"Guhahaha! Been ages since I passed through a Dragon Gate! So, who's my opponent? Gotta be some damn strong bastard out there, right?!"
The massive dragon opened its fang-filled maw, laughing boisterously.
Its size rivaled Tannin's, a colossal beast. The aura it exuded was dragon king-level… no, beyond that.
But it was clearly different from Tannin or Tiamat. Not just in appearance—its aura was sinister, oozing a pitch-black malice that screamed evil.
From Saji's shadow, a human-sized black serpent—Vritra—emerged.
"Grendel…!?" Vritra hissed, its glowing eyes clouded with shock.
"Impossible… He was destroyed by the original hero Beowulf long before my own demise…" Ddraig muttered, equally stunned.
Grendel… I'd just heard that name when asking Azazel-sensei about evil dragons.
The giant dragon—Grendel—shifted its gaze between Vritra and me.
"Well, ain't this fun? The Heavenly Dragon, red as hell! And Vritra's here too! What's with that getup?" Grendel's silver eyes narrowed with interest.
"The Two Heavenly Dragons were already destroyed and sealed in Sacred Gears," the robed man explained.
"Guhahaha! What's that? You got taken down too? Pathetic! Heavenly Dragons, my ass! Wiped out, huh? Still, you're perfect for my warm-up!" Grendel roared with laughter, its aura intensifying.
This guy's trouble. I need to take him seriously.
I donned my armor and turned to Sona. "Sona, teleport the captured wizards to the Underworld. If they get caught in this and die, capturing them was pointless."
"Understood. Tsubaki, assist me," Sona nodded, working with Mara-senpai to transfer the wizards.
Miu and Alice flanked me, readying themselves.
"What a troublesome opponent to deal with now," Miu sighed.
"Azazel-sensei said evil dragons are persistent. We're in this too," Alice added.
Yeah, Ddraig mentioned that. Albion probably thinks the same.
Ddraig addressed Grendel. "How the hell did you return to this world?"
"Who cares about details? I'm strong, you're strong. Only one thing to do—rip each other apart!" Grendel crouched, ready to pounce.
"Partner, he's a deranged dragon who only knows violence. Crush him completely. Show no mercy," Ddraig warned.
For Ddraig to say that, this dragon must be utterly insane.
Grendel grinned maniacally. "Well said! But I changed my mind. Let me take on Ddraig one-on-one!"
…So that's his play.
Fine by me.
"Let's do this. Everyone, keep an eye on the robed guy. Something's off about him," I said.
Focusing on Grendel and the robed man at the same time would be tough. He might pull something while I'm distracted.
"Got it. Master's orders, so I'll comply. Right, Miu-chan?" Alice said.
"Be careful. He's a formidable foe," Miu warned.
I know. His aura alone, felt through my armor, screams danger.
Locking eyes with Grendel, I kicked off the ground, launching forward!
Grendel grinned with glee. "Oh, hell yeah! Coming straight at me? That's what I'm talking about!"
His massive fist swung at me!
The aura's intensity! And it's sharp!
A dragon king-level strike! Even I'd take serious damage if it lands!
So, I dodge!
Leaving an afterimage, I leaped upward just before impact!
BoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoostBoost!!
As his fist cut through air, leaving him off-balance, I unleashed an aura-charged strike, aiming a counter at his face!
Grendel flew back but stopped short of the wall, bracing himself.
Perfect timing. That should've hurt… right?
"…That's it?" Grendel sneered, wiping a trickle of blue blood from his mouth.
"What!?"
It was a clean hit, yet he's unfazed?
No way I floored him, but I thought he'd at least stagger…
Grendel snorted, grumbling. "That punch ain't enough! Come on, Ddraig! Back in the day, you were a damn monster! Sealed up and turned weak, huh?"
Weak, huh… Compared to Ddraig, once called the mightiest Heavenly Dragon, I'm lacking.
"So, evil dragons are a pain, huh?" I muttered.
"Told you. Grendel's scales were the toughest among vanquished dragons. Half-assed attacks won't cut it," Ddraig said.
Yeah, I get it now, even from this brief exchange.
This guy… I've gotta go all out to crush him.
"You like head-on brawls, right?" I asked.
"Hell yeah! So send me someone stronger!" Grendel roared.
"Then watch this."
Crackle! Snap!
Sparks flew around me. My armor shifted, boosters sprouting across it.
His defense is insane. This is the way to take him down.
"Balance Breaker, Second Stage—Tenbu! Come on, Grendel! I'll crush you to dust!"
Grendel's eyes lit up at my transformation, laughing wildly. "Now that's interesting! You're way stronger now!"
He charged, faster than I expected!
I rushed forward, meeting him head-on!
BOOOOM!!
My red fist clashed with Grendel's massive one!
Equal strength! A perfect stalemate!
"Hell yeah! This is what I wanted!" Grendel bellowed.
"Don't get comfy yet!" I shouted, boosting my fist's power with the gauntlet's aura jets!
His aura feels above dragon king-level.
But power clashes? That's my turf! I trained against two dragon kings at once!
Accel Booster!!!
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBoost!!!!
Power surged, breaking the stalemate!
My fist overpowered his, smashing into his face, sending him airborne!
But…
"Damn, that hurt! Best pain ever!" Grendel cackled, still grinning like a maniac.
The impact… his scales are too tough. Even Tannin would've taken heavy damage…
What insane defense!
"Here I come, Ddraig-chan!" Grendel flipped midair, spewing a massive fireball from his mouth!
"Huge!" I deflected it with my right arm.
