effects briefly."
"Lucifer?" Michael blinked, surprised. "That explains this generation's White Dragon Emperor's strength."
Sazeks, equally stunned, mused.
Juggernaut Drive drew from Albion, a Two Heavenly Dragon.
Before sealing, even Sazeks wasn't sure he could beat Albion.
With Juggernaut Drive, could Vali actually defeat Roy?
Watching Roy duel Vali's dragon form, Sazeks paused, a doubt surfacing. "Azazel, you sure mana can fully replace life force with no side effects?"
"Of course. Vali's not dumb; he's got confidence," Azazel replied.
"What about Roy's mana?"
"Obviously—wait…" Azazel froze, eyes widening, gasping. "No way… Roy could use Juggernaut Drive too?"
"It's possible," Sazeks said, eyeing the battlefield.
As he looked, Roy, locked in combat with Vali, slashed, forcing him back.
"Phew~ Been a while since I've fought this hard," Roy said, stretching, clearly enjoying himself.
"You're just like me! Azazel and them don't get you at all!" Vali said, buzzing with battle lust. "Come on! I know you're holding back. Show me your real power!"
"Was gonna do that anyway," Roy said, glancing at Wapor.
Nearly two minutes since the barrier activated.
Three minutes was a baseline; Wapor could break out any moment.
Roy wasn't letting her go.
Vali, a battle maniac, played terrorist for strong foes.
Wapor was a true terrorist, sowing chaos for kicks.
Last time, Roy let her slip to chase a million spirits. Not today.
"Ddraig, ready?"
"Thought you forgot me, partner," Ddraig quipped. "Guess I'm not needed much."
"Don't get used to it," Roy chuckled.
Thirty-six days since acquiring the Boosted Gear.
Daily Senjutsu purified Ddraig's remnant soul.
Roy's Juggernaut Drive was easier than Sazeks thought.
"I awaken as the Red Dragon Emperor, raising the truth of kings to the heavens!
Embracing infinite power and undying dreams, I tread the royal path!"
Noticing the chant, Albion's voice roared in panic. "Vali! Stop him!"
"Don't let him activate Juggernaut Drive, or the fight ends instantly!"
"No need to tell me!" Vali said, face grim.
Despite urging Roy to go all out, he played it safe.
Joining Katerea and others, who sensed the danger, they unleashed devastating attacks.
Faced with a barrage that could kill a Demon Lord, Roy stood firm, taking it all.
Then, the final chant rang out.
"I have become the Emperor of the Red Dragon!
Guiding you to the crimson purgatory!"
Boom!!!
A deafening roar shook the battlefield, crimson light engulfing everything.
The ground groaned, space cracked.
Even triple barriers couldn't hold this severed dimension together.
"Perfect!" Wapor's eyes lit up, sensing weakened space, casting teleportation magic.
But a crimson figure appeared before her.
"Told you, you're not escaping."
Bang!
A crisp explosion—Wapor burst into a blood mist before reacting.
[Congratulations on defeating Wapor. Acquired Red Entry: Genius Mage]
[Genius Mage (Red): Greatly enhances magic talent and casting speed.]
"First," Roy said, turning to Grimmjow, swinging a fist.
Crimson winds laced with unquenchable fire devoured him instantly.
[Congratulations on defeating Grimmjow. Acquired Purple Entry: Panther King]
"Second."
"You monster!" Katerea roared, unleashing all her mana, summoning hundreds of water dragons.
Ulquiorra appeared behind Roy, firing a massive Cero.
A chilling flash cut the sky, leaving a black scar.
The Cero and dragons vanished, Katerea and Ulquiorra erased without resistance.
[Congratulations on defeating Katerea. Acquired Red Entry: Demon Lord Bloodline]
[Congratulations on defeating Ulquiorra. Acquired Purple Entry: High-Speed Regeneration]
"Now, just you," Roy said, aiming a palm at Vali, a hundred meters away.
Boosts fired rapidly, a massive crimson lightning cannon blasting out.
"Come on!" Vali roared, a torrent of mana forming a magic bullet.
The bullet clashed with the cannon, pierced in under a second.
"Wait! Spare him!" a golden-armored figure appeared, summoning a golden barrier.
Roy ignored it, pouring more fusion energy into the cannon.
With a boom, the weakened cannon surged, engulfing both.
"Partner, was that okay?" Ddraig asked.
