Shin High School DxD - Volume 4 - Chapter 3.1

The Strongest Dragons

Ddraig, Albion, and Crom Cruach flew at high speed in the skies of the deserted London to square off against their opponents?the fake Two Heavenly Dragons, above the iconic bridge. 

With Ddraig, Albion, and Crom Cruach lined up before them, the fake Ddraig and Albion stared at them. Even with the aura and wave from their bodies similar to Ddraig and Albion, the distinct Evil Dragon aura could completely be seen through. 

Despite being the same kind of Evil Dragon as Crom Cruach, their aura was different from him as they released the same type of dangerously fiendish aura as the [Crime Force Dragon] Grendel, and the [Abyss Rage Dragon] Ni?höggr. Ddraig recalled though that from experience, this could probably mean they could have a few loose screws in their heads. Now, if the respective Heavenly Dragons were to be the opponent of their fakes, would Crom Cruach be left without an opponent? It was originally thought so. But, they knew that it was needless anxiety. 

Because from behind the fake Two Heavenly Dragons, a strong evil aura was gathering. This aura took shape and eventually materialised with three heads and six wings. An Evil Dragon clad with an intense aura. The three had already encountered this new Evil Dragon. 

Albion said. 

So it's A?i Dah?ka.? 

Right, the Evil Dragon that appeared with three heads was [Diabolism Thousand Dragon], A?i Dah?ka itself. In the occasion of the previous [Evil Dragon War], he was one of the Evil Dragons resurrected by the Holy Grail's power by the mastermind of Qlippoth, Rizevim Livan Lucifer. 

He was an Evil Dragon created by Angra Mainyu. Even when compared to other Evil Dragons, such as Crom Cruach and Apophis, he was a brutal dragon who could be counted at the top of the list. Even after Rizevim's death, he inherited his plans and together with the divided Trihexa, he went on a rampage in the territories of every mythological faction. But in his battle to the death with Vali Lucifer, he should have been defeated. 

In that case, the A?i Dah?ka before their eyes was… 

Crom Cruach made an expression of displeasure. 

.....Damn you, Angra Mainyu. It looks like he made an A?i Dah?ka-looking thing once again.? 

As Crom Cruach said, A?i Dah?ka (2nd Gen) appeared once again. It was probably something created by Angra Mainyu, just like the two fake Heavenly Dragons. The pride of Albion, who had faced off against A?i Dah?ka in a decisive battle together with his partner Vali, was damaged. 

....Do you plan to disgrace our duel, Angra Mainyu?!? 

The [Diabolism Thousand Dragon], which was defeated by Vali Lucifer didn’t exist anymore. But the Evil Dragon before their eyes could be thought of as another thing with the appearance of A?i Dah?ka. Actually, from these Evil Dragons, with the two fake Heavenly Dragons included; things such as will and feelings couldn't be felt at all. They were just a mass of power?they could only be considered as the physical manifestation of the aura of the Evil God Angra Mainyu in the form of dragons. Ddraig thought. 

These things are Dragons? 

No, absolutely not. It was impossible for these things to be Dragons. More than not forgiving them for taking our shapes, something like aura taking our forms can’t be called Dragons!! ? 

Even powerful dragons created by God-class beings could be counted. The Nordic [Sleeping Dragon] Midgardsormr created by the Evil God Loki, was one of them along with the previously subjugated A?i Dah?ka. Even if they were created by a God-class beings, they had their own will and pride. But these three were only a stopgap created in a hurry as they were just a mass of Godly aura. Was it alright to call it a dragon? 

Ddraig said. 

Well, either way, if my fake were to stand out more than this, I would just gain a bad reputation.? 

Ddraig sent his gaze to the fake Albion. Albion directed his fighting spirit towards the fake Ddraig, while Crom Cruach stared at A?i Dah?ka. 

It seems like they chose their opponents and that side too seemed to have understood who would be their opponent by the direction from where the fighting spirit was coming from. Each side was fixedly glaring at each other, where after a brief period of silence?the six Dragons disappeared from the skies above the town's bridge without a sound. In the next instant, a violent sound of impact and shock occurred mid-air as the atmosphere trembled and the surface of the Thames River, which went under the bridge, raised waves. Ddraig with fake Albion, Albion with fake Ddraig, and Crom Cruach with A?i Dah?ka collided mid-air repeatedly with each other. 

