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DxD: Spawn of the Dragon
Chapter 13: Dragon vs Phenex
-Tiamat-
Tiamat sat in the quiet locker room both herself and Asia not uttering a word, the only noise was that of the arena muffled to a distant chatter. She had no desire to be among the devils in the VIP box and endure their posturing and theatrics.
Instead both she and by default Asia, opted to wait in this room for Emrys return. Speaking of the little nun, she sat nervously beside Tiamat while clutching a small charm she'd made combining the scales of Emrys and Tiamat herself. Anxious Asia had been fiddling with since the match was announced.
A massive screen in front of them displayed the arena that was currently a stark white void. Ajuka stood between Emrys and Ruval, explaining the pre-match setup. His calm voice carried through the speakers as he asked both fighters to declare the environment they desired for their battle.
"Ruval Phenex, what environment would you prefer?" Ajuka asked, turning to the proud Phenex heir and Ruval after taking a moment to respond after clearly considering his options.
"A volcanic field," he declared, his voice steady and confident, "The heat and magma will provide me with an advantage." He said looking at Emrys as if to goad him into agreeing.
Tiamat snorted softly.
'Predictable.' She thought, but just because a volcano had the element of heat and it played to the Phenex family's strength, it wasn't absolute, especially when Emrys was the by-product of Ddraig, a dragon who had a lair near the core of the earth.
"And you, Emrys?" Ajuka's gaze shifted to her son, and unlike Ruval, Emrys didn't hesitate for a second.
"The Roman Colosseum," he said, his voice carrying a weight that made everyone except her look at him in surprise, especially Ruval, who visibly faltered, his composed expression cracking as he stared at Emrys in disbelief.
"The Roman Colosseum?" he repeated and Emrys smirked, the same cocky grin Tiamat knew all too well.
"I don't want to play peek-a-boo with you. I'm going to show you that if you're going to face a dragon, you'll do it in a place that was made for combat. That's what it means to fight the son of Tiamat." He said and Tiamat couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. Watching her son insist on fighting Ruval head-on, with no tricks or environmental advantages for either of them, filled her with a mix of pride and apprehension.
And Ajuka who summoned a wheel with both options spun it and it landed on Emrys' choice. Tiamat could feel her smile widening and her blood boiling as she watched the Colosseum materialize around the two combatants.
The ancient stone walls that looked worn from countless battles and stood as a testament to the power of warriors who gave their all and it wasn't just her she could hear the roaring crowd outside, their anticipation mirroring her energy and excitement.
'He truly is my greatest treasure,' she thought with pride and a sliver of worry churned in her chest because while she admired Emrys' resolve and refusal to back down, she knew there was a fine line between pride and hubris and she hoped he wouldn't let his confidence blind him to the reality of Ruval's strength.
'Don't let your pride trip you, Emrys.Prove to them all why dragons are the apex of this world.' She silently urged and with that thought, Tiamat settled down in her seat next to Asia, ready to watch her son face the first true test of his strength and the stakes couldn't be higher.
Her freedom, her pride, and their future all hung in the balance.
-Asia Argento-
Asia sat on the edge of her seat, her hands clasped tightly together as her gaze darted between Tiamat and the screen. The image of Emrys standing confidently in the newly materialized Roman Colosseum filled her with equal parts admiration and anxiety and despite her best efforts to not question Emrys, she couldn't silence the nagging worry gnawing at her.
"Lady Tiamat," Asia said hesitantly, her voice soft but edged with concern, but Tiamat didn't reply, her piercing blue eyes fixed intently on the screen as if analyzing every detail.
"Why didn't Emrys choose an environment like a forest or a place where he could buy time to boost? It would have given him a better chance to prepare and match Ruval's power..." Asia asked her worry spilling into her tone. This time Tiamat answered, but her eyes didn't waver from the screen.
"You've been with Emrys for over a month. Does he strike you as the type to run away until he has an absolute advantage?" she asked and Asia blinked, but as she opened her mouth to answer, no words came out.
Instead, her thoughts drifted to her memories of Emrys. She recalled his sparring sessions with Tiamat, the countless times he'd thrown himself into battle, always determined, even when he was clearly outmatched. She remembered the blood, sweat, and injuries she had tirelessly healed after each spar. Even when his body was battered, his spirit was unbroken.
"No, he's not... He even fights you without backing down." she admitted and Tiamat's lips curled into a faint, knowing smirk.
"Exactly. Emrys is that type of dragon to his core, he got it from me. We don't hide or cower while waiting for the perfect moment. We face our challenges head-on, no matter how powerful the opponent and he chose the Roman Colosseum because it represents the kind of fight he wishes to have." Asia absorbed Tiamat's words, but her worry didn't completely fade.
"Do you think he'll win?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly at the thought of Emrys losing, but Tiamat, who finally turned her gaze to Asia, simply smirked.
"I'm already thinking about how to use the Phenex family's resources to expand Emrys' influence," she said with quiet confidence and Asia felt the sheer certainty in Tiamat's tone settling the anxiousness in her chest.
She let out a small sigh of relief, her hands finally unclenching as a determined expression replaced her earlier worry. She clasped her hands in silent prayer, bowing her head slightly.
"Please, God, watch over Emrys and let him win this battle." She prayed before turning her attention back to the screen as she excitedly waited for the match to begin.
-Emrys-
He stood there, his gaze locked onto Ruval's form, analyzing every subtle movement. From the way he breathed to the way stretched his body, Emrys' grin could only widen as his adrenaline surged, his blood singing with anticipation as his recently developed sensing abilities showed him just how strong his opponent was.