The fireball hit a wall, exploding violently, shaking the space!
Tch… fighting carelessly could hurt the others. Miu, Alice, and Sona should be fine, but…
As I strategized, Grendel spread his wings, closing the distance!
A massive fist swung down, amplified by his flight's momentum. Its ferocity was obvious!
Blocking's a bad call!
I kicked off, dodging sideways.
If he misses, he'll crash into the floor.
I aimed a kick at that moment—but…
"Guhahaha! Think you dodged me?!" Grendel spun midair, charging at me!
His fist slammed into me as I crossed my arms to block, crashing me into a wall!
"Gah… what kinda reflexes are those?!" I groaned.
"Somehow, he's stronger than before. Not just defense—his attack and speed are enhanced too," Ddraig noted.
Upgraded, huh? A vanquished evil dragon, back and stronger?
What's going on?
"Get crushed!" Grendel launched a flying kick at me, pinned in the wall!
Tch!
No time to think! Focus on beating him!
BOOM!
I unleashed a full-body aura blast, hurling it at Grendel!
"RAAAAAHHH!!"
The red aura storm blew him back!
"Counterattack time!" I roared.
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBoost!!!!
Boosters flared, propelling me at Grendel, off-balance!
Ascalon! Lend me your power!
Syncing Ascalon in my left gauntlet with my aura, I cloaked myself in dragon-slaying energy!
No matter how tough his scales, he's still a dragon.
Ascalon's dragon-killing power will work!
Ignition Booster!!!!
Boosters exploded, launching me into Grendel's guard!
"First strike!" A sharp uppercut caught his jaw, blue blood spraying!
But with his defense and evil dragon nature, one hit won't do.
His tail whipped at me like a lash!
It passed through—nothing but an afterimage.
"What?!" Grendel's eyes widened.
I dropped a heel kick from above, cutting him off!
"That was an afterimage. Tracking me with your eyes? Not enough!"
A spinning kick to his temple slammed him into the floor, creating a massive crater!
Grendel sprang up. "Hell yeah! That's—"
"No time for chatter! Promotion: Rook!"
Rook status boosted my attack and defense. Attack's all I need here.
His attacks are powerful and fast… but if they don't hit, they're nothing.
I entered Domain. The world lost color—
"Hit me if you can. Where I stand is beyond your grasp."
I darted around Grendel—up, down, left, right, front, back—attacking from every angle!
His counterattacks came, but in Domain, his moves looked sluggish. I was already behind him when his fist swung.
Each punch shattered his scales, blood spraying!
My fists ached. His scales are so tough, even I'm taking damage.
Domain won't last long either.
…Time to end this.
Click! Click!
My right gauntlet's boosters expanded, emitting a blazing red aura, like roaring flames.
I grabbed Grendel's head as he staggered, blood gushing.
"Shining Bunker!!"
Pile Period!!!!
A scorching inferno erupted from my palm, triggering a massive explosion.
▽
"Hah… hah… phew…" I panted, releasing Tenbu, shoulders heaving.
In the crater's center lay Grendel, half his head blown off, one wing gone, shoulder bones exposed.
I sensed faint aura… but he can't move like that.
That took a lot out of me.
I glanced at my gauntlet.
My fists hurt from punching him. How tough is he?
"No idea how, but his scales are way harder than before. He laughed off your punches," Ddraig said.
No kidding. I never want to fight him again.
Now, the remaining issue—
As I turned to the robed man, an unbelievable sight stopped me.
Grendel… was standing.
Swaying, he cracked his neck, blue blood pouring from his half-missing mouth.
No way! He's standing in that state!?
Grendel grinned with his ruined face. "Hell yeah, you're the best! This is it! The killing I craved! More! Let's slaughter each other till one of us is dust!"
I'd heard evil dragons were persistent, but this is insane! He should be dead!
And Ascalon's dragon-slaying power didn't work?
"What kind of lunatic stands after that!?" Ddraig spat, disgusted.
This guy's beyond reason!
He inflated his abdomen three times.
Another fireball?
I snapped into combat mode.
But Grendel turned— "Change of plans! I'm killing all of you!"
He spat a massive fireball at my friends!
"No you don't!" Miu shouted.
"I'm with you!" Akeno followed.
"Tch!" Rossweisse joined, erecting layered defensive barriers.
"Water!" Sona, cloaked in blue aura, summoned a water wall, shielding everyone.
The barriers and water stopped the fireball, but—
"You said one-on-one, didn't you?!" I growled.
Grendel sneered. "Yeah, I did. My bad, I just love killing. Gotta mix in some slaughter to keep it fun. Your friends are tough, though. Guess I'll kill 'em all! Beat 'em, crush 'em, stomp 'em, tear 'em apart!"
He's deranged!
Did losing half his head make him worse? Or was he always like this?
"Issei, we're joining in. Okay?" Alice said, stepping beside me.
"No need for one-on-one anymore," Miu added, readying herself.
"Yeah, if he's playing dirty, so will we. But be careful. He's taken fatal wounds and still acts like that. He's completely insane."
From here, it's all of us against Grendel.
We can take him, but he's an abnormal dragon.
I'll have Asia heal from the rear, with—
Pop! Squish!
A strange sound interrupted my thoughts. The blood-soaked floor at Grendel's feet bulged.
Several spots rose to my waist, then morphed further.
They grew to two meters, forming distorted but clear shapes—heads, arms, legs, wings, tails.
"That's—" I gasped.
Those who fought with me widened their eyes, recognizing the phenomenon.
"Familiars!?"
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