Local priest goes wild on a teenage boy!

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["Balance Breaker—Boosted Gear Scale Mail!"]

Then came the voice of Ddraig, echoing with a thunderous dragonic roar from within the crimson armor.

["BOOST!"]

The emerald gems embedded across the Scale Mail flashed brightly, pulsing with each chant. The sheer pressure of Issei's aura grew heavier with every cry, shaking the very foundations of the mansion.

["BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!"]

The rapid, relentless chanting filled the air—no longer bound by the previous shackles of time. Issei's power skyrocketed with each call, the blazing crimson and emerald light intensifying around him like a storm ready to erupt. His muscles tensed beneath the armor, veins threatening to burst from the strain—but he endured.

["BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!"]

The curse marines who had been looming over his friends slowly began to step back, for the first time feeling something they had long forgotten—fear. The very souls within their twisted bodies screamed in terror at the presence of something greater... something far beyond what their master had created them to withstand.

Ddraig's voice roared louder, shaking the air itself—

["BOOST! BOOST!"]

Twelve boosts.

Twice the limit of what Issei's newly reincarnated devil body should have ever been able to withstand. His aura crackled like an inferno, the sheer pressure bending the walls around him. Issei clenched his fists as the gauntlets of the Scale Mail creaked under the power surging through them.

For a moment, the whole battlefield stood frozen in awe.

Even the sadistic curse marine looming over Akeno—mere moments away from shattering her bones—stood paralyzed, his orgasmic grin fading as his warped mind struggled to comprehend the overwhelming presence standing before him.

Issei's voice finally broke through the storm.

"I'll protect them... ALL OF THEM!"

With a single stomp forward, the floor beneath Issei shattered into pieces, sending a shockwave rippling through the mansion.

With the power of the Balance Breaker Boosted Gear Scale Mail, even in its incomplete form, Issei gained the ability to boost without restriction, no longer bound by the usual 10-second cooldown between each boost. However, this newfound power came with its own harsh limits.

In his current state, Issei's body could only withstand up to six boosts at maximum before the strain would begin to tear him apart from the inside. The crimson armor of the Scale Mail acted as a buffer, taking on half of the burden placed on its wearer—allowing Issei to push himself twice beyond his natural limits.

Yet even with this advantage, the armor's incomplete state left it unstable. Every second the Balance Breaker remained active, Issei could feel the immense power gnawing away at his body, threatening to break him if he pushed too far. At best, he could only maintain the form for a few minutes before the strain would force the armor to shatter and leave him vulnerable.

Despite its flaws, the Boosted Gear Scale Mail was still a power far beyond anything Issei had ever wielded. Even incomplete, even unstable—it was enough. Enough to tip the scales.

Enough to save his friends.

Issei vanished from his spot, moving like a crimson blur—faster than any of the curse marines could fully register. The one looming over Akeno, frozen mid-swing with his grotesque hammer raised high, barely managed to tilt his head—his warped instincts the heavenly restriction allowing him to perceive the sudden threat.

Even with his body standing at the absolute peak of mid-class beings, brushing against the threshold of high-class power, his sharpened reflexes recognized death approaching—but not fast enough.

A draconic gauntlet slammed into the side of his head.

The curse marine's head caved in like wet clay, his entire skull shattering from Issei's boosted punch. Bone shards and black gore splattered across the floor and walls as the marine's body was launched like a bullet—tearing through two walls before crashing into the farthest corner of the mansion, leaving a crimson streak in his wake.

The walls shook from the shockwave. Dust and debris rained down. Akeno's tear-filled eyes widened in disbelief at what she'd just seen—Issei had killed him in one hit.

The remaining curse marines froze where he stood, his mutated mind flickering with something long buried beneath layers of violence and insanity.

Fear.

Even in this twisted, transfigured form—being powerful enough to rival the most powerful mid-class beings—he could still instinctively sense the gap between him and the crimson-armored dragon standing before him.

Issei vanished from his spot again, like a crimson blur cutting through the chaos. He reappeared in front of the final curse marine standing close to Rias—his left arm cocked back, the emerald gems along his gauntlet pulsing with raw power. The marine's warped senses flared—this one was faster, sharper than the others. He had already anticipated Issei's attack.

With inhuman speed, the curse marine lunged forward, thrusting his transfigured spear directly at Issei's heart—aiming for the exposed core behind the glowing emerald centerpiece of his armor. His twisted grin stretched wide, certain of his victory.

