"Sirzechs's wife, the strongest Queen of the Underworld, let me test myself against your strength!"
Takeyo's lips curved into a confident smirk.
Why not talk big? Let himself enjoy the moment! Whether the sign-in system triggered was secondary to the thrill of the challenge itself.
[Sacred Heart of the World Dragon! Balance Breaker!]
[Kurma Dragon Balance Breaker!]
White-gold and silver-gray light erupted around him as the armor of the World Dragon enveloped Takeyo's body!
Having stabilized at the High-Class Devil level, the aura releasing from him was definitely not that of a low-tier Maou. His own realm had settled firmly at the High-Class Devil rank, and when unleashing his full power, he could reach the peak of Ultimate-Class Devil strength. Combined with the World Dragon incarnation, he could touch the High-tier Maou level.
This incarnation remained the most convenient and powerful among his various forms. Using other incarnations alone would only grant him Low-tier Maou-level power.
As for the ultra-limit avatar? He had basically no need for it unless facing Transcendent-level opponents.
Or the Original Incarnation that he'd only used once?
That true form, capable of wielding a trace of the might from all ten incarnations combined, he'd used it just once, and even then, only a fraction of its power.
Unless he intended to destroy the world, there was no need for it.
However, Takeyo was indeed selfish by nature. Otherwise, he wouldn't have programmed his body's automatic defense system to burn through his remaining essence and obliterate his enemy if he died accidentally.
If someone truly managed to kill him through sneak attacks, the Original Incarnation's explosion would likely take the enemy down too, and perhaps leave little remaining in this world... right?
For now, though, Takeyo didn't believe anyone in this world could accomplish such a feat.
"Similar to the Balance Breaker armor of the Red Dragon Emperor and White Dragon Emperor? Truly impressive magical power."
Grayfia's eyes showed genuine appreciation.
"If Lord Takeyo wishes to spar with me, I have no objection. However..." An aura erupted from Grayfia that rivaled what Serafall had displayed before. "I must correct Lord Takeyo on one matter."
"What matter?"
"Lord Takeyo's earlier statement requires clarification." In Grayfia's hands, a complex composite magic circle began rotating with starlight intensity.
"My earlier statement?"
Takeyo naturally knew what he'd said, "Sirzechs's wife, the strongest Queen of the Underworld, let me test myself against your strength!"
What was wrong with that?
"Lord Takeyo, please verify your information before speaking. I am merely Lord Sirzechs's Queen in his peerage. Whether I am honored to be his wife..." Grayfia's tone turned icy. "That is not information you should casually assume."
"..."
Takeyo's eye twitched at those words.
Wait... was he really making an embarrassing mistake here?
"Forget it. True or not, I'll find out soon enough."
Takeyo narrowed his eyes.
[Incarnation! Krishna the Black!]
[With the authority of my words and spirit, reveal the truth of the world!]
The Golden Sword, perhaps Takeyo's most reliable tool for distinguishing truth from deception. Whether Grayfia spoke truly or not, he intended to use it.
If she was telling the truth, would he not attack her?
Please. As if.
"Huh?... It seems... it seems to be true?"
The Golden Sword forged in his grasp could seal most of Grayfia's power at once.
Though some knowledge remained incomplete, Takeyo had indeed verified the core truth.
Grayfia wasn't lying!
"But... why didn't I obtain all the knowledge? Do I have to use an ultra-limit avatar?"
Takeyo frowned.
In theory, he could know everything down to the color and style of Grayfia's underwear from any given day. Yet some crucial information remained obscured.
"Well... forget it. This sword is sufficient for sealing her abilities. As for the rest, I can wait a month or two to recover."
Takeyo's mood soured.
This feeling of knowing most but not all, like Kuroka's teasing scratches at his heart!
Like watching most of a show but missing the final crucial episode. Wasn't this sincere torture?
"Forget it, that's enough. Using an over-limit avatar other than the World Dragon form really does hurt my body."
As Takeyo continued thinking, he coughed up another mouthful of golden blood.
"Takeyo... Lord Takeyo?... Are you alright?"
Though she knew about Takeyo's medical reports, anyone looking at him would think he was severely injured.
"At least... I personally think there's no problem."
Takeyo smiled.
The World Dragon armor separated from his body, forming a forbidden domain around him.
Grayfia and Serafall were quite similar, both specialized in magic combat. So, ahem... Takeyo thought his Monk piece might actually prove useful here.
Well, since he'd made assumptions earlier, now he'd simply have to make up for it properly.
"Be careful!"
Takeyo smiled slightly as the Sword of Word-Spirit, combined with countless divine tools, flew toward Grayfia!
"Huh?... Huh?"
Grayfia attempted to activate her magic, but finding it ineffective, she decisively switched to physical combat!
That immediate adaptation impressed Takeyo. Grayfia's psychological composure far exceeded Serafall's.
But... everything remained within his expectations!
In Takeyo's hand, lightning crackled like a miniature thunder dragon.
[Three Thousand Ways, Thunder Path!]
In truth, Thunder Path had uses beyond mere offense.
As Grayfia closed the distance while evading attacks, a small thunder bolt shot from Takeyo's hand!
Crack!
Without any reaction time, the lightning breached Grayfia's physical defenses!
