In an abandoned factory, the Gremory clan, Irina, and Reynare gathered. Dusk fell, the sky darkening.
Hostile presences lurked in the dim factory, radiating killing intent.
"—Gremory clan, huh? You sniffed us out fast," a man in a black coat emerged from the shadows, surrounded by dozens of humanoid black monstrosities—nearly a hundred in the cramped space.
Rias stepped forward. "Chaos Brigade's Hero Faction, I presume? Greetings, I'm Rias Gremory, a high-class demon entrusted with this area by the Three Factions."
The man smirked thinly. "Oh, we know. The Demon King's sister. Our goal is to purge you demons and save this town."
Pure hostility. These were Hero Faction members of the Chaos Brigade, recently attacking us and key Three Factions' strongholds, according to Azazel-sensei and Rias. Composed of heroes' descendants and Sacred Gear users, they were mostly human.
Our setup: Gremory, Irina, and Reynare on offense; Sona and Miu defending the town.
Two more figures appeared beside the man: one in sunglasses, another in Chinese attire. A third, farther off, aimed at us. The black creatures were likely spawned by a Sacred Gear, used as soldiers. Stronger than low-class demons, but we're mid-to-high-class, so no problem.
[If you got serious, partner, you'd outclass demon kings. These guys? You could solo them in seconds,] Ddraig said.
I said the same, but everyone's worried about my arm. They told me to avoid overexertion, so I'm on support for now.
Our formation: Kiba, Xenovia, and Koneko in the vanguard. In tight spaces , Xenovia uses Ascalon instead of Durandal's overwhelming power. Funny, I got Ascalon, but she's the one using it. Oh well.
Midguard: me, Irina, Gasper. We handle enemies the vanguard misses. Gasper supports with his Evil Eye.
Rearguard: Rias, Akeno, Asia, Reynare. Rias commands and supports with attacks, Akeno aids with magic, Asia heals, and Reynare guards Asia while providing ranged support with Azazel's custom dual pistols.
That's our Occult Research Club formation. Normally, I'd be vanguard, but not today.
The enemy assessed us, and the black-coated man conjured white flames. "Another Sacred Gear user…" Kiba muttered.
"We've been fighting too many of them lately," Rias sighed.
As the man prepared to attack—
"Gah… what…" He collapsed, blood spraying.
"Tch, quick takedown," Kiba said, flicking blood off his Holy-Demonic Sword.
Kiba struck at the start, faster than ever. He'd pooled magic in his legs, releasing it for a speed burst, mimicking how Koneko and I enhance power with energy. Nice one, Kiba.
The enemy faltered, then regrouped, sending their black soldiers forward.
"Target the Red Dragon Emperor!" a member shouted. "His arm's useless! If he recovers, he's a threat!"
The soldiers charged me, overwhelming the vanguard.
So, I'm the target? They know I'm not at full strength.
[Smart move. You at full power would be a nightmare. But they're underestimating you,] Ddraig said.
Exactly. Even with one arm, I won't lose to these guys!
"Hraah!" I launched a spinning kick at a soldier's face.
It flew back, crashing through the factory wall, leaving a huge hole.
"Issei, tone it down!" Rias half-glared.
[Weren't you on support?] Ddraig asked.
They came at me! What was I supposed to do?
More charged. "Issei-kun, don't push yourself!" Irina yelled.
"We're here too!" Gasper added.
Gasper froze them with his Evil Eye, and Irina took them out with light spears. Their teamwork's gotten tight. Gasper's mastered his Sacred Gear. Good job!
Irina threw a light spear at the sunglasses guy, but—
It vanished, swallowed by shadows stretching across the factory. A shadow-manipulating Sacred Gear?
Kiba slashed at the man, but shadows engulfed his sword. Then—
The sword shot out from Kiba's own shadow. He dodged with a quick leap.
"A Sacred Gear that transfers attacks through shadows… troublesome," Kiba muttered.
Irina's spear reappeared from a building's shadow, aiming for Asia.
"Leave it to me!" Reynare shielded Asia, firing a light bullet from her pistol, shattering the spear.
"I won't let you touch Asia!"
That gun's insane, destroying Irina's spear like nothing. Reynare said it compresses her light power, perfect for mid-to-long-range combat. Azazel's craftsmanship shines.
Asia's our vital healer, and Reynare's protection lets us focus on the fight.
A blue glow caught my eye—the Chinese-attired man aimed a light bow and arrow at us. Light is poison to demons; only Irina and Reynare could shrug it off.
I was about to act when—
A holy slash struck the man. "Gah!" He slammed into a wall, knocked out.
"Phew, managed to hold back," Xenovia said, wielding Ascalon. She'd toned down the power to avoid wrecking the factory, but it was plenty to down him.
Now for the sniper outside. "Reynare, aim there!" I pointed. "Someone's targeting us!"
"Got it! You're not escaping!" Reynare fired a light bullet.
"Gah!" A distant cry confirmed a hit. No movement in their energy—must've been a good shot.
