[!] Quest completed!
[!] Level up!
"Hah." Issei let out a breath as he slowed to a stop, using the sweatband on his left wrist to wipe the sweat dripping down the side of his face. It was early in the morning, and he had just finished his sprinting challenge for the daily quest, which had increased its difficulty again a couple of days ago. Still, it wasn't anything too challenging for Issei, despite the fact that the distance and pace had doubled since he first started. His body had long since adapted, and each challenge felt more like a warm-up for another day ahead.
[So, which class will the new level go to now, partner?]
"I think we gotta go with Dragonsworn again. I kinda want to see if anything will happen when I get it to level 50 of the class… usually, that's the threshold." Opening his Status Window, Issei answered his dragon partner with a shrug, though he wasn't entirely sure about that himself, speaking only from assumptions and past experience playing RPGs. Still, since he had received his class change quest upon reaching level 20, there was some hope that the System would reward him with something cool to help him grow even stronger.
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Race: Reincarnated Devil
Class: Level 42 Dragonsworn / Level 20 Shadow Monarch - Level 43 Dragonsworn / Level 20 Shadow Monarch
HP: 11,145/11,145 - 11,627/11,627
MP [Current Attribute: Draconic/Demonic: 3,455/3,455 - 3,555/3,555
Title: Daredevil
Strength: 200 - 202
Vitality: 169 - 171
Intelligence: 170 - 172
Dexterity: 174 - 176
Perception: 154 - 156
Charisma: 144 - 146
"There we go." Issei said, closing the Status Window before making his way over to the bench next to the grocery store he had just bought a bottle of water from. Taking a seat there, he twisted the cap off and took a long drink, letting the cold liquid soothe his dry throat before rolling his shoulders, feeling the lingering tension ease slightly as he exhaled.
As he sat there, Issei absentmindedly glanced at his surroundings. Kuoh town was starting to wake up—shopkeepers were opening their stores, early risers were heading to work, and the faint hum of traffic filled the air. It was quite peaceful, much like how his life had been lately—not that he had any complaints.
Opening the main window, Issei browsed through all the functions he hadn't had the chance to use. Among them was the Crafting & Refining System, and the reason he hadn't touched it yet outside of making some potions as a test a few days back was because there was an empty slot that let him assign an ally with the [Blacksmithing] skill to, making it clear having a shadow with the skill using the function would significantly enhance the items more than he did.
Moreover, different Blacksmiths had different proficiencies, with different types providing different bonuses to the stats of the created items. A shield created by a blacksmith who specialized in defense would boast enhanced durability, while one skilled in offensive gear could forge weapons with significantly higher ATK stats. Issei briefly entertained the idea of learning the skill himself, but the thought of actually having to dedicate time to mastering the art of smithing made him reconsider. It seemed far more efficient to find shadows that could handle the job for him.
"Ddraig, you don't happen to know any dragon friend with the skill, do you?" Issei asked, having noticed that he could assign even his Pact Dragons to the slot. However, just like the shadow soldiers, neither of them had the [Blacksmith] skill or provided any additional stats to the items available to him. Tiamat, for instance, was also marked as [Unavailable] because she wasn't around. It was clear that the 'Blacksmith' had to be close to him, or actively work on the items that he wanted to create.
[Oh I know plenty, but are you sure you can just go look for them, not knowing where they are right now, partner?] The red dragon answered, making Issei let out a small chuckle before nodding.
"Well, you do have a point there."
Closing the window, Issei then went over his Skills and Abilities tab and realized he should start making a habit of using magic more. It struck him that he hadn't been making full use of the spells he'd learned from Akeno during their training sessions for the Rating Game against the Phenex, mainly the ones that weren't fire types. Spells with the corresponding elements of his active dragon pacts were enhanced greatly, making them valuable additions to his arsenal especially once he started making more pacts with different types of dragons.
Speaking of which, there was a skill that he hadn't used at all since acquiring it from the pact with his second dragon...
"Hey Ddraig, does Tiamat have anything similar to this Karma ability?" Issei asked as he looked at the Karma Skill that he got from his pact with Tiamat.
[Not that I'm aware of, but there's a saying among us dragons that bad things tend to happen to those she disfavors… I mean, take me as a prime example.] Ddraig responded with a dry chuckle.
"Well, either way... I kinda want to see what this Karma skill does. Been saving up a lot of 'good boy' points for it, after all…"
Issei mused while reading the description of the ability. Currently, he had accumulated a total of 650/1000 karma for himself, mostly from just going on with his normal life, doing his jobs as a devil, and clearing daily as well as recurring quests, though the bulk of it came from the Red Gate incident. Calling it 'good boy' points was also a bit of an understatement, since misdeeds caused it to drop, even the simplest things—like trying to watch porn, which thankfully wasn't as much as ignoring Matsuda and Motohama as they attempted to sneak into the girls' locker rooms again despite all the warnings they'd been getting. Even deciding to turn a blind eye to it and leave them to the girls had caused his karma to drop by a significant amount, but stopping them had increased it considerably.
[You're using it on yourself?]
"I mean… why not, right? I can't use it on a random person not knowing what it will do to them." Issei reasoned. He then looked around, making sure that no one was around before activating the skill after switching his current pact to it, choosing himself as the designated target. A faint, bluish aura then wrapped around him, spreading over his body like a thin mist before slowly fading into nothingness. Issei blinked, glancing down at his hands, flexing his fingers as he waited for something to happen.
[Well, partner? Feel any different?] Ddraig asked, curiosity evident in his tone.
Issei scratched the back of his head. He looked into his Status Window and saw the Karma symbol ticking down there, fading clockwise with the timer being 2 and a half hours, but other than that nothing had really changed. "Not really…"
He then looked down at the water bottle in his hand. There's still some water in it. An idea then popped into his mind and with a small grin, he flicked his wrist and sent the water bottle into the air, aiming to make it land upright on his foot after a full flip.
It did not.
Instead, it bounced off his toes, tumbled to the ground, and rolled away pathetically.
[...Smooth.] Ddraig deadpanned.
"Oh, shut up." Issei rolled his eyes as he got up and walked over to pick up the bottle and toss it into the nearby trash bin.
Bzzt!
Before he could try anything else, while the bottle landed perfectly standing inside the trash bin without him seeing it, Issei felt his phone vibrating inside his pocket. Taking it out, he looked at the scene and widened his eyes slightly in curiosity when he saw that he was getting a phone call from Akeno.
"There you are, Issei-kun! Morning!"
"Good morning, Akeno-san."
