The Conference (III)

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"You plan on facing me with some brat? Haha, you really are as idiotic as I thought." 

Azazel didn't even feel like responding to her anymore, walking towards the rest of the faction leaders with plans to ask them if they wanted to go for dinner together. 

"Are you sure it's alright to just send him Azazel?" Sirzechs asked. "She was still a potential Satan at some point, it could be dangerous." 

"Relax, even if her raw strength was double what it is now, she wouldn't even be half as threatening as Kokabiel. She's hollow up here after all," Azazel knocked on his head with his knuckles. "Just watch, this might not be a good way to show Takauji's true strength, but at least he'll get to show off the blade I created." 

"If you say so," Michael exhaled. Serafall being the only one of the bunch still tense, not sure what to feel about the pathetic sight of someone who had once been a mentor to her. 

Takauji brandished his sword, casually walking towards Katerea as they locked eyes. Katerea's filled with contempt, and Takauji's filled with mild disinterest. She was indeed of the Ultimate-Class, but his instincts were hardly cautioning him about her presence. 

"Child, you can blame Azazel for your death–" 

A soft bass vibration rang through the atmosphere, followed by Katerea's right arm being chopped off in a single motion. Takauji had not only used [Vanishing Step], having completed Azazel's training in order to learn how to position his blade before he actually used the movement technique.

He was right, swinging like this definitely feels a lot stronger. 

["He's always right, it's about time you get used to it."] 

"Stop talking, we're fighting right now." He moved again, Katerea being instilled with panic as she used her remaining arm to create a defensive circle, blocking his blade head on. 

Alright Sayafushi, let's put our chemistry to the test. 

Darkness Mana started to seep out of his sword's alloy, starting to infect the former Leviathan's defense as she felt the [Demonic Power] keeping her circle active beginning to waver. 

Excellent, [Contamination] is able to work with my blade flawlessly. 

"You–!" 

It only took a few seconds for her defense to give in, allowing Takauji to land a decisive vertical swing stemming from her forehead all the way towards her navel. 

"I told you not to speak, didn't I?" There was no need for him to clean Sayafushi, the blood simply slipped off his blade without any input from him whatsoever. "Anyhow, I guess that's a job well done." 

He turned around, starting to walk away as he prepared to make his reveal to the Gremory's. 

"You insolent little shit, did you really think it would be that easy?" But for some reason, he could still hear her voice. 

"You're supposed to be dead," he said calmly. Tilting his head as he looked at her still animate body. Black snakes started to coil around her body as she rose to her feet, her power rising continuously as she faced Takauji once more. 

"Is this Elden Ring or something? I wasn't expecting you to have a second phase." 

"I've put up with your meaningless blabber for long enough," she spat. 

Takauji's eyes widened, sensing an influx of [Demonic Power] hurling towards him in an instant, causing him to reflexively use [Vanishing Step] to dodge.

"That actually hurt a little." To his surprise, she had somehow actually managed to graze him despite his superior speed. Although the injuries themselves were minimal thanks to [Null Vene]. "It looks like you were given a power-up. Congratulations I guess." 

He didn't have the faintest clue how that snake managed to not only heal her, but increase her power threefold. Then again, she wasn't the only one who could do that. 

["Takauji, those snakes she used just now radiated the power of a Dragon."] 

Really? The only confirmed Dragon within Khaos Brigade is Ophis himself though, are you saying that snake is his power? 

["It's probable, but it's something we can brood over another time. Go ahead and use me, a dumb monster is still a monster at the end of the day."] 

Are you sure I need to go that far? 

["Just do it."] 

Alright then. 

"Apparently I'm also going to use a power-up. So try to make this a good fight for me will you?" Takauji withdrew Fafnir from his jacket, holding it in his hand and clasping the dagger tightly. 

"Is that what he used against Kokabiel?" Michael asked Azazel. 

"Mhm." 

[𝔹𝕒𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝔹𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜: 𝔻𝕠𝕨𝕟𝕗𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝔻𝕣𝕒𝕘𝕠𝕟 𝔸𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝔸𝕣𝕞𝕠𝕣]

Takauji was covered once more in the golden scale mail he had used to defeat Kokabiel, ten wings made entirely of Darkness Mana sprouting from his back as Sayafushi grew to over a meter in length, but didn't curve whatsoever. 

His presence grew heavier, the air around him starting to heat up as he covered his blade in dark colored flames. The same flame he had used back then when he combined [Contamination] with Fafnir's fire. 

"Again with the chatter, just shut up and die already." Katerea launched a barrage of [Demonic Power] infused bullets at him, charged with significantly more speed and power that she would normally be capable of. 

Takauji made use of all four of his eyes, tracking the trajectory of each projectile and dodging it accordingly. Inching closer and closer towards her every time he correctly predicted an attack. 

"Sit still for fucks sake!" He was like a blur to her, using the terrain to the fullest extent as the results of Azazel's training became clearer and clearer. 

He continued to use [Vanishing Step] in quick succession, afterimages of his towering figure clouding her vision as she struggled to determine where he was and wasn't. 

"Sorry, but if you want to read my movements you're going to need eyes like mine." His voice came from behind her, followed by the sensation of his blade tearing through her chest in one swift motion. 

She clenched her teeth, blooding dripping out of her mouth as her arms started to elongate in tentacle-like fashion. 

"Trying to self-destruct? That ain't happening either." He put both hands on the hilt of Sayafushi, forcing the blade upwards as her body was split in two once more. Hopefully for good this time. 

Maybe she would've been able to match Takauji on his lonesome in her powered-up state. However, Takauji and Fafnir together was a different story. 