"Hey Ruval! I want you to go full out, because this is going to be the fight of my life." He said wanting to make sure his opponent knew what he wanted from this fight and Ruval raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth quirking up into a small smile.
"Confident, aren't you? If you're so sure, tell me if I lose, what's Tiamat planning to do with my family?" Ruval replied and Emrys's grin was replaced by a frown.
"Are you already planning to lose?" he asked pointedly not wanting someone who was going into this with a losing mindset.
"Not at all. I'm confident I'll win. I'm just curious." Ruval said as his smile disappeared, replaced by a determined expression.
"Then it shouldn't matter what Tiamat wants to do with your family," Emrys shot back irritated by Ruval's comment and as the devil went to open his mouth again Emrys cut him off, his grin returning with a feral edge, "Enough talking, we're here to fight."
Emrys boosted himself while summoning his Touki which caused his aura to explode outward and he launched himself forward in a blur of motion to anyone below Ultimate class, closing the distance between them in an instant.
Ruval while caught off guard matched and even surpassed Emrys his speed, the two clashing before engaging in a flurry of blows that sent shockwaves rippling through the arena, and it take long for the first exchange to end with Emrys being launched backward, the force of Ruval's punch to his face sent Emrys flying towards the colosseums wall.
The impact made his vision flicker as pain shot through his body and before Emrys could recover, Ruval already closed the distance, his hand expelling white flames to propelled himself forward at incredible speed and once in position Ruval landed a mighty kick that connected with Emrys's stomach, launching him back towards the center of the arena like a ragdoll.
Emrys' mind went blank for a moment, the sheer force of the blow overwhelming his senses and he only came back to himself when more pain exploded through his body, this time from an uppercut that sent him flying higher into the air.
Dazed, he managed to look down, spotting Ruval below him, casting a massive magic circle that glowed with power and Emrys could tell that Ruval's spell was no mere attack, it was a finishing move.
He could feel the overwhelming power radiating from it and Emrys instinctively knew that as he was now, if he was hit by it that would end the fight instantly and despite that instead of fear, a wave of pure exhilaration washed over him. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, his blood roaring with excitement.
He was made for battle and with a sharp exhale everything clicked into place as he boosted multiple times in rapid succession, his power multiplying exponentially. Truly live battle was the best way to grow stronger and as Ruval unleashed his spell which launched a massive bird of white flames toward him, Emrys took a deep breath drawing on the bloodline he had inherited from Ddraig as he exhaled a torrent of dark crimson fire, smaller in size compared to Ruval's attack but far more potent and concentrated.
The two attacks collided, and to everyone's shock, Emrys's flames cut through Ruval's spell like a hot knife through butter and the massive bird disintegrated, its form dissipating as Emrys's flames pierced through, their destructive power undiminished.
Ruval's eyes widened in disbelief as he initially tried to block the crimson flames with his left arm, but he hissed in pain and was forced to dodge to the side after feeling the sheer heat of Emrys' flames. A desperate wind spell only made the flames grow stronger.
Ruval's normally calm demeanor cracked for a moment, a flicker of panic flashing across his face and when Emrys couldn't hold back a laugh as his voice dripped with confidence, "These flames are the same crimson fire that Ddraig once wielded to burn gods themselves. They won't be put out by some pathetic winds."
Emrys launched himself toward the devil once again while boosting. They threw punches and kicks rapidly, with Emrys holding his ground for a fleeting moment before Ruval delivered a brutal right hook. The force of the punch rattled Emrys's brain, sending him hurtling backward. Despite the jarring impact, Emrys's grin only widened, his revelry in the fight unshaken, because he could feel it in their clash, that he was gradually gaining on Ruval, a few more boosts and he would equal and even surpass the devil.
Stopping himself mid-air with his dragon wings, Emrys boosted once more as he shot forward again this time he released a venerable sea of normal flames and Ruval, now wary of any flames Emrys produced, reacted swiftly, his fire wings carrying him out of harm's way as he soared above the inferno, his movements cautious.
'Once bitten twice shy.' Emrys thought while smirking because he wasn't aiming to land a direct hit, he was taking a page from Tiamat's playbook and using the flames as a mere distraction.
While Ruval focused on gaining altitude to evade the blaze, Emrys boosted once more and quickly followed slamming into Ruval with a powerful tackle. The impact drew a grunt of pain from Ruval, and Emrys felt the Phenex's body flinch in pain beneath his grip.
The reaction puzzled him because Ruval was durable and should have been more than capable of withstanding a direct hit like that.
'Why had he flinched?' The brief moment of confusion cost Emrys as Ruval regained his composure and landed a devastating knee to Emrys's chest.
The force caving in his chest as a sharp pain assaulted his senses and drove the air from his lungs. He could feel and hear it, multiple cracks echoing in his ears as he was forced to release his hold.
Ruval wasted no time creating distance between them shooting a concentrated stream of flames to gain speed and attack Emrys at the same time and with no room to evade, Emrys partially transformed, summoning his dragon scales and enhancing his fire resistance, so while the flames were intense, his boosted durability and dragon scales dulled the pain, leaving him merely uncomfortable.
Expecting Ruval to follow up, Emrys boosted once again and covered his vulnerable spots as he still couldn't see, surrounded by a constant stream of flames, but that attack never came and when he focused his magic senses he detected Ruval high above. The Phenex's position confused him, because Ruval had the upper hand, so why retreat instead of pressing the advantage?