"If he blocks my attack, he pays the price," Roy said, glancing at the prompt.
[Congratulations on defeating Azazel. Acquired Red Entry: Research Expert]
[Research Expert (Red): +Efficiency in research, chance to trigger epiphanies.]
[Congratulations on defeating Vali Lucifer. Acquired Gold Entry: Fated Rival]
[Fated Rival (Gold): When designating a rival, +Training speed, stamina, and mana recovery. Deactivates upon rival's defeat.]
One Gold, one Red. Solid.
Exiting Balance Breaker, Roy descended.
Ignoring the barely-alive Vali, he faced the other survivor. "Azazel, know why you're alive?"
"Cough~ Yeah," Azazel said, golden armor crumbling, spitting blood as he stood, smiling wryly. "Thanks. If you hadn't held back, I'd be gone with Vali."
"Thank Michael. I promised him a smooth summit," Roy said, spotting Michael and Sazeks approaching.
"Enemies are handled. Cleanup's on you."
"No problem," Sazeks nodded.
"Thanks, Roy," Michael said gratefully.
"No need. Just spar with me next time," Roy said, heading to the old schoolhouse.
The main building, guarded by Michael's crew, shielded Rias's group.
Outside areas weren't so lucky.
At the ruined old schoolhouse, Roy scanned, approaching a corner.
"You look okay," he said.
"Thanks to your talisman, senpai. I'd be in trouble otherwise," Gasper said, climbing from the rubble, dusting off. "Did I help?"
"Big time," Roy assured.
"Awesome," Gasper grinned.
In the club, Gasper was closest to Roy.
Initially scared of Roy's Spartan training, he grew confident as his strength rose.
He owed Roy for turning him from a shut-in to someone who could stand tall.
So, he'd joined Roy's plan despite risks.
"But, senpai, I'm confused," Gasper said. "You had me let the enemy catch me, trigger Balance Breaker, and freeze the devil and angel armies with time stop."
"Wasn't that helping them? What'd you gain?"
"Don't ask what you shouldn't," Roy said.
What could he say? Avoiding teammate kill-steals?
Using Senjutsu to stabilize Gasper, Roy led him to the main building.
Time stop lifted; angel and devil armies cleaned the battlefield.
After chatting with Rias's group, Sazeks approached. "Roy, got a sec?"
"Sure," Roy said, following Sazeks to a nearby classroom.
"What's up?"
"Vali's fate. Need your input," Sazeks said concisely.
The summit attackers came from three factions: Takanotsume, Hueco Mundo, and the Brigade.
Takanotsume's old feud with devils? Sazeks would handle personally.
Hueco Mundo's Arrancars, with Shinigami-like Bankai, caught him off guard. He'd investigate later.
The Brigade was trickier.
Both the Old Demon Faction and Vali had deep devil ties.
The Old Demon Faction was manageable; Sazeks could decide.
Vali was the issue.
Azazel's foster son and Lucifer's heir.
Killing him would roil devils and Fallen Angels, potentially souring Azazel and derailing talks.
"Roy, I'm asking you to spare Vali, give him a chance," Sazeks said. "In return, Azazel and I owe you a favor. Name your price."
"Deal," Roy said.
"…That was too easy," Sazeks said, bemused.
He'd studied Roy's brutal style.
Of Roy's foes, only Vali survived—until Wapor got dusted.
Sazeks prepped an emotional plea, but Roy agreed instantly.
"You're not worried Vali'll come for you again?"
"He fights me for the thrill. Solve the root issue," Roy said, handing over a card. "When Vali wakes, have him report to Akatsuki."
"With enough contribution from missions, he can earn a spar with me."
"Got it," Sazeks said, taking the card, relieved.
Roy's stance on Vali was milder than expected.
That settled Azazel's request.
"Now, business," Roy said. "I'm cashing in that favor."
"Name it," Sazeks said.
"Evil Pieces' raw materials. Ten batches monthly."
"Ten at once is fine, but monthly's tough," Sazeks admitted.
"Tough because of those old devil fossils, right?" Roy smirked. "If you can't handle them, I can."
"No need for that," Sazeks waved off, assuring he'd manage.
Roy couldn't get involved.
His kill count would gut the devil elite.
Agreeing to Roy's terms, Sazeks waved goodbye, leaving.
Roy opened his entry vault.
Time to sort the haul.
---
If you want to read more than 20 chapters early feel free to visit pa tre on . com /Archus