James, Is Your Sickness Acting Up Again?

Human World, Japan, Kuoh.

In the Alaverus Estate's living room, around the time when James' group reached Third Heaven, many of the estate's residents were present. Even Genshirou had decided to visit. That way, when James and the others returned, they would be able to ask all the questions they wanted about Heaven. What surprised everyone, however, was that Issei and Asia were not here.

"To think that Issei-Kun and Asia-Chan thought something was more important than this historic event." Tomoe said while she ate some of the snacks that had been spread around the room.

"Well, James-Senpai did make a point of asking Irina to guide them to Heaven." Momo said with a smile. "I wonder if Asia will be able to take advantage of the cock blocking angel's absence."

"Two packs of cookies says she won't." Tsubasa said, joining in on the conversation.

However, before the fun could go any further, Reya spoke up.

"More importantly do you think the others are okay up in Heaven?" Reya asked with a bit of nervousness.

"Of course, they are." Rias replied nonchalantly. "James is the strongest person in the Three Factions after all. Besides, ambushing them wouldn't do any good for Heaven."

"Rias is right." Sona said while adjusting her glasses.

"That's not what I'm worried about." Reya said, the tension in her words not diminishing in the slightest.

"Then what's the problem?" Akeno asked in confusion.

"James has protagonist syndrome." Reya replied. "Something always goes wrong."

Everyone fell silent for a moment at Reya's utterance. A moment later, however, they all began to giggle or laugh. When the laughter died down, Rias approached Reya and placed a hand on the other girl's shoulder.

"You're over thinking this, Reya." Rias said with a smile. "Seriously, what's the worst that could happen?"

Heaven, Third Heaven.

After separating everyone with her magic, [Universe One], Irene found herself standing in confrontation with Azi Dahaka. However, instead of paying attention to her foe, Irene spread her senses and scanned her surroundings.

"Well, adding the principles of devil magic on top of my old magic is really quite useful." Irene said. "I was able to only change the places of those I choose. It's a lot more convenient than changing everything along with the landscape."

While Irene was analyzing the changes in her magic, Azi dahaka was also looking around. He felt that the magic used was familiar, but he could not quite put his finger... or claw on it. Since he could not remember, he decided to stop thinking about it. Especially since there was an enemy in front of her.

"Is she ignoring me?" Azi Dahaka's left head asked while staring at Irene.

"I think she is." Azi Dahaka's center head said.

"She definitely is." Azi Dahaka's right head said.

Without speaking any further, Azi Dahaka created numerous magic circles behind him from many different systems of magic. Then, from each of those magic circles, offensive spells of all elements were fired at the seemingly inattentive Irene.

When Irene noticed the incoming spells, she materialized a staff in her hands.

"[enchant: Magic Reflection]." Irene said calmly as she watched the incoming magic spells draw near.

Once the spells were in range of her staff, Irene began to twirl and swing it at each of the spells that would hit her directly. At the same time, she stomped one of her high heeled boots on the solid clouds under her feet. Then, she shot forward, still batting the incoming spells away from her with a few being sent towards Azi Dahaka himself.

Although he was surprised, Azi Dahaka did not panic when he saw Irene easily dealing with his spell barrage. In response, he put up a defensive spell that blocked the spells she returned to him without taking any harm.

"That was impressive." Azi Dahaka's right head said.

"You're stronger than I thought." Azi Dahaka's center head said.

"But not strong enough." Azi Dahaka's left head said.

Deciding that it was not worth it to respond to Azi Dahaka's taunt, Irene continued to force her way through the barrage of magic spells. After several seconds, Irene had finally reached the defensive spell Azi Dahaka cast to protect himself from the reflected magic. Then, she tapped her staff against it.

"[Enchant: Dispel]" Irene said calmly.

When his shield was dispelled, Azi Dahaka's three pairs of eyes opened widely. At the same time, Irene collected demonic power in her lungs and inhaled a deep breath.

"[Sage Dragon's Roar]." Irene said as a magic circle appeared in front of her mouth.

Once the spell name was muttered, Irene spewed a bright violet ray of destructive magic from her mouth that landed on the center of Azi Dahaka's chest.

"Ahh~~~~~!" All three of Azi Dahaka's heads screamed in pain.

While Azi Dahaka screamed, Irene was not idle. Instead, she closed the distance between herself and the Evil Dragon even further. Then, she once again began to swing her staff.

"[Concept Enchantment: Dragon Slayer]." Irene said quietly as she sent her demonic magic into her staff

After adding a dragon slaying enchantment on her staff, Irene could feel her hands beginning to tingle. However, instead of pulling back, she added force to her swings and struck Azi Dahaka with as much force and from as many angles as she could. After several tens of seconds of striking Azi Dahaka with her staff, Irene jumped high enough into the air so that she was level with Azi Dahaka's center head. Then, she wound up before swinging at the side of that head with all her might.

*Bang!*

Due to his body weight and their relative size, Azi Dahaka was not sent flying by Irene's last strike. However, he was unable to remain on his feet and slumped over on his side, with his center head slamming into the ground unprotected. His left and right head, on the other hand, were able to stop themselves from impacting the ground.

Irene, on the other hand, landed near the spot where she stood after the teleportation occurred. After landing, she fell into her thoughts again while observing her hands and cancelling the enchantments on her staff. When she took a good look at her hands, she noticed that there were mild burns on her palms and fingers. Not enough to hinder her fighting prowess, but certainly enough to take note of.

"So, it looks like I still can't use that enchantment without taking damage." Irene muttered to herself. "But it's not as bad as before I reincarnated. Perhaps, I should start wearing gloves when I fight."