As the flames finally stopped, Emrys got his answer when he saw Ruval still cradling his left arm, his face etched with frustration and going over the battle, it clicked and realization hit Emrys like a lightning bolt.
His crimson flames that had burned Ruval's arm hadn't just damaged his body, it damaged his very soul because the Phenex family's regenerative power wasn't just ingrained in their body it was tied to their very being, so even if they were completely disintegrated as long as they had a untouched soul and mana a member of the Phenex family could regenerate their entire body, but since Emrys' crimson flames were capable of burning the souls, Ruval's healing had been rendered ineffective.
The devil's expression turned dark as he summoned a small vial, the same one Ajuka had given them before the start of the match. It was a Phoenix Tear, a rare medicine that was capable of restoring even the gravest injuries and with a resigned look Ruval uncorked the vial and let the glowing liquid coat his burned arm. The healing was immediate, the flames extinguished, but the damage to Ruval's pride remained.
Perhaps he'd get through this fight with having to use his own Phoenix tear, so he smirked knowing he now had the advantage as he boosted again, the familiar surge of power from another boost coursed through his body and Emrys could feel it he had for the first time in the fight surpassed the threshold of Ultimate Class.
It was an intoxicating feeling no matter how many times it happened and he despite the pain that racked his torso, he felt like he truly held the advantage and prepared for the next clash, his golden eyes gleaming with confidence as they locked onto Ruval, who hovered above him with a fierce glare.
Without warning, Ruval simply threw caution aside and with an ear-splitting boom he launched himself downward, his body cloaked with wind magic to help him cut through the air faster as both gravity and concentrated flames shot up combined to create a meteor-like descent.
Emrys's instincts screamed at him to dodge, but the speed of the attack left no room for such luxuries and he could only try to protect himself, boosting as he crossed his scaled arms in front of him in a desperate attempt to shield his body.
Ruval's knee connected with devastating force, the impact driving Emrys into the colosseum floor like a hammer striking an anvil. The ground beneath them cratering, sending shockwaves through the colosseum. The cracks covered the entire floor and even reached the walls of the colosseum, with dust and debris flying and shrouding the two combatants in stone and smoke.
'Pain' That was the only word that came to mind as Emrys felt his scaled arms snap under the immense force and his already fractured ribs fully broke with one puncturing his lung.
Just breathing became a fight as struggled to inhale because each time he contracted his muscles he felt a sharp stab of agony through his torso, but despite the catastrophic injuries, Emrys's thoughts quickly refocused. He was used to pain as his body had been hardened by countless brutal spars with Tiamat, because compared to her merciless training, this pain was manageable.
However Ruval wasn't about to let up and as he straddled Emrys he began delivering a relentless barrage of punches, elbows and palms to Emrys's face. Each blow was heavy and precise, backed by both Ruval's strength and Emrys' head snapped back repeatedly under the onslaught, blood splattering with every strike.
With his arms broken and his body pinned, Emrys had no way to defend himself and Ruval's unrelenting assault gave him no opportunity to retrieve a Phoenix Tear, so all he could do was endure and hope for a chance to counter, if it ever came.
He could feel his nose shattered as blood poured freely down his face. A particularly vicious elbow made a sickening crunch as Emrys felt his lip split open completely and several teeth knocked loose with a few slipping down his throat as he gasped for breath.
His head kept snapping from side to side before smacking the hard floor of the colosseum. Soon after his vision darkened as his eyes swelled shut under the punishment. His once handsome face was so broken and bloody that hardly anyone could recognize him, evidence of the sheer power and ferocity behind Ruval's attacks.
Emrys' vision fully faded, his eyes swollen shut and covered in blood and as his mind grew hazy it threatened to sink into unconsciousness.
-Rias Gremory-
Rias sat on the edge of her seat, her knuckles white as she clenched her fists harder than ever before. Each brutal punch Ruval landed on Emrys felt like a strike to her own heart and she flinched with every blow, her crimson hair trembling as her body physically recoiled in time with Emrys's suffering.
The sight of him battered, bloodied, and pinned to the cracked ground of the colosseum made her stomach twist in knots and her mind raced with dark thoughts, each one more vengeful than the last.
Finally her nails broke skin and dug into her palm snapping her out of the trance she was in, but even so she was forced to watch as Ruval's slammed his fists into Emrys's face again and again.
Her love, her dragon, the man who had claimed her heart, was being brutalized before her very eyes. In that moment, Rias felt a fury she hadn't known she was capable of. It wasn't the righteous anger of a noble devil, but something far darker and more primal. A deep, seething desire to see Ruval Phenex utterly broken and annihilated.
She felt a hand on her shoulder, but ignored it as her gaze focused on the screen, where Emrys' once proud and handsome face was now a bloodied mess.
Something inside her snapped and her mind raced with vengeful fantasies: stepping into the arena herself and disintegrating Ruval with her Power of Destruction which she knew wouldn't happen as she was a child before an ultimate class devil, but calling upon her brother was a more viable choice as she would get him to deliver the kind of slow and excruciating death that no devil has seen before.
She was pretty sure she could make it happen within the day too, because Rias had always known her brother's obsession with her was far from healthy and while in the past she'd never pushed him past a certain point, she found herself willing to exploit his lust for her, because if offering herself to Sirzechs would ensure that the Phenex family would suffered beyond imagination, she would endure it to avenge Emrys.
Her thoughts spiraled further this time with vindictiveness, because the Phenex family whose main sin laid in pride was something waiting to be exploited. She could already envision the punishment that would strike at their pride.
