Chapter 157: Just Tell Me—Who Else Is Left?

Outside of Kuoh Town stretched a boundless ocean.

Kaiser once again appeared here, standing far from both the shoreline and Kuoh Town, above the open sea.

Behind him, the White Dragon Emperor's light wings were fully unfurled, radiating immaculate brilliance.

On his right hand, he wore a gauntlet that was entirely crimson, with a green gem embedded on the back of the hand.

It was unmistakably the Boosted Gear—the Gauntlet of the Red Dragon Emperor.

Wearing this freshly forged Longinus, Kaiser smiled with satisfaction.

"Let's test it out first."

Kaiser poured aura into the gauntlet, activating its power.

"Boost!"

Instantly, a deep voice echoed from the gem on the gauntlet, followed by a surge of astonishing power.

In that moment, Kaiser's power doubled, and his aura instantly skyrocketed.

"Boost!"

Three seconds later, the voice rang out again, and Kaiser's already-boosted power was doubled once more. His aura soared again.

"Boost!" "Boost!" "Boost!" …

Every three seconds, the gem on the gauntlet emitted that same voice, doubling Kaiser's power and strengthening his aura with each round.

After thirty seconds, Kaiser's strength had been multiplied tenfold, causing terrifying aura flames to erupt from his body and disturb the atmosphere.

Feeling the immense power coursing through every inch of his body, Kaiser narrowed his eyes in delight.

"In this state, even without using any sacred gear, I probably wouldn't lose to a Satan-class being."

Originally, without using any sacred gear, even with battle aura, Kaiser could at most contend with an Ultimate-class devil—roughly equivalent to eight wings in strength—and was far from reaching Satan-class.

But after ten boosts from the gauntlet, his power had skyrocketed to an unimaginable level, completely fearless even before Satan-class beings.

"Just like the White Dragon Emperor's light wings, my Boosted Gear is even stronger than the original."

The "Serpent" sealed within the sacred gear was stronger than the residual soul of the Heavenly Dragon, and with the boost from the binding ritual, this gauntlet—just like the wings behind Kaiser—had become much stronger than its prototype.

The original Boosted Gear activated every ten seconds. Kaiser's version activated every three seconds.

Of course, the boosting ability had limits. Just like the absorption of the White Dragon Emperor's wings, the number of uses was limited by the host's physical endurance. Infinite power-ups were impossible; otherwise, the user would collapse, or the accumulated power would vanish instantly.

During power accumulation, the host couldn't attack. Otherwise, the sacred gear's energy would destabilize and revert to its initial state. So it was best to stop boosting before acting.

But this was a flaw of the original Boosted Gear—Kaiser's version had no such weakness. It could boost and fight simultaneously. The boosted power also lasted longer. In every respect, it outclassed the original.

Then there was the Transfer ability. The Boosted Gear could transfer its multiplied power to allies or objects, enhancing them. Though the boost was smaller when transferred to multiple targets, the effect remained significant.

Kaiser's version retained this power, but the duration of transferred strength was longer and the amplification was even greater than the original.

In short, just like the White Dragon Emperor's wings, this Boosted Gear, born in Kaiser's hands, surpassed its prototype in every way.

Naturally, that included the Balance Breaker.

"Balance Breaker!"

Kaiser raised his gauntlet and called out the phrase of power.

Boom!

In the next second, crimson aura exploded from his body.

The Boosted Gear and Divine Dividing were two sides of the same coin.

As such, their abilities mirrored each other in many subtle ways.

Boosted Gear amplified the user's strength; Divine Dividing halved the opponent's.

Boosted Gear could transfer power to others; Divine Dividing absorbed power from others.

Though opposites, they merely reversed roles and priorities. The key difference lay in their targets.

Their Balance Breakers were also alike—transforming the sacred gear into full-body armor, explosively releasing power and removing activation time restrictions.

Thus, crimson flames wrapped around Kaiser's entire form, forming a crimson suit of armor.

The armor resembled a dragon in shape—sharply angular and intimidating. The gauntlet extended to both hands. Green gems appeared on the backs of both hands, forearms, shoulders, knees, and the center of his chest. Rocket-like boosters emerged from his back.

