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"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!"
The shockwave from Mika and Ophis's clash brought the other battles to a standstill. No one dared to continue fighting in such a chaotic environment; a single stray blow could be fatal.
The Khaos Brigade's Magicians, mere pawns in this grand game, had been obliterated, their lives extinguished in an instant. Only the leaders of the Three Factions and their elite guards remained, observing the battle from a safe distance.
"That's insane," Serafall murmured, her voice filled with awe.
Even at her full power, she could barely match the destructive force of their initial exchange. And that had been merely a greeting.
She shook her head, a sense of wonder and apprehension filling her heart.
Mika and Ophis were in a league of their own, their power far surpassing her own.
"That was a close call," Serafall said, turning to Sirzechs and Michael, who were both breathing heavily, their earlier composure gone. "If you hadn't reinforced the barrier in time—"
Sirzechs and Michael exchanged weary glances, then chuckled wryly.
They had been pushed to their limits, their combined power barely enough to contain the shockwave from Mika and Ophis's clash.
But they had succeeded. The barrier now surrounding Kuoh Academy was strong enough to withstand their battle.
All they had to do now was maintain it, to pour their energy into its reinforcement, preventing any further damage to the human world.
"Brother!" Rias's voice called out, and she appeared beside them, along with Xenovia and Gasper.
"BUCHOU!!"
"Rias!!"
Akeno, Issei, and the others rushed to her side. They had been worried, seeing her and Xenovia absent from their group during the initial chaos.
"Are you alright, Rias?" Sirzechs asked, his voice filled with concern.
"I'm fine. We managed to get a shield up in time," Rias explained.
Just as Mika had warned Akeno and the others, he had also informed Rias and Xenovia of the impending clash, allowing them to prepare. With their combined strength, they had been able to withstand the initial shockwave.
"But that's not important. I have information about Azazel."
Rias quickly relayed the events that had transpired at the old school building, including Vali's betrayal and his true identity.
"I see—" Sirzechs nodded, his expression grim.
Vali's lineage, Azazel's artificial Sacred Gear... it was all valuable intel.
"You've done well, Rias. Your information is crucial."
"However, our priority now is them." Sirzechs looked towards the sky, where two figures were clashing, their battle a whirlwind of energy and destruction.
———
———
After their initial exchange, Mika had been forced to retreat, his body battered and bruised.
His Dragonslayer Sword had pierced Ophis's defenses, but at a cost.
Ophis's counterattack, a single punch, had struck him in the chest—the force of the blow nearly shattering his [God Cloth].
Even with his Divine Armor, he had still sustained severe injuries...
The imprint of her fist, a faint but undeniable mark, was a testament to her immense power. He had never encountered such strength before.
Though shocked, he quickly recovered.
In the original story, even the Gold Cloths had been destroyed by the Twin Gods in Elysion.
While his Cancer Gold Cloth was a [God Cloth]—Ophis was far stronger than the Twin Gods—and she was a Dragon, her physical strength far surpassing that of other beings at her level.
Mika quickly healed his wounds, his mind racing as he analyzed their earlier clash, his enhanced senses—amplified by his skills—allowing him to process information at an incredible rate.
Mika looked at Ophis, at the shallow wound on her arm where his Ascalon had struck her.
Against any other dragon, such a blow would have been fatal. But Ophis—she seemed unfazed. If not for the faint scar, he would have doubted he had even hit her.
———
———
"Your fighting style is based on Light-speed, isn't it? That's why your attacks are so powerful," Ophis remarked, her voice filled with a childlike curiosity. "But there's something else, isn't there? Your power system—it's fascinating."
She wasn't angry, despite being struck by his sword. She simply watched him, waiting for his next move.
"You saw through me, huh?" Mika smiled wryly.
While he had been analyzing her, she, too, had been analyzing him. It was a battle of wits as much as a battle of strength. And Ophis's ability to glean so much information from a single exchange was unsettling.
"It seems I'll have to—work for this victory," Mika murmured.
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"Galaxian Explosion——!"
Mika unleashed Saga's ultimate technique, and the true battle began.
Their figures blurred, their attacks clashing, the shockwaves from their blows devastating the landscape below.
If not for Sirzechs and Michael maintaining the barrier, the entire island would have been submerged.
It was a battle of power versus speed, of specialization versus versatility.
Ophis, with her raw, overwhelming power, was a force of nature. She didn't need complex techniques; a single punch, a single blast of energy, was enough to shatter mountains. She was the embodiment of pure, unadulterated strength.
Mika, on the other hand, was a master of countless techniques, his arsenal of Gold Saint abilities, honed and perfected through generations, now his own.
Galaxian Explosion, Stardust Revolution, Excalibur, Sekishiki Meikaiha, Lightning Plasma—each one a devastating attack, amplified by his Cosmo, their power surpassing even their original forms.
Ophis, facing such a diverse array of attacks, was initially caught off guard, even suffering a few minor injuries.
But that was it.
Mika, despite his best efforts, couldn't inflict any significant damage.
He had reached his limit...
His Heavenly Fire, which had once been his trump card, now seemed insignificant against Ophis's overwhelming power.
He had exhausted his arsenal.
———
Meanwhile, on another corner of the battlefield, another battle raged.
Vali, his blood boiling with excitement after witnessing Mika and Ophis's duel, had challenged Azazel, who, clad in his artificial Sacred Gear, had readily accepted.
And Katerea, seeing her opportunity, had joined the fray, hoping to eliminate Azazel.
The three of them clashed, their battle a chaotic whirlwind of energy, their presence masked by the sheer scale of Mika and Ophis's duel.
Even Sirzechs and the others hadn't noticed their fight.
But Mika had—
Sensing Katerea's presence, he was pulled from his battle-induced trance. He knew he couldn't defeat Ophis—not yet. Their duel had been a valuable lesson, a stark reminder of his own limitations.
Mika had achieved his objective: he had tested his strength, and he had survived. He blocked Ophis's next attack, using its force to propel himself backwards, towards the other battle.
His sudden arrival gave Azazel a much-needed reprieve. Facing both the White Dragon Emperor and an Ophis-empowered Katerea was a challenge, even for him.
Mika, emerging from the crater he had created, brushed the dust from his clothes and looked at Azazel.
"Nice armor. Are you trying to copy me?"
"Of course not. It's gold because it's based on the White Dragon Emperor's Divine Dividing. I even sealed Fafnir, the Golden Dragon King, within it," Azazel explained with a smile.
He had already accepted Mika as an equal, a being whose power rivaled the world's top ten.
"I see..." Mika nodded, then turned his gaze towards Vali and Katerea, his eyes finally settling on Katerea.
She felt a chill run down her spine, her instincts screaming.
Mika's earlier battle lust had vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating calm.
She knew she was in danger.
Before she could react, Mika raised his finger.
"Sekishiki Meikaiha!"
Her soul was torn from her body, then crushed in Mika's hand...
———
"Without her, you should be able to handle him, shouldn't you?" Mika said to Azazel.
"Thank you," Azazel replied, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.
"Don't mention it. She was the mastermind behind this attack. And we're allies, aren't we? Friends help each other. Now, if you'll excuse me..."
With Katerea eliminated, Mika's primary objective in this battle had been achieved. He turned and walked away, towards Ophis.
As he walked, his Falna surged, his body glowing with a brilliant light. He had leveled up. He was now a Level 8 adventurer.
His power, amplified by his newfound level, surged through him, his stats reaching their new limits instantly.
And now, he needed a new Great Feat, a new challenge to reach Level 9.
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