Chapter 319 - Akeno's Invitation
"Is the Red Dragon Emperor really that powerful?" Kuroka asked, her voice brimming with intrigue, unlike the somber mood of the others.
Her expression alone revealed her fascination with this Red Dragon Emperor Vali described.
"Beyond my expectations," Vali said gravely. "In just Balance Breaker, he overpowered me."
"He also wields a bow and arrow rivaling a Longinus," Vali added candidly. "That weapon nearly killed me. Even in incomplete Juggernaut Drive, I couldn't stop it."
"A bow and arrow matching a Longinus?" Arthur mused, his brow furrowing. "A newly discovered Longinus, perhaps? This Red Dragon Emperor sounds dangerously formidable. Could he disrupt our plans?"
The information painted a troubling picture: this Red Dragon Emperor possessed multiple Sacred Gear-level artifacts, two at Longinus caliber. Such a concentration of power in one person was unprecedented.
"Likely not," Vali said, shaking his head. "This is our fated duel, unrelated to broader schemes."
Recalling the battle, Vali's eyes flickered with frustration. Since awakening Divine Dividing, he'd known he was the strongest White Dragon Emperor in history. He'd been curious about his destined rival but never saw him as a true threat. To Vali, the Red Dragon Emperor was merely a stepping stone to greater foes.
Reality had humbled him. Their first clash nearly cost him his life. Without his team's rescue, he'd have perished at the tripartite meeting.
Yet, his fighting spirit flared brighter. Vali wasn't one to stay down. "The Red Dragon Emperor is my rival," he declared firmly. "I'll surpass him."
"Sounds thrilling," Kuroka purred, her eyes gleaming with allure. "A child with him would be extraordinary, wouldn't it?"
"Sister Kuroka, eyeing the Red Dragon Emperor already?" Le Fay asked, her curiosity piqued.
"A Red Dragon Emperor stronger than Vali? Hard to resist," Kuroka said with a seductive smile. "He's likely the strongest of the younger generation. I'm not borrowing from those ancient relics."
"Careful you don't get burned," Bikou teased from the sidelines. "His fiancée's fierce. You might lose more than you gain."
"I have my ways," Kuroka replied coolly.
"Vali, are we still heading to the Norse pantheon?" Bikou asked.
"No rush. We'll find another chance," Vali said, standing and shaking his head.
"Shame. It was a rare shot to spar with Odin and his crew," Bikou sighed.
"There'll be other opportunities," Vali said, then asked, "Any word on Cao Cao's whereabouts?"
"Cao Cao?" Arthur frowned, puzzled. "What about him?"
"He set me up," Vali said with a cold smirk. "I owe him a proper payback."
Vali hadn't forgotten Mahiro's words at the meeting. While he hadn't believed in the Old Satan Faction's plan, he wasn't about to let Cao Cao's betrayal slide. Revenge was due.
"No solid leads, but our Khaos Brigade spies suggest Cao Cao's group is planning something big," Arthur replied.
"Keep tabs on them. We'll deliver a surprise when the time's right," Vali said.
In Kuoh Town, the battle-damaged Kuoh Academy had been fully repaired after the tripartite meeting. For the next few days, life returned to normal, with students attending classes as usual. Mahiro, Rias, and their circle enjoyed a brief stretch of peace.
That evening, Mahiro's household gathered for dinner.
"Mahiro, are you free tomorrow?" Himejima Akeno asked, placing a piece of beef on his plate with a warm, inviting smile.
"I am," Mahiro nodded. "What's up?"
"Tomorrow morning, we need to visit Torii Shrine," Akeno said.
"Torii Shrine?" Mahiro paused. It was the shrine Akeno tended to.
"Isn't that place usually empty except for you?" Rias asked, her smile sharp with suspicion. As Mahiro's fiancée, her instincts told her Akeno had ulterior motives.
"Usually," Akeno confirmed. "I go back regularly to maintain it. But this time, it's not me. Lord Michael wants to meet Mahiro to discuss something important."
"Michael? Isn't he back in Heaven?" Rias asked, surprised. The archangel lingering in Kuoh Town, a devil stronghold, was unusual—unlike a certain fallen angel governor who'd stayed on as a teacher at Kuoh Academy, much to her annoyance.
"He returned, but he contacted me yesterday about this meeting," Akeno explained.
Though she lived at the villa, she visited the shrine periodically to manage its affairs. As a transit point in devil territory, it was a natural channel for Michael's request.
"Alright, I'll go with you tomorrow," Mahiro agreed.
"Why meet Mahiro at the shrine?" Rias asked, curious.
"No idea," Akeno said, shaking her head. "But from Michael's tone, it's not bad news."
"Want to join us, Rias?" Akeno offered, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
"No thanks. You can handle it," Rias declined. As a devil, she wasn't keen on facing Michael alone, and since he hadn't requested her, she saw no need to go.
"Great. I'll borrow Mahiro for the morning, then," Akeno said, her lips curving into a sly, triumphant smile, as if she'd won a small victory.
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