Kaiser retracted the White Dragon Emperor's wings, for the crimson armor had sprouted its own dragon tail and wings.

This was the Boosted Gear's Balance Breaker—[Crimson Dragon Emperor's Armor].

Unlike the [White Dragon Emperor's Armor], this [Crimson Dragon Emperor's Armor] looked more draconic and far more fearsome. It lacked the former's ethereal beauty.

If the White Dragon's Balance Breaker gave off a sacred, immaculate aura and mysterious beauty, then the Crimson Dragon's counterpart exuded sheer might and oppressive dominance—like a miniature tyrant red dragon.

"Powerful, sure—but the looks could use some work…"

Kaiser glanced at his armored reflection on the sea's surface and critiqued it with slight disdain.

Still, he was very satisfied. Like the [White Dragon Emperor's Armor], this explosive transformation far exceeded the original in both power and efficiency. The energy cost of activation and upkeep was much lower.

Without using any abilities, this [Crimson Dragon Emperor's Armor] could be maintained for three months—three times longer than Vali's.

As for comparing it with Hyoudou Issei… there was no point.

Unlike Vali, Issei had no talent. His first Balance Breaker cost him a hand just to use it for ten seconds. Even later, after completing his Balance Breaker, he could only maintain it for half an hour.

Half an hour versus three months—there was no comparison. And Issei had to count down every time he activated it, during which he couldn't use any of the gear's powers. The opening was massive.

Kaiser and Vali were different. They could activate their Balance Breakers instantly, with no countdown and no delay.

So if a comparison was needed, Vali was the one to match—after all, he was the strongest White Dragon Emperor in history, far surpassing all his predecessors.

That's the kind of rival worth matching.

"Next up is this…"

Kaiser closed his eyes beneath his crimson helmet.

Unlike last time, he had experience now and knew exactly what to do.

Boom!!!

The crimson flames turned into a storm, stirring massive waves, then gradually turned into a regal, deep black.

"I am the dominator—"

"The one who has seized the power of the Crimson Dragon of Purgatory—"

"I embrace the infinite and reject the illusory—"

"I shall become the overlord of Dragon Gods—"

"And cast you into the silent world—!"

Kaiser recited the chant swiftly and without hesitation, wrapping his body in the black flames as he unleashed the power of Juggernaut Drive.

"Juggernaut Drive!"

Instantly, Kaiser's crimson armor, like Vali's before him, began to turn black.

The red across the armor darkened into jet black, with the green gems remaining. The contours looked even more sinister than Vali's version—deeper, more terrifying.

A power capable of rivaling the chief gods and kings of the various mythologies surged through his entire being, making Kaiser once again drunk on his own overwhelming strength.

"As I thought, just like Divine Dividing's Juggernaut Drive, Boosted Gear's Juggernaut Drive now holds the trait of 'Infinity'—it can ignore my body's limits and endlessly boost my strength."

"As long as I can bear the energy cost, I can keep boosting indefinitely—until I run out of aura or stamina."

"The same goes for Transfer. As long as I can handle the cost, I can give away as much power as I want."

These two Longinus truly mirrored each other—distinct yet incredibly similar. They proved just how intertwined the Two Heavenly Dragons' fates really were.

"Compared to Divine Dividing, Boosted Gear has the advantage of strengthening oneself without needing to steal from others."

"The initiative lies entirely with the user. I can also transfer power outwards. That makes Boosted Gear more versatile in combat."

"In this state, if I wield the Holy Spear, I can keep boosting its power endlessly—slaying gods and Buddhas alike."

For a moment, ambition surged in Kaiser's chest. He wanted to challenge a deity on the spot.

My Holy Spear and my right hand are already thirsting. What about you?

Kaiser really wanted to say that, but it felt a bit embarrassing—and too suggestive. So he held back.

Clang!

Kaiser canceled Juggernaut Drive, then ended the Balance Breaker, leaving only the gauntlet on his arm. Behind him, Divine Dividing's white wings reappeared to keep him airborne.

"I possess both Heavenly Dragons' Longinus. Just tell me—who else is left?"

Kaiser let out a hearty laugh, then dismissed the gauntlet as well.

After testing the power of the sacred gears, Kaiser calmed himself.

Then, he turned toward Kuoh Academy…

(End of Chapter)