I realized something—I had never once seen him wield the power of the Demon Emperor Sword, Gram, in any of our previous battles.
The sword Gram possesses both the overwhelming destructive power of Xenovia's Durandal and the dragon-slaying might of Issei's Ascalon.
My own Holy Demonic Sword technique, Glory Drag Trooper, bestows a dragon's aura onto the summoned knights. But against Gram as it is now, just getting close might be enough to trigger its anti-dragon aura and destroy them instantly. At best, they might serve as a brief distraction.
This is bad. If Gram's curse can't affect him anymore, then the anti-dragon magic swords I create won't be much help either. They might be better than nothing, but defeating him now will come down to pure swordsmanship.
If only I had sword skills like Ikki-kun's insane techniques… but there's no point in wishing for what I don't have. I'll have to rely on what I can do.
I re-gripped my Holy Demonic Sword and dashed forward to close the distance—this needed to be close quarters!
Those bulked-up arms of his… his raw strength has definitely increased. I specialize in speed, but if I give him even a moment's opening, he'll overwhelm me instantly with brute force. Keeping my distance isn't an option either—doing so will only invite a barrage of sword attacks.
Claaang!
But my fastest slash was caught without effort. Every follow-up strike was blocked or parried by his many demonic swords. With those long, flexible arms, he could extend his blades even at close range. It wasn't like a spider—it was more like fighting an octopus.
"Amazing. It's only been a couple days since we last fought, but your movements have improved. Slightly—but definitely. I can see that all those consecutive battles against the magical beasts have made you stronger."
He sounded surprised, but the twisted grin on his convulsing face showed nothing but amusement. He wasn't the least bit worried about my assault.
"Hmph!!"
With a sharp grunt, he swept his sword horizontally. I didn't even have time to redirect the force—I was sent flying by the sheer pressure of the strike.
He wasn't even fighting seriously until now!?
Then he raised Gram and swung it down toward me.
Alarms screamed in my head. I dove to the side with all my might, abandoning form and grace. A massive force passed right by me.
When the dust cleared, a huge fissure split the earth behind me, stretching into the far distance—just like one of Xenovia's charged-up blasts. But this guy had done it with a casual swing of his sword.
This is bad. If I don't close the distance fast, just dodging his slashes might level the entire capital! Up close, his attacks would risk harming himself too, so he'd be forced to restrict his swings. I'll find my opening as I fight!
"Well now… even after seeing that, you still have the will to fight? Impressive. But unfortunately, determination alone won't bridge the gap between us."
He brought one of his demonic swords down on me. I poured every bit of aura I could muster into my Holy Demonic Sword and met his blow. No more holding back!
I summoned sword after sword from beneath his feet and in the air, trying to limit his movement at close range. But then, his entire body erupted in a tornado-like shockwave that shattered all my summoned blades and tore into me as well.
"Balmung, the Wind Sword. Right now, I've merged with it. Originally, it's a sword that unleashes tornado-like blasts of aura. But as you can see… I am Balmung now!"
A suit of wind armor, perfect for both attack and defense! I couldn't even get close now!
And then—he closed the distance in a blur, slashing with incredible speed.
Even my greatest weapon—speed—was only just able to match his pace.
I saw a brief opening and swung. But before my Holy Demonic Sword could reach him, it was shattered, and my arm—the one that swung it—was left mangled.
All I could do was dodge. But his attacks kept landing little by little, wearing me down.
"This drug places a massive strain on the body. I could take my time and watch you slowly edge toward death, but I'll be generous and finish this now—Dainsleif!!"
As he shouted, a massive ice wall rose behind me, forming a semi-dome. No escape!
I summoned a barrier of Holy Demonic Swords and channeled my aura into the one in my hand, just like before. If I could withstand the shockwave again, I might have a chance to escape. If that drug has a time limit, I need to force a reset!
Slaaash!!
"…Wha—?"
His sword sliced cleanly through my weapon and tore into my chest. Blood burst from me in a wide arc.
"Nothung and Dyrnwyn. When I combine a sword made for slicing with one meant for raw destruction… a Holy Demonic Sword like yours is no sturdier than a twig. It's over, Yuuto Kiba."
He combined the abilities of two different demonic swords!? He can do that now!?
"Gahh!!"
Blood gushed from my mouth. That strike must've pierced my lungs—it was hard to breathe.
My body was torn up, strength drained. I slumped against the ice wall behind me.
No—get up! If I don't move, I'll be killed!
But as I tried to muster my strength, sharp ice pillars shot out and pinned all four of my limbs.
"Grrngh…!"
I clenched my teeth through the pain. Siegfried approached and spoke.
"Sorry, but I can't let you go. You might be able to reach my current level within a year. That'd be fun, honestly. But with Leonardo still out of commission, the Hero Faction can't afford to let unpredictable variables roam free."
He raised Gram, preparing to bring it down in a finishing blow.
"I'll make it quick—split you in two with a single strike. Farewell, Yuuto Kiba, wielder of the Holy Demonic Sword."
FLASH!!
Just as he swung, a blinding light flared between us. Surprised, Siegfried recoiled.
What… is this light?
Before I could figure it out, the ice spears binding me shattered. I was free.
Then, a voice rang out from within the light.
"Nice to meetcha, big bro! I guess it's weird to say, but we were made from the same genes in the same facility. So that makes us siblings, yeah? And since I was technically born after you… stopping my older brother's rampage is my duty as a little sister!"
Out of the light stepped someone in a ridiculous outfit—more magical girl than warrior. It was…
Freed Sellzen.
"Uuuuegh!!"
I gagged involuntarily. My body was already a wreck, and now my mind had taken critical damage too. His outfit was straight out of a children's anime—a gothic lolita-style magical girl ensemble, absurdly tight over muscles that had definitely bulked up since we last fought.
He used to wear priest's robes. Now, there was no way those would fit. And he'd chosen this of all things!?
Why was he here!? What the hell happened to him!?
I didn't want to know. I really didn't want to get involved.
But, of course, my desperate hopes were crushed.
Freed turned and smiled at me.
"Long time no see, handsome☆ Looks like you're seriously about to die—got any healing items on ya?"
"Uh… yeah. I do."
With trembling hands, I pulled out a vial of Phoenix's Tears. I hadn't had a chance to use it before… and I'd completely forgotten about it after that visual trauma. But now was the time.
"So… why are you here?"
Despite myself, curiosity won out. This had to be that "morbid curiosity" thing.
"Of course! Thanks to the bond we share, I could feel you were in trouble! So I hopped across space and came to save you!"
"Don't invent weird bonds between us!!"
"What are you talking about? You know how the angels extracted the Holy Sword factors I absorbed from your old allies, right?"
Of course. Those sword fragments were now sleeping within me.
"Well, when they pulled out the factors I'd absorbed… they accidentally grabbed the ones I was born with too. And guess what—you absorbed those!"
…Wait. Don't tell me—
"Yup! You got my sword factors! Which means we're totally connected now☆"