She would force them to watch as Issei, her ever-perverted pawn, claimed their wives and sisters in the most humiliating display imaginable, she was sure he would probably say yes to getting some pussy having lusted over herself and the rest of the peerage for the past month. Rias could already see it, Ravel and Rayna beneath Issei, their cries echoing as the men of the Phenex family roared in impotent rage, unable to stop the degradation of their beloved as she destroyed their manhood on a molecular level with her POD repeatedly. It was a cruel, spiteful fantasy, but one that brought a fleeting sense of satisfaction to her fury.
But all of those thoughts evaporated in an instant when her eyes caught movement on the screen. The sight sent a shiver down her spine.
-Tiamat-
Tiamat sat like a statue, her sharp gaze locked onto the screen displaying the brutal beating her son was enduring. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails bit into her palms, drawing thin lines of blood, but she barely noticed. The rage boiling inside her was far beyond anything she had experienced before, even greater than the time Ddraig had destroyed her treasure.
This was different.
This was personal.
Her son, her pride, the embodiment of her legacy was being battered into unconsciousness and humiliated in front of the entire supernatural world, she could see the amount of blood pooling beneath him, his once-proud form now limp and defenseless under Ruval's relentless assault.
Her chest burned with a white hot fury, not just at Ruval and the Phenex family, but at Emrys himself.
'Why did he let his arrogance blind him? Why didn't he fight more cautiously?' she thought bitterly, but a part of her knew the blame wasn't his alone. She closed her eyes for a moment, and a dangerous growl escaped her throat.
'This is my fault.' She thought because she was the one who chose him as her champion. She was the one who had pushed him to fight and now he was paying the price for her decision. Tiamat's thoughts turned dark, and she made no effort to hold them back.
'If my son dies here, there will be no mercy. I will renege on my word and reduce the entire Phenex family to ash.' She thought, her mind raced with visions of vengeance.
She could already see herself hunting down every last member of the Phenex family, reducing their grand estates to smoldering ruins, taking their wealth and giving it to heaven and if the rest of the devil race dared to stand in her way, she would destroy them as well.
She knew it was impossible to kill them all by herself, so she would call upon her kin, some of the mightiest dragons in existence, and if they rejected she would force them with Asia's dragon tamer abilities to sway even the most obstinate. Tiamat would see the devil race annihilated, their arrogance repaid in blood and fire.
If they kept her from annihilating the House of Phenex, she couldn't care about the political repercussions, the alliances that might crumble, or the wrath of the devil kings. They were inconsequential compared to the fury of a mother whose son had been wronged. Her chest heaved as her draconic instincts screamed for retribution.
But then, something on the screen caught her eye. Her breath hitched, and her spiraling thoughts came to an abrupt halt.
The sight caused Tiamat's rage to still, replaced by a stunned silence as she leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the screen.
-Serafall Leviathan-
Serafall Leviathan sat tensely in her seat, her normally bubbly and eccentric demeanor subdued as she watched the brutal fight unfolding in the arena. The sound of fists colliding with flesh echoed through the broadcast, and she cringed with every deafening impact that cratered the already ravaged colosseum floor. She clenched her wand tightly, resisting the urge to intervene as Ruval relentlessly pounded Emrys into the ground.
She'd seen worse during the civil war, but the potential repercussion of this beating was more than any other singular fight she had ever witnessed and beside her, Roygun Belphegor, always composed and analytical, kept her commentary steady, highlighting Ruval's strength and the tactical brilliance he displayed throughout the match.
But Serafall was barely listening. Her gaze kept flickering to Ajuka, the match overseer, who sat impassively in his observation booth.
'Why hasn't he called it yet?If this keeps up and Emrys dies…' she thought frantically, because unlike other rating games arenas that automatically retired participants, this one didn't have that function because Emrys wasn't a devil.
The potential fallout made her stomach churn because Tiamat was known for her vengeful fury, the red dragon emperor's being a prime example, and she would never allow the death of her champion, who was her son, go unanswered.
Serafall had no doubt the Dragon King would unleash hell on the Phenex family, and worse, Ddraig might push his current host, the pawn of Rias, into the dreaded Juggernaut Drive to exact revenge as well. The thought alone sent a shiver down her spine. The chaos that would follow could shake the entire underworld to its core, both the Strongest Dragon King and a Heavenly Dragon coming for them.
Serafall's train of thought was interrupted by Roygun who tapped her subtly while still continuing her analysis of the match and after blinking, she realized that she'd completely spaced out.
'Oh no! I'm supposed to be co-commentating this!' She hastily gestured for Roygun to let her speak and plastering on her trademark Magical Girl Levi-tan smile, she leaned into the microphone.
"Well, everyone! It looks like Emrys is in quite the pickle right now!" she chirped, though her cheerful tone was forced, "Ruval has really shown why he's one constantly among the top ten in the Rating Games! What a fight Emrys has put on, though, don't you think, Roygun? Especially considering he's still just a teenager!" She urged her co-host to agree and hopefully change the narrative of the fight, but she doubted it would do much.
Roygun nodded, getting the hint as she added to Serafall's commentary, "Indeed, Serafall. Ruval has proven his strength, but I must say, Emrys' tenacity and raw potential are remarkable. Few could stand against Ruval at this level, let alone push him as far as Emrys has. I would like to see what he becomes in a few years after some more training under his mother Dragon King Tiamat."
Serafall hoped their words would nudge Ajuka into stopping the fight, but as she focused on the screen once more, her heart sank as she saw Emrys lying limp, not responding or breathing, beneath Ruval's who continued to rain down relentless blows.