Issei smiled as he pulled up in front of Akeno, his bicycle to a stop just as she greeted him with a beaming smile. She stood by the front gate of the shrine that was home, dressed in a casual yet elegant outfit, consisting of a light purple blouse and a flowing black skirt that reached just above her knees. Her long, dark hair was let down from its usual ponytail, cascading down over her shoulders with the morning sunlight only making her look more radiant than she already was every day.
"Ready to go?" Issei asked, making Akeno wink at him before gracefully hopping onto the backseat of his bicycle. With Akeno comfortably seated, Issei pushed off and started pedaling down the road, the cool morning breeze brushing against them.
"Hm, don't you think that this bicycle is getting a bit too small for you, Issei-kun?" Akeno asked, striking a conversation with him after a few minutes of comfortable silence between the two.
"Yeah, I've been thinking about getting a new one, maybe something sturdier." Nodding, Issei answered with a chuckle.
Akeno giggled softly as she tilted her head forward a little to look at him. "Maybe even a motorcycle? I think you'd look good on one."
"Think I kinda need a driver's license first, though," Issei chuckled. He had always wanted to own a badass-looking motorcycle, but while the legal age to get a license in Japan was 16, he had to be 18 to legally ride a heavy bike—unfortunately, he was still a few months away.
"Well, true… if you want to play by human laws, of course." The black haired young woman laughed softly before she leaned back, hummin a soft tune as Issei continued to drive her through the streets of Kuoh town. Eventually, the two arrived at their destination, a small, cozy café tucked away on a quieter street. The place had a rustic charm to it, with wooden beams lining the exterior and potted plants hanging from the windows. The gentle aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked breads wafted out as they approached.
Issei pulled up and slowed to a stop, looking up at the café with a raised brow. "You come here often?"
Akeno smiled and nodded as she hopped off his bike. "I've been here a few times. It's quite nice."
"Sounds good then." Issei said, following her inside. It was just as Akeno had said, the café was even cozier on the inside, with soft lighting and the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee beans filled the air, mixing with the light chatter of other customers. A number of them blushed when they saw Akeno and rose from their tables to approach her, but they immediately sat back down when they saw Issei stepping in with Akeno turning around to smile at him.
After placing their orders at the counter, the two made their way to a window-side table, where they could watch the quiet street outside. Issei pulled out a chair and sat down, glancing out the window for a moment before turning back to Akeno, who was already comfortably settled in her seat next to him.
"So, any big plans for the day?" Akeno asked as she leaned closer to him, making Issei feel a little hot under the collar. There was no denying what an attractive girl Akeno was. Even with her hair down, which made her look more like girls her age, she was still easily one of the most effortlessly beautiful and stunning girl he had ever met.
"Um... I honestly don't have anything planned," Issei answered with a shrug. It was Sunday, so they didn't have school either. "Figure I'd just hang around home for the day. Maybe sort out a few things after this..."
And he wasn't lying. He did have a few things to sort out, particularly the items he planned to sell to Zeoticus and his Emporium in exchange for some real money. Even though most of them were considered scraps and junk items by the System Shop, it would still fill up his bank account by a good amount, probably more money than he ever had.
"Well, I was actually wondering if you wanted to crash at my place and study for your upcoming promotion test," Akeno said, her tone casual but with a knowing smile. "I know that Ravel's supposed to show you the ropes once she's here, but I think I can help you just fine... I'm actually pretty close to my own promotion too. But I figure you don't want to spend your weekend studying, right?"
"Well, I can be flexible." Issei chuckled. He wouldn't mind spending more time with Akeno, and in all honesty, who would?
Not him, certainly.
It was then that their order arrived. Issei had opted for a traditional Japanese breakfast, consisting of steamed rice, miso soup, a grilled piece of salmon, a small serving of vegetables, and fried egg. Akeno, meanwhile, had chosen a lighter option—chilled tofu topped with grated daikon, a side of rice with nori, and a cup of green tea.
They ate in comfortable silence for a moment, enjoying their meals while watching the morning bustle outside the window. Issei felt a sense of calm washed over him. With all that had been going on, it was nice to just sit down, relax and be his normal self, a normal high school teen who was just living his normal life...
"You know... I can see Rias and Asia-chan over there." Akeno pointed out, making Issei let out a chuckle, glancing over to the phone booth across the street. Sure enough, there they were—Rias and Asia, attempting to keep a low profile but failing spectacularly. They were dressed in oversized trench coats, hats pulled down low, and dark glasses that probably wouldn't have fooled anyone who knew them. Their attempts at blending in only made them more obvious, especially considering their awkward posture as they tried to look inconspicuous.
"Yeah, I noticed them a while back." Issei answered with a small smile. "They were..."
Before he could finish the sentence, he saw Rias take her phone out of her pocket to answer a call. At first, her expression was one of irritation, likely from being interrupted or questioned about her actions – probably, but then her demeanor shifted. The look on her face turned serious, and Issei instantly knew something was off when she looked directly at him, no longer trying to hide or avert his gaze.
"I see... so now you want our help?"
Rias asked with a serious look, as she sat with Sona in the office of the Student Council, where they had agreed to meet with Cha Hae-In and her exorcist associates with Grayfia and the Sitri Peerage after they had found out where Kokabiel and his followers were hiding with the Excaliburs.
From Beowulf and Cid, he had learnt that Hae-In was actually not an exorcist – not anymore at least, as she was raised by them, but a S-class Hero known widely as the Dancer. It was quite clear that she was sent by the Hero Faction to assist the Church with their Excaliburs situation, and her skills alone was probably one of the main reasons they believed she and the other two would be able to get the job done.
"Yes. He's here, with the Excaliburs."
Hae In said, using a mark to draw a circle around the map she had laid out on the table before them. The location was the central shopping district of Kuoh Town, known for its local shops, cafes, and vibrant atmosphere. Though the town itself wasn't large, this particular district was always bustling with people, making it a prime location for someone like Kokabiel to hide in plain sight.
"As you can see, a direct confrontation between us and the Fallen Angels at a place like this would lead to untold collateral damage and civilian casualties."
"We want you to help evacuate the area." Xenovia added, her tone blunt.
"Really? Are you sure that's all you?" Sona asked, raising an eyebrow as she adjusted her glasses, her expression skeptical. Issei couldn't help but glance over to Kiba, who was glaring at the Exorcists, or specifically, the Excaliburs that they carried with them. He could only hope that he would be able to stay that way until the meeting was over.
"We're aware that you have devils standing posts all over town. An evacuation of this scale should be well within your capabilities." Hae In stated "However, the moment you guys are on the move, Kokabiel and his forces will know they've been discovered. As much as I want them to just run, it's more likely that he will stay and stand their ground. Worst case, he's already aware that we're having this conversation and will prepare to confront us."
