All the members, except for Issei, Kunou, and Asia, surged toward Yasaka and Georg.
Saji was in full Dragon King form, like a monster in a kaiju brawl. Seeing Yasaka in her nine-tailed form for the first time… she was stunning. Majestic and divine, no wonder she's sometimes worshipped as a god!
But when they attempted to strike Georg, he enveloped himself in mist. Hero Faction members, shield- and illusion-users, emerged to protect him.
It was clear: Georg was the linchpin of their plan, with defenses well-guarded. Even so, their formation couldn't handle relentless attacks, and Georg had to split his focus, interrupting the flow of spiritual energy into Yasaka, but not stopping it completely.
The energy flowing into her was noticeably reduced, so severely, she'd likely collapse but not die if we sustained pressure.
"Brace yourself, Issei, don't think a lance of light can be stopped with a finger."
"Yeah, no kidding. Are you human?"
"Human, I promise, I just don't know why we keep doubting each other's species."
They both chuckled, shaking their heads in amusement.
As Issei rushed toward Cao Cao, Siegfried stopped him.
"Are you sure? Using that Light Weapon on a demon? He'll be obliterated."
"Look, there's a guy with the strongest demon-slaying sword and the strongest spear right here. I'd rather focus on one target."
True, Gram mastered could threaten even a Longinus.
Issei drove the spear through Georg's armor. He used one of three Phoenix Tears, provided as healing items: one held by the Sitri peerage, one Issei just used, and the last carried by Yuuto, whose defenses aren't great.
I decided to create a safety net.
At that moment, Heracles cracked his knuckles and strode forward.
"Siegfried, Jeanne! Step aside, I'll deal with this fool. I'll show the difference in class!"
"Balance Breaker, Variant Detonation!"
No fancy animation, Heracles simply transformed, growing monstrous spikes and missile-like gauntlets.
"This is my Sacred Gear, the giant-giant's Variant Detonation Superhuman's wave of malice: Detonation Mighty Comet!"
…So many subtitles!
I gave up on unlocking a Balance Breaker myself, some things take time. But Heracles? He'd pay.
"Bring it on!"
He unleashed two missiles at me. I summoned my right and left blades, Zarich and Tawrich, clashed them, tossing them to collide mid-air. Both missiles detonated near Heracles, bathing him in fire.
"Ugh!"
Seizing the moment, I kicked him away, far from Siegfried and Jeanne, and waited.
"Damn…"
Heracles spat blood, fumbling inside his armor to retrieve a vial.
"Heh. I got this…" he croaked, pulling out a Phoenix Tears, bought through black market prices, undoubtedly.
Before he could use it, I pilfered it with illusion magic, I was cloaked, and in the chaos, it was easy.
Losing a Phoenix Tears, worth more than a mansion, is a serious blow. And since Ravel will be my future wife, there is no way I'd let them waste one.
"Heracles! Jeanne, heal him!"
Siegfried and Jeanne leapt between us and Heracles, drawing their own Balance Breakers:
Siegfried: Chaos Edge Asura Ravage
Jeanne: Blade Blacksmith's Stake Victim Dragoon, forging a draconic shield and pouring a Phoenix Tears over Heracles to stall him.
They'd each used one Phoenix Tears, plus Cao Cao had patched Issei, so that's all three gone now.
Time to finish them off.
"I'll take you, Siegfried!"
"Gladly!" he replied. He summoned the magic sword Dainsleif, unleashing ice pillars to push me back and attack mid-range.
He was clearly trying to work with the others.
I used senjutsu to turn the first pillar to water, relying on natural energy manipulation taught by Tachigoori, and followed with a forward zap strike to Siegfried's torso, using palm strike infused with ki.
The attack slammed through his form, he staggered away, fumbling for a Phoenix Tears.
"Huh? No tears?"
I revealed it from my grip, I'd stolen it from him in the punch.
With that, Siegfried was out of options.
"Hey! Stop stealing from heroes like that! That's for us only!"
"What are we, some RPG thieves guild?" I retorted. Heroes acting offended by a stolen recovery item? Give me a break.
But hey, it's strategic: disable their recovery, hurt their funding, and keep ours for ourselves.
Jeanne next attacked. Her sacred-formed dragon shield roared at me:
"Don't think you can break my Dragoon that easily! It's denser than a dragon and can self-reinforce instantly thanks to holy aura! You rely on flashy physical moves, but can it take everything?"