That left the sunglasses guy and his soldiers. His shadow ability was a pain. What to do…
Rias issued orders. "Vanguard, target the shadow user! Kiba, go for him! Koneko, Xenovia, clear the soldiers to open a path! Mid and rearguard, full support! End this now!"
"Understood!" we replied, moving as one.
Xenovia and Koneko charged, cutting through soldiers. Xenovia swept with Ascalon, Koneko struck with energy-clad fists. The mid and rearguard—me, Irina, Rias, Akeno, Reynare—blasted enemies from behind. With this team, most foes don't stand a chance.
Kiba closed in on the shadow user, slashing—
The sword was sucked into shadows, set to reappear elsewhere.
It shot from my shadow as I kicked a soldier. "Issei! Dodge and fire an energy blast into the shadow!" Rias shouted.
Got it! I sidestepped the sword and shot an energy blast into the shadow.
The blast was absorbed, as expected.
"Got it, Buchou!" I realized her plan.
"Kiba! The blast's coming through the shadow! Cut it inside!" Rias ordered.
"On it!" Kiba swung his sword within the shadow.
"Gwah!" The shadow user was blasted back, tattered.
"They can redirect attacks but not diffuse their power. Good call," Rias smirked.
Sharp as ever, Buchou.
Soldiers down, shadow user out. "Buchou, should we grab the sniper outside?" I asked.
"Yes. Xenovia, Koneko, handle it."
"Got it," Xenovia said.
"Yes, Xenovia-senpai," Koneko replied, cat ears twitching as they left.
No more enemy presences. Fight over. I stretched, relieving tension.
Then—"Nuoohhh!" The shadow user staggered up, screaming.
He took that much damage and still stands?
Black mist enveloped him, shadows spreading to engulf the factory. His power surged—different from before. What's happening?
A light flashed at his feet, a magic circle forming. Not Gremory, not Fallen Angel—unfamiliar.
The light swallowed him, and in a flash, he vanished.
"Good work, everyone. No injuries, thankfully," Rias said.
We'd captured the remaining Sacred Gear users and sent them to the Underworld. Now, we relaxed in the Occult Research Club room.
Kiba spoke. "You okay, Issei-kun?"
"Fine," I said. "That level? I don't need my arm."
"Haha, impressive," Kiba laughed.
"You were the star," I said. "Taking out that guy at the start? Insane speed."
"Thanks. I borrowed your and Koneko-chan's techniques. I don't usually use magic much, so I practiced pooling it in my legs. Paid off today."
Nice, Kiba. Mastering that could make him crazy fast. He's already growing fast. In a few years, he might surpass me.
Gotta train harder. Can't lose to a pretty boy.
[That's your reason?] Ddraig sighed.
Yup. It's critical, Ddraig. A strong pretty boy is unfair. I can't beat his face, so I'll outdo him in strength.
[Classic partner…] Ddraig groaned.
You know me. Gotta get stronger regardless.
"It's getting tricky," Kiba sighed.
"Their Sacred Gear users are using advanced techniques now. They've shifted from brute force to skill."
"Analyzing us, huh?" I said.
"Exactly. We're mostly power-based, though you and I have technique. But their side's adapting, finding ways to counter our strength."
The Hero Faction's a tough bunch.
"Something's off," Irina said, drawing our attention.
"What's that?" Xenovia asked.
"We've fought them multiple times, right? If they wanted us dead, they'd have planned better after the first couple of fights. They've got tacticians. By the fourth or fifth, they'd go all-in. But they haven't. They're cautious… or maybe their boss is experimenting."
"Experimenting on us?" Akeno asked.
"Not us—their Sacred Gear users," Irina said. "Just a hunch, but they're sending them to strongholds like ours, testing powerful abilities."
We fell silent. A fresh perspective.
I thought they were just trying to destabilize us, hoping some would prioritize self-preservation. But experimenting with Sacred Gear users?
"A drastic change," Koneko muttered, faces tensing.
"They're sending Sacred Gear users to force Balance Breaks?" I asked.
"Probably," Kiba said. "That shadow user's change felt similar."
A Balance Break… that's what that was?
"They're ruthless," I said. "Sacrificing dozens, hundreds, for one Balance Break."
"Disgusting mindset," Irina added.
Rias shrugged. "Too many unknowns. Let's ask Azazel later. If we're seeing this, he's likely noticed something. Time to head home."
Agreed. Azazel probably has deeper insights.
We disbanded. I sipped Akeno's tea, preparing to leave. She hummed happily—something good happen?
"Akeno, you're cheerful," Rias teased. "Found some S-type fun?"
"No," Akeno beamed. "Tomorrow's my date with Issei-kun. I'm thrilled."
Oh, right! During the Diadora fight, Koneko suggested it, and I agreed. I'm pumped!
Akeno worried about my arm, but I was all in. A date with Akeno? I'd go armless!
She hugged my arm, smiling. "Looking forward to it, Issei-kun♪"
The girls' glares pierced me. Don't look at me like that!
"Me too!" I grinned, shaking off their stares.