"The assault and evacuation need to happen simultaneously." Grayfia nodded her head. Her tone was as calm and cool as ever, but it lacked the usual professionalism she carried being the head maid of the Gremory household.
"Yes. That's right." Irina nodded her head, looking the most positive among the trio.
"So you're aware that you will be walking right into a trap?"
"Yes. Hence why I would like to propose an alliance." Hae In nodded her head to Rias, making the devils look at her in surprise "My friends here might not be thrilled with the idea of allying with devils, but I'd prefer to avoid as many civilian casualties as possible. It's most likely we'll be outnumbered, and there's only so much ground we can cover with just the three of us."
"With your help, we can rest assured that at least the civilians in this area will be safely evacuated while we handle Kokabiel and his forces. It's something you'll want as well, right?"
"I must say, you seem awfully confident in your chances." Sona replied, her tone serious. "But what happens if you fail? What stops Kokabiel from turning his attention to us—or to the rest of the town? You can't possibly think that we will just turn a blind eye to a conflict of this scale right in our town."
"Whether you like it or not, you need our help taking down Kokabiel." Rias said, glancing briefly over to Grayfia before continuing after the silver haired woman had given her a nod "Our Maou have given us permission to do what is necessary in this situation. We have confirmation from Grigori that Kokabiel's actions in this town are entirely his own, so we're authorized to deal with him however we see fit. For someone who has only been looking for a chance to reignite the spark of war between the Three Factions, who currently possesses the ultimate weapons against us devils—stolen from the Church—and has come to a town where the sisters of two Maou live, it's quite clear that we are his targets."
"And that is why we must also act." Sona continued, "You can trust us to evacuate the civilians safely from the battlefield, but we'll also assist you with taking down Kokabiel."
To their surprise, the three, Xenovia in particular, didn't immediately refuse the idea. Instead, they exchanged a brief, meaningful glance, as though weighing the decision among themselves before the blue haired exorcist broke the silence that had befallen the office.
"To tell you the truth, it would be really difficult to retrieve all three Excaliburs and fight Kokabiel with just the three of us." Xenovia said. Irina looked like she wanted to say something, but her friend had continued before she could do so "We're willing to do what we must to retrieve the Excaliburs, or at least, keep them from being used by the Fallen Angels, but if I can help it, I'd like to be able to return home safely, so that I can live and continue fighting for God."
"Still, asking help from devils is a bit against my beliefs for me, so I will have to say no to your offer." Xenovia shook her head, then looked over to Issei to continue before Sona could say anything in response. "Instead, we will ask a dragon for help. Our superiors forbade us from seeking help from devils, but they didn't say anything about asking a dragon for assistance."
Issei blinked, surprised by Xenovia's words. He glanced at the others in the room, noting their reactions.
"Oh, great idea, Xenovia!" Irina beamed.
"Yes. Even though he has turned into a devil, it's clear that the power of the dragon still presents within him." Xenovia explained "If it is as the legend says, then you can increase your power to the level of a Maou, correct? If you gain power equal to that of a Maou, then you can help us beat Kokabiel, a leader of the Fallen Angel. If the rest decide to join then so be it. It'll be just them assisting a fellow devil, not us asking help from them."
"You heard them, Ise." Rias said, turning to look at Issei. "What will be your decision?"
Issei sat in silence for a moment, his gaze drifting as he considered his options carefully.
"I'll help you guys," he said finally, his voice firm. Rias smiled in approval, while Sona gave a small nod of agreement. "However, I also want something in return."
"We're not…"
"I'm not asking for your souls, if that's what you're thinking." Issei denied, shaking his head. He then waited for Xenovia to close her mouth before continuing "You said you were willing to do anything to retrieve the Excaliburs, or at least keep them from being used by the Fallen Angels, right? Then that means you also have the option to destroy them if necessary."
"Hm, it is as you said," Xenovia admitted, crossing her arms in thought. "Since Kokabiel has already stolen three Excaliburs, he'll most likely try to do the same with ours as well. If it comes to that, it would be better to break them than to let them be taken."
"Then you can let us break the swords as well." Issei said firmly, knowing full well that Kiba was looking at him in shock "If the fragments can just be reforged into new swords later, then fine—do what you want. But if destruction is an option, then let us be the ones to do it."
"Hmmm…"
Xenovia looked thoughtfully, and it was Irina who looked like she wanted to refuse the idea. It was quite clear that they had had a talk about destroying the Excalibur before to keep it from the Fallen Angels.
"Very well, if that means we can borrow the power of a dragon. If you're as strong as legends say, then you won't have any problem breaking the swords." Xenovia said finally, with Hae-In nodding her head in agreement with her. Reluctantly, Irina did the same, her expression shown that she was fine with it, for the time being.
"Alright. That settles it, then. We will move out in ten minutes," Grayfia announced. The exorcists and Hae-In nodded before rising from their seats. Rias moved to do the same, but before she could say anything, Grayfia's voice cut through the room like a sharp blade.
"No, ojou-sama. We have discussed this. You, Sona-sama, and your Peerages, including Issei-san, will stay out of this battle. My job is keeping you all safe, and that also includes stopping you from putting yourself in danger. I intend to do that whether you like it or not." She said, looking at Issei. He simply held up his hands in response.
"But we can—"
"You two will assist with the evacuation around Kuoh. I will lead a troop to support Hae-In-san and the exorcists." Grayfia interrupted, her tone leaving no room for argument. "My decision is final." With that said, she turned around and left the room to contact the devils stationed around town, making Rias cross her arms over her chest while muttering something under breath in annoyance. Sona
Then suddenly, Kiba approached Issei. The look on his face was almost unreadable, but the blond knight was quite clear he was puzzled by his decision.
"..Ise-kun. Why did you do that?" He asked.
"Why not? Destroying those holy swords means fewer holy weapons for us devils to worry about, am I right?" Issei asked before punching Kiba lightly on the shoulder "Besides, isn't that what you want too? I know you've calmed down, but everyone says you still space out a lot in class. The sooner we help you deal with this, the sooner the girls can get their 'Prince Charming of Kuoh Academy' back. I find your recent nickname 'Prince of his own thoughts' to be quite cringe, to be honest, not that your main one isn't as well, just so you know."
"I…" Kiba paused before nodding his head, a small smile finally forming on his face. "Thank you, Issei-kun."
"Hey, don't get all sappy on me now," Issei said, waving him off with a grin. He then took out his phone and dialed a number that he had been given a few days ago after asking for it from one of his classmates.
While her assistance might not be needed. He would still ask, just in case.
