Occult Research Club and Student Council gathered in the staff room.
Rayvel: "Kids and parents accounted for, assembled in gym."
"Got it. Rias, any luck with outside contact?" I asked.
Rias shook head. "No."
Akeno, drawing teleportation circle: "Can't jump far."
No contact, no teleportation. Completely cut off?
Like Kyoto's Togetsukyo or promotion test—Hero Faction's fog trap. But not this time. Likely a barrier over the region.
Sona, activating communication circle: "Connected to Agreas, town hall. Displaying visuals."
Two holographic images appeared: Sairaorg in Agreas, Gendul at town hall.
Sairaorg: "What's happening?"
Gendul: "Entire region's in an enemy barrier. Familiars confirm it encloses Auros and Agreas elliptically."
Agreas too? Insane scale.
Gendul pointed at forehead—a sinister magic circle. "Most of our magic's sealed."
Sealed? Miu tested hers—worked fine. Others' magic, Gears, light powers: no issues.
Alice mused: "No changes here. Only assembly mages targeted?"
Gendul: "Likely. No trace of their presence—terrifying."
Targeting assembly mages. Bold.
Saji, tense: "Enemy can pull this off?"
"Scale's huge, and no warning signs," I said. Asem, the otherworld god, and his minions flashed in mind. Unknown, immense power. Their spell?
Gendul: "Legendary evil dragon, 'Magic Source Forbidden Dragon' Azi Dahaka. It'd know mage-sealing spells."
Azi Dahaka—Vali's attacker, revived by Khaos Brigade's Qlippoth via Holy Grail, mass-producing evil dragons.
This white sky, mage seals—Azi's work?
Irina: "But this scale… Even a legendary dragon sealing mages and land simultaneously?"
True. Enhanced dragon or not, it's excessive.
I cursed: "They used my clone. If they copied my power perfectly, they've got Transfer too."
Damn it! My Red Dragon Emperor power abused like this—infuriating. And terrifying. Bell's copying ability—mass-produce my clones?
"Even if I transfer power to amplify dispelling…" I started.
Sona: "They'd anticipate that. Likely have counter-spells. Rash moves could cause catastrophe."
Right.
Sighed: "If Bell hadn't touched me…"
Alice patted shoulder: "Unavoidable. Copy-on-touch is cheat-level. I lost to Vika once too."
Bell, Vika—two of Asem's four known minions. Others might have powers.
Rias: "We need their goal."
Gendul: "One: us, 666 researchers. But they enclosed Agreas too. Another motive."
Why both? Town's enough for mages.
Rayvel muttered: "Old Maou tech."
Sona nodded: "Agreas uses Old Maou tech, parts still unsolved. Ajuka Beelzebub's team investigates its depths. Rizevim, Lucifer's son, might want something there."
Gendul: "Old Maou relics? Weapons? Or 666-related?"
Floating city screams secrets. Superweapon? Nah, satellite's Azazel's thing.
"Even isolated, someone outside must notice," I said. Agreas is a tourist spot. Sudden cutoff would raise flags.
Sona frowned: "They planned for that. Likely warping time-space to mask it."
Rias: "Time dilation—one hour here, one minute outside. Advanced spell, needing meticulous prep. God-Slaying Gear and forbidden-magic dragon make this possible."
Time-space warp. Like my three years in Ast-Arde being an instant here. Less extreme, but bad.
Gendul: "Such a spell drains even a dragon. Could cost its life."
"But they've got the Grail," I said. "Revive endlessly."
Gendul: "So, they can repeat this. God-Slaying Gear's terrifying. With the Grail, countermeasures are tough."
Grail… Valerie's issue. Gotta seize it fast, or worse trouble brews. Already bad.
As we discussed, door burst open—a panting staff member.
"What's wrong?" Rias asked.
Staff pointed at window: "Sky projection."
We rushed to courtyard.
Sky: flower field, devil script—"Please wait a moment?"
Alice: "They joking?"
Probably.
Voice echoed, playful: "What? Broadcast started? Hold up, I'm eating!"
"Want me to eat it? Looks tasty."
"One bite! Coming, coming!"
Light banter shifted to silver-haired middle-aged man—Rizevim Livan Lucifer. Behind, white-haired Asem, munching.