The tip of the spear struck true—only to shatter on impact against the crimson chest plate, breaking apart like brittle glass. The curse marine's grin faltered—his eyes widening in disbelief as shards of his own weapon scattered across the floor.

"W-What...?!"

Issei's burning emerald visor locked onto him, unwavering.

"Weak."

With a single motion, Issei's gauntleted fist slammed into the marine's chest—the force so immense that the entire front of his ribcage imploded inward. The sickening sound of bones shattering echoed through the mansion, his torso caving in like crushed paper. The marine's body flew backward, crashing through furniture and walls, leaving a trail of blood and debris before slumping lifelessly against the far wall.

Without sparing another glance, he turned his gaze somewhere else—his boiling rage still far from satisfied.

Issei's breathing echoed through the armor, slow and controlled—every exhale laced with barely contained rage. The emerald gems across his gauntlets pulsed brighter with each breath.

He clenched his fists tighter, feeling the raw power coursing through him—power he never thought he'd reach so soon...

...and it still wasn't enough to satisfy his rage.

His visor turned, locking onto the far end of the room.

Freed.

The sadistic exorcist stood menacingly, his bloodstained great sword resting on his shoulder. His manic grin—still wide, but there was something else off with it.

"You... you're still a shitty little virgin, right?"

Freed sneered, trying to mask the tremble in his voice.

"This won't change anything, you shitty devil scum—"

BOOM!

Issei's armored boot sank into the ground, cracking the floor beneath him as he dashed forward—faster than Freed's eyes could follow.

...

Not.

...

Before Issei could even blink, as he was already in front of Freed—his red gauntlet an inch from Freed's face—only to be caught in Freed's massive palm.

"You thought you could take me on easily, that I was just as strong as them... right?"

Freed's voice was low, trembling with barely suppressed excitement.

"I'm gonna make you scream... make your friends watch as you cry... I'll break apart this little armor of yours first piece by piece—"

Issei's gauntlet shot out, punching with his other arm and crashing into Freed's face with bone-crushing force. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, rattling the walls of the mansion. Freed's head snapped back violently, blood spraying from his nose as his body staggered.

For a brief moment, Issei felt a flicker of satisfaction—until he heard it.

A low, guttural sound—choking, gasping—before it slowly built into something... unnatural.

Laughter.

Issei's heart pounded in his chest, his breath catching in his throat. His emerald visor glowed as he watched Freed's shoulders shake, his whole body trembling as if the pain had only ignited something deep inside him.

Freed's head slowly tilted forward, revealing a wide, deranged grin stretched across his bloodied face. His tongue lazily flicked out, dragging along the streak of crimson running down his upper lip before slipping the blood into his mouth. He moaned—actually moaned—as if savoring the taste.

"Oooh... now that stung..."

Freed's voice came out in a breathy, shuddering gasp, eyes wide and unfocused with pure ecstasy. His grin stretched wider, blood dripping from his nostrils down to his chin.

"You... you can actually hurt me..."

He let out a breathless giggle that quickly spiraled into unhinged cackling.

"HAHAHAHAHA!!! You can actually give me a real fight! Finally! Finally, someone who can give me some action! Come on! Hit me again, Red Dragon! HIT ME AGAIN!"

Issei's spine stiffened, a cold chill crawling up his back beneath the crimson armor. He had thought the enemies he fought before were strong, but this... this was different. There was something wrong with Freed.

He's enjoying this...

For the first time since unlocking his Balance Breaker, Issei felt a creeping sense of fear.

Freed's manic grin twisted wider as he suddenly lunged forward, slamming his forehead into Issei's helmeted face with a sickening CRACK. The sheer force of the headbutt made Issei's vision flicker for a moment, his mind reeling from the unexpected blow.

Before he could recover, Freed's iron grip tightened around Issei's armored fist—the same hand he'd caught earlier.

With a wild cackle, Freed lifted Issei off the ground by his arm, muscles bulging unnaturally beneath his transfigured flesh. The mad exorcist's strength was monstrous—far beyond what the other curse marines have been capable of.

"HAHAHAHA! Not so cocky now, huh?!"

With a roar of exertion, Freed slammed Issei into the marble floor, the entire ground beneath them cracking from the impact. Dust and debris shot into the air as the shockwave rippled outward.

"What's the matter, Dragon Boy?! Is this all that legendary power amounts to?!"

Without missing a beat, Freed held up his transfigured great sword with both hands, his grin splitting wider.

"Come on! Stay down like a good little devil—"

He stabbed down with all his might, the blade aiming straight for Issei's head.

