Kazuki and Shalba clashed violently in mid-air...
"Why!? Why won't it heal!?"
Asia was panicking over the wound that refused to close, even with the power of [Twilight Healing]. Raynare took hold of Asia's trembling hand.
"Lady Raynare!?"
"…"
Raynare shook her head faintly, as if to say, "It's enough." Asia's expression turned horrified before her shoulders slumped in despair.
Issei placed a comforting hand on Asia's shoulder.
Irina stared at Raynare. They had only just become comrades, and the thought of losing her now was unbearable. It was then that she noticed something.
"Asia, Raynare is trying to say something."
At Irina's voice, Asia looked up and leaned close to Raynare's lips.
"...A…sia… Be… happy… with Issei-k… Kun…"
The faint whisper, a wish for Asia's happiness. Upon hearing it, Asia's tears overflowed, and she let out a desperate scream.
"Oh Lord! Please lend me your strength! The power to save her, please grant it to me! I beg of you, please, please…!"
But there was no longer a God to answer Asia's cries.
Then, Yumi grabbed Asia's slumped shoulders.
"Asia, God is gone. No matter how much you pray, there will be no answer."
"Hey, Yumi!"
Issei raised a voice of reproach at Yumi's seemingly harsh words. But Yumi paid no heed and continued.
"That's why right now, you're the only one who can save her! What strengthens your [Sacred Gear] is your own feelings. So Asia, pour every ounce of your feelings into your [Sacred Gear]! It will surely answer you. So don't give up!"
"All of my feelings…"
Spurred by Yumi's encouragement, Asia stared at her hands for a moment before lifting her face again. She activated her [Sacred Gear] once more. Her tears had stopped.
"I will save her! So please, answer my feelings, [Twilight Healing]——!!"
On that day, everyone around learned for the first time that miracles are not wrought by gods, but by people.
At that moment, the emerald green light of [Twilight Healing] exploded outward.
""ASIA!!?""
The force caused Issei and Yumi to let go of Asia. The emerald light stopped, forming a pillar with a radius of about 10 meters centered on Asia. From the outside, it must have looked like they were inside a column of emerald light.
Asia was undoubtedly the source of this phenomenon. Staring at Asia at the center, Irina's face filled with astonishment.
"Asia… what is that form…?"
Yes, Asia's appearance had changed from her yellow coat. She now wore a white, sleeveless mini-skirt length armor, a golden tiara fashioned after a dragon on her brow, and held a white shield. White angelic wings spread from her back, a halo shone above her head, and her eyes and hair had turned emerald green.
"Sh-she's become an angel!?"
"No, that's wrong… This is Asia's [Balance Breaker]."
Yumi corrected the astonished Irina. 'So this is Asia's Balance Breaker!' Irina was stunned by its effect.
"My wounds… they're healing!"
"It's not just the wounds. Magical power is recovering too…"
"Strength is returning to my body… Is it even restoring stamina!?"
Rias and Issei voiced their amazement. It seemed within this emerald light, wounds healed, and even lost magical power and stamina were restored.
Moreover…
"Look! Raynare!?"
Raynare's body, which had suffered a fatal wound, was regenerating as if time was being reversed! Her flesh regenerated visibly, color returned to her paper-white face, and her faint, dying breaths grew calm. Soon, Raynare's eyes fluttered slightly open.
Asia's previous power couldn't regenerate missing body parts, but this recovery ability was on a completely different level.
"…Asia? I'm…?"
"Thank goodness, Raynare-sama…!"
Asia directed a smile brimming with compassion at Raynare. Perhaps because Raynare had regained consciousness, the emerald light enveloping them vanished, and simultaneously, Asia's Balance Breaker was released.
"Is this… Did you heal me?"
Raynare touched various parts of her body, shocked that her mortal wounds were completely healed.
At that moment, as if having exhausted all her strength, Asia collapsed onto Raynare's chest, a gentle smile still on her face.
