The Beginning of the Long-Awaited Clash

'Goddammit… She's right. I've got nothing to say back.' Issei clenched his fists in frustration. He couldn't argue. Not with that.

 "I did a little digging into your background," Vali continued with that same cool, amused tone.

"Your parents? Completely normal. No special bloodline. No angels or devils in your family tree. You're just some boring, everyday high school guy. Aside from the Boosted Gear, there's absolutely nothing extraordinary about you. Well… except maybe how ridiculously perverted you are."

There was a flicker of pity in her eyes as she said it. 'Like hell I need your sympathy, bitch! But pervert, hmm!'

"So boring. You're so boring that when I first found out about you, I actually laughed. I mean—'Wait, this guy's supposed to be my rival?!' Come on, give me something."

Her eyes suddenly lit up like she'd just had the best fucking idea in the world. "Oh! I know—how about this for a setup? You become… a man out for revenge!"

Vali looked way too excited now, and Issei couldn't hide his confusion. 'What the hell is she talking about now…?'

Then she dropped the bomb

"I'll kill your parents…"

'…What the fuck did you just say?'

"That's right. If I kill your parents, that'll make your little backstory way more interesting. Imagine it—your destined rival murders your mother and father. You're left with their corpses in your arms, swearing revenge on me… now that's drama! Don't you think it's perfect?"

'WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK DID THIS CRAZY BITCH JUST SAY?!'

"I mean, they're just going to grow old and die eventually, right? Why not let their deaths serve a greater purpose—like making our rivalry legendary? Don't you think that's way better?"

'USEFUL?! BETTER?! SHE'S GOING TO MURDER MY MOM AND DAD FOR SOME FUCKING DRAMA?!'

"YOU PSYCHOTIC, TWISTED BITCH… I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU~" Issei's voice came out low, so low and cold it didn't even sound like him.

Something dark and violent erupted in his chest, not just anger—this was pure, murderous rage.

'So this… this is what bloodlust feels like!'

Before he even realized it, his Boosted Gear had already activated, and his fist was slamming into her smug face.

"Gah—!"

Vali went flying toward the window, caught off-guard, though she managed to guard herself mid-flight. But Issei didn't care.

If that didn't hurt… then he'd just keep punching until it fucking did.

"UOOOOOOHHHHHHH!!!!"

He charged at her, fists swinging wildly, uncaring if she blocked or not. Left, right, again and again. His knuckles split open, blood seeping out, but it didn't matter. The pain was nothing. He was too far gone, too consumed with the need to beat her senseless.

"WHY?! DO MY MOM AND DAD—HAVE TO DIE—FOR YOUR STUPID, FUCKED UP PLANS?! FUCK YOU!! IF YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT TOUCHING THEM, THEN I'LL KILL YOU FIRST!!"

Issei's voice roared with murderous intent through the room as he kept swinging, power building with every ten seconds as the Boosted Gear doubled his strength again and again.

Until—

CRACK!

A sharp, dry sound split the air—Vali's pristine armor finally cracked. He saw it— 'There it is—my chance! Time to end this bitch in one go!'

But just as his bloodied fist came down for the final blow… she smiled.

'That fucking smirk.'

"Guh—!"

'Damn.'

Her counterattack came fast—a brutal kick that slammed into his gut and sent him crashing into the wall.

Issei hit the floor hard, coughing, vision spinning, as Vali calmly stood back up and looked down at him with maddening ease.

"Fufu… Ahahaha! That was impressive, Issei-kun. I'm honestly shocked you managed to crack my armor. Looks like you've got more explosive potential than I gave you credit for."

She licked her lips, eyes twinkling with morbid delight.

"Yeah… I think I'll keep watching you a little longer. You've piqued my interest. So, in honor of your little outburst today… I'll postpone killing your parents."

The white armor on her body began to regenerate itself, shining as if mocking him. All that rage-fueled punching—worthless. Issei could do nothing but grit his teeth as the smug beauty mocked him, then shut her helmet and unfurled her blinding wings of light.

With one last glance, she shot out the window like a meteor.

"D-Damn it… Get back here, Vali!!!"

"Red Dragon Emperor!"

Just as Issei forced his broken body to move, driven purely by fury, Azazel suddenly talked and tossed something toward him, a metallic ring.

Issei caught it, confused. "What is this? Some kind of jewelry?"

"Take it. That's a special artifact designed to temporarily suppress Sacred Gear energy. You can't fully control the Welsh Dragon's power yet, right? That ring'll help you force your way into Balance Breaker mode… for a little while."

'No way…! If I wear this, could I actually enter Forbidden Form?' Issei thought.

"But it's one-time use," Azazel warned.

"And once you go Balance Breaker, your stamina and magic will drain like crazy. Don't fuck around with it."

"Heh… Thanks, Azazel."

Without hesitation, Issei shoved the ring onto his finger and leapt out the shattered window in pursuit of Vali.

"Let's do this, Ddraig!!"

"Hell yes! Let's make the white bastard eat shit, partner!!"

"Here we go—Balance Breaker!!!"

『Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!!!』

The jewel in the Boosted Gear glowed brighter than ever before. Red light burst out in all directions, enveloping Issei's entire body.

When the light finally faded, he stood clad in full crimson plate armor, every inch of him covered in a dragon-shaped battle suit radiating raw, primal power.

This was the true Forbidden Form of the Boosted Gear—the legendary Boosted Gear Scale Mail. 'Fuck yes. This power… It's overflowing!'

With his wings extended, Issei glared up at the airborne Vali and took off with a single flap.

"Listen up, partner—this Balance Breaker state'll only last you three minutes. That ring's barely keeping it together."

Right now, Issei doesn't have the base power to maintain this form naturally. The ring was forcing it. 'Three minutes… shit, that is tight.'

'But it is enough.'

"Three minutes is all I need! I'm gonna fucking destroy her!!!" Issei said.

[Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost!!]

Power surged through him again and again, escalating without end. His body became a streak of red lightning in the sky, aimed directly at Vali like a missile.

"You're not getting away, Vali!!!"

She turned at the last second, just in time for Issei to slam into her full force. His boosted fist came crashing down…

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