"This way, everyone!" Issei called out, wearing a bright yellow volunteer vest over his school uniform. Holding up a megaphone, he gestured with his free hand toward the main road, where groups of evacuees were being guided by uniformed officials.
Not long after Sona had contacted the human leaders of Kuoh town, the emergency services had been mobilized. Announcements played over loudspeakers, warning residents of an imminent earthquake and urging them to move to designated shelters outside of towns using school buses. Police officers and firefighters assisted in directing traffic, while medical teams stood by in case of emergencies.
Despite the official explanation, some residents were hesitant and even skeptical. Noticing Asia having trouble with an elderly couple at a family-owned shop on the other side of the street, Issei hopped off the phone booth he was standing on and made his way over to them.
"Oji-san, I understand it's tough to leave, but this is just a precaution," Issei said after finding out from Asia that the husband refused to leave. "Even if nothing happens, wouldn't it be better to be safe than sorry?"
"Nonsense!" The man barked, making Asia nervously hide behind Issei while his wife looked at the two apologetically "I've lived here for decades. Never once had to leave my shop because of an earthquake."
"Ahem, but there is a first time for everything, am I right?" Issei chuckled, maintaining an easy going smile on his face. "Even the officials are taking this warning very seriously. It won't be long before you can come back to your home. Our government also promised compensation if any damage occurs, so there's really no reason not to head to the shelter just in case."
The old man continued to give him a skeptical look, before the wrinkles on his face finally relaxed. "Fine, but if anything happens to my shop, I'm blaming you."
Grinning, Issei gave a casual salute in response. "You got it. We'll take care of things, don't worry."
As the couple moved off toward the evacuation point, Issei gave a quick glance at Asia, who was still standing a bit nervously. "You're doing great, Asia. Keep helping everyone like that and we'll have everyone safe in no time."
Asia gave him a small smile and nodded as he patted her head before turning his attention to the area that was supposed to be where Grayfia was leading the confrontation. It had been a while, and the only reason it all looked fine was because a magical barrier had been set up around the area to keep the townspeople from seeing what was truly going on there. The barrier also served as a temporal shield to keep the fighting from spilling out into the surrounding area, but there was only so much that it could do once Maou-class beings started clashing, even with all the devils currently maintaining it using their demonic power.
Issei felt a slight tremor beneath his feet, causing the townspeople who had yet to get on the buses to pause in uncertainty. Even with the naked eye, one could see the barrier flicker, but it continued to hold—at least for the time being.
Grayfia wouldn't lose to Kokabiel, right? She was the strongest Queen of the Underworld, possibly the strongest woman he had ever met... If anyone could face a Fallen Angel Cadre in combat and come out victorious, it would be her, right?
Not to mention, she had an S-class hero and a group of powerful devils by her side…
Yet, despite all that, Issei couldn't shake the gnawing unease in his chest.
"Issei-kun!"
Issei turned immediately when he heard a familiar voice calling out for him. Turning his head, he saw Akeno rushing toward him with a concerned look on her face.
"Akeno-san, what's wrong?" Issei asked quickly as Akeno slowed to a stop in front of him. Judging by her slightly labored breathing, it was clear she had run all the way from her assigned area.
Akeno's eyes scanned the surroundings for a moment before locking onto Issei. "Issei-kun… Have you seen Yuuto-kun anywhere?" She asked, her tone urgent but tinged with worry.
Issei widened his eyes and shook his head. "No, I haven't. He was with me and Asia earlier, but I haven't seen him since. Wasn't he supposed to be helping with the evacuation near your area?"
Akeno nodded, her expression growing more troubled. "Yes, but Rias discovered he disappeared a while ago. I've been looking for him ever since, but no luck." She turned her head, her gaze drifting toward the same direction Issei had just shifted his gaze at. "You don't think that he…"
Issei felt his stomach drop. "That idiot…"
"Issei-kun!"
"Stay here and watch over Asia for me, Akeno-san!"
Without sparing a moment longer, Issei sprinted off, his feet cracking the pavement as he dashed into a nearby alley. With a burst of speed, he summoned his wings and shot into the air, taking off and flying as fast as he could toward the central shopping district.
As the wind rushed past him, his eyes caught a glint of crimson out of the corner of his eye. He looked down to see Rias flying toward the same destination, making him slow down and lower himself to meet her. Their eyes locked, but Rias didn't speak. She didn't need to. With a nod of her head, and a powerful flap of his wings, he surged ahead, cutting through the air and flying straight into the magical barrier, narrowly avoiding any of the devils nearby before they could stop him.
The barrier flickered as he passed through, and what greeted him was a sight of total destruction. The ground was cracked and scorched, remnants of buildings smoldering, smoke rising into the air in thick, dark plumes. The once-bustling shopping district was now unrecognizable. The streets were littered with debris, shattered glass, and twisted metal from the aftermath of a battle that had only just begun.
Despite the fire from burning buildings, the temperature in the air was chilling, to the point that Issei could see his own breath. In stark contrast to the fire raging in parts of the district, massive chunks of ice, some as tall as a building, jutted out from the ground, glittering in the dim light as they stretched across the streets in thick layers like frozen veins, encasing debris and buildings alike.
Soon enough, Issei heard the sounds of fighting and looked up to see devils and Fallen Angels clashing in the sky, with weapons of light and demonic powers colliding in the air, filling it with a deafening roar. The devils were holding their own, despite being outnumbered, but it was the battle on the ground that caught his attention.
Hae-In, Xenovia, Irina and Kiba were locked in combat with a group of stray exorcists, but the one fighting the S-class hero in a duel wasn't wearing priest robe, but a black suit and matching tie, having the appearance of a lanky looking man that seemed to be in his mid to late 20s with purple hair and eyes. He clashed with Hae-In using a pair of white daggers, which were radiating an insane amount of holy energy, even more so than the Excalibur Xenovia was wielding – with Issei noting that Irina's Excalibur Mimic wasn't the blade that she was using to fight.
His observation showed him that they were Excaliburs - though not just as any Excaliburs, but the combination of four of them.
At the same time, not too far away, Grayfia was dealing with a group of monstrous beings—three-headed hounds that breathed massive balls of fire from their mouths. Though it didn't look like they were giving her any trouble, as the silver-haired woman remained unscathed, there were still enough of them to keep her from joining the other four, or dealing with the pale man currently sitting on the throne that floated above a building with a smug grin on his face while being surrounded by at least two dozen armored, well equipped Fallen Angels, who looked to be his personal guards.