""""ASIA!!?""""
Everyone rushed over in a panic as Kuroka checked her condition.
"Kuroka, Asia!?"
"She's fine, nya. Her energy flow is normal. She's just asleep from exhaustion. It's no wonder after suddenly wielding that much power, nyaa…"
Hearing that, they all let out expressions of relief. Thank goodness, both Asia and Raynare were safe.
"A complete recovery ability… That's Asia's Balance Breaker."
"It's tremendous power. From now on, we'll have to be even more careful guarding Asia-chan."
As Rias said, such power would be coveted by every faction. Given Irina's position, she would have to report this to Michael, but what should she do…? For now, she would simply rejoice in everyone's safety.
All that remained was to wait for Kazuki's victory. Irina looked up at the sky where thunderous roars echoed.
Suddenly, the emerald green light vanished.
Kazuki had been monitoring everyone's status via sensors, so he knew they were all safe.
Kazuki Fuwa turned his full attention back to Shalba.
"Dammit! What the hell are you!?"
Shalba had been launching every attack he could think of, but they were all blocked by the barrier of [Guyver Gigantic], not reaching Kazuki at all.
He wasn't going to let this bastard off with just a defeat. He would beat absolute terror into him.
"Is that all you've got?"
"Impossible!? I researched Guyver's abilities beforehand. My power, amplified to the level of a former Maou by the 'Ophis Snake,' should have been enough to defeat him! Yet he's surpassing the specs I researched!?"
'That's only natural. The only time I've shown Guyver Gigantic up until now has been when I fought Sirzechs-sama, so there's no way they would know.'
"Your intel was lacking. Now it's my turn."
Kazuki charged at Shalba.
"Hmph, don't look down on me!!"
Shalba erected multiple layers of defensive barriers, but did he really think that would stop him?
The [Gravity Knuckle], powered by the full output of [Guyver Gigantic], shattered Shalba's barriers as easily as tearing through paper screens.
"GUGYAAAAAAAAAAAH!?"
Taking the [Gravity Knuckle] head-on, Shalba plummeted to the ground at tremendous speed.
He was groaning at the center of a massive crater, 'So you are still alive.' Even though he'd guarded at the last moment, Kazuki had felt the sensation of crushing bone. One arm, or perhaps both, must have been shattered.
"Impossible… My barriers were broken so easily…"
Shalba muttered in disbelief, but to Kazuki, it was only natural.
"In the end, you're just like Katerea. No matter how much you boost your magic with the 'Ophis Snake,' it's meaningless if you can't wield it properly."
A prideful bastard like him probably never bothered with training to master his power.
"You probably got your hands on the 'Ophis Snake,' thought you'd gotten strong, and went on this rampage, right? But borrowed power is just that in the end. Did you really think someone who can't even beat me could defeat Sirzechs-sama or the other Maous? You're a fucking joke."
"G-GUYVER! You dare mock me…!!"
Enraged, Shalba tried to fire a magic bullet with his broken arm. 'What a stubborn fool!'
ZAN!
"UGYAAAAAAAAAAAAH——!!"
Before he could fire, Kazuki severed both of Shalba's arms with the [High-Frequency Sword]. He then pinned Shalba down underfoot, immobilizing him.
"Katerea and Creuserey are waiting. Go to hell and regret making an enemy of us."
"H-HIIIIIIIIEEEEEE!?"
Shalba's face twisted in terror. Kazuki raised his left hand before Shalba's eyes to deliver the final blow.
Power gathered in his left hand as he prepared to fire the [Tiger Cannon].
At that moment…
『Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide!!』
The gathered power was snuffed out. Only one person could pull a trick like this.
"Sorry about that, but I can't let you kill him just yet."
Without a hint of remorse, a woman with eight light wings descended from the sky.
"So you're back, Vali…!"
The White Dragon Emperor, Vali Lucifer, flanked by two companions, wore a cheerful smile on her gorgeous face.
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