Silver armor, radiant blue energy wings—just looking at them makes the whole design scream mecha, and on top of that, the dragon's aura is pouring off him in waves. I want to go home.
But whining won't change the situation.
I summoned my Zarich and Tawrich, putting distance between us in a flash.
Vali's—no, the White Dragon Emperor's—Divine Dividing ability is Halving and Absorption. To use it, he has to make direct contact.
Which basically means… if I take even one punch or kick, I'm finished on the spot. A brutal debuff-focused ability if I've ever seen one. My only option is to keep attacking with ki blasts, while blocking direct strikes with Zarich and Tawrich.
Verg Avesta would be a mistake to use from the start. That technique only shines once I've gauged the opponent's strength. After all, any sudden, unnatural power-up usually comes with some kind of limitation, and the sensible move is to keep distance until I figure it out.
First move…!
He fired off a few large magic blasts. I countered with a volley of more than a dozen ki shots. Each of his blasts carried enough power that taking even one head-on would've been a disaster, but with so few of them, dodging was manageable.
On his end, my sheer numbers forced a few hits through, but his dragon armor blocked most of the damage.
"What's this? That feeble attack won't pierce my Dragon Armor!" Vali taunted, his voice cold and confident.
"And yours, do you really expect that sluggish blow to land on me?"
Issei shot back, flames of defiance in his eyes.
"Heh! Very well. I'll prove it to you."
A volley of dozens of pale blue magic bolts detonated forward.
Not that Issei had been expecting anything.
He leaned into the barrage:
Dodge, graze, dodge, graze, dodge.
Graze after perfect graze in a deadly ballet, inches from defeat.
"Impressive… your evasion surpasses most. How do you continuously avoid every shot?" Vali remarked, having sunk a few bolts into his own armor for reference.
"I'm just a fragile human, and every attack feels like a mortal threat! Especially when thrown at someone wearing such grand armor!"
Vali laughed, "Hahahaha! That line reminds me… someone actually called themselves a fragile human. This fight might be more fun than I expected!"
So it was after his battle with Cao Cao. Fighting fanatics tend to cluster.
"All right, let's go to the sword! Show me it's not just for show!"
A sudden black aura engulfed him. He charged, ignoring the pain, hitting full throttle.
Issei disengaged his limiter and entered his tuned reflex zone:
He studied every twitch in Vali's movements; every shift, every breath.
When Vali swung his arm inward, Issei countered:
He trapped the right wrist with his left blade, slotted the other into the armpit, and executed a nearly shoulder throw, hurling Vali yards away.
Crash!
They smashed into the once-empty reception area. Follow-up ki-blasts slowed their retreat. His limiter disabled, Issei knew he needed separation for the long game.
"Yes, evading that was perfect! I haven't experienced someone deflecting my strikes that cleanly in a while. Now, your name?"
"…Don't you already know it?"
Vali shrugged. "I do… but I want it from you."
Issei smiled. "When someone asks your name, it's polite to lead with yours. Always."
The corners of his lips twitched into a daring grin.
Vali straightened his gaze. "Fair enough. I am Vali, the White Dragon Emperor, Vanishing Dragon."
"Arima Ikki, senjutsu user. Pleased to meet you."
"Excellent. Then… let's begin our Deathmatch, "
"Deathmatch!? Already? I thought you were my friend! Ichiban's after-school slice-of-life material, not fatal duels!"
They clashed and tested each other for hours, each blow measured, calculated, wary.
Issei retreated to a makeshift bunker of scattered crates. Sweat drizzled down his sides; every dodge chipped at his stamina, his body covered in bruises and hidden pain.
He shook his aching craving throat and paced himself.
"Whew… long battles aren't so bad. You're too defensive when I close in… is it a trick?" Vali speculated, brow furrowed.
"I'd tell you, if you promised never to pick a fight with me again." Issei shot back.
"Then solve this riddle on your own."
"Seriously? I, We should call it quits. I'm starving…"
But Vali didn't care, as expected with warriors like dragons, they craved the fight.
"As a token of thanks, I'll give you this."
Vali removed his helmet and mask, producing two small items from the magic circle. He tossed one to Issei, who caught it:
"Complete nutrition in five seconds, Demon Pharma Great!!"
A jelly drink. Issei stared… another Azazel invention?
Vali chuckled. "That's from the same guy who made the teleport device. If you need fast fuel in a pinch, "
Issei snorted: Of course it's Azazel again! He smiled grimly.
"All right."
They drank in silence, warriors sharing a canned energy drink in a shattered warehouse.
"Shall we resume?"
Issei nodded, winded but determined.
At that moment, a magic circle sparked near them.
Vali frowned: "Who's that?"
Issei twisted to shield the circle, recognizing Azazel's summon: Kuroka in a dark kimono and cat ears.
"Finally found you, Issei. What's going on here?"
Kuroka's voice purred, and Issei tensed, he hadn't expected to let his name slip.
Now it was a team-up.
"Dragons, you never think about others, do you?" Kuroka teased Vali.
"So you came as backup? Two vs. one? I'm game! Though with both of you… I won't hold back." Vali growled, eager to fight them together.
Issei whispered to Kuroka: "I'll trap him, go ahead when you see the opening."
"Fighting with your eyes off the enemy, that's reckless. I'm not a softie." Vali's voice crackled with menace.
BOOM!
Vali's fist smashed into Issei's gut, his breath knocked out.
He coughed blood, gripping his stomach, but grinned grimly.
"You invited that, pal. Self-inflicted, yeah?"
Issei's vision swam, but he gathered his energy.
"Let me show you self-inflicted…"
He released his sacred gear: False Mirror, copying all phenomena: Verg Avestar
An intricate sigil glowed across his body.
"Ugh…!!" Vali doubled, recoiling from the ripple of arcane feedback.
Meanwhile, Kuroka climbed into the circle, crouching next to Vali. Her claws flashed, five slashes carved into his face.
Vali howled in shock.
Kuroka grinned at Issei: "Come on, promise you'll behave next time, nyaa~"
They vanished, sent back to Kuoh Town.
"Thanks, Kuroka. I don't know if we could've won that. A one-on-one with the White Dragon Emperor, like clearing a raid boss solo."
She sniffed.
"You said you'd handle whatever happens, nyaa, where did that go?"
Issei ran a hand over his bruised abdomen, weakly:
"Don't remind me… That was almost a death flag."
He collapsed onto the bed… and immediately realized it wasn't his room, Kuroka had taken over his bed.
"Ah, ah!"
He froze. Kuroka lay peacefully beside him.
No creeping in, no half-lifts… she just allowed him to sleep, healed, and stayed at his side.
Casting calmly, she chose to let his wounds heal naturally:
"The required penance for leaving me with no presence at the teleport point, and for the White Lizard's punishment."
He winced:
"I—understand. But… since holy sword trouble is brewing, should I not recover fully?"
"I know, nyaa. Rest today. Heal yourself unless we must go fight. Then I'll step in."
He nodded.
They spent the day together: she nursed him, answered worried calls from Issei and Koneko, and by evening, even his bruised body was healed.
Azazel's gadgets may inch his grip tighter, but partnered with Kuroka's mischief? It works out… strangely.
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