Chapter 69: The Perfect Red Dragon Emperor (III)

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"I, who am about to awaken." 

<Do it! Show him the superiority of a Heavenly Dragon!> 

"Am the Heavenly Dragon who has stolen the principles of domination from God." 

<For a lowly Dragon King to challenge us, do not let such foolishness go unpunished!> 

"I laugh at the infinite, and I fret over the dream." 

<It merely rides on the tailcoat of superiority, it could never trump our domination!> 

"I shall become the Red Dragon of Domination."

<It mustn't falter, the path that has been elected for our ascension.> 

<Indeed! The path! Show us the path!> 

<Oh? We're finally challenging the dream? It's just a infant at the moment, but I suppose it'll do as a start.> 

<It's about damn time wouldn't you agree? Let's show the dream what it gets for ignoring us!> 

<It's not enough! The infinite! We shall slay the infinite next!> 

<Aren't you all forgetting about supremacy? Oh well, it's no use talking to you boneheads anyways.>

''And I shall sink you to the depths of the crimson purgatory!''

Issei's armor didn't morph, nor did it grow. Rather, it shattered, it shattered into specs of bright red dust that glistened as they fell to the ground, revealing the new form of the Red Dragon Emperor. 

"So this is the [Juggernaut Drive] you've created? Though I suppose calling it a [Synthesis Drive] would be more accurate." Takauji grinned, eager to see what Issei's efforts had amounted to. 

On Issei's head laid two ash-colored horns that curved backwards, more than half of the surface of his skin had been covered in red scales alongside the presence of an elongated draconic tail protruding from the back of his waist. 

Even his fingernails had extended and sharpened, flames continuously sprouting out of the sides of his mouth as his chest heaved like it was under a certain pressure. 

"The presence doesn't feel as strong as what I felt when you used it back then, which makes sense seeing as you've only conquered 20% of your path. However, you're in complete control of that form are you not? I don't sense your lifespan diminishing either." 

"Your constant chattering really is getting annoying," Issei rolled his eyes. Holding out his open palm as energy started to gather around his hand. "Just hurry up and die already." 

["Dragon Shot!"] 

A hyper-compressed concentration of power shot out from his hand, hitting Takauji at a speed not even he could react to as he was sent flying into the distance, a dust cloud erupting in his wake. 

"About time he–" 

"Died?" Takauji's voice echoed as he hauled himself to his feet, the smoke clearing as it revealed a massive hole in his torso, blood leaking out of each of his orifices. "Don't be ridiculous Hyoudou Issei, you of all people should know it wouldn't be that easy." 

Issei's expression soured, watching as the destroyed flesh quickly repaired itself, making it clear just how incredible Takauji's regenerative prowess had become. 

"That really did hurt like hell though!" He grinned with a manic look on his face. "My body has to exert genuine effort to heal the damage you just did to it, not to mention it feels like I just had a hot knife pierced through each and every one of my limbs. Well done! Very well done Hyoudou Issei!" 

Takauji couldn't help but stretch the corners of his mouth as he observed his battered form, elated to see the time and effort invested into Issei's growth wasn't for nothing. 

"It doesn't look like you can hold that splendid form for very long, I'd say you have about a minute and some change before it runs out?" Just from Issei's face alone he could tell he was spot on. "Fret not, I'm not going to do something cowardly like waiting for you to run out of gas, since you used your ultimate, I'll return the favor by showing off mine." 

[Chakra] started to gather around Takauji at an alarming rate, every last square inch of his body being doused in the rich natural energy around him until his body could handle no more. 

His hair started to turn black, with a few highlights of gold still remaining giving him an almost Azazel-like appearance. His pupils turned a deep blue, and his muscles started to tense to the point where they bulged out of his tattered clothes. 

Takauji felt all of his senses reach their absolute peak, the world seeming like it was moving in slow motion to him as a result of his peerless reflexes and speed. 

This was his [Draconic Sage Mode]. 

"I can hold my form for a lot longer than you can, so I suggest you don't waste your precious seconds." Takauji advised, waiting so Issei could have the first move. 

"I don't need you to tell me that," Issei held out his arm, Asaclon flying back into its master's hands as he brandished his blade. 

WHOOSH! 

With raw speed that rivaled [Vanishing Step], Issei lunged forward as he prepared to clash with Takauji's Sayafushi-copy. 

Takauji quickly split his focus, using his main eyes to focus on the movement of Issei's arms, and his smaller ones to read his footwork. 

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! 

Their blade dance began, the sound of metal clashing with one another ringing through the atmosphere as sparks erupted between their alloys.

And Takauji was being completely overwhelmed, grinning as Issei demonstrated battle-experience far beyond his years, making full use of the knowledge he had absorbed from fusing with the memories of his predecessors. 

Even with his processing power, he could not afford to deploy any illusions in between Issei's swings. The speed of them simply being too much for him to be able to focus on anything other than parrying his attacks. 

He's able to do this much with just a fifth of their knowledge! I was right, he was definitely worth investing in! I wonder what'll happen when he absorbs Belzard and Elsha? I can't wait! 

Serafall grew uneasy as she observed the battle, those of the Gremory peerage incapable of comprehending the battle that was unfolding in front of them. 

If Takauji got hit by Ascalon in Issei's current state, there was no way he would survive. That much was certain. 

And then it happened. 

SLICE! 

Issei managed to dismember Takauji's right arm during the latter's retreat, the Anti-Dragon aura from the blade seeping into his veins. 

"So much for all that confidence," Issei smirked. Knowing that Takauji would lose all his strength in a matter of seconds as a result of being cut by Ascalon. 