"It really does seem like a winner has been decided here…" she said carefully, her words an implicit suggestion. "Maybe it's time to call the ma-."
The crowd's roaring interrupted her. The arena was a cacophony of voices, with the majority cheering Ruval on, chanting for the devil to prove their superiority over dragons, with a minority barely audible calling for the fight to be stopped, concerned that the young dragon's life was at risk. Serafall's anxiety grew with every second that Ajuka remained silent.
Roygun agreed with her previous statement and gave it a try to convince the crowd to call for what started as a fight to end, "Ruval's performance here truly cements his place among the greats and Emrys, despite his current state, has shown incredible promise, it's all but decided at thi—"
This time Roygun was cut off, but not by the crowd, but the scene on the screen and even Serafall, herself froze mid-breath, her eyes locked on the screen.
The crowd fell silent, stunned by the unexpected development. Serafall's hand shot to her headset, her Magical Girl persona completely forgotten as she whispered, "What in the world…"
Beside her, Roygun's eyes widened, her composed facade cracking for the first time. "No way… He's still…"
-Emrys-
Emrys lay battered and bloodied beneath Ruval's relentless fists, his eyes swollen shut rendering him blind and the taste of copper heavy on his tongue. Even now he could feel each impact, his body registered the punches, but the pain had completely dulled, replaced by a numbing sense of detachment. Somewhere in the haze of his mind, a bitter thought surfaced.
I wasn't strong enough.
The realization was a bitter pill to swallow, and it came with the horrifying image of Tiamat being claimed by the Phenex family. The thought twisted into something rage inducing, an imagined scene of Riser Phenex sneering at him, his smug face gleaming with mockery as he took Tiamat from behind with her looking down at him in disgust and disappointment. His words of breaking her and giving her the child she could truly be proud of, rang in his mind.
Proud of…
Proud of…
Pride…
Dragon's Pride…
Dragon's Pride…
That single thought ignited an inferno within Emrys, hotter than any flame Ruval could conjure. It was a rage so pure, so consuming, that it eclipsed even the searing betrayal he had felt when he discovered Rias with Issei. This was beyond anger. It was a purely primal and draconic fury. A reminder of who he was and where he came from.
He wasn't just any dragon.
He was the Legacy of Ddraig and Albion, the Grandchild of the Primordial Goddess Tiamat, and the Son of the Strongest Dragon King Tiamat.
He was a dragon, and dragons did not succumb to despair. Dragons fought until they won or until they died trying.
'I'm not dead yet, so victory is the only option.' He thought and with a roar that shook the very core of his soul, Emrys somehow boosted twice more in rapid succession.
The overwhelming surge of power coursing through him shattered the haze clouding his mind and pushed him even further into Ultimate Class and as his aura flared wildly, a torrent of crimson energy pulsed out of him in waves synced to his heartbeat, shaking the ground beneath him and making Ruval pause for the first time.
Ruval's hesitation didn't last long. He wasn't about to let Emrys regain momentum and with a snarl, he shoved his hand into Emrys' mouth, summoning a torrent of scalding flames that he unleashed directly down the dragon's throat. The flames were blindingly hot, meant to incinerate from the inside out and Emrys was unable to even bite down as all of his front teeth were knocked out.
Emrys could only scream in agony as the searing flames scorched his insides. The pain was excruciating, but the agony anchored him. It kept him from falling unconscious and each pulse of pain was a reminder.
'You're still alive. Keep fighting.'
He briefly considered using Divide, to halve Ruval's power and gain an advantage, but he dismissed the thought because he knew he wasn't going to die and with a guttural roar that was muffled by the hand in his mouth. Emrys ignored the protesting pain in his body and lunged forward, grabbing Ruval's arms with his broken limbs.
He screamed once again feeling the pain of the broken bones in his arms shifting inside his flesh, but he didn't release his hold and to ensure Ruval couldn't escape, he fully transformed his hands into massive dragon claws. The razor-sharp talons dug into Ruval's flesh, locking them together.
Drawing upon his crimson flames once more, Emrys wreathed both himself and Ruval in a hellish inferno, but unlike Ruval who was burned by the crimson flames Emrys was completely immune.
With Emry's claws digging into his flesh, Ruval struggled violently, the intense heat and Emrys' unyielding grip preventing him from retreating. The Phenex heir gritted his teeth, his mind racing for a solution and in desperation, Ruval made a brutal decision.
He cast a powerful wind spell and severed both of his arms just below the shoulders, freeing him from Emrys' grasp. Blood sprayed into the flames, evaporating before it could reach the ground, as Ruval propelled himself upward with his fire wings to regenerate.
Emrys sat there as Ruval tore himself away, momentarily disoriented. The flames around him continued to burn leaving him naked as his mind raced trying to think of a way to use the Phoenix Tear, because he couldn't use it directly the intense heat of his own flames would evaporate it instantly and his arms were too injured to lift the vial to his mouth.
After a brief moment the solution came to mind and Emrys just summoned the vial directly into his mouth. The glass felt cool against his tongue for a fleeting moment before he bit down with his few remaining teeth.
The moment the Phoenix Tear touched his tongue liquid warmth spread through him, healing his battered body and broken limbs in mere seconds. The deep burn in his throat subsided, and the sharp pain in his arms and ribs faded into nothingness and the rib that was stabbing into his lung was no more.
