Everyone froze in place... or more accurately, they were just stunned.
Well, I get it. I mean, I'm the one at the center of all this... Oh, looks like Ophis has been released.
"What just happened!? Wait—Georg! How much did we manage to steal?"
"More than half, but just barely. I'd say about sixty percent at best. There was some unavoidable loss when we siphoned power from that Ophis. Still, it should be enough to make her a suitable vessel."
Azazel-sensei reacted to the exchange between Cao Cao and Georg.
"! I see! So, you're planning to create a new Ouroboros, aren't you? One that listens to your orders, a puppet Ouroboros! —No, more importantly, Ikki! Are you okay after absorbing Samael!? Answer me, don't just stand there!"
Azazel-sensei called out, but honestly, I couldn't respond.
Inside me, emotions like hatred, malice, pain, jealousy, and rage—Samael's essence—were flooding into my "vessel."
This is bad. Really bad. If this overflows, my mind will be consumed!
What the hell, Verg Avesta—why did you go and absorb Samael on your own!?
Are you mad I broke you during that "Fourth Sacred Sword: Mirage"? No, no, that can't be it. This sacred gear isn't one that seals beasts, so it shouldn't work like that... right?
I was panicking, but the divine malice inside me had clearly passed my limits.
"Guh! Gah!"
The divine poison began corroding my body, and I coughed up blood.
The curse of Samael seeped from my body like miasma.
I'd barely managed to toss the bamboo tube containing Izuna toward the others—but things were getting real dangerous.
"Ikki!"
"Ikki-senpai!"
"Ikki-sama!"
I heard everyone shouting my name, but strangely enough, Kuroka's voice reached me first. Maybe I'm more honest with myself than I thought.
"This is... interesting, but I can't get too close. I've got that transplanted right eye, after all. Georg, what about your side?"
"No good. Ever since Samael was absorbed by his Sacred Gear, our link with it has been completely severed. Neither summoning nor control is possible anymore."
Georg! Were you planning to dump me into Cocytus just like that!? I swear I'll kill you for this later!
In the midst of my thoughts, something like magical ropes wrapped around my body and dragged me toward where the others were.
It looked like Kuroka's doing.
She must've figured it wasn't safe to leave me near Cao Cao and the rest.
I landed near the group, but no one approached.
I mean, I was practically radiating a full-on curse cloud.
Also, the impact from landing made me cough up blood again... Yeah, Kuroka made the right call, but even the smallest shock is dangerous in my current state.
"Ikki-sama! At the very least, let me heal you!"
Ravel pulled out a vial of Phoenix's Tears, and since she couldn't get close, she tried to sprinkle them over me.
But the droplets turned black the moment they touched the cursed aura around me, nullifying their healing effects.
Looks like not even Ravel's healing tears will work this time.
"No way! What do we do now!?"
While Ravel was panicking, Cao Cao and Georg continued on as if nothing was wrong.
"Hm. That was far more unpredictable than expected. Still, judging from his condition, Arima Ikki won't survive this. Georg, the power we stole from Ophis—has it already been sent to HQ as planned?"
"Yes. Samael was merely a relay point. None of the power ended up being absorbed by Arima Ikki. Though, if it had, the uncontrollable curse would have destroyed it anyway."
"Good. Alright, everyone. I'm feeling a bit unsatisfied with how things turned out today. Vali, Hyoudou Issei—I'll let you live. It seems the current Two Heavenly Dragons are showing interesting growth, and I wouldn't mind a rematch someday. Heroes always challenge Great Satans or legendary dragons, after all."
"You're really... full of yourself, aren't you, Cao Cao?"
Vali's voice was low and still weak, but his scorn was clear.
"Back at you. I heard you threatened to kill his family just to trigger the Red Dragon Emperor's forbidden form. We're not so different, you and I. Georg, inform Hades of the situation. They still want Ophis, weakened or not. And have them retrieve Samael as well—they'll know how to deal with him better than we do. Oh, and try out that teleportation swap Luffy used earlier. Switch me with Siegfried. I'd like to go play—with Fenrir on the other side, after all."
"It was a technique I saw only once, but I should be able to manage."
"To say that after one glance... As expected of a descendant of the infamous Mephisto Pheles—Georg Faust."
"Honestly, living up to that name is way too much pressure."
"As you heard, we'll be summoning Hades' reapers and Siegfried here shortly. Personally, I'd like you all to survive—but I won't stop the others from killing you. True worth is found in surviving the impossible, right? The treasure hunt's over—now begins the escape game. Do your best to clear it."
"Get back here, you bastards!!"
Issei fired a Dragon Shot to stop Cao Cao and Georg, but they vanished into the mist a second before it hit.
Damn it! I agree with Vali—what a bunch of smug bastards!
"Issei! Forget them! Ikki is the priority! Asia, Cao Cao's gone, so your powers should be back. Try a long-distance heal!"
"Y-Yes!"
Asia sent a healing aura toward me, but it was blocked—just like with the Phoenix Tears.