Her aura emanated from the sword-dragon.
I kicked the Gram, the dragon-slaying sword, across the floor, slicing through the illusion dragon with its curse, shattering it entirely.
"Ah!"
Then, I threw the left blade, Tawrich, into her gut. She barely had time to react.
"Jeanne, damn it!"
Heracles fired off another missile barrage, but he looked at least seventy shots, not continuous. Dodging between them, I closed in and cut his shoulder with Zarich.
Blood spurted, and Heracles staggered back. I stepped forward to decapitate him, only for a light lance to shoot out and block my slash.
Again that spear of Cao Cao's, seeming to prolong the battle further.
"Don't kill him easily. I'll let you three go, just spare the Red Dragon Emperor."
Cao Cao's lance-pressure pinned Heracles, everything swirling.
Issei took a beating, sliced limbs, healing light pouring from Asia, but refusing to fall.
"Yes, Vali's one-on-one dueling is incredible, but with Red Dragon, just watch his right arm and Asia's healing. But I saw his regeneration speed when he stabbed him earlier. If I cut with enough force, he'll vanish… So let's swap positions. You took Phoenix Tears from Siegfried? Use them on the Red Dragon Emperor."
What, now he's throwing repairs to my buddy? Wasn't the point to kill us?
"Ikki! Save yourself, I can't do it!"
"You're going to live."
"I got this."
No, there's no way he'll be up for it. His limbs are mangled, he's barely conscious. Bravado doesn't help here.
"Deal accepted."
"Ikki!"
"Thank you so much, Oppai Dragon, your help saved me." Issei sighed in relief, but Cao Cao sneered at him with cruel mockery.
Disgusting. But right now, Issei's recovery is a priority. Cao Cao and I circled around, repositioning.
"Issei, launch the Tear now."
He kneeled. Silence, only his trembling fist on the ground showing his frustration.
"Why am I so weak? I've never won when it mattered… not once! I even hurt him enough, but I wasn't ready for his full power! Why..."
He cried out. This is the struggle of a hero.
"You've only been in this line of work for six months. The rest of us have a decade, training, fighting..."
"What? So, I should just... settle for losing?"
"No, I said 'basically'. These Sacred Gear systems respond to thinking, a little love, a little intention can trigger miracles. But that doesn't mean it replaces experience."
"Do you feel frustrated?"
"Yes, absolutely."
"You still want to knock out Cao Cao?"
"Yes! I will land a blow on him!"
"Then you can. Release your potential, right now."
"Okay… I'll do it. Gimme a moment! Elsha's calling me through the arm's boost, I need time!"
Time… Then I said what every anime fan dreams of.
"Fine, stall away. Just don't kill him, right?"
"If he dies, I'd have nowhere left to hit."
"Ready!"
"Let's go, Cao Cao!"
"Come on, Arima Ikki!"
We charged at each other. I focus, blades glowing with aura, ready to clash.
Their powers collided, Zarich and Tawrich versus the spear, with sparks, dents forming, my blade cracking. If we kept this up, I'd lose. But if I hold back, Issei could return more powerful, Elsha calling him suggests they might summon him.
I needed a trick.
As Cao Cao raised his spear to block, I vanished my right blade and grabbed the spear shaft directly, unafraid of holy aura.
At the same moment, I brought my left sword around in a sweeping slash, only for Cao Cao to drop the spear, twist away, and reappear with it by his side.
He evaluated me.
"Impressive. Short-sword type Gear lets you switch between slash and empty-handed combat instantly, tough to counter even when expected."
He assumed a stance, spear held ready.
"Now... let's see you back me."
He feinted and rushed me. Just before he reached my side, he sensed something.
"Shyaaack!"
His right eye split clean in two, blood spurting.
I followed with ki blasts, but he dodged, repelled them with his spear. Not enough to break the fight.
He covered his wound, staring me dead in the eyes.
"That, did you warp the air? A master strike leaves no sign, but the air… that slash... How?"
Indeed, my "Ittou Shura" left an air-slit, invisible blade. Anyone crossing it got cut. It's technique-based, no magic or energy, just precision.
He recognized it immediately, better than I expected.
"Your control… Did you come from a different race? A machine-based life form?"
"Are you doubting my humanity now?! Everyone calls me demon, god, or machines! I'm 100% human!"
"Heh, still trying to insist you're human?"
He muttered. Both of us tense, ready.
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