Emrys straightened, flexing his claws as the last vestiges of the tear's magic restored him. His broken face and swollen eyes went back to normal, so his vision cleared, and he looked up at Ruval, who was hovering above him, his arms beginning to regenerate.
A savage grin spread across Emrys' face as he locked eyes with his opponent. Despite the brutal toll the fight had taken on both of them, his draconic excitement burned brighter than ever.
"You're tough and brutal, I'll give you that," Emrys called up to Ruval, his voice dripping with challenge, "But I'm still breathing."
He was ready to lunge at Ruval, adrenaline coursing through his veins, when something gave him pause.
Ruval wore an expression of sympathy, but in Emrys mind the devil had nothing to be sorry for, they were fighting and he'd asked him to go all out from the beginning, so if Ruval regretted the brutality of their battle it was like an insult to Emrys himself.
Before Emrys could ask though, Ruval began to convulse violently as a cocoon of fire formed around him, it was so bright it seemed as if the sun was right in front of his face and while it was mildly annoying Emrys didn't bother much with the brightness his eyes adjusting to the light.
His body however buckled from the sheer pressure of the mana emanating from Ruval's technique, it was so overwhelming that Emrys nearly dropped to his knees. Only by boosting again and reaching his absolute limit, could he remain standing.
The power radiating from Ruval dwarfed anyone Emrys had fought before, it was even comparable to the brief glimpse of Tiamat's true strength that she had once shown him a while ago.
Emrys' confidence wavered for a second, but he forced a grin onto his face, tinged with nervous energy.
'This motherfucker was saving this move for the end.' He thought and perhaps this was what Ruval was apologizing for, since he didn't go all out from the beginning.
He could at this moment launch crimson flames and kill Ruval, but instead of capitalizing on Ruval's vulnerability, Emrys made a risky decision. He chose not to strike at the cocoon. Ruval's base power was already in the Ultimate Class, so he had to be using a technique that burned his lifespan or something similar, Emrys reasoned, because such power came at a price.
Whatever transformation Ruval was undergoing, it would only deepen the stakes of their clash. He wanted to bear witness to Ruval's power and still defeat him, but as he was now Emrys knew he stood no chance.
So he took several steps back to make space between Ruval and himself as he let his body shift, bones cracking and muscles expanding as he fully transformed into his colossal dragon form. Fully healed from the Phoenix tear, his scales shimmered like gems.
But his dragon form wasn't just for show, it was a necessity for what he wanted to do. The sheer intensity of the battle had already pushed Emrys to his limits, but he needed more strength and his true form enhanced his durability. Yet, even in this form, he knew he was walking a fine line because with each successive boost, the raw power that would surge through him would threaten to tear his body apart from the inside out, but he didn't care and boosted once more. He could feel his dragon aura spike as his veins felt like molten fire, his bones groaning under the strain. He was under more pain now then when Ruval was beating on him.
But despite the potential for death, Emrys gritted his teeth and boosted again, feeling his strength surge further. His draconic instincts screamed in euphoria, even as his rational mind cautioned that his body couldn't take much more. He couldn't hold on much longer and when the cocoon around Ruval finally began to dissipate, Emrys didn't hesitate.
He could sense the sheer amount of mana radiating from Ruval still dwarfed his, so as he channeled every ounce of energy into his final attack, his throat glowed this time with brilliant purple flames as he combined both the Crimson Flames of Ddraig and the Azure Poison of Albion.
Ruval locked eyes with Emrys and wasted no time, channeling his overwhelming mana into a simple, yet devastating attack. There was no flamboyant display, no fiery bird or other shape that could detract from the power behind the blast, just a single, massive torrent of white flames surged toward Emrys.
Emrys, whose body was draining of strength as he poured it all into his attack, boosted once more as he roared in defiance. The purple flames erupted from his maw in a single concentrated attack so intense that the very air around it was turned into nothingness.
The two attacks collided with a deafening sound, the pocket dimension itself trembling under the sheer force of the two attacks and while Emrys' flames burned hotter, their quality far superior. Ruval countered with sheer quantity, pumping an endless stream of mana into his white flames.
The clash became a brutal battle of attrition, both warriors pouring everything they had into their attacks and Emrys, despite boosting his supply mana for his flames, felt his stamina draining and Ruval's massive mana pool was still nearly an eighth full. In that moment Emrys realized he wouldn't outlast the Phenex's overwhelming supply.
So he pulled out his final trump card and with the last of his energy he released a deep, guttural growl as he activated Penetrate, another legendary ability inherited from Ddraig and his flames, once locked in a stalemate, surged forward with newfound ferocity, tearing through Ruval's own attack.
Ruval's eyes widened in shock, and he made a desperate move forcefully pumping the rest of his mana into his own attack, but it was useless as penetrate worked its magic. At the last second he sacrificed his arm to shield his body.
The purple flames launching Ruval into the crumbled stands of the Roman Colosseum. The explosion sent debris flying, and the arena once again fell silent, save for Emrys' heavy panting.
As the dust settled, Emrys' glowing eyes scanned the wreckage and he saw Ruval's limp form barely breathing, his left arm entirely gone with the wound cauterized by the searing flames and though he was still alive, Ruval lay motionless, his body battered and broken, similar to Emrys' earlier.
A wave of relief washed over Emrys, followed by a surge of triumph and following his instincts he threw his massive head back as he unleashed a roar of victory that echoed across the arena and shook the very ground beneath him.
As the adrenaline began to fade, Emrys felt his vision start to darken once more, but instead of fighting it he gave in with victory assured. His dragon form standing tall even as his mind shut down.