"Kokabiel's probably laughing at you from beyond his grave. Even if you beat me by some miracle, they would've annihilated you in a matter of seconds. At least he had the sense not to go after the leaders themselves." 

He scoffed as he looked down at her corpse, kicking her head before stepping over it and walking towards Azazel. 

"Good work." The Governor praised absentmindedly as Takauji deactivated his [Balance Breaker]. "The conference is about to end soon now that this whole ordeal is over, so if you're committed to doing what you're about to do. I suggest you act now." 

Right as Takauji was about to follow through on his plan, a white comet pierced through the sky and slammed down on Azazel. Pummeling the Governor into a crater as a cloud of smoke erupted around him. 

Now I get it. This is why you were acting differently wasn't it?

"So you're betraying me as well? Vali." Azazel said in a casual tone, picking himself up as he dusted his clothes off. "You've always been a wild child, but I never expected you to actually align yourself with those idiots." 

"Pretty much, you heard what I said didn't you? As long as I can fight strong opponents I couldn't care less what happens to the world. They've given me an offer to go and fight Asgard already, so I just couldn't find it in me to refuse."

Vali hovered in the sky in his [Balance Breaker] form, looming above Azazel presumably with a grin under his helmet. 

"What are you waiting for Vali? Let's get going already." A strange man wielding some sort of bo-staff appeared behind him, hanging the weapon over his shoulders as he waited for his supposed teammate. 

Vali didn't respond to him, instead looking at Takauji through the lens of his faceplate. 

"As much as I'd love to stay and fight, I need to get a move on as you can see. Also, Ashikaga Takauji, I know I cannot defeat you as I am now." The Mage raised a brow, surprised to see someone such as the White Dragon Emperor admitting weakness. Which was also a sign of maturity. 

"However, my strength is going to skyrocket during the fights I do with Khaos Brigade. So you better not get complacent, otherwise I'll wipe the floor with you in seconds, and there wouldn't be much fun in that now would there?" 

Vali had indeed started to hone his [Demonic Power] that stemmed from his Lucifer blood, but he had yet to find a suitable ability that could counter the problem Takauji posed to his [Divine Dividing]. Especially with Fafnir on the Mage's side, it was too early for him to take Takauji on. 

"Do as you please, just try not to keep me waiting too long." He kept his response short. To which Vali nodded in response, now looking towards Issei. 

"Hyoudou Issei, as Ddraig has probably told you by now, I am indeed your rival. But right now you're so weak in comparison to me that it isn't even funny. Ashikaga Takauji says there is worth in you, but I only half-believe that claim. If in a month's time, you still show no signs of promise. I will simply kill you and await a better host regardless of the situation." 

Issei wasn't sure how to respond, his entire body trembling in the presence of the overwhelming might radiating from Vali's being, strength that came from both a Heavenly Dragon and Lucifer. 

"With that said, I'll be seeing you." Vali saw no use in further conversation, approaching his comrade and disappearing in a flash of light. 

"What troublesome boys I've recruited," Azazel lamented. "Welp, I suppose it's your turn. Demon-kun." 

His head is clouded, now is the time to act. 

"Hyoudou Issei." Takauji called out to him, causing the Pawn to turn to the Mage with a bit of aftershock still present on his face. "Do you remember that day in the park when that Fallen Angel took Asia?" 

Issei's mood was quick to sour. 

"How could I forget?" He found even the question itself offensive. 

"Didn't you find it weird?" Takauji asked cryptically. 

"Find what weird?" 

"The fact that I lost to the Fallen Angel then, but annihilated her so effortlessly only a day after the incident had taken place?" 

The members of the Gremory peerage all felt a chill crawl down their spines, instantly getting an idea of where Takauji was about to go with his words. 

"Ashikaga Takauji, I suggest you choose your next words very carefully–" Rias tried to intervene, but was met with an ice-cold glare in return. 

"I'm talking to Hyoudou Issei right now. You be quiet." 

Issei felt his stomach begin to churn, he too started to understand what Takauji was implying. The jewel embedded onto the silver bracelet Azazel had given him had already begun to shine, the rage from that day returning to him second by second. 

Finally, this is what I've wanted to see this whole time. The power of Hyoudou Issei's rage combined with that of Ddraig. You can thank me later for this, Azazel.

"Moreover, none of you actually bothered to check the corpse of that Fallen Angel, did you?" Another revelation had begun to unwind, the horror on their faces growing as a summoning circle appeared next to Takauji. 

"You called?" 

Issei felt something inside him snap, watching as a woman with black hair and violet eyes appeared next to Takauji. A face that he had permanently ingrained into his mind. A face he could never forget. 

"I already know what's going through that head of yours Issei-kun," sparks of purple electricity had already started to gather around the Pawn. "So allow me to give you the clarification you need. I was the one who let your Asia die. And I rescued the one responsible for her death." 

That's a good expression Issei, there's no need to hold back anymore. You're a Dragon, rage is just a core part of your being. Don't deny it, don't fear it, let it run wild! 

Takauji struggled to hold his wicked laughter as he saw Issei's face contort, his comrades frozen in place by the sheer amount of energy coursing through his body to approach him. 

And then he spoke. 

The words coming out of his mouth stemmed so deep within his gut that it made every other word he had said sound like a lie. 

"I will kill you." 

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A rather mild amount of tomfoolery on Takauji's part. Some shenanigans, if you will. Activities of the mischievous sort, some would say.

10+ Advance Chapters: patreon.com/Accel14

Discord Link: KQAtTw9u7x

Word Count: 2188