The silence within the isolation barrier created by Sirzechs Lucifer felt oppressively dense, as if time itself had stopped breathing. Sirzechs stood tall, his crimson Power of Destruction aura seeping out like a blood-red mist, creating visual distortions around his body.
Before him, the young man known as Hajime Sitri felt a heavy weight pressing down on his shoulders. This pressure wasn't merely physical, but mental, emanating from three rulers of the supernatural world.
"I'll ask you one more time, Hajime Sitri" Sirzechs's voice echoed, low and full of authority.
"Who are you really? The information you possess about the Khaos Brigade, Rizevim Livan Lucifer's plans, even the existence of Trihexa... this isn't ordinary intelligence. You speak as if you've read pages of history that haven't been written yet. Even the Sitri clan can't explain where this perfectly merged holy and demonic power in your body comes from."
Azazel's gaze grew more threatening, his aura intensifying.
"You're a dangerous piece on the board if we don't know where your loyalty lies."
Michael, leader of Heaven, stepped forward. Golden light radiated gently from his body, trying to balance Sirzechs's crimson aura to avoid crushing the young man's mental state.
"Young one, I see honesty in your eyes, but I also see the shadow of very ancient secrets..."
Yet his own eyes began to hold a hint of threat.
"You ask us to unite against the apocalypse, yet you yourself are a mystery that could potentially become a threat to us. How can we entrust the front lines of this battle to someone with no clear history?"
Kamiya took a long breath, trying to steady his heartbeat.
He couldn't possibly tell them he was Issei's brother who disappeared nine years ago, at least, not now.
"I... I'm just someone who made a promise not to let this world end in destruction" Kamiya answered.
His voice was calm yet contained undeniable strength.
"My true identity isn't important compared to what will happen if we fail today. I'm not asking you to follow my every word. Just convincing you is the best choice I can make... and everything will be fine as long as we act now. As proof that I'm no one's pawn... I'll stand on the front lines as a shield... as the one who will bear whatever comes, because that is my duty."
Sirzechs stared into Hajime's eyes, which occasionally flickered with an unfamiliar blue light. After a long silence, the Maou finally withdrew his aura.
"Very well. We'll hold you to your promise, Hajime Sitri. But remember, my eyes will always be watching you."
As the tension eased, the isolation barrier suddenly cracked and shattered into pieces, reopening their view to the sky above Kuoh Academy where two great dragon powers were reaching their climax.
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The moment the barrier vanished, the deafening sound of energy explosions assaulted their hearing.
In the sky, the red dragon and white dragon danced a terrifying dance of death. Issei, with his Scale Mail armor already shattered in many places, continued to push forward with his remaining strength. However, his body had reached its absolute limit after manifesting his Balance Breaker for the first time.
"Vali! This isn't over yet!" Issei shouted, pumping the last remnants of his energy into his fist.
Vali Lucifer looked no less worse for wear. His white Divine Dividing armor was severely cracked, and his energy wings flickered as if about to extinguish.
"You really are crazy, Issei. You've got incredible guts" Vali muttered, preparing for a final attack.
However, before the final clash could occur, a golden magic circle appeared right between them. From within emerged a blond-haired young man with a casual demeanor, shouldering a golden staff.
"Yo, Vali! Playtime's over!" Bikou called out in a playful tone.
"Bikou... you're interrupting at the most interesting moment" Vali hissed, though he didn't resist when the monkey youth grabbed his shoulder.
"Ophis is getting bored waiting, and we've gathered enough data. Besides... isn't this Red Dragon already about to die from energy exhaustion?" Bikou grinned, looking at the gasping Issei.
"See you again, Welsh Dragon! Train harder, because at our next meeting, we won't be coming just to say hello!"
With a wave of his staff, the magic circle swallowed them both. The massive white dragon's energy presence vanished instantly.
Issei hung motionless in the air for a moment before his armor finally shattered into particles of light, and he began falling freely toward the ground.
Kamiya moved lightning-fast to catch Issei before he hit the ground, landing him gently in the middle of a crater of rubble, where the other club members were already waiting anxiously.
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Asia immediately knelt beside the unconscious Issei, her hands already glowing with the soft green light of Twilight Healing.
However, upon seeing Kamiya also covered in wounds and dust from his own earlier battle, she immediately tried to split her healing between them.
"Hajime-san! You're badly hurt too! Let me heal you as well!" Asia cried with teary eyes.
"...No" Hajime cut in firmly, trying to step away.