But even through the pain rattling his body, Issei's instincts screamed at him.

MOVE!

He rolled at the last second, the cursed blade plunging into the fractured floor where his head had been—sending a spray of shattered stone into the air.

Issei scrambled to his feet, panting inside his armor, his emerald visor flickering. His heart pounded in his ears.

This guy...

He wasn't just strong—he was a monster.

Ddraig's voice echoed in his mind.

["Do not falter, partner. This one's mind is broken... but his strength is very real."]

Freed stomped down with monstrous force, the entire mansion trembling under his strength. Cracks spiderwebbed across the floor, furniture toppled over, and dust rained from the ceiling. Before Issei could react, Freed's figure blurred—a distorted flash of movement that defied the eye.

A chilling rush of instinct screamed through Issei's mind.

He's fast—too fast!

A massive arc of cursed steel came swinging toward him, Freed's transfigured greatsword cutting through the air with a high-pitched whistle. The horizontal strike carried enough force to bisect him in a single blow.

MOVE!

Issei dropped low, barely in time, the blade howling past mere inches above his helmet. The pressure of the slash alone sent a powerful gust blasting against his armor, nearly making him lose his balance.

Then, behind him—

A deep, echoing shudder.

The entire wall behind Issei, untouched by the blade itself, suddenly bore a horizontal gash. The force of Freed's swing had been so immense that the sheer pressure from his strike had cleaved through multiple walls of solid stone as if it were paper.

Issei's eyes widened behind his visor.

That wasn't just brute strength. That was something else.

Freed let out a sharp, unhinged cackle.

"Oooh~! That was close, huh, Dragon Boy?!"

He twisted the massive sword in his grip, licking his lips, his wild eyes gleaming with unfiltered ecstasy.

"You felt that, didn't you?! The pressure! The thrill of being on the edge of life and death! Ain't it fucking beautiful?! AH—THIS IS WHAT A FIGHT SHOULD BE!"

He lifted his sword once more, shifting his stance as he now held his great sword in one hand.

"Now, don't just stand there, dumbass—DANCE WITH ME!"

Freed lunged again.

Issei gritted his teeth and charged forward, crimson aura blazing around him as he met Freed head-on.

Freed's deranged grin stretched wider, his yellow eyes glowing with bloodlust. He raised his massive great sword high above his head with one hand, the twisted, transfigured blade seeming to scream in the air as it was swung down—aimed to split Issei in half.

"Die, Dragon Boy!"

Issei's instincts screamed at him to dodge—his mind urging him to evade—

But he stood his ground.

With a roar, Issei raised both of his crimson-clad forearms, crossing them in front of him to block the descending sword.

BOOM!

The moment the blade made contact, the entire mansion shook from the impact. A deafening shockwave exploded outward, sending debris flying in all directions. The ground beneath Issei's feet cracked and caved, his armored legs sinking through the stone floor up to his shins.

Issei's entire body screamed under the pressure—his knees almost buckling—

But he held on.

"Grhhhhh...!"

His crimson gauntlets trembled, sparks flying from the friction of the blade grinding against the Boosted Gear Scale Mail. The weight pressing down on him felt like a whole damn mountain—far beyond anything he'd ever faced before.

But even as his muscles strained and his armor creaked, Issei's mind burned with one singular thought:

'I can't lose... not here... not now!'

Ddraig's voice echoed in his mind, firm and unwavering.

["Do not falter, Partner! This is your power—fight, and make them regret ever standing against you!"]

Issei's eyes blazed through his visor.

His legs trembled—but he planted them harder into the ground, refusing to yield.

Through gritted teeth, he growled—

"I'm... not... breaking... to a bastard... like YOU!"

Freed's grin cracked wider—

"THAT'S THE SPIRIT, DRAGON BOY—!"

CRACK!

With a burst of power, Issei threw Freed's sword back, breaking free from the deadlock—sending the twisted blade skidding back in sparks.

Freed stumbled a few steps back—then his head snapped back to Issei, his grin never leaving.

"Yes... YES! Now you're ACTUALLY putting up a fight! Let me hear you SCREAM more, you little shit!"

Issei clenched his fists—his emerald gems flashing faintly from the strain.

The real fight had only just begun.

Freed swung his great sword at Issei with maddening strength, the blade carving through the air with a shrill whistle. Issei, his mind razor-focused, punched out with an uppercut at the same time. His left crimson gauntlet collided with the flat of the blade at a precise angle, redirecting the sword's deadly arc upwards. The sudden deflection left Freed wide open—a vulnerability that lasted less than a second, but enough for Issei.