She then remembered that she was able to use her [Dragon Slayer Magic]. Something she had lost the ability to do in her human form ever since the use of [Dragon Slayer Magic] turned her into a dragon. Even though, she really only had one [Dragon Slayer Spell], [Sage Dragon's Roar], [Sage Dragon Slayer Magic] was not a mix of magic and martial arts like the other forms of [Dragon Slayer Magic]. Instead, it was created to enhance Irene's already formidable skill in [Enchantment Magic].

While Irene was examining the results of her magic, Azi Dahaka was able to pull himself together and pick himself off of the ground. When he set his eyes on Irene again, there was wrath burning in his pupils. However, he was unsure of how he should get his payback. The fact that Irene could deflect, reflect, or dispel his magic left him at a loss.

"What am I thinking?" Azi Dahaka's center head asked.

"Why am I so fixated on magic?" Azi Dahaka's left head asked.

"I'll just beat her to death." Azi Dahaka's right had said.

Once he came to that conclusion, Azi Dahaka rushed forward angrily.

Noticing that her foe was moving again, Irene stopped her introspection. Then, she took a fighting stance with er staff again, prepare to handle another magic barrage, as Azi Dahaka was known for his magic mastery.

Surprising Irene, Azi Dahaka did not choose to engage in magical combat. Instead, he put his large dragon body to use. When he was in range, Azi Dahaka stopped his charge, spun on the spot, and whipped his tail at Irene. Widening her eyes, Irene was quick to leap over the tail. However, while she was in midair, she saw that Azi Dahaka's left head was nearing with its mouth wide open.

Instead of panicking, Irene simply extended her dragon wings. Then, with a burst of demonic power, she threw herself out of the head's trajectory. Then, she swooped back in and slammed her staff on the crown of Azi Dahaka's left head, before maneuvering out of the way of one of Azi Dahaka's claws. After that, Azi Dahaka's center head approached, which Irene dodged as well. Not even a second later, the right head also tried to devour Irene. However, instead of dodging this time, Irene took a deep breath and spewed another [Sage Dragon's Roar]. This time, directly into the mouth of Azi Dahaka's right head.

"Ahh~~~~~~~~~~!" Azi Dahaka's center and left head screamed.

Azi Dahaka's right head also wanted to scream. Unfortunately, the dragon slaying breath attack did much more damage this time around. Although the pain from Irene's first breath attack was great, Azi Dahaka had his strong scales to mitigate much of the damage. But with the damage occurring inside his body, on the much softer flesh of his mouth and throat, Azi Dahaka's agony was in a completely different league.

While Azi Dahaka thrashed around due to the pain, Irene once again landed on the ground and began to analyze her capabilities.

"Let's see." Irene said while she thought about the previous exchange. "I'm a bit stronger than I was. In my human form, anyway. I'm faster, too. Well, I guess I better try the dragon form next."

After saying that, Irene's body began to expand, then her head elongated. After that, she began to grow scales and her clothes were torn to shreds. When Azi Dahaka's pain subsided, he noticed Irene's transformation, his eyes opened wide. From the beginning, he felt that Irene's magic felt familiar. However, until he saw her transform into her dragon form, he could not put the pieces together.

"Irene Belserion?" All of Azi Dahaka's heads cried out. "You were supposed to be dead, killed by your own kingdom."

"Looks like your information was faulty." Irene said, her voice sounding more bestial in her dragon form.

Now, Irene stood just under forty feet (approx. 12 m) with scales the same color as her hair covering most of her body. On her underside, there were lighter, skin colored scales with three pairs of spikes jutting out of her lower jaw. Above her red eyes was a dark colored pair of wing like markings, with three pairs of feathered wings on her back.

Before Azi Dahaka could react any further, Irene launched herself forward with her right claw clenched into a fist. Then, when she was close enough, she sent an uppercut into the center head's jaw. Once again, Azi Dahaka's thought processes were slowed due to the brain in one of his heads getting shaken. Then, she wrapped her claws around the left and right necks and began to squeeze. A moment later, she charged her breath attack for the third time.

"[Sage Dragon's Roar]." Irene said as she unleashed the breath attack into the center head's face.

This time, the breath attack was different in scale. Instead of just a beam of destructive magic, this time the conical shape captured most of Azi Dahaka's body, excluding his left and right head. Once the breath attack died down Irene immediately lunged forward and bit into Azi Dahaka's center neck, then unleashed the [Sage Dragon's Roar] again.

"Ahh~~~~~~~~~~!" Azi Dahaka's left and right head screamed out in pain. However, the center head remained silent.

With Azi Dahaka stunned and unable to move properly due to shock, Irene raised her right claw, releasing Azi Dahaka's left neck in the process.

"[Enchant: Pierce]." Irene said quietly in a muffle tone as her fangs were still sunk into Azi Dahaka's flesh.

Then, Irene plunged her now glowing claws into Azi Dahaka's chest, which caused Azi Dahaka's heads to screech once again. A moment later, Irene pulled her claw out of the Evil Dragons chest with a large heart held in its grasp.

"I'm definitely satisfied with the increase becoming a devil brought to my strength." Irene said as she released Azi Dahaka.

After releasing Azi Dahaka, Irene took a step back. Then, the ground shook when Azi Dahaka's lifeless corpse fell to the ground. A moment later, Irene put the heart and the rest of Azi Dahaka's corpse into her magical storage space.

"No sense in leaving this here." Irene said as she began to transform back into her human form. A moment later, Irene was back in her human form standing there, in the nude. After another moment, Irene quickly conjured a new set of clothing before continuing to speak."Dragon steak is one of the best meals anyone could partake in. I wonder how good it'll taste after James grills it?"