"What do you mean? We're only just getting started aren't we?" Or so he thought, to everyone's surprise, Takauji's arm had grown back like usual, showing absolutely no signs of struggle. 

Issei blinked repeatedly in sheer bewilderment, part of him convinced that he was dreaming. 

He glanced at Ascalon, wondering if Takauji had switched their blades or something, but alas, the Dragon-Slayer remained firmly grasped in his hands. 

"How?" He had to ask. 

"You of all people should know, the only thing that counters Anti-Dragon Magic, is even stronger Anti-Dragon Magic." He chuckled. 

"That's bullshit, this is Ascalon! What could you possibly have that trumps that?" 

"I'll admit, Ascalon is one of the best Dragon-Slayers out there. Unfortunately for you, I'm in possession of the best." 

Chills crawled down the spines of everyone present, a white, bloodied blindfold suddenly appearing around Takauji's face, the Dragon somehow still capable of seeing through it. 

Just by appearances alone, it was unremarkable as could be, but no one could reject the primal fear it induced into their very souls. 

Whatever it was, it was dangerous. Dangerous beyond belief. 

"This is [Origin Serpent], an Artificial Sacred Gear I had Azazel create for me using Samael, the Dragon Eater." 

Serafall recognised the name, the being that was supposed to be kept in the deepest layer of Cocytus and guarded by Hades. However, the Olympian seemed to have given it to Cao Cao of the Hero Faction, which ended up in Takauji's hands after he killed the Hero Descendant. 

"I had to bind him to my soul just to use even a fraction of its base power without killing myself, Samael really is deserving of his reputation. But even the small percentage of his strength I have available to me, far eclipses anything your Ascalon is capable of doing." 

Samael's poison could hurt even the strongest existences in the world, the Dragon-Slayer in Issei's hands was but a toy in comparison. 

"You needn't worry, protecting me from Ascalon was just a passive effect of its power. I don't plan on using it against you, you aren't anywhere near ready to defend yourself from it after all." 

[Origin Serpent] was his insurance for when he came face to face with Ophis, using it against Issei at such a time would be tasteless. 

"I wouldn't recommend dawdling, your time is already nearing its end after all." Takauji snapped Issei out of his trance, both Dragons speeding towards one another with their blades in hand. 

Even if he couldn't kill Takauji through poison alone, if he pierced his heart or decapitated him, he would still die. 

But right before their swords met, Takauji's pupils split. 

[Prediction] had been activated, now capable of 15 seconds of usage. Which may seem small as it was only a 2 second improvement, but those 2 seconds could make all the difference. 

Issei's superior combat knowledge no longer had any meaning, regardless of how perfectly timed or planned his movements were, they would be read. 

SPLURT! 

It was inevitable, Takauji had plunged his sword into Issei's abdomen. The damage made him unable to sustain the still unstable [Synthesis Drive], searing pain spreading from the point of impact to the rest of his body. 

"Maybe I should've deactivated [Contamination] before I stabbed you. Oh well, you'll survive so I suppose it doesn't matter at the end of the day." Takauji tossed his blade back into [Vacio], and pulled out a spare change of clothes Yasaka had wisely prepared for him. "I enjoyed our fight Hyoudou Issei, you've become strong, but you can still become a lot stronger." 

[Draconic Sage Mode] deactivated, causing Takauji's hair to return to its usual brown, and his eyes back to their normal violet. 

"Though since you're unconscious my words don't really have a whole lot of meaning." He noticed the [Boosted Gear] still active, which would probably only remain so for a few more moments. "Ddraig." 

"What?" A voice responded from the gauntlet. 

"Have you told him about [Outrage]?" He asked. 

"Why would I do such a thing? There would be no meaning in it."

"Not for a normal Dragon, but for him it might be a different story."

"Don't tell me you're suggesting he tame it? That's a fool's errand, Pandora." 

"He is wrath, if anyone is capable of doing it, it should be him. Oh, and make sure he defeats Vali first before challenging me again. It's about time you and Albion started your battle." 

The [Boosted Gear] finally deactivated, ending his brief conversation with the Heavenly Dragon. 

"And as for you guys," he looked at the Gremory peerage, causing them to flinch under his stare. "I'm not exactly sure what to say to you, my interest is only in Akeno and Issei who are growing as I hoped." He scratched his chin. "Well, whether you guys end up getting any stronger or not doesn't really matter to me, do your best I suppose." 

He started to walk back towards Serafall. 

"Wait," Rias called out to him. 

"Yes?" 

"Just what are you planning to do with Issei? You're doing the exact same thing you did back at the Peace Conference." 

Once more, Takauji was not killing Issei, simply knocking him out and then leaving. 

"Didn't you listen to a thing I said? I want him to get stronger, that's all." He sighed. "I could explain further, but you wouldn't understand a word coming out of my mouth even if I did. If you really want to know more, then go turn yourself into a Dragon or something. Or try asking Issei himself to explain it to you." He shrugged. 

"Then let me ask you something else," he lifted a brow. "Are you our ally? Or our enemy?" That line was extremely hard to distinguish between when it came to Takauji.

"I'm whatever I need myself to be," he stated plainly. "But I am indeed working with the alliance at the moment, so you can call me an ally if that helps you sleep better." 

Takauji's expression suddenly changed, as if he had remembered something important. 

"Oh, and you should probably hurry up and mate with him already, a pent-up Dragon isn't fun to deal with, believe me." Rias's face turned beet red, left speechless as Takauji departed with Serafall. 

"How do you even know that we haven't? Perv." She muttered under her breath.