Without wasting a breath, Issei's right fist crackled with emerald dragon aura as a small green orb manifested in his palm. With a fierce roar, he drove his fist into the orb, detonating it into a thin, concentrated beam of dragonic power.

[DRAGON SHOT!]

The beam shot forward, striking the right side of Freed's face directly.

A sickening sizzle filled the air as the cursed flesh burned away, melting through skin and muscle to expose raw bone and scorched sinew. The stench of burning flesh wafted through the cracked air, but Freed's psychotic grin never wavered. His single remaining eye bulged with manic glee, his entire body trembling not from pain—but from sheer, perverse excitement.

"AHAHAHAHAHA! Now THAT'S more like it! Come on, you damn dragon! Burn me some more!"

Freed howled, his voice crackling with insanity as blood and charred tissue dripped down his ruined face.

Issei felt uneasy at the sight—his heart pounding as he realized Freed wasn't just enduring the pain... he was enjoying it.

Issei dodged Freed's backhand swing, but the edge of the massive great sword still grazed his crimson armor—sparks flying as a thin gash marred the once pristine surface. Pain flared underneath, but he clenched his teeth, forcing himself to push through.

The moment his feet touched the ground, they both vanished—moving so fast that their forms blurred across the ruined mansion.

Freed's great sword flashed wildly, carving the air with reckless abandon. Each swing tore deep gashes into the marble floors and crumbled the surrounding walls with terrifying force.

His strikes came in wide arcs, each one fast and heavy—filled with the savage glee of a man drunk on battle. Issei's instincts screamed at him as he narrowly weaved through the onslaught, the razor edge of the blade grazing him again and again—each cut shallow, but steadily accumulating.

"Hahaha! You're not bad, brat! You're dancing real nice for me! But how long can you keep it up?!"

Freed cackled, his one good eye gleaming with sadistic glee.

Issei's mind raced, his fists firing out in quick barrages. His punches struck at Freed's chest, ribs, and head whenever he saw an opening—but the mad priest left fewer and fewer gaps, blocking and deflecting each blow with the flat of his sword.

Every impact sent small shockwaves rippling through Freed's body, but the lunatic only grinned wider—feeding off the pain.

Despite the crimson armor enhancing his strength and speed, Issei could feel it—he was losing ground. Each time he tried to press forward, Freed's relentless attacks pushed him back.

His muscles screamed, his breathing grew heavier, and the weight of his injuries began slowing him down. Small sparks of crimson light flickered along the cracks forming in his Scale Mail.

["You're doing well, partner... but he's adapting faster than you. If this goes on... you'll fall."]

Ddraig's voice echoed in his mind—gruff, but laced with growing urgency.

"I know! But what the hell am I supposed to do?!"

Issei growled back mentally, ducking under another wild swing that carved through a pillar behind him. He retaliated with a punch to Freed's ribs, only for the madman to twist his body at the last second—letting the blow glance off before bringing the pommel of his sword crashing into Issei's side, sending him skidding across the ground.

["Think, boy! His madness makes him unpredictable—but he still follows instinct. Lure him... bait him... then strike where he doesn't expect."]

Issei coughed, blood filling his mouth beneath the helmet. His whole body ached, and the clock inside his mind ticked louder and louder with each second.

Freed stalked forward, his great sword dragging along the ground—sparks trailing behind it. His blood-soaked grin stretched wider as he licked his lips, his eye twitching in euphoric anticipation.

"Come on, Red Dragon... don't die on me yet. We're just getting to the good part! A couple more slices, and I'll crack that armor open... I wanna see what color your guts are!"

Freed's laugh echoed through the mansion like nails scraping against glass.

Issei's heart pounded in his chest. The odds were stacked against him—his body was nearing its limit, and the power coursing through his veins was burning out. But he clenched his fists tighter, forcing himself back onto his feet. His amber eyes gaining a hue of green as he locked onto Freed's frenzied form.

"I don't care if you're stronger... I don't care if I'm outmatched..."

Issei growled, spitting the blood dripping from his mouth.

"I promised I'd protect them... I'll fight until my body falls apart... until I can't move... until I win!"

Ddraig's voice rumbled deep within his soul—his prideful tone carrying the faintest trace of approval.

["Then fight, Partner... fight until your last breath."]

The emerald gems on his gauntlet flickered brighter—Issei's fists tightening as the battle raged on.