"In that case, Shirone! You and I will purify him together! Asia, hit the spots where the aura weakens and try to heal those areas!"
"Yes, Sister!"
"Understood!"
Kuroka and Shirone's dual purification weakened the curse enough for Asia's aura to slip in. Physically, I felt a little better—but the wounds weren't healing.
The curse must be injuring me at the same rate that I'm healing.
The full effects of the healing aura clearly weren't reaching me.
"I-I'll try a curse-removal spell too!"
Le Fay offered to cast a spell, but Azazel-sensei stopped her.
"No. Curse-breaking magic likely won't help. The curse isn't being inflicted from outside—it's pouring out from inside. Honestly, I can't believe he's still alive after absorbing Samael. Right now, we need time. We can't afford to fight Hades' reapers like this. Le Fay, set up the strongest barrier you can manage."
With Azazel-sensei's request, Le Fay moved away to reinforce the area with a layered magical barrier.
So... I should be dead already, huh?
As Azazel's words sank in, I forced myself to ignore the swirling malice inside and focus.
My thoughts were all over the place, but one possibility came to mind.
The one that absorbed Samael was my Sacred Gear—Verg Avesta.
Right after absorbing Samael, I felt like something was filling up inside me—a "vessel" of sorts.
In Fate, Angra Mainyu is said to embody "all the evils of this world," so it kind of makes sense that Samael's "divine malice" would be drawn to Verg Avesta.
But then... why couldn't I fully contain it? By volume alone, divine malice should be less than "all the world's evil," right? Maybe it's my [Divinity: C+] stat?
If [Divinity] inherited from Angra works as the vessel, then it makes sense that I only started losing control after it filled to the brim. Right now, I'm dealing with the overflow—the excess that [Divinity: C+] couldn't handle.
...Though I'm still on death's doorstep.
Maybe if I had [Divinity: A+] like a certain golden king, I could've tanked it. Didn't he once say, "You'll need three times as much filth to taint me," after bathing in the Grail's mud?
...Though that probably had nothing to do with [Divinity] itself.
Anyway, if I want to increase my compatibility with Verg Avesta, I need to reach Balance Breaker. If I don't, I will die.
But is it enough just to trigger it? Right now, my soul is flooded with negative emotion—if I use that, I might be able to brute-force a Balance Break through sheer willpower.
Still, I want to hedge my bets and tailor it toward [Divinity] as much as possible. If I can raise it during the process, my chances of surviving increase.
I've already proven that Issei's [Boosted Gear: Gift] can raise my [Divinity]—we saw that during the Rating Game with Riser.
But this time, I need the strongest Gift he's got! Even with Kuroka and Shirone purifying me, I'll need a massive power boost!
"...Issei... Can you hear me...? I need a favor."
My voice was hoarse—my body torn apart, my head splitting.
"Yeah! What is it, Ikki!? I'll do anything!"
Issei shouted back, desperate.
"Rias-senpai's chest... poke it... for me..."
My vision was blurred, and my ears were ringing—but even I could tell everyone just froze.
"Ikkiiii!? What the hell!? Has Samael's poison scrambled your brain!? Stay with us!"
"Ikki! What exactly do you think will happen if Issei pokes my chest right now!?"
Yep. The two involved are understandably panicking. But please—just do it already. I'm about to pass out here.
"If not... Akeno-senpai's too... both at once is fine..."
At that, Issei spurted a nosebleed.
"Gwah! Just imagining it gave me a nosebleed! But wait, Ikki! Even if Rias is okay with it, which one do I push—left or right!? Sirzechs-sama always said a man has two arms for a reason!"
Even when I'm dying, this guy won't compromise on his principles...
"Then stretch your thumb and forefinger as wide as possible and have them press their peaks together! Given the elasticity of their chests, you should be able to reach all four peaks at once!"
Wait. Did I just say something ridiculous? Whatever. Doesn't matter now.
"What the... Ikki... How many times must I learn from your genius!?"
Issei sounded almost emotional—but cut that out! Just focus!
"Then channel the power into my [Divinity]. That'll be enough."
"My Divinity, huh...? Yeah, that's finally a serious line! Alright, if this helps save you, then let's do it! Rias! Akeno-san! Please, let me push the button!"
"I'm more than ready! Rias, hurry and present your chest!"
I think I heard Akeno-senpai shout somewhere in the distance with way too much excitement. She must've jumped at the chance as soon as Issei asked.
"A-Akeno! You're way too eager!"
Rias protested, but Kuroka had had enough.
"Ugh, just hurry and push the switch! Ikki's almost at his limit!"
"President! Please!"
"If you take any longer, we'll have to rely solely on Akeno-sama's Boob Power: New Type!?"
Rushed by all three, Rias finally made up her mind.
"Fine! Just do it already, Issei!"
"Then—here I go, you two!"
"Iyaa~n"
"Aaahn"
With a powerful shout, Issei delivered the poke—and moments later, an enormous aura exploded nearby as he immediately transferred the power to me.
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