Without wasting a second, Issei summoned his Crimson Armament, and dove down at full speed to slam into the three headed monsters that tried to pounce on Grayfia from behind. The silver haired maid had her hand raised and a spell ready to be casted, but stopped herself when she saw Issei, who sent the monster skidding across the field much to the surprise of the Fallen Angels watching the battle, though no one seemed to enjoy it more so than the pale Fallen Angel, who was undoubted Kokabiel.
"Good timing... but I had that, Issei-san," Grayfia said coolly as Issei touched down in front of her, making no attempt to make him leave. He looked up at Kokabiel, who was gazing down at him with a curious expression.
"You don't seem surprised, Grayfia-san," Issei remarked, watching as Grayfia effortlessly eliminated a Cerberus by summoning a massive ice spike from the ground that pierced through its entire body, leaving it dead and body dispersing before it could even muster a whimper.
"Not after Kiba Yuuto showed up. I figured either you or ojou-sama would too, but you're more likely to make it past the guards. I told them to let only you pass, also." Grayfia said, following Issei's gaze as he casted his eyes to the fight that was on the other side of the battlefield before answering as if she could read his mind for the question he was thinking "I heard from Hae-In that man is Kang Taeshik, a Rogue Hero."
Issei nodded his head in understanding. His Observation skill was showing him as much. While it didn't look like he was faster or stronger than Hae-In, evident in how she could effortlessly block and parry his strikes, he kept disappearing into his surroundings. At first, Issei thought it was a camouflage skill, but when all traces of his presence disappeared, he realized it was a lot more than that. Although he expected nothing less from a S-class hero like her, it was actually quite impressive that Hae-In could intercept his attacks and deal with him while he was essentially physically and magically non-existed.
Turning his eyes to the back, Issei finally noticed the short, bespectacled elderly man with gray hair, a mustache, and black eyes, who wore a priest outfit standing on the spot beneath Kokabiel and being protected by two of his personal guards. He would later learn that he was Valper Galilei, the person responsible for the Excalibur Project.
"I see. So, the true calvary has finally arrived." Kokabiel exclaimed in an overly dramatic voice, making Issei turn back to look at him at Grayfia "Not quite a knight in shining armor for the Strongest Queen of the Underworld, but a dragon will do just fine. When I heard the Sekiryuutei of this generation had become a devil of the Gremory family, I expected you to show up eventually. Glad you didn't disappoint."
"Like I give a shit." Issei rolled his eyes. "I know you've been hiding like a rat in our town, so how about you remove yourself from that chair and come down here so we can get this over with?"
"You really think that I would stoop to your level?" Kokabiel asked, the smug on his face widened "Oh please, I hardly think that you'd boast a challenge. I was actually looking forward to seeing your master and possibly the sister of Leviathan as well. They would certainly have a better time entertaining me than you do, before I kill them and blow this town to pieces."
"Though I guess the Ice Queen herself is enough to make this an exciting performance, you being the cherry on top. You two will certainly add a small flavor to this tasteless day." With that said, he raised his hands, causing numerous magic circles to appear on the ground. From there, several more three headed hell dogs emerged, barking ferally and angrily at Grayfia and Issei once the magic chains holding them back disappeared. "Afriel, take your men and kill them. Make it slow. I want this to be entertaining."
"Your wish is my command, milord." The armored Fallen Angel standing to Kokabiel's right replied, resting a hand on his chest and bowing his head respectfully to his master. With a swift motion, he drew his light weapon, and ten other Fallen Angels behind him did the same. Their wings flared out as they prepared to charge, but before they could do it, they were stopped…
… when Issei let out an amused, half-suppressed laugh.
"Do you find something amusing, Sekiryuutei?" Kokabiel asked, raising an eyebrow as he tilted his head and rested it on the back of his hand.
"No. It's just that I find it kinda funny that someone like you hasn't been following the news lately. Must have been quite busy plotting your evil plans here in our town, huh?"
Kokabiel narrowed his eyes at the insinuation, his expression flickering for a brief moment. "What are you talking about?" He demanded, his tone losing some of its usual arrogance.
"Well, you see… you only sending out these guys make me realize that you know nothing about me right now."
Issei said and it was then that his expression darkened. Still wearing a smile on his face, Issei then walked on ahead of Grayfia, who finally realized what was about to happen as the red glow in his eyes intensified, flaring out like the dark red aura that started emitting steadily from his body.
"Let me show you?"
[A/N: Make sure to turn on Shadowborn, the OST for Solo Leveling Season 2 for this!]
His shadow, which flickered like dark flame, burst forth, allowing his shadow soldiers to emerge, one after another until the entire army had been summoned. Silent and imposing, they took shape, weapons radiating dark, shadowy smoke as they lined up behind Issei. Three of his commanders: Gladio, Blade and Glacia moved forward to stand at the ready by his sides, while Lycaon and Tora stalked behind them with predatory grace, baring their fangs with eyes narrowing as they locked onto his enemies.
"Still think you got us outnumbered now?" Issei asked in a low tone as Blade and Glacia smirked in response, while Gladio remained as calm and imposing as ever as he slowly removed his sword from his back and took a stance with the Attractive Shield at his side. Looking up, he could see Kokabiel looking down at him in utter shock, clearly not believing what he was seeing.
In his defense, not that anyone else on the battlefield could believe their eyes either.
"How about I make this even more entertaining for you?"
[Ultimate - Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker]
Boosted Gear Crimson Scale Mail.
With that announcement from his dragon partner, Issei unleashed his power at full force. In an instance, the ground at his feet blew up, the air around him caught fire as his aura flared like a storm around him after a resonating roar of a dragon that seemed to echo through the battlefield. His Crimson Scale Mail armor then materialized around him. The scales of the armor seemed to shimmer with a fiery, molten glow, each one strapping itself and fitting perfectly over his body, binding itself to him to form a full body armor, with the helmet crowning his ultimate transformation.
[Boost!]
The moment that Kokabiel and his guards realized what was happening, Issei had taken off using his wings, breaking the sound barrier with a resounding boom as he closed the distance between him and Kokabiel in almost an instant, dodging all of his guards. The Fallen Angel Cadre instantly reacted, raising his hand to construct a light shield to block the attack, and despite the fact that he made it just in time, he was still launched off his chair by the sheer power behind the blow Issei just did with a left hook from his gauntlet. He flared out wings to stop himself in midair, all five pairs of them, but Issei was already on top of him to throw another punch at his face.
This time, it connected, and the Fallen Angel Cadre, for the first time in centuries, were sent crashing into the ground like a speeding bullet. The force of impact ended up blowing up a crater into the ground beneath Kokabiel, sending out a shockwave that could be felt across the entire battlefield. The earth cracked and trembled, dust and debris flying into the air, the sheer force of the blow creating a ripple that echoed outward. Even the devils and Fallen Angels watching from the sidelines were momentarily stunned, their eyes wide as the overwhelming power of the Sekiryuutei was unleashed in an instant.
