Sixth Heaven which is the main base of the Angels hasn’t allowed any intruders thanks to notable Angels such as Michael-san and several Seraphs that are on standby there. I heard a report that one of the Seraphs went down to Fifth Heaven with several of his subordinates. But there are clearly more enemies than during the battle guarding Auros. We can’t get reinforcements since we have the gate which connects to the human world closed. So we have to fight the Evil Dragons with the forces we have left in Heaven. We charged from the front gate of Second Heaven and run through the battlefield and headed for Third Heaven. The elevator which connects to each floor has been closed. So in order to go to the higher floors we need to go through those floors directly. Second Heaven is the world conquered by darkness. This place is mainly to observe the stars and I have also heard it’s a place for Angels that have committed sins to be imprisoned in. The world with endless darkness which makes you think it isn’t Heaven. Except, it’s not so dark like a planetarium where the shimmering of the stars will reach you. Well, since we are Devils our eyes will still work fine even inside darkness! “Get lost!”
“Hah!”
We proceed while taking down the Evil Dragons! During our way we witness the Brave Saints making a formation to counter the herds of Evil Dragons! “Let’s do it! Brave Saints, formation! Formation! Full House!”
“ “ “ “ “ “Sir!” ” ” ” ”
The card numbers that answered the order appear in the sky and glow! That instant, enormous amounts of power of light envelop the Brave Saints where their strong aura even reaches us! The Brave Saints that became the played cards jumped into the herds of Evil Dragons and wiped them out instantly! Their power is not ordinary where their single attack can take down a dozen of Evil Dragons! Even mass-produced Evil Dragons will have quite the power. An attack which can take down a number of them is something to be reckoned with! That’s the trait of Brave Saints! Their ability increases drastically if they are given a role which was based on the playing cards of pokers and trump cards. One of the Brave Saints in the air shouts at his comrades. “Move with the same suit! We will strengthen the playing cards to wipe them out at once!”
“ “ “ “ “Straight flush!” ” ” ” “
Another strong playing card pierces the herds of Evil Dragons and takes them down! Sister Griselda stops and tells us. “I will stay here and give orders!”
Sister cheers the Brave Saints as she says that. “Be careful at using consecutive use of strong cards! Your stamina and power of light will drain fast!”
We answered Sister’s wish and continue to go ahead! It happens when we become really close to the gate that leads to Third Heaven. A shadow which is giving out an evil presence appears within this darkness and stands in our way. [Oh my, it’s been awhile.] A creepy creature which has a shape of many branches of trees overlapped. A tree that has a shape of a Dragon——no, it’s the Evil Dragon Ladon! Around him is an army of Evil Dragons. The Evil Dragons have completely blocked our path to the gate! [I would like you to play with me for a while.] Ladon says it in such foolish manner of speech……but it seems like he’s serious. The thick and dark aura around his body increases. His red eyes which glow within the dark! That instant, something that appears to be a soap bubble envelops us! ——It’s his barrier! It’s an annoying substance since it keeps on coming back no matter how many times you destroy it! I was having a hard time in the last battle thanks to this! This time it isn’t just me but also my comrades get enveloped! “Ku!”
“This thing!”
Kiba and Xenovia destroy the barrier with their swords——but it repairs immediately so we can’t escape! Looks like it will become a nuisance like before! This time we have a technique-type Kiba and a one-hit kill Rias! I doubt we can’t break past this but it’s a fight against time right now! If we spend too much time on this guy, then Irina’s dad will——
Just like what was going through my mind, Irina who is acting hasty wields the sword she received from her dad. “You! You are in the way! If I don’t be quick! Papa will—!”
But Ladon’s barrier revives no matter how many times it is destroyed so there’s no end to this! “Then we need to destroy it along with him.”
Rias makes her hand glow mysteriously! She’s planning to create her Extinguish Star! That will certainly be able to blow away Ladon along with his barriers. But there’s no way he will let her do that! [No you won’t.] Ladon’s eyes glow mysteriously and he envelops Rias’s hand with his barrier! The power of destruction disappears right away! This guy really is the natural enemy of power-types! He seals you immediately! Then there’s no holding back! It happens when I was about to chant to wear my crimson armour—
A single light falls between us and Ladon! That moment, the barrier covering us disappears and it doesn’t come back! Our eyes gather to the front. A spear which is giving out a holy wave appears in my sight. “——Concentrating heavily on powers like usual? Right, Sekiryuutei, and the Gremory group.”
——! We become shocked at the appearance of that man. A single young man who has Chinese clothing on him takes out the spear which is giving out a holy wave. He stands in front of Ladon while tapping his shoulder with his spear. Ladon narrows his red eyes. [——So it will turn out like this here. A Holy Spear……]
Yeah, what appeared in front of us is the Holy Spear! One of the Longinus, the True Longinus! In the previous battle defending Auros Academy that spear also appeared from nowhere! And this time the man who is the wielder of the spear has showed up! “——Cao Cao!”
I shout out the man’s name! The one who appears in front of is the former leader of the Hero-faction——Cao Cao! After he lost against us he was taken down to the realm of the dead. I did hear he climbed up from the realm of the dead on his own and became Śakra’s vanguard. I shout at him. “……Why are you here! ?”
Cao Cao has an eye-patch on the eye I crushed. He shows his irritating smile at me. “——I thought I would join the Evil Dragon hunt. I came here from the gate of Purgatory just like they did.”
……You are telling me he found a path connected to Purgatory when he was at Hades’s place? Cao Cao spins his spear around and directs the tip of it towards Ladon. Ladon gives a creepy laugh. [……So the man who is famous for being the candidate of the strongest Longinus possessor has appeared.] Cao Cao then says. “I shall take care of this Evil Dragon. But Sekiryuutei. You are a——hero, right? Then you should defeat the leader of the villains. Just like how you defeated me.”
Cao Cao then moves the tip of his spear towards the gate. “Go.”
Seeing that, Ladon laughs. [Oh my oh my……for the Holy Spear-user to take their place.] ……I agree with that. I’m not Ladon but I never thought this man would say that! Rias then gives me an order. “Ise!