Issei suddenly executed a backflip kick, his armored foot slamming into Freed's chin with a metallic crunch. The force halted Freed's momentum, pushing him back slightly. Issei landed several meters away, skidding along the cracked marble floor, his mind racing. He needed a new approach—facing Freed head-on would only get him killed.

Breathing heavily, Issei pulled both his arms back, green orbs of condensed dragon aura forming in his gauntlets. 

With a roar, he punched forward, each orb exploding into thin, blazing beams of dragon shots that streaked through the air with a shrill whine. Freed, caught off guard, grunted as two beams punched into his body, leaving smoking holes that sizzled against his flesh.

Issei's heart pounded as he rapidly fired more dragon shots, each shot that missed carved small craters into the walls and floor of the already crumbling mansion. The air filled with the deafening sound of explosions and Freed's pained grunts. 

Furniture and debris were reduced to splinters, the ceiling cracked and sagged, and the walls buckled from the sheer pressure of their battle. Dust choked the air, and fires from the earlier destruction spread rapidly across the mansion.

Freed snarled, deflecting some shots with the flat of his great sword while others seared into his body. But Issei didn't let up—he flashed all around, striking from all angles, his desperation driving him forward. 

Sweat drenched his brow beneath the helmet. His breath came in ragged gasps. He could feel the weight of the boosted gear scale mail growing heavier with every second as the time limit ticked down.

"It's working...! I can wear him down... I just need to keep this up!" 

Issei thought, clinging to the sliver of hope.

But Ddraig's deep, rumbling voice echoed in his mind, cutting through the chaos.

["Partner... he is healing."]

Issei's heart froze. His emerald eyes widened in shock as he saw it—Freed's burnt-off face was already knitting itself back together, grotesque and unnatural. The puncture holes from the earlier dragon shots were closing, leaving behind only faint, pink scars.

["His regeneration is far beyond what you can damage at this rate... Your scale mail's time limit will expire before you kill him."]

Issei's stomach twisted. Desperation clawed at his chest. He gritted his teeth, firing more dragon shots with frenzied speed, each blast that was deflected carving deeper gouges into the mansion. The walls trembled, pieces of the ceiling crumbling down like rain. Yet Freed's grin only widened, his mad laughter echoing through the inferno around them.

"What's the matter, little dragon?! Why are you so desperate?!" 

Freed taunted, his body still burning, still bleeding—yet standing tall.

Issei's mind raced. He couldn't keep this up. He was fighting not just against Freed—but against time itself.

While the battle between Freed and Issei raged on, Asia—with Koneko's help—dragged their fallen friends outside the collapsing mansion.

The journey was perilous, debris raining down and the ground trembling with each clash of power. Koneko, having woken up from unconsciousness thanks to Asia's healing, carried Akeno, Rias, and Kiba out of the mansion.

Asia knelt on the cold ground, her delicate hands glowing with the gentle green light of Twilight Healing.

Sweat beaded down her pale face, her breaths coming out in soft, labored gasps. She alternated between Rias and Kiba, their bloodied forms lying motionless. Rias's crimson hair was stained with her own blood, her breathing shallow, while Kiba's severed shoulder was wrapped in what little cloth they could scavenge to stop the bleeding.

Akeno, despite her broken limbs and excruciating pain, had demanded that Asia prioritize the others, her violet eyes filled with pain but unwavering resolve.

Asia's small hands trembled as she poured every ounce of her power into the wounded. Fatigue gnawed at her body, but she forced herself to keep going. Her heart clenched every time she glanced back at the mansion, feeling the faint pulses of Issei's dragonic energy flicker through the crumbling walls. Tears welled in her emerald eyes, but she bit them back.

'Issei... please... come back.'

Koneko stood beside her, fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, drawing small trickles of blood. She hated this—hated her own weakness, her own helplessness.

Her eyes glared at the mansion, her small body trembling in frustration. The sight of Issei risking his life for all of them burned into her mind. She silently cursed herself, vowing that she would never be a burden again.

"Please... win, Issei..."

Koneko whispered, barely audible.

Asia heard her, but didn't respond. Her tired eyes only looked down at her glowing hands, silently praying for Issei as he fought to protect them while she keeps his friends alive. The mansion groaned under the weight of destruction, and the echo of battle raged on, threatening to swallow their hopes whole.

Back with Issei and Freed, both fighters were battered, their bodies bearing the brutal toll of their prolonged battle.

The upper half of Freed's grotesquely muscular body was completely exposed, his transfigured top shredded beyond recognition. His pale skin was marred with countless burns, puncture wounds, and dark, swollen bruises. Blood dripped from open gashes, streaking down his torso and staining his tattered pants. Despite the carnage inflicted on him, Freed's breath was only slightly heavier, as if this savage battle was nothing more than a warm-up.