Kokabiel's power filled the airspace even before the smoke was clear, as hundreds of weapons made of pure holy light swarmed in from all directions, moving like an endless tide toward Issei. But despite their overwhelming numbers, they never found their mark. Issei blurred into motion, vanishing from one spot and reappearing in another, his movements so fast they were almost impossible to track.
Compared to the speed of Igris, these weapons seemed to move in slow motion.
"Tch, it would seem I misjudged your strength, Sekiryuutei... No matter, you would serve as a perfect warm up until Sirzechs arrives." Kokabiel snarled. While his face had yet to meet the same face after the direct blow from Issei, his once-composed demeanor had been completely shattered, replaced by a look of genuine frustration and anger. His wings flared out as he prepared for another strike, but before he could make a move, a presence came at him from behind. His instincts screamed at him, and he quickly spun around, summoning twin swords of holy light to intercept the incoming attack.
Blade's grin was twisted with madness as he met Kokabiel's swords with his own daggers, unleashing a flurry of slashes that cracked the air with each blow. The Fallen Angel Cadre expectedly blocked and parried every attack with his own weapons before throwing Blade back with a strike of his own, causing the shadow to skid his boots on the ground to stop himself.
Throwing his swords away to replace it with a long polearm, Kokabiel flew at Blade, aiming to impale him through the chest, but he was stopped by Gladio, who descended between them and used the Attractive Shield to block the attack. Before the Fallen Angel could make his next move, Gladio swung his enormous blade at Kokabiel, aiming directly for his head. With swift reflexes, Kokabiel used his polearm to parry the blow—but as soon as the weapons clashed, the holy light weapon shattered like glass under the might of the shadow commander. Without another choice, Kokabiel forced himself back before he was decapitated, his wings flaring to regain his balance.
But Issei was already there.
"That's right. It's three against one! How do you like that, huh?"
From the side, the Sekiryuutei dove in with blinding speed, his wings flapping as he closed the distance to Kokabiel. His fist, enveloped in flames, collided with his midsection, sending a violent shockwave through the air. The explosion of fire and force lifted Kokabiel off the ground, and he was sent hurtling backward, crashing into the ruins of a nearby building.
Blade crackled gleefully as he watched the building collapse on the enemy of his master, blowing up dirt and debris while his sinister laugh echoing through the battlefield. He then proceeded to follow Issei as he went after Kokabiel, making his way past Gladio, who he jabbed with an arm to move out of his way with a mocking snicker. Gladio barely reacted to the act, and just let out a sigh while making a motion like shaking his head. He didn't waste any more time to follow his master and fellow commander, though, joining them as they began another assault on Kokabiel, who only then realized the reason none of his guards were coming to his aid was because they were either busy dealing with, or being torn apart, by the other shadows.
As the shadow wolves, panthers and troopers took the front lines, ruthlessly hacking and slashing every Fallen Angels in their ways, the new division, the shadow elves remained in the back and fired volley of arrows at their enemies, picking them off one after another while Glacia soared through the air and wielded her ice magic like a winter storm. Her hands weaved into existence razor-sharp ice spikes and powerful gust of icy winds that she sent directly at her target, either shredding them to pieces, or freezing them on the spot before shattering them into small fragments, something that was done just as effortlessly by Grayfia as she handled the Ceberi on the ground.
"Tch, it seems this battle has gotten out of control." Kang murmured as he scanned the battlefield, though not for too long as he quickly shifted his gaze back to Hae-In before she could attack him. Disappearing again, he stealthily moved in to attack her with the Holy Sword he had been given by Valper, who was cowering in fear, not just at the battle raging around him, but at the realization that had hit him when he saw the blade Kiba Yuuto had created using his Sacred Gear.
But just like before, Hae-In was able to block his weapons, all the while moving with the grace that had earned her the moniker the Dancer. His invisibility was flawless—one of the best there was. It let him move in complete silence, vanishing from sight, from existence itself... Yet every time he moved in to attack, she still blocked his weapons before sending him staggering back with direct blows to the face. Several times, she had used her sword, and it was only thanks to the extra speed he gained from the Rapidly ability of his fused Excalibur that Kang managed to avoid being slashed.
Again, he disappeared. Again, he struck. And again, her sword was there to meet him before he could land a single blow.
"How?" Kang seethed as he flickered into invisibility once more, darting behind her with a downward slash aimed at her exposed shoulder.
CLANG!
Her sword was already there, intercepting his blade in midair before smoothly transitioning into a riposte that forced him to retreat.
His breathing grew ragged. 'She's not even looking directly at me...' he realized with a shudder.
"You are completely invisible, yes... but your bloodlust is like a stench in the air, Kang. I just need to follow it." Hae-In answered calmly as she moved her blade slowly to the side and turned around to look directly at Kang, who widened his eyes in shock as he became visible again.
Before he could say anything, a figure appeared behind him. Kang was able to sense it, and spun around just in time to block the strike from Kiba, who brought his new Holy-Demonic Sword down with all of his might. Sparks, followed by a wave of holy and demonic energy exploded from the clash of blades as Kang gritted his teeth, feeling the vibration running up his arms and his grip faltering for a split second—just long enough for Kiba to shift his stance and launch a follow-up attack.
Kang twisted away, narrowly avoiding the sweeping slash that would have cleaved him in two. Their blades met as Kiba came at him with a flurry of slashes, each strike faster and heavier than the last. Kang gritted his teeth, his arms trembling under the pressure of the duel, but the moment Hae-In joined the fight, his struggle became a losing battle. Even with his natural speed, further enhanced by the Rapidly ability, he found himself being outmatched. Every dodge, every parry, was met with another perfectly timed attack and counter.
"Saint Peter. Saint Basil the Great. Saint Denis. Holy mother Mary. Please hear my voice."
As Kang was sent flying back, catching himself by stabbing his sword into the ground, a chant coming from the side caught his attention. Looking in that direction, he saw Xenovia walking toward him, having just finished dealing with and killing the remaining stray exorcists with her friend Irina. She held her hand out, and the space beside her got distorted, allowing the blue haired girl to put her hand in the middle of it and then pull out a uniquely-shaped broadsword with a blue blade and a golden edge. The sword had a semicircular guard on the left side of the handle that extends to the bottom just above the pommel, with a small extension on the right side of the handle. Standing from the tip of the blade, the sword was slightly taller than Xenovia, surpassing the latter's height by just a few centimeters.
"In the names of the saints who reside within this blade, I release you. Durandal!"