-Vali Lucifer-
Vali Lucifer, grandson of the Original Lucifer, sat in the custom observation box alongside Azazel, his mentor and the Governor-General of the Fallen Angels, his gaze locked onto the massive screen below. The ruined colosseum, scorched and shattered, bore witness to the grueling battle between Emrys Welsh and Ruval Phenex.
A battle hungry smile stretched across Vali's face, one of anticipation, because watching Emrys roar triumphantly in his dragon form, Vali couldn't help but feel a deep, visceral urge to leap down and fight the dragon himself.
The raw power that was just on display, the overwhelming might of Emrys' crimson and purple flames, and the sheer tenacity of both combatants stirred the battle maniac within.
For a fleeting moment, Vali's muscles tensed as he considered breaking through the barrier separating him from the battle. He wanted to test himself against Emrys at this very moment.
Azazel's voice, quiet yet filled with awe, broke through his thoughts. "What… what was that purple flame?" the leader of the fallen angels murmured, more to himself than anyone else. His violet eyes narrowed as he analyzed the aftermath of the attack. "Caught off guard, even I wouldn't have much of a chance surviving that." he muttered and at that Vali froze, his smile widening as a thrill ran down his spine.
'Even Azazel wouldn't survive?' he thought, excitement bubbling within him. That admission was a rarity, a confirmation on top of what he already felt, that what Emrys had just unleashed was something beyond ordinary power. He had set his sights on Great Red itself, but someone like Emrys along the way would be the perfect opponent. His instincts screamed at him to fight Emrys immediately, to feel the weight of those flames for himself, to see if his Divine Dividing could withstand them.
Vali stepped forward, his hand twitching as though he were preparing to summon Albion's power, but before he could act, Azazel's hand snapped forward and pulled on his shoulder.
"Relax," the older man with black hair and a blonde fringe said, his tone calm but firm and while he'd usually obey his adopted father for a moment, Vali resisted, his body taut with anticipation.
Azazel's grip however tightened slightly, a silent reminder and with a low growl of frustration, Vali forced himself to sit back down, though his silver eyes never left Emrys' roaring form.
From the box of the Satans, Serafall's voice rang out, shrill with excitement, "From the depths of hell, Emrys Welsh, the Legacy of Ddraig and the son of Tiamat pulls off an unexpected victory!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing in her seat.
"I have to admit, I didn't expect such a finish. Even I'm not sure if I would win against either of them after seeing that." Roygun, seated beside Serafall nodded with a smile and Vali scoffed he'd seen the film on Roygun Belphegor and while she was impressive he was certain that she stood no chance against either Ruval or Emrys.
His attention however snapped back when a familiar voice echoed throughout the room, "That boy used my poison," Albion said, his tone laced with a mix of surprise and begrudging admiration.
Vali blinked, his battle hunger momentarily replaced with shock. "What did you say?" he asked aloud, his voice sharp.
Azazel's eyebrows shot up, and he leaned forward in interest, "Are you certain, Albion?"
"I am," the White Dragon Emperor confirmed, his voice heavy with certainty. "He combined Ddraig's flames with my poison, amplifying their deadliness and with Penetrate… it's no surprise the Phenex boy couldn't counter I'm surprised he got away with just losing an arm, he must have severed it before my poison could spread to the rest of his body."
Azazel let out a low whistle, leaning back in his seat. "That explains a lot," he muttered, a wry grin spreading across his face. "Looks like Emrys has a lot more secrets than I gave him credit for. Using Albion's poison on top of Ddraig's flames… that's a nasty combination that I doubt anyone except the Two Dragon Gods could tank. I think I'll need to pay a visit to Familiar Forest soon."
Vali however, remained silent, his fists clenched at his sides as his mind processed the revelation. Emrys wasn't just capable of using the power of Ddraig, he could also use the abilities of Albion. The two combined with the sheer determination and raw power he had displayed, made Emrys a truly terrifying opponent, who would only grow stronger in the future. And yet, Vali's excitement only grew. A grin slowly returned to his face, and his blood boiled with anticipation.
'Emrys… you just became even more interesting, maybe you'd like to join the Khaos Brigade.' He thought and below as Emrys roar of victory died and he stiffened unnaturally Vali's eyes shone with glee, because Emrys had fallen unconscious standing, his mind already plotting because their clash was inevitable, he'd make sure of it.
-Ddraig-
Ddraig who had just watched the conclusion of the intense battle between Emrys and Ruval was left frozen in shock. Emrys had not only used his crimson flames and his penetrate ability, but he also used Albion's infamous poison.
"Albion's poison…" Ddraig muttered under his breath, his deep voice trembling slightly. He knew that poison well it had been the bane of many across the years and no one except for himself was ever able to withstand it, but the fact that it was Emrys', the very dragon he knew was related to him, wielding the poison confused him.
Despite the mystery gnawing at him, Ddraig allowed himself a rare moment of pride. Emrys had fought with the tenacity and spirit of a true dragon. His towering form even larger than his own, standing amidst the wreckage of the colosseum was a sight that filled the dragon with a deep sense of satisfaction.
But as Ddraig basked in the aftermath of the young dragon's victory, a nagging thought crept into his mind. Why hadn't Ruval Phenex used his overwhelming power from the start? If the Phenex heir had unleashed his transformation at the beginning the battle might have been over before Emrys had a chance to retaliate.
His musings were cut short when Emrys' triumphant roar began to fade. The dragon's massive form stood eerily still in the center of the arena, and Ddraig's keen eyes narrowed. Something was wrong.