His transfigured great sword was chipped and dulled, its once-gleaming edge now jagged and uneven. Yet, the mad grin on Freed's face never wavered. His bloodshot eyes glimmered with a sadistic light, a testament to the sheer ecstasy he found in the chaos. What made the sight even more terrifying was the slow regeneration taking place—his burnt flesh knitting itself back together, puncture holes sealing shut, and bruises fading with unnatural speed.

Issei stood several feet away, hunched over, his breath ragged and labored. His crimson Scale Mail armor was fractured and cracked, thin fissures spiderwebbing across the chest plate. Deep gashes marred the gauntlets and leg guards, green sparks of dragonic energy flickering weakly from the wounds in his armor. Despite the armor's protection, the relentless shockwaves from Freed's strikes had left Issei's body battered underneath. His ribs ached with every breath, his vision blurred from the repeated blows to his head. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth, staining his chin.

Ddraig's voice echoed grimly within Issei's mind.

["Your body is nearing its limit, partner. Your Scale Mail won't hold much longer... and neither will you."]

Issei clenched his teeth, swallowing the coppery taste of his own blood.

"I don't care... I can still move. I have to keep fighting... I have to kill this bastard...!"

Ddraig's tone was sharp, tinged with both pride and concern.

["Recklessness will only hasten your death. You're trying to outlast him in endurance, thinking he is still human. He is not. You need a plan—a killing blow."]

Issei's mind raced, his heart pounding in his ears. His desperation gnawed at him, but he forced himself to think. Freed's durability was monstrous, his healing relentless. Going blow for blow was suicide. He needed to create an opening—something decisive.

Freed licked the blood off his lips, his yellowed teeth gleaming.

"Come on, little dragon... you're slowing down! That shiny armor of yours can't protect you forever!"

He cackled, rolling his neck with a sickening crack.

"Is that all the famous Red Dragon Emperor can muster? If that's all then that's pathetic! Hahahaha!"

Issei's fists tightened. His mind flashed to Koneko, to Asia, to all his friends barely clinging to life outside the mansion. He couldn't afford to fall here.

"Shut... up! I'm not done yet!"

He staggered forward, ignoring the fiery pain that lanced through his body. He started circling Freed, firing off rapid Dragon Shots to keep him on the defensive.

Green beams of condensed dragonic energy crackled through the air, scorching the walls and floor as Freed weaved between them with surprising agility. Every few shots managed to land, burning fresh holes into Freed's regenerating flesh.

But Issei could see it—no matter how many wounds he inflicted, Freed just kept coming.

Ddraig's voice cut through his thoughts.

["His healing factor... it's accelerating. If you do not end this quickly, he will outlast you."]

Issei gritted his teeth. He needed more power—no, not just power. He needed an opportunity.

He ducked low, narrowly avoiding a sweeping slash from Freed's great sword. Sparks erupted as the blade carved through the marble floor like butter, splitting the ground beneath them.

Issei retaliated with a quick jab to Freed's side, but the madman twisted just enough to avoid a direct hit, letting the gauntlet glance off his ribs.

"Too slow, little dragon! You'll need to do better than that!"

Freed lashed out with a knee to Issei's stomach, sending him skidding back across the crumbling floor. Issei coughed violently, clutching at his abdomen as fresh blood splattered onto his armor.

Ddraig's voice hardened.

["Enough playing defense. Stop trying to trade blows. Bait him. Exploit his overconfidence. Break him."]

Issei's bloodshot eyes narrowed as a plan began to form in his mind. He adjusted his stance, letting his breathing steady despite the pain wracking his body.

"Yeah... I get it now... You want a fight, Freed? Fine... I'll give you one."

He charged forward, launching another flurry of Dragon Shots—but this time, they were wild and erratic, intentionally missing their mark. Freed laughed, deflecting the few shots that came close.

"Getting sloppy, are we?! Maybe I hit your head a little too hard, huh?!"

Issei didn't respond. He kept firing, forcing Freed to dodge and shift—just a little more, just a little closer to the weakened support beams lining the collapsing mansion.

Finally, the opening came. Freed lunged forward, bringing his great sword down in a brutal overhead slash. Issei ducked at the last second, the blade carving deep into the weakened pillar behind him—splintering it with a deafening crack.

Issei pivoted on his heel, summoning every last ounce of strength into his right fist. He roared as he drove his gauntlet straight into Freed's exposed side.

