Ruthless

"What's happening? What's wrong?" 

Sona, who saw the change in the field, quickly looked at Riser's peerage members as she knew they must have been told by Riser. 

"Sona-sama, please calm down." 

"Riser-sama will solve all the problems." 

As long as Riser's name was talked about, everyone became calm as he had never made them disappointed. Moreover, all of them knew the power of Riser, and they knew in front of Riser, all of the opponents' power was meaningless. 

This showed how much confidence they had in him. 

Still, when Yubelluna, Riser's Queen, explained to everyone what the higher up was planning, Sona and the rest felt conflicted. Naturally, as his queen, she couldn't let everyone have a bad impression of him. Moreover, she knew that this plan was initiated by Ajuka, and many also agreed. 

If Riser rejected this idea, then wouldn't he antagonize the others?

While they believed Riser was strong, Ajuka wasn't weak. They knew that it was better for Riser to have a good relationship with Ajuka instead of a bad one. Nevertheless, everything started from Ajuka's intense desire for revenge, and if Rias died, then it was all due to Ajuka. 

However, there was nothing they could do, and they could only wait, leaving the rest to Riser, the other Maous, and the armies that supported them in this war. 

Meanwhile, Rias, who knew about everything, was once again left in anger, especially when she knew that she was used as bait by everyone to take down the Khaos Brigade.

She was nothing but a tool! 

Knowing this, it would be impossible for her to feel angry, especially toward Azazel and Ajuka. She wasn't sure why; the two of them seemed to be trying to sow discord between her and Riser. 

However, she wasn't going to buy their lies, and it was the same with Akeno and Koneko. 

Still, Kiba and Gasper hesitated, looking at Rias, before they kept in silence since they knew everything was far more complicated than they had thought, and they, who were just small characters and servants of the Gremory, could only follow the words of their master. 

Frankly, if they were asked about their feelings, Kiba and Gasper were angry for being used as bait, but with their horrible childhood, this was nothing, especially when they still had hope. 

However, Issei was different! 

Issei was furious!

"Why should you get Asia involved?!" 

Issei didn't even care if Riser had helped him before and only thought about the cause of everything laid on Riser!

"Issei, watch your mouth!" 

Rias scolded Issei coldly. 

Issei was startled and even flinched, but at the same time, he was also angry. 

However—

"Anyway, we should save Asia first!" Akeno reminded everyone in a hurry. 

When those words fell, no one argued, and they all went to the shrine, fighting Diodora, who had been waiting for them.

Even though Diodora wished to open his pants and take down Asia, he knew that he needed to finish his mission. Moreover, what greatly relieved him was that his boss didn't care much about Asia. Instead, it seemed his boss was more interested in the women of others. 

As expected of his boss, as evil as ever, Diodora thought. 

However, Diodora wouldn't say those words out loud since his purpose was to kill Issei, so the moment Issei came, there was no need for mercy, and he used his everything, especially when the faster he killed Issei, the greater his reward was! 

It was also the reason why Diodora didn't touch Asia first, since he waited for Issei to come to the church. 

"DIE, RED DRAGON EMPEROR!" 

Diodora created a number of missiles created by Demonic Energy, then increased their speed with "Haste," the power lent by his boss; he increased the speed of his attacks and bombarded Issei without mercy!

"Issei-kun!" 

"Issei!" 

"Issei-senpai!" 

*BOOOOM!* *BOOOOM!* *BOOOOM!*

The impact of the explosion was so huge that it pushed everyone away. 

Moreover, when Rias and the others wanted to help, Diodora's peerage members quickly stopped them. Yet what stunned them was that Diodora's peerage members never seemed to intend to fight them. Instead, they harassed, slowed, stopped, and even sealed them, trying to stop them from reaching Issei! 

However, Issei never disappointed everyone. 

In the face of the crisis, he would become stronger!

"I won't let you shit! I will save Asia! Asia, wait for me!" 

"Issei-san!" 

Somehow, Asia also woke up and used the power of healing on Issei, healing him and giving him power! 