"It-It can't be…" Valper stammered from the sideline, the fear on his face becoming terror as he recognized the blade.
"That's right. I might be chosen to wield Excalibur on this mission, but I am actually the natural born wielder of Durandal." Xenovia explained, making Valper drop his jaw in shock. "After learning the truth about those who can wield the blades, do you think that I still see the right for myself to continue to use it?!"
"Your name is Kang Taeshik?" Xenovia continued, directing her gaze at Kang as she took a stance to dash at him "Don't die in a single strike, okay?"
With that, the Durandal wielder shot forward and attempted to strike Kang with a devastating blow, forcing him to activate Rapidly from his Excalibur to dive out of the way. Kiba, who easily matched his speed, attacked him from the side with his Holy-Demonic sword. The two dueled in midair, though it wasn't long before Kiba triumphed over him and forced him back with a wide, horizontal swing that left a deep cut across his chest. Not giving him even a moment to breathe, Xenovia descended upon him, and the Rogue Hero had no choice but to raise his weapon to block the strike, causing Excalibur to shatter into million pieces.
"No… my Excaliburs…" Valper gasped, his voice quivering with disbelief as he collapsed to his knees, staring at the shattered remnants of the holy sword.
Just before one of them could fall to the ground, Hae-In had dashed past Kang, with a single golden flash cutting through the air right after her. Kang barely registered the sensation before he collapsed to the ground, unmoving.
Behind her, Kiba made his way over to Valper, who shifted his gaze to his sword, stammering weakly as he pointed at it with a shaky finger "Ho…Holy-demonic sword…? Impossible… The polar opposite of two things cannot merge…" Valper Galilei made a shock expression as he fell back.
"Valper Galilei. Prepare yourself." Kiba said as he took steps forward.
"…I see! I understand now! Holy and demonic. It will be an explanation if the beings that represent the two become unbalanced! Then not only the Maou, but God is also dead!"
He cried out, with his declaration cutting through the battlefield noises. The chaotic clashes between shadows and fallen angels seemed distant for a moment, drowned out by the weight of his words.
A stunned silence followed.
Then—
"What did you just say?" Xenovia's voice was filled with fury as she stomped toward Valper. Without hesitation, she grabbed him by the collar, yanking him up to face her. Behind her, Irina also looked visibly angry. "Don't you dare spout nonsense!"
"It's… it's true! It's the only explanation. Holy and demonic cannot coexist inside a single entity… and yet that boy is wielding in his hand a sword of both properties, fully harmonized. The only way it could happen is that both Maou and God have…"
But Xenovia never allowed him to finish, her fist slamming into his face with a bone-crushing force. A sickening crunch echoed as his jaw twisted unnaturally, cheekbones fracturing under the sheer power of her strike. Valper's body lurched backward, slamming into the ground as blood dripped from his broken mouth. All that he could do was let out a weak groan, his world spinning from the brutal impact.
"Shut up." Xenovia spat, striding toward Durandal and yanking it from the ground with one swift motion. "I don't need to hear any more of your heretical garbage."
Without hesitation, she turned back to Valper, eyes blazing with uncontainable anger. Raising her sword high above her head, she prepared to deliver judgment.
But before she could bring Durandal down, a thunderous shockwave ripped through the battlefield, sending dust and debris flying as the ground trembled beneath their feet when Kokabiel crashed into the earth once more, the impact carving out a massive crater. Issei landed just outside the crater right after, his Crimson Scale Mail still burning like a wildfire from his last attack.
"Have enough?" He asked, sidestepping swiftly a massive light spear pierce through the rising dust and trying to impale him, throwing his fist out to shatter it, his dragon armor was more than enough to protect his devil flesh from its holy light. As the spear of holy energy disintegrated, spreading particles of light all around him, Kokabiel appeared before him, having used the light to mask his movements. Twin swords appeared in his grasp, and Kokabiel used them to slice into Issei, hoping to hack him into pieces.
He failed, as Issei used the back of his wrist to shatter both blades, and headbutted Kokabiel in the face with the top of his sturdy helmet as he froze momentarily in shock. Gladio then came at him with straight jab, which Kokabiel was able to avoid by sidestepping, though he couldn't do the same with the shield bash that followed, sending a rupture through the air as the Attractive Shield collide with his body, before Blade dashed in to slash him.
As his dagger sliced through his flesh, time seemed to slow down for the Fallen Angel Cadre, who finally noticed the state of the battle. Not a single shadow had fallen, having reformed almost as soon as they were cut down, but the same couldn't be said for his fallen angels. All of his personal guards had been killed, with the ones fighting in the air were now lying on the ground, their bodies still and unmoving. The shadow elves had done a fine job picking off enemies in the sky, assisting the devils who had fought them at the command of their master.
"You!" Xenovia snarled as she ran at Kokabiel with Durandal, trying to slash him with all of her mind. The ground underneath him shattered, but the fallen angel cadre remained on his feet, his hand holding back the black as if it were made of wood, though cleaving her enemy in two was not Xenovia's main goal, for once "What were Valper talking about? What did he mean by God is dead?!"
"Tch… seems like he can't keep his mouth shut." Kokabiel smirked, spitting the blood from his mouth out before turning back to answer Xenovia "But I can't really blame him. Anyone educated in the field would come to the conclusion at the sight of a holy-demonic weapon. It's a hard truth to swallow, isn't it?"
"You mean…"
"That's right. I suppose lowly foot soldiers like you were never meant to find out, not that it matters." With that said, Kokabiel summoned a sword with his other hand and tried to stab Xenovia with it, but the weapon broke into fragments of light when Hae-In dashed in and parried the blade with her sword. She then slashed upward, forcing the Fallen Angel to let go of Durandal, leaving an opening for Hae-In to dash in and attack him. Xenovia didn't follow, having lost all the strength to wield her Holy Sword. Just a little behind her, Irina fell to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks as she absorbed the confirmation.
Hae-In didn't falter. Her blade continued to move through the air with grace and aggression as she kept the pressure up and attacked Kokabiel, not allowing him to create a single light weapon to defend himself. In blind rage, Kokabiel threw his fist out, but the Dancer dove to the side to avoid it, at the same time making way for Issei as he dashed in and punched him in the face, throwing him skidding backwards, his feet digging deep trenches into the shattered street.
The Fallen Angel let out a growl, his wings flaring wide as he tried to recover, but Issei was already on him. With a burst of speed, Issei blurred forward and delivered another blow, this time to Kokabiel's ribs. A shockwave rippled through the battlefield as Kokabiel was launched into the sky, but the Sekiryuutei refused to let up. He shot into the air after him, pummeling Kokabiel like a flaming meteor in every direction before appearing directly above his target, grabbing two of his wings and ripping them right off his back after catching them on fire.