Various attacks such as fists filled with aura, kicks, headbutts, body collisions, and shoulder charges were unleashed. What started in the skies above the bridge of the town was, even among Dragons of the highest rank, a simple and clear clash made by those of the strongest-class of this world. Even with only this, enormous shockwaves were occurring as the Thames River was undulating, the glass windows of the surrounding buildings were all destroyed. Ddraig wanted to shoot aura and breath fire, but endured. For the time being, it was asked that they not damage the city as much as possible. 

To take the feelings of humans into consideration, unlike other dragons, only Ddraig and Albion would do so. The first one to smash the earnest feeling of humans was?the fake Ddraig. He greatly expanded his abdomen and in one go, breathed a ball of flames. Albion gazed at the powerful fireball aimed at himself. Its force was halved more and more and by the time it reached Albion, it was reduced to the same as a torch. It was Albion's trait, [Divide]. 

The fake Ddraig, who had his flame erased, breathed continuous shots of fire attacks. Albion killed their force with [Divide] but....several shots leaked out and struck against the town's bridge, causing enormous destruction. 

........Aah, looks like the wish of humans wasn't fulfilled. 

But, thanks to that, it feels like a restriction was lifted.? 

Ddraig thought. 

Aiming at the fake Albion who he exchanged blows with, Ddraig greatly expanded his abdomen as he shot intense flames from his mouth. Ddraig was interested in how the fake Albion would deal with this attack. Anyhow, they hadn’t used it in a while. 

To counter Ddraig's flames, the fake Albion opened his mouth and breathed out flames the same way, trying to cancel each other. But the flames breathed by Ddraig surpassed the strength of those breathed by the fake Albion, winning the battle of flames and ended up swallowing the opponent's body. 

Seeing that appearance, Ddraig was convinced. These impostors couldn't use the traits of the Two Heavenly Dragons?the ones belonging to Ddraig, ([Boost], [Transfer], and [Penetrate]) and the ones belonging to Albion, ([Divide], [Absorption], and [Reflect]) couldn't be used by the fake Heavenly Dragons. These guys were simply Dragons with too much strength. Angra Mainyu was able to give them the strength above a Dragon King, but it was insufficient to be a Heavenly Dragon. 

To increase the [Alliance of Hell]’s combat potential, the [Fake Two Heavenly Dragons] were created to be used for propaganda. But probably because they were made in too much of a hurry, they couldn't reproduce Ddraig and Albion's abilities. The fake Albion was sent flying by a kick enchanted with [Penetrate] from Ddraig. 

While falling in the direction of the city, the fake Albion immediately regained his posture and came flying back in this direction. Seeing that appearance, Ddraig thought. 

Even if they were created in a hurry, they hold more than enough strength compared to an average opponent. If Angra Mainyu had continued his research, then perhaps he could have recreated mine and Albion's traits.? 

Ddraig smashed his fist enchanted with [Penetrate] into the fake Albion’s chest who had come up flying again. Ddraig felt something break together with a dull sound. Receiving an attack on his chest that reverberated until the core of his body, the fake Albion was breathing and vomiting blood in agony. 

But the fake Albion didn't hesitate and tried to give Ddraig a headbutt. 

Ddraig was caught off guard by such an attack and ended with a cut inside his mouth while spitting out blood. Completely ignoring such an attack, he grabbed the nape of the opponent with one hand and the throat with the other hand, thus forcing the fake Albion to open his mouth. As he aimed at the opened mouth, Ddraig created flames in his abdomen and?poured them into it! 

The fake Albion had the flames of the Sekiryuutei directly poured into his mouth. The Sekiryuutei's flames inside him leaked out from every hole in his body. And then, due to the flames burning the interior of his body, he burst into flames from every nook and cranny of his body. The momentum of the flames even affected the buildings below, creating a big explosion. 

Ddraig said while holding the fake Albion by the nape. 

Something like a Dragon created by an aura. Even if it has power, it is only to this extent. Above all, it doesn't have even half of Albion's power.? 

Saying that Ddraig released his hand as the dead fake Albion fell down. It was an overwhelming victory? 

It only had Albion's form, as the techniques and wisdom of his longtime rival couldn't be felt from him. It didn't even know any of Ddraig’s fighting style. If you were to look in Albion's direction, he was also avoiding all of the fake Ddraig's fire attacks in mid-air and counterattacking with countless aura blasts. Before very long, Albion released an immense aura from his mouth, opening a large hole through fake Ddraig's abdomen?as the fake Ddraig fell to the surface. 

While receiving a little damage, Albion only snorted. 

It was only a strong Dragon with Ddraig's appearance.? 

The real Two Heavenly Dragons easily defeated their fakes, so the only thing that remained was Crom Cruach, but quickly perceiving the clash of aura and its surge, Ddraig and Albion flew in high speed to where Crom Cruach was. 