["DRAGON SHOT!"]

The green orb detonated on impact, blasting Freed clean off his feet and sending him crashing through the weakened pillar. The entire section of the ceiling above them groaned before collapsing, burying Freed in a mountain of rubble.

Issei staggered, barely able to keep himself upright. His vision swam, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the Scale Mail's energy flickering—his time was almost up.

Ddraig's voice rumbled softly.

["You bought yourself a few seconds... but it's not over yet. Be ready, partner. The true monster hasn't even shown itself."]

Issei's heart clenched. He clenched his fists tighter.

"I know... but I'm not giving up. Not until that bastard's dead."

Issei formed another orb of dragon aura in his right gauntlet's palm, pouring more and more of his dwindling energy into it. The orb crackled violently, growing larger with each second as it pulsed with raw power. Straining to contain the unstable mass, Issei gritted his teeth, even letting some of that strange, mysterious energy he had felt before seep into the attack—its faint shimmering hue flickering within the sphere.

But just as before the orb reached its critical size, Freed exploded from the rubble, a blur of brutal speed. Issei's instincts screamed at him, but he was too slow. He aimed the orb hastily at Freed, preparing to launch the partially charged Dragon Shot.

Yet, in a savage display of unorthodox agility, Freed stomped hard on the ground and Issei's footing unstable and twisting his grotesquely muscular body low—unnaturally low—until his chest nearly scraped against the cracked marble floor.

The attack flew past him, missing completely. Issei's heart dropped as his mind barely registered what had just happened.

Before he could recover, Freed's left arm shot out from his coiled stance, fingers clenched into a fist that scraped along the ground, carving up debris before it connected with Issei's chest in a devastating uppercut.

The force was monstrous—like getting struck by a wrecking ball. Issei's breath was torn from his lungs as his armored body was flung through the ceiling, blasting through wooden beams and stone like paper, amd through the roof. His mind spun in disoriented agony as he crashed back down. But before he could even hit the ground, Freed was already there, waiting.

With a crazed, toothy grin plastered across his burnt face, Freed swung his great sword like a massive bat. The flat of the chipped blade caught Issei mid-fall, sending him hurtling like a missile into the ground.

His body smashed into the floor with a deafening crash, carving a deep crater in the already-ruined mansion. The ground quaked from the impact, dust and rubble exploding outward.

Issei's vision blurred, his ears ringing as he lay half-buried in the crater. Blood pooled inside his cracked helmet. His limbs screamed in protest as he struggled to push himself up, but his battered body refused to obey. Ddraig's voice echoed in his mind—gravelly, urgent.

["Partner... You need to move... He's coming. Don't let him finish you off... Get up!"]

Issei's heart pounded. His breath came in ragged gasps as the overwhelming pain wracked his body—but he forced his shaking limbs to obey. He had to stand. He had to keep fighting.

Freed's laughter rang through the crumbling mansion, his glowing eyes locked onto Issei like a predator savoring its prey.

"Oi, I thought you were finally gonna give me a good show, little dragon! Come on! Bleed for me more! SCREAM for me!"

Freed loomed above Issei in the crater, his grotesque grin stretched wider than ever, blood dripping from his lips. His blunt, chipped great sword was held high above his head, its edge stained dark.

"What's wrong, Red Dragon? Can't fight back?"

Freed cackled, his voice echoing through the crumbling mansion.

With a manic gleam in his eye, Freed brought the massive sword crashing down. Issei barely raised his forearms in time, the jagged blade slamming into his gauntlets with a deafening clang. The impact sent another shockwave through the ground, deepening the crater beneath him.

Issei gritted his teeth, his muscles screaming as Freed lifted the sword again and brought it down even harder. The blow cracked more of his armor, splinters of crimson metal breaking away. Freed showed no mercy—again and again, the monstrous blade rained down, each strike heavier and more brutal than the last. The relentless assault rattled Issei's bones inside the armor, each hit leaving him more numb, more broken.

His mind raced, but every time he tried to think of a counter, another crushing blow smashed into him, drowning his thoughts in pain. Ddraig's voice echoed faintly in his mind, calling out to him—but Issei could barely hear him past the ringing in his ears and the ragged sound of his own breath.

["Move, partner! You have to move!"]

Ddraig urged desperately, but Issei's body refused to listen.

He was pinned, battered, and helpless. Despair began to creep into his heart. Was this really how it would end? After everything—after giving up his arm, pushing his body to its very limits—was this all he could do?