After the thunder dissipated, it left a faint red mark on her body.
"Oh? The effect's quite good?"
Takeyo nodded. His luck seemed excellent, achieving his goal on the first attempt.
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
Countless similar lightning bolts appeared behind Takeyo!
Compared to the divine tools and Golden Sword, these thunder strikes moved considerably faster.
"..."
Grayfia frowned. She truly had no defense against this attack.
Unable to use magic offensively, she could only apply defensive enchantments to her body. Yet even so, Takeyo broke through!
Crack!
A wave of lightning struck Grayfia collectively, leaving countless fine marks across her body.
It looked almost... like marks left by a whip.
Using top-level fighting spirit, Takeyo's physical capabilities had reached Maou-level limits. In essence, Grayfia and Serafall, both mage-types, couldn't defeat Takeyo through close combat!
Takeyo could confidently say: Except for Transcendent-level masters, no one below that tier could force him to use full strength anymore!
His mind directed countless thunder strikes toward Grayfia once more!
Half an hour later.
Takeyo somehow stopped the attacks.
Since Three Thousand Ways, Thunder Path drew from fundamental principles, he didn't need to expend his own energy to use thunder-based powers.
With simple intent, Origin Thunder attacked wherever he wished!
The reason his expression grew subtle was that he'd attempted something experimentally, and unexpectedly succeeded.
Ding!
[Congratulations to the host for completing the plot check-in! Check-in level: Gold!]
[Check-in plot: Grayfia's Approval?]
[Plot: Defeat Grayfia and earn her recognition.]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining reward: World-Class Item, Mountains and Rivers State Map!]
[World-Class Item, Mountains and Rivers State Map: From the Overlord world, one of the eleven World Items held by Ainz Ooal Gown.
Appears as a large scroll approximately one meter long.
Inspired by the magic treasure from Journey to the West possessed by Nüwa. Can lock opponents into a different-dimensional space with scope extending to an entire city. Contains one hundred different spatial types with various means to continuously drain the opponent's stamina, while randomly selecting one of forty escape methods for the opponent to attempt meeting conditions.
Original version: Once opponent successfully escapes, space immediately releases and ownership transfers to opponent.
Modified version: Returns all attacks launched by opponent during imprisonment period back to them instantly!]
Takeyo, after using Thunder Path to whip Grayfia's entire body pink, somehow completed this task.
No... actually, it couldn't be called "somehow." More like an unexpected windfall?
From Grayfia's information, he'd learned she possessed hidden masochistic tendencies, so he'd decided to test it.
Trying cost him nothing, right? If he succeeded, blood profit. Even if he failed, at least his mood improved?
"Forget it... I should heal her."
After Takeyo withdrew, his attitude shifted considerably.
Perhaps satisfying the sadistic desire in his heart? Perhaps releasing his initial discomfort with Grayfia? Perhaps because he'd confirmed she wasn't married to Sirzechs?
Maybe all three factors played a role. Either way, he no longer harbored much dislike toward her.
As Takeyo extended his hand and released white healing light, he also retracted the World Dragon armor from the air.
"..."
Grayfia opened her eyes, the pink flush still not faded from her body, looking at Takeyo coldly.
"I didn't expect Lord Takeyo to possess this level of strength now."
With a magic circle's glow, the battle-damaged version of Grayfia's maid outfit transformed into pristine condition.
No, perhaps the previous state couldn't be called "battle-damaged." More like... a "love play" version?
"Then I shall take my leave."
Without further words, Grayfia took one deep look at Takeyo before a magic circle flickered beneath her feet, instantly transporting her from this alternate space.
Though she showed no emotional fluctuation, Takeyo had clearly seen her anger.
"Was it too much?... No, who told you to interfere before? Since you're not Rias's sister-in-law, what business is my relationship with Rias to you?"
"Wrong..."
Takeyo suddenly realized another possibility.
"Hmm, rather than suffering minor injury while never knowing, letting me remain tormented is the greater punishment."
Takeyo narrowed his eyes, making a decision.
[Krishna Incarnation: Original]
[The Incarnation of Black Krishna: Original Form!]
Takeyo's eyes turned pure gold, seemingly capable of penetrating past and future!
"Ahem..."
Several minutes later, Takeyo returned to campus while coughing blood.
"I can afford the price of one extra day's injury."
Though it lasted only moments, Takeyo had seen what he wanted.
"Mm?"
Approaching Ravel's location, Takeyo noticed the campus differed from when he'd left.
"Interesting... a little wildcat snuck onto campus. As a student council member, I suppose I must undertake the task of catching it."
Takeyo headed to Koneko's classroom.
Besides Takeyo observing Koneko, a black cat also watched her intently.
In Koneko's classroom.
The black cat sat in the back, watching Koneko during public arts class. Today, across different grades and times, students displayed clay sculptures.
Koneko held up a set of handsome armor.
"Nya nya nya... Shirone really is fascinated by that man."
The black cat could tell her sister had sculpted Takeyo's armor from when he used [Sacred Heart of the World Dragon] in Tyrannical Dragon mode.
Perhaps from embarrassment, Koneko hadn't directly sculpted Takeyo's appearance.
Otherwise, another wave of gossip would sweep through the class.
☆☆☆
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