Always eating, that guy.
Rizevim winked: "Yo! Surprise! First time or long time, folks! Bet you're shocked. Wanna spoil the plot? Villains explain, right? Even if it screws us!"
Same clown.
"Guessed it, but we sealed this area! Our pal, evil dragon Ladon, did it!"
Behind: tree-like dragon? Dragon tree?
"Revived by our key item, Holy☆Grail! Legendary dragon's barrier's nuts! Bell's Red Dragon clone's Transfer boosted it!"
Eugrid appeared, Grail in hand.
Gasper's eyes glowed dangerously, oozing dark aura. This was unbearable for him.
"And you townsfolk! We sealed you, locked mages' powers! Azi Dahaka, thousand-magic dragon, did it! Enhanced by cloned Red Dragon!"
Three-headed dragon appeared—Azi Dahaka.
Equal to Crom Cruach, unyielding against Vali's team.
Reviving these dragons…
Rizevim: "Outside's time-isolated. No reinforcements! Hyahyahya!"
As expected. We handle this alone.
"Why? Easy! Mages won't join us, so they're obstacles—blow 'em up! Also, snagging Agreas's tech. My pops made it, so I inherit, right?"
Pointed at us: "Heard 'DxD' formed to stop us? Let's fight! Mass-produced dragons and legendary ones hit you and Agreas. Stop us if you dare!"
Snapped fingers—purple fire pillars rose, forming a cross.
What!?
Skin-prickling sensation.
Gendul, now here: "Purple flames. Trouble's here."
She glared at the cross-shaped flames.
Reyna: "Incinerate Anthem, Purple Flame Crucifix! Owned by Hexen Nacht's stray mage, cooperating with Qlippoth. Here!?"
Holy Relic—lethal to devils.
Rizevim stepped aside; Asem, Vika appeared.
Asem waved: "Yo, Hero-kun! Since vampire thing. Rize-ji's lunch looked good, so I came!"
"Father, enough lunch talk. Ketchup on your mouth."
"Haha, sorry! Quick version: my minions join this time. They whined about missing you last time. Humor them."
Tch. Dragons, Gear users, and them?
Targeting me.
Vika flashed peace sign: "Flat-chest doing okay? You got wrecked last time. This time?"
"Not flat!" Alice cried, clinging to me. "My chest's not flat, right? It's there, right!?"
Not flat. Growing daily. Vika, chill—Alice isn't that small compared to you.
Vika smirked: "Remember my words? Might enjoy this more. Try hard."
"Fine, I'll make it fun!" Alice roared, aura blazing—anger at herself?
What'd Vika say?
Rizevim returned: "Three hours till we move! Good luck! Hyahyahya!"
Post-broadcast, we acted.
Sairaorg contacted Rias via circle.
"Evacuation started?"
Rias: "Yes. Sona's guiding residents to school shelter. Small town—three hours should do it."
"Escape?"
"Town's got a separate barrier, plus purple flame cross. Triple shield. Attacks repair instantly. Dispelling failed."
Xenovia tried digging—flames extend underground.
We could escape, but not with residents. Even if we called reinforcements, time dilation screws timing.
Stuck.
But prepping—Mages in shelter building new teleportation circle with unsealed spells. Their skill's unreal.
Sairaorg: "Same here. Barriers repair fast. Can't evacuate Agreas. Already dragon-surrounded."
Showed footage: sky blackened by hundreds of dragons.
Insane numbers!
At center: three-headed dragon, massive aura—Azi Dahaka, facing Agreas.
Sairaorg: "Baal, Siegweira's clan, and Emperor's team are here. We won't fall easy. Siegweira's acting Archduke, convincing stiff committee and mayor to control city functions. She's capable."
Siegweira's on it. Still seems scary from first impressions.
Sairaorg faced me: "Issei Hyoudou, critical moment. We protect Agreas, this town, the kids."
"Absolutely. It's our duty."
"Right. Protecting Underworld's hope is DxD's mission. No one dies. No enemy spared. We crush all comers—our fate as the strong!"
Smiled at his resolve. "Once we're done, I'll rush over."
"Same. Let's end this quick."
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