Freed's sadistic laughter filled the air, louder than the crashing steel. The curse marine's eyes shone with wild delight, savoring every second of Issei's suffering.

"Come on! Struggle more! Beg for your life, Dragon Boy! Hahahaha!"

Issei's vision blurred as blood trickled down his face behind the helmet. His arms trembled, cracks spiderwebbing across his gauntlets.

He couldn't hold on much longer.

Suddenly, Freed felt multiple small impacts on his back. He curiously turned around to see who dared interrupt his moment with Issei and spotted Koneko standing fiercely, her small frame rigid and determined. Her cat ears and tail were out, a sign she had embraced her yokai nature—a side she despised—just to muster all the strength she had to help Issei.

Freed's grin widened as he giggled mockingly. Without warning, he backhanded her away, sending her crashing into the rubble. Koneko groaned but forced herself up, wiping the blood from her split lip. Despite knowing how vastly outmatched she was, she charged at Freed with unwavering resolve.

Freed's grin twisted with amusement as he sauntered toward her, momentarily ignoring the broken Issei. Koneko reached him, her fists a blur as she unleashed a relentless barrage of punches—each one faster and harder than the last. But Freed barely flinched, his grin never faltering as her blows glanced off his grotesquely muscular frame.

He threw his head back, laughing maniacally before his hand shot out, seizing Koneko by the head. He lifted her off the ground with ease, then slammed her into the ground with sickening force. Again and again, he drove her down, each impact cracking the floor beneath them until she went limp in his grip.

With a sneer, he dropped her crumpled form and stomped on her small body, eliciting pained cries. Her screams filled the air, but Freed's eyes gleamed with twisted delight as he kicked her battered form away like worthless trash.

"Pathetic little kitten... was that all you've got?"

Freed jeered, his bloodied smile never wavering.

"Hey... Leave! Her! Alone!!"

Freed's sadistic grin froze as the hoarse, furious voice rang out behind him. He turned his head lazily, only to be met with a blinding flash of emerald light—followed by a deafening explosion that shook the crumbling mansion to its foundation.

The blast engulfed him, his body disappearing in the searing eruption of power.

Moments before, Issei had lain broken in the crater, watching helplessly as Koneko—a girl who despised using her yokai side—risked everything to protect him. Each muffled scream as Freed brutalized her burned into his mind, searing through his battered consciousness like molten iron. His heart pounded furiously, guilt and rage boiling inside him.

'She's fighting... for me... again...!'

His cracked armor groaned in protest as he forced his body to move. His legs trembled, his vision blurred—but his fury gave him strength. He clawed his way to his knees, then to his feet, ignoring the pain and the protests of his shattered bones.

With every ounce of will left in him, Issei gathered a massive orb of Dragon Aura in his trembling right gauntlet—larger and brighter than anything he had ever conjured before.

The pulsating sphere crackled violently as the mysterious energy deep within him instinctively merged with the Dragon Aura, swelling it to a size that seemed barely containable in his palm. The air around him warped, heat waves rippling outward as chunks of the fractured floor lifted from the sheer pressure.

Ddraig's voice echoed within his mind, strained and urgent.

[What are you doing, boy?! That's too much power—your body won't survive the backlash!]

"I... don't care...!"

Issei's voice rasped through gritted teeth, blood dripping down his chin.

"If... it means saving... Koneko... saving everyone... then I'll pour everything into this...!"

With every heartbeat, the orb grew larger—far beyond what any peak high-class devil should be capable of. His armor's cracked gems glowed brighter and brighter, surging with volatile power.

[You reckless fool...! Hmph... That's just like you.]

Ddraig's voice rumbled with pride beneath his exasperation.

[Then unleash it, partner... but give it a name worthy of a dragon!]

Issei's crimson visor flickered as he raised his trembling arm.

"Maximum output..."

He growled, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. The green sphere in his gauntlet roared, shining brighter than the sun.

"Dragon Shot!!"

He punched the orb with every ounce of strength left in his body.

The explosion erupted outwards, a colossal emerald beam tearing through the air. Freed barely had time to turn—his manic grin still plastered on his face—before the devastating blast consumed him. The shockwave shattered the remaining walls of the mansion, sending debris and fire erupting into the night sky.

Issei's armored body was flung backwards from the sheer recoil, crashing into the ground and skidding across the rubble, motionless.

A suffocating silence followed as the smoke and flames billowed around the crater where Freed had stood.

Issei's vision blurred... darkness threatening to claim him... but before it did... he saw Koneko's battered form... still breathing.