They arrived after discerning the location from the aura?the skies above London's big watch, Big Ben. 

While grabbing onto Big Ben, A?i Dah?ka (2nd Gen) released magic circles of flame, water, ice, wind, and lightning magic, to the extent of enveloping the skies with them. Magic of all attributes was shot towards the approaching Crom Cruach. 

While the pattern of the magic circle changed in turns, ancient magic words and words said to be forbidden were displayed and started showing a dangerous colour. Every magic circle was distorted and sparks ran through it. What was released from the magic circle which was changed into forbidden magic was?a blast of wind covered in curses, a black lightning arrow, a giant skeleton made of purple flames, a cursed, one-winged angel crying tears of blood, a one-eyed ox-headed monster that only from looking already like you'll have your life stolen.... Countless forbidden magic was released towards Crom Cruach! 

Albion shouted. 

Forbidden spells! The previous A?i Dah?ka used them too, but?? 

With Albion narrowing his eyes as he continued to watch, all types of forbidden spells came towards him, but Crom Cruach?went straight ahead through them while breathing flames and releasing aura. 

Hahaha!? 

Unconsciously, Ddraig started laughing at Crom Cruach's behavior. Even while looking at so many forbidden spells and even while facing them, the legendary Evil Dragon wouldn’t hesitate and charged head on into them! 

While having his body cut by the cursed blast of wind, Crom Cruach destroyed the black lightning arrow with his fist, the giant skeleton made of purple flames too was pulverized with a kick. The cursed, one-winged angel which was crying tears of blood was extinguished with a headbutt. Even the one-eyed ox-headed monster was sent flying by a high-speed tackle. Breaking through the forbidden spells directly, he finally managed to catch up to A?i Dah?ka and grabbed onto Big Ben. A?i Dah?ka deployed several powerful defense magic circles, but even with that? 

"Don't underestimate me!" 

One by one, the defense magic circles were smashed by a kick filled with momentum. Crom Cruach's kick destroyed all defense magic circles, and with that momentum blew away the middle-head of A?i Dah?ka! 

A?i Dah?ka’s middle-head was blown away by the impact. With that impact, Big Ben?collapsed. 

Albion said. 

[As expected. Compared to the forbidden spells used by this A?i Dah?ka and with the ones used by the A?i Dah?ka I fought before, they did have their power and precision greatly reduced. At this level, it probably can't cause Crom Cruach much damage.] 

As Albion said, there were some darkish places on Crom Cruach's body. An effect of the curse from the forbidden spells, but...those immediately disappeared. It didn't have enough power to break through Crom Cruach's resistance and endurance. From this occasion, the three Dragons judged that his strength was greatly inferior to the previous A?i Dah?ka. 

A?i Dah?ka (2nd Gen) lost his middle-head, but.....what!? Immediately, the flesh in his neck started to expand and began recreating itself? It didn't take much time and the head was reconstructed to its original appearance. It looked like only its regenerative abilities were above average. 

While taking his stance against A?i Dah?ka (2nd Gen) again, Crom Cruach told Ddraig and Albion. 

"Looks like this guy isn't the only one who can regenerate, you know?" 

Ddraig and Albion felt a presence behind their backs and looked back?there were the two fake Heavenly Dragons, who should have been defeated, moving towards this direction. Their wounds....seemed to have regenerated and from the looks of it, they seemed to be back to normal. At this point they are the same as the A?i Dah?ka (2nd Gen). 

Ddraig and Albion said, looking at each other's faces. 

I don't have that kind of regenerative ability, you know?? 

I don't either. But, it looks like as long as the original body is not defeated, they will probably continue to regenerate.? 

In other words, as long as their creator Angra Mainyu wasn’t defeated, it didn’t matter how many times they were defeated; they would continue to resurrect. 

"This is... could be very troublesome." 

Ddraig sighed. It is a situation that made him want to use [Blazing Inferno of Scorching Flames]. But if they were to be used on this downtown, they would cause terrible destruction upon it. 

If that is the case, Ddraig and Albion could only hope for the conspicuous service of their partners. 

Nevertheless?Ddraig and Albion took their stances. 

It'll be good training, right, White One?? 

Of course, Red One. It'll become a good training for this body, which became sluggish due to being sealed for a long time.? 

The real Heavenly Dragons fearlessly laughed as the two of them could feel empathy with the joy felt by fighting with their bodies? 

Believing in Hyoudou Issei and Vali Lucifer, they would continue to fight until they became exhausted?. 

That was the new feeling felt towards battle by the Sekiryuutei and Hakuryuukou.