Chapter 162: I'm the One You're Talking About, Nya!

"Take this."

As he spoke, Kaiser tossed something to Yuuto Kiba.

It was a bracelet engraved with fine, mysterious script on its inner surface.

"What is this?"

Yuuto Kiba caught the bracelet, asking in confusion.

"Have you ever seen Azazel's artificial Sacred Gear in its simulated Balance Breaker state?" Kaiser didn't answer directly, instead posing a question before explaining: "That's a technique that shifts a Sacred Gear into an overclocked state, forcibly awakening its Balance Breaker. Essentially, it's a method of inducing a loss of control, which is why the Sacred Gear breaks down after battle. That's why he treats artificial Sacred Gears as disposable tools."

"This bracelet is a tool-form version of that technology. As long as it's used, any Sacred Gear will forcibly enter an unstable awakening to reach the Balance Breaker domain."

"If you can manage to control the power after the forced awakening, you should be able to truly awaken your Balance Breaker."

This was the method Kaiser had devised to help Yuuto Kiba awaken his Balance Breaker.

Azazel had mentioned this method in his notes on artificial Sacred Gears, but due to technical limitations, he had never successfully created a tool version of it. He had only been able to produce byproducts like bracelets that suppress a Sacred Gear's power or allow someone to enter Balance Breaker without paying a price.

But Kaiser had succeeded—or rather, his Unique Authority had allowed him to perfectly replicate Azazel's envisioned procedures and theories, ultimately bringing this tool into existence.

"Forcible awakening…"

Rias Gremory frowned.

"Isn't there a risk in that?"

She was clearly concerned.

"There's definitely a risk. I already told you—the Sacred Gear breaks afterward," Kaiser said indifferently. "But unlike artificial Sacred Gears, true Sacred Gears will self-repair even if damaged. At most, you just won't be able to use its power while it's being fixed."

"Of course, since a true Sacred Gear is one with its host, using such a crude method to touch the Balance Breaker may cause harm to the wielder as well."

"Therefore, in my opinion, even if you try to reach the Balance Breaker this way, you'd best limit how often you use it."

Kaiser raised one finger toward Yuuto Kiba.

"Once."

"You'd better only try once."

"If you can't grasp the Balance Breaker in this single opportunity, it's best you don't use this method again."

With that in mind, Kaiser had only made one bracelet—no more.

"Only one chance, huh?"

Yuuto Kiba gripped the bracelet tightly, his expression clouded with uncertainty.

Kaiser glanced at him but said nothing more.

In truth, if Yuuto Kiba's Sacred Gear were a possession-type Sacred Gear like the True Longinus, Divine Dividing, Boosted Gear, or Twilight Healing, things wouldn't be this complicated at all.

Because Kaiser could simply help a wielder of a possession-type Sacred Gear reach the Balance Breaker through direct contact.

As long as he touched the Sacred Gear itself, Kaiser could use his Unique Authority to fully control it, triggering its Balance Breaker directly.

That's exactly how he had done it—when he came into contact with the True Longinus, Divine Dividing, and Boosted Gear, he had completely mastered their powers. He could enter the Balance Breaker state effortlessly and even wield the power of Juggernaut Drive at will—completely overpowered.

Even though other people's Sacred Gears weren't exclusive to him and didn't fuse with him, as long as he touched them, he could fully control and dominate them, making them obedient and compliant.

Therefore, as long as a Sacred Gear fell under the concept of "armament" and Kaiser touched it, he could instantly help it awaken and reach Balance Breaker.

Unfortunately, Yuuto Kiba's demonic swords were merely creations of his Sacred Gear—they could be destroyed, abandoned, or even gifted away freely. They weren't the Sacred Gear itself. So even if Kaiser touched those swords, he'd only be controlling the swords, not the Sacred Gear.

Because of this, Kaiser had to resort to this compromise to help Yuuto Kiba reach Balance Breaker.

"And this—this is for you."

Kaiser pulled out another bracelet and tossed it to Rias.

"I don't have a Sacred Gear, though?"

Rias blinked, catching the bracelet as she spoke.

"It's not for you. It's for another one of your peerage members," Kaiser shrugged. "You have another servant, don't you? The one you sealed away and haven't let appear?"

Rias was stunned.

"How… how do you know?"

Indeed, Rias had another peerage member.

That servant had never appeared because he possessed an extremely dangerous Sacred Gear—one he couldn't yet control.