"My wounds aren't serious. Issei needs you more. His injuries run deeper, and his stamina is completely drained. I can heal these minor wounds myself, give all your energy to him."
"Enough!" A sharp shout stopped Hajime's words.
Suzu stood before him, the girl's face flushed with a rare display of anger. She stepped forward and grabbed Hajime's collar, forcing the young man to meet her tear-filled eyes.
"Who do you think you are, Hajime-kun?!" Suzu screamed with a hoarse voice.
"Ever since you appeared, you've always acted like your life has no value! You protect us, you fight alone, and now you refuse help?! Do you think I'd be happy if Issei survived but the person I've come to see as my protector suffers?!"
Kamiya froze.
He saw the desperation in Suzu's eyes, an emotional wound that reminded him of the past.
"Suzu, I just want to make sure..."
"Stop making excuses! Accept Asia's treatment right now, or I'll really hate you! I'm not joking!" Suzu's sobs grew louder.
Seeing the anger and affection of his sister who didn't know his true identity, Hajime's mental defenses softened. He let out a long sigh and finally sat down on the ruined pillar.
"Forgive me, Suzu. I didn't mean to make you angry."
Asia quickly approached, placing her hands on Hajime's chest. Green light enveloped his body, providing warmth that eased the burning pain in his nerves.
Though this couldn't repair the cracks in his soul, at least his physical wounds closed.
Suzu remained standing there, watching with a sharp gaze, making sure Hajime truly received treatment.
'...She must have been terrified watching Issei fight to what looked like death...' Kamiya thought to himself.
As the emotional atmosphere began to settle, from behind them, a pair of red eyes observed Kamiya with a look that was both strange and deeply suspicious.
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"Stella-san, we've finished on this side."
"Yes, good work. You neutralized those magic runes very well." Stella praised Sienna and Rexa, who had worked hard.
However, Sienna felt somewhat uncomfortable because someone had actually helped them.
"Actually, we also received help from Young Master Sitri. He was very skilled and incredibly quick at detecting and neutralizing those magic runes."
"...I suppose I should have a word with him."
"To say thank you?" Rexa replied, sitting down to rest.
Stella glanced at Rexa and let out a small sigh, feeling that there was more than just gratitude weighing on her.
"I think an apology is needed too. I didn't expect Vali would betray us."
"Yeah... you've got a point there."
Sienna also sighed and immediately went to check on Reen.
In Stella's eyes reflected the trees and earth destroyed by the heavenly dragon battle.
This fight, despite its short duration, had caused devastation far exceeding any battle she'd experienced before.
'There's no point in staying here much longer... this place will likely become a battlefield soon.'
Stella speculated that with the Welsh Dragon in Kuoh, it would probably attract more powerful entities, including his eternal rival, the Divine Dragon.
She didn't intend to leave immediately, but there was one piece of information she needed to confirm first.
She began walking toward the young man named Hajime Sitri, who was being scolded by Suzu and treated by Asia.
With her sudden presence, Suzu stopped lecturing Kamiya and turned her attention to Stella approaching them.
At that moment, Kamiya looked back and immediately stood to greet her.
"Young Master Sitri... thank you for helping my team neutralize the magic runes scattered here."
Stella bowed, she wasn't accustomed to Japanese customs, but she had learned basic etiquette during her downtime.
"It was nothing significant. If anything, you and your team have been tremendously helpful in protecting this academy."
Stella gazed at Kamiya with an expression difficult to read. There was doubt, suspicion, but also a tickling curiosity in her eyes.
"Actually, there's something I'd like to ask you, Young Master Sitri."
Kamiya nodded slightly, signaling for Stella to continue.
"Have you ever seen a teenager with a stigma like this?"
Kamiya's previously calm face nearly changed
The stigma shown to him was precisely like the one he possessed, the stigma that had given him pain so intense it made him feel like dying at every moment back in the lab.
Seeing his expression change slightly, Stella stepped closer, her gaze never leaving Kamiya's eyes, which occasionally flashed blue.
"Young Master Sitri... or whoever you truly are..." Stella took a deep breath.
"Allow me to properly introduce myself."
She stepped back, then bowed politely yet with dignity.
"My name is..." The name came out softly.
A name that carried memories from years long past.
"Stella."
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Almost.....ALMOST!!!!!
JUST A FEW CHAPTER AGAIN AND THE VOLUME 3 ARE DOOONNEEE!!!!
P.S: Good Night