As he was sent crashing into the ground, Issei flew down in a wide arc and crashed into him with an elbow to his face The fallen grunted in pain as he felt his skull getting cracked and his jaw dislocated, but it got even worse for him when Gladio came in and slashed his blade at him. He raised his hand to construct a shield to block the attack, but widened his eyes when he saw blood gushing out and his arm soaring through the air as it was severed from his shoulders. His mind barely had the time to register the pain, as his mouth coughed out a mouthful of blood when the blade of a pair of white daggers produced from his chest, with Blade sneaking up behind him with his own stealth ability and stabbed his back, just before he pulled one blade out and slashed his neck, leaving an arc of blood in the air as he spun around to get down on one knee and grandly bowed his head to Issei, who walked past him with one hand patting him on the shoulder.
"Glghh… how…" Kokabiel gasped as he stumbled to the ground, almost falling over when he tried to use the arm that had been severed from his body to catch himself. A sickening gurgle escaped his slit throat as blood bubbled past his lips, the wound at his neck pouring even more of his lifeblood onto the battlefield. Pathetically, he tried to crawl away, his trembling fingers digging into the rubble as he dragged his broken body forward.
"In case you're wondering, I know you have reinforcement waiting." Issei said calmly as he continued to approach Kokabiel. "It would be foolish if you didn't… so, I asked a friend for help... an S-class Hero, to be precise."
Kokabiel could only widen his eyes in shock at the revelation.
At the same time, on the other side of town, Amamiya Mirei sheathed her sword. Not a single drop of blood stained her uniform, yet the Fallen Angels and stray exorcists she had killed lay in heaps around her with their bodies cut apart, bathing the ground beneath them in crimson.
With a final, desperate effort, he summoned a blade of light in his remaining hand and lashed out at Issei in a feeble attempt to somehow turn the tide, but before the blade could even come close, Gladio stepped in. With a swift, merciless stroke, he drove his sword straight through Kokabiel's back, pinning him down as the blade emerged from his chest and stabbed into the ground beneath him. A choked gasp escaped Kokabiel's mouth as the cold steel tore through flesh and bone. His body jerked, his wings twitching weakly before finally, his body fell limp.
[!] Level up!
[!] Level up!
[!] Level up!
Even as his Notification Window showed him his new level, Issei focused his attention solely on the figure cladded in pure white armor that had shown up in the sky. They had five glowing blue orbs on their breastplates, two more on their knees and another pair on the back of their gauntlets, each of which shaped like that of a dragon, like the two energy wings on their back.
They had never met, but Issei knew well who that was.
"Azazel sent me." The figure spoke simply as he lowered himself to the ground to stand a few feet before Issei. His shadow instantly moved in, but Issei held out a hand to stop them, letting the white dragon continue "He wanted me to aid you in dealing with Kokabiel, but it seemed you didn't need my help."
"No. I did not." Issei answered coolly, standing his ground and holding his head high as he met the gaze of Hakuryuukou, the White Dragon Emperor, his destined rival, confidently. "Sorry you came all this way for nothing."
"Not for nothing." He said "Don't you agree, Albion."
[It seems that way] a deep voice resonated through the air, emanating from the blue gem embedded in the back of his left hand. [It's been a while, Ddraig.]
[Albion. Didn't think I would see you and another host of yours this early.] Ddraig answered.
[There's something different about this host of yours… he's more intune with your powers than any of your past hosts.] Albion pointed out, making Ddraig snort as even the Hakuryuukou was surprised, though his armors concealed it well. [Is he on the road to surpass even Belzard?]
[I will leave that to your speculation, Albion.] With that, the jewel on the back of Issei's left hand dimmed away, signaling the end for the conversation between the two Heavenly Dragons.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to take Kokabiel's body back."
Issei nodded and moved back from Kokabiel after seeing the nod that Grayfia gave him, allowing the Hakuryuukou to walk over and pick him up. After throwing the Cadre on his shoulder, Albion turned around and gave Issei a nod of acknowledgement before flaring out his wings and taking off, though not before he had spoken to Issei one last time.
"Let's meet again, Sekiryuutei."
Issei watched until Hakuryuukou disappeared before turning his gaze downward, scanning the battlefield. Now that the fight was over, his mind finally had the chance to process everything he had overheard while battling Kokabiel.
It seemed… there was much to be taken care of.
After 2 and a half hours, the Karma symbol finally disappeared.
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Race: Reincarnated Devil
Class: Level 46 Dragonsworn / Level 20 Shadow Monarch
HP: 12,022/12,022
MP [Current Attribute: Draconic/Demonic: 3,725/3,725
Title: Daredevil
Strength: 208
Vitality: 177
Intelligence: 178
Dexterity: 182
Perception: 162
Charisma: 152
Unique Class Skills: Fire Imbue (LV2), Shadow Extraction (LV1), Shadow Storage (LV1), Karma (LV1).
Active skills: Doubling (LV2), Transfer (LV2), Penetrate (LV2), Sprint (Max Level), Vital Slash (LV1), Jump (Max Level – Equipment Ability), Observe (LV2), Ruler's Hands (LV1), Phoenix Shift (LV1).
Active spells: Fire balls (LV3 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Firewall (LV3 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Lightning Strike (LV1), Water Blast (LV1), Earth Shield (LV1), ...
Current Pacts: Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) – Pact LV2, Chaos Karma Dragon Tiamat (Fire) – Pact LV1
Current Active Pact [2/4: Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) – Pact LV2
Current Shadows: 210 / 210
Elite Rank Shadows: Lycaon (Knight), Gladio (Knight), Tora (Knight), Unnamed Shadow of the Ice Elf Baruka (Knight), Glacia (Elite Knight).
Items: Boosted Gear (LV4), Fur Jacket (LVMAX), Razan's Blade (LVMAX), Magitek General's Helmet (LVMAX), Palace Guard's Boots (LVMAX), Metal Gauntlets (LVMAX – Only one currently in use -Stats Reduced), Kamish's Slumber (LV?), Blessed Random Box (x1)…
Potions: Healing Potions x15, Mana Potions x15, Greater Healing Potions x10, Greater Mana Potions x10, Miracle Potions x3...
Gold: 2,740,630 (G)
Ultimate: Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker – Boosted Gear Crimson Scale Mail (LV.2 – Pact Affected)
Finisher: Rage of the Fire Dragon.
Sigils: Sigil of the Shadow Commander - Igirs, Sigil of the Shadow Ice Bear - Tank.
End of chapter 18