Yet, even so, it was impossible to defeat Diodora!

Diodora's speed was too fast!

Unlike the Khaos Brigade, who used him, Diodora knew that his boss really cared about him, especially when his boss taught him how to use "Haste." Not only could this ability increase his speed, his reaction, attack, and thinking, but all of those things increased and became faster! 

His purpose was only one, and that was to kill Issei! 

Facing such an opponent, Issei was helpless and kept being beaten, but as expected, as the protagonist, he would never be defeated! 

[Balance Breaker!]

[Illegal Move Triaina!]

[Cardinal Crimson Promotion!]

Like Vali, who gained the hidden power of Albion, Issei's strength was also promoted to an outrageous level! 

At this moment, his crimson-colored armor shone brightly like a blazing flame. The devil wings on his back somehow became dragon-like as he emitted a dangerous aura. 

This was the power that he had gained and his strongest state! 

Cardinal Crimson Promotion!

By using the combination of "Balance Breaker," the strongest state of the Sacred Gear, along with all three Evil Pieces traits, making it the most balanced and powerful form of Issei's Scale Mail!

At this moment, no one could defeat Issei! 

Issei was the strongest in this place!

Yet, even if Issei was strong, Diodora was faster!

"AAAAARRRGGGGHHHH, I WILL KILL YOU, BASTARD!" 

"I AM THE ONE WHO IS GOING TO KILL YOU FIRST!" 

The two of them wished to kill each other, and no one was holding back! 

Yet, the protagonist had always become the winner! 

"I WILL KILL YOU, DIODORA!!!!!" 

Frankly, if it was the previous Diodora, he would be afraid, but now, it was different, especially when his mind was affected by his boss. Even if he was killed, he would kill this bastard no matter what, so facing this attack, he didn't dodge and just accepted it. 

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!*

Issei, who didn't hold back directly, killed Diodora. 

"Issei!" 

While Gasper, Asia, and Kiba were happy, Rias, Akeno, and Koneko knew that the situation had become complicated, especially when Diodora, the heir of the Astaroth House, was killed. Even if Diodora was still affiliated with the Khaos Brigade, he was still someone who shouldn't be killed by Issei. 

Issei also felt relief when he killed Diodora. It might be his first time to kill, but he definitely didn't regret his action! 

Only—

"It hurts!" 

Issei looked at his chest and saw that a dagger was stabbed into his body. 

"Eh?" 

When the battle was over, the adrenaline in his body also disappeared, so he quickly realized the pain in his body. 

"AAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!" 

At that moment, Issei felt an indescribable pain, like his body was burnt. 

---

"It's time." 

When Riser killed Shalba Beelzebub, the last stupid trio in the Old Satan Faction, he knew that it was time for Issei to die, and he thought to take Boosted Gear from Issei since he wanted to torment Ddraig and reduce this stupid dragon as his tool. 

"Should we go to help Rias-chan now, Riser-chan?" Serafall asked. 

Along with Serafall, there was even Michael, Baraqiel, Falbium, and many others. Naturally, not everyone was brought into this war against the Khaos Brigade since some of them were needed to protect the civilians in case there were other members of the Khaos Brigade. 

"Sure." 

Riser didn't have any hesitation since it was the time, but his steps suddenly stopped as he looked at the sky in disbelief. 

The others also stopped as if they felt something incredible. 

A gigantic magic circle suddenly appeared, and they knew that it was used for teleportation, but the staggering size frightened all of them. Still, more importantly, the power, aura, and being that came from that magic circle frightened all of them. 

The process of the teleportation wasn't long, and at that moment, everyone saw a figure that came out from the magic circle. 

With a gigantic body reaching 100 meters, a red Western dragon appeared before them. 

Still, compared to Riser, who could become tens of kilometers in size, the size of this dragon was nothing. 

Yet, the real problem was the identity of this dragon. 

"ROOOOOOOOOARRRRRR!!!" 

The space cracked, and everyone was trembling in a daze as their brain shut down. 

The strongest being in this world. 

The Great Red. 

This most powerful being appeared before them.