Rias had no choice but to seal him in a room, waiting until he could control his power before letting him out.

Very few people knew about this. Rias never imagined Kaiser would be aware.

"I also know he wasn't reincarnated into a Devil from a human like most Sacred Gear wielders. He's like Vali Lucifer—a hybrid with half-human blood," Kaiser said nonchalantly. "His other half is vampire. So, I used my own blood to craft this bracelet."

In the original series, it was mentioned that feeding that half-vampire dragon blood could help him stabilize and control his power.

So Kaiser engraved the fine script on the bracelet using his own blood, modifying what was originally a suppressive bracelet into one that helps the wearer stabilize their power.

Of course, Kaiser wasn't a dragon. But in the original story, Issei Hyoudou wasn't a dragon either—yet because the Boosted Gear resided within him, his blood had been influenced by dragon power and transformed into dragon blood.

Kaiser possessed both the Boosted Gear and Divine Dividing—two of the strongest dragon-type Sacred Gears—both of which had reached the level of top-tier Longinus. The dragon power in his blood far surpassed Issei's. Even the blood of Dragon Kings might not compare.

Didn't the Gravisheath drink just one drop of Kaiser's blood during the first day of training and has been in a constant state of excitement since? It's remained firm and powerful from beginning to end, without losing any strength.

That alone proved how potent Kaiser's blood had become.

"With this, you can release him. He'll become a powerful asset to your peerage and make your team even stronger."

After explaining, Kaiser turned to Akeno Himejima.

"Now it's your turn," Kaiser smiled at Akeno. "You're a hybrid too, aren't you?"

"Even though you don't have a Sacred Gear, half your blood is human, and the other half is Fallen Angel."

"Am I wrong?"

Akeno's expression turned cold.

Why did she hate Fallen Angels so much?

The reason was this.

Akeno Himejima's father was a high-ranking officer among the Fallen Angels.

There were six such officers, and Akeno's father was one of them—a Twelve-Winged Fallen Angel.

He was incredibly powerful, nearly on par with a Maou, and his specialty was lightning-based attacks.

Akeno's lightning power came from her father. She also inherited the Fallen Angel bloodline, allowing her to wield Light Power.

If she combined Light Power with lightning, she could unleash true Holy Lightning—greatly enhancing her strength.

Unfortunately, when she was young, her mother was killed by her father's enemies. As a result, Akeno grew to despise her father and her Fallen Angel heritage, refusing to use Light Power at all.

"If you were willing to use Holy Lightning, your power would easily reach High-Class Devil level," Kaiser said calmly. "But I'm guessing you still won't use it, even if I say this?"

"So… how about this?"

Kaiser looked at the frost-faced Akeno and smiled.

"What if I kill your father for you? That should make you feel better, and you won't reject your power anymore, right?"

As soon as those words left his mouth, not only Akeno—everyone, including Rias—stared wide-eyed.

"Don't joke about something like that!"

Akeno lost control, her emotions spilling out.

However…

"Who said I was joking?" Kaiser said flatly. "He's just a Twelve-Winged Fallen Angel officer. Even if he's close to Maou-level, to me, he's nothing special."

"I won't even need my Balance Breaker. I guarantee I can kill him in ten strikes."

"You think I can't do it?"

Akeno held her breath.

Can't do it?

How could he not?

Even without using the Balance Breaker of the True Longinus, this man already had Maou-class strength. With the spear's power, defeating a Twelve-Winged Fallen Angel wasn't a big deal at all.

"That settles it, then."

Kaiser didn't give Akeno any room to back out, sealing the decision.

"I'll act tonight. Say your goodbyes to your past. Tomorrow, show me your new self—let me see what true Holy Lightning looks like."

After saying that, Kaiser ignored Akeno and turned to Koneko Toujou.

"Wh-what are you trying to do?"

Koneko still seemed shocked by what Kaiser had just said. When he looked at her, she instinctively took a few steps back.

But Kaiser gave her a smile that made her shiver.

"As for you, I won't meddle too much."

"I found you a more suitable teacher."

"Let her train you."

Just as Kaiser finished speaking, a figure walked out from inside the villa.

"I'm the one you're talking about, nya!"

Kuroka made a dazzling entrance, smiling brightly.

"S-sister…!"

Koneko's expression froze. She nearly turned and ran.

"I'll train you well, Shirone."

Kuroka smiled cheerfully.

At that moment, Koneko felt everything go dark—the world turning gray…