"Wait. Something's off." Ddraig said sharply, leaning forward as his green eyes focused on the screen.
"What's wrong?" Issei asked, alarmed.
"He's unconscious," Ddraig said, his voice laced with pride, "The boy's still standing, but he's completely out of it."
The realization hit Issei like a punch to the gut, "He's out cold?"
"Even unconscious, his pride as a dragon won't let him fall." Ddraig nodded, his gaze fixed on Emrys' motionless form hoping his wielder could learn a thing or two from Emrys.
Before either of them could say more, the screen shifted and despite his charred and battered body, Ruval stirred as with a groan of pain, he started to pull himself from the rubble with his one arm.
Everyone fell into a tense silence as Ruval stumbled forward. Each step was a struggle, his legs threatening to give out beneath him. Yet, he persisted, his determination unyielding.
'Damn it,' Ddraig growled.
But before Ruval could reach the unconscious dragon, Ajuka Beelzebub teleported into the arena, appearing between the two. His presence was commanding, and the audience held their breath as he raised a hand to call an end to the match.
In the commentator's box, Roygun Belphegor's voice rang out, filled with disbelief, "It seems… It seems like Ajuka noticed what we couldn't, Emrys is unconscious and is unable to continue the battle, so the victor of the blood feud between House Phenex and Tiamat is… House Phenex!"
The crowd erupted in a mixture of cheers and gasps and Ddraig clenched his jaw.
"Unbelievable," Ddraig muttered, his voice laced with frustration.
-Grayfia Lucifuge-
Grayfia stood motionless behind Sirzechs, her hands clenched tightly as the screen replayed the aftermath of the most chaotic battle she had ever witnessed.
The intensity of the fight between Emrys and Ruval Phenex had shaken her to her core. Every moment had pushed her emotions to extremes, excitement when Emrys burned Ruval with his crimson flames, despair when Ruval was ruthlessly pummeling Emrys into the ground, shock at Emrys' audacious move to encase both himself and his opponent in his crimson flames, and joy when the young dragon stood tall, roaring in victory after unleashing his devastating attack.
But the joy she felt when Emrys seemed victorious was short-lived as Grayfia's breath caught in her throat as she saw that while Emrys was still standing he was clearly unconscious. That alone wouldn't have made her despair; it was the fact that Ruval Phenex's charred and battered body began to rise from the rubble.
She turned to Sirzechs, who had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout most of the match. A small, amused smile played on his lips as Ruval staggered forward, Emrys still form.
"Why are you smiling?" Grayfia hissed, her voice low and sharp.
Sirzechs didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stood and approached her, his smile broadening into something colder, something darker. It was a look she hadn't seen since the Devil Civil War, and it made her blood run cold.
"It seems that since Emrys lost, my dear little sister will need her big brother's protection after all. Especially now that the Phenex family will have Tiamat's backing, they might force her into a marriage with Riser." Sirzechs said softly, his tone almost mocking.
Grayfia could only shoot a disgusted look at the man that was once her husband and regret rejecting Emrys offer to become his. The bitterness between the couple had only grown since Sirzechs had offered to trade her to Emrys for his own sister. That betrayal had fractured their relationship even more then when he asked her to sleep with Emrys in the first place, so he could woo his own sister and on top of all that since Emrys' rejection Sirzechs disregard for their son had shattered whatever remained.
The voice of Roygun Belphegor echoed across the arena, "It seems… It seems like Ajuka noticed what we couldn't, Emrys is unconscious and is unable to continue the battle, so the victor of the blood feud between House Phenex and Tiamat is… House Phenex!"
The stadium erupted in a deafening roar, cheers resounding from all sides and Sirzechs smirked again, leaning closer to her.
"I suppose it's time to comfort my dear Ria-tan." He said in a sickeningly sweet voice, but before the moment could settle, Ajuka raised his hand, his expression unreadable.
"Wait," Ajuka announced, his voice amplified by magic, "The winner of this match, by disqualification, is Emrys Welsh."
A stunned silence fell over the stadium and Sirzechs turned to the screen in shock, his confident demeanor faltering.
Serafall's voice broke through the silence, "Disqualification? What do you mean, Ajuka? Ruval is still conscious. What rule did he violate?" She asked through the speaker as she was an announcer.
Ajuka said nothing at first, his hands glowing with magic as he cast a spell over Ruval. The Phenex heir froze in place, unable to move as Ajuka waved another spell over him. The arena filled with gasps as Ruval suddenly screamed in agony while collapsing to the ground. A small, glowing object shot out from his chest and into Ajuka's hand.
Ajuka held it up for all to see, a glowing king piece.
Grayfia's eyes widened in horror and then narrowed in fury. The king piece. She thought they had all been confiscated after Ajuka's declaration years ago. Clearly, she had been wrong.
"This," Ajuka said, his voice calm but stern, "is the reason for Ruval Phenex's disqualification. The use of a king piece violates the rules of this match. As such, Emrys Welsh is declared the winner."
The silence that followed was broken by a mix of cheers and outraged shouts from the Phenex family's supporters. Grayfia, however, allowed herself to breathe again. Relief washed over her, and she turned to Sirzechs with a triumphant look.
"It looks like Emrys won after all," she said smugly, "I wouldn't be surprised if Rias jumps his bones and takes his big fat dragon cock to celebrate, if they're lucky they may even have children soon and that will be enough to tie him to the Devil race permanently." She added and even while Sirzechs glared at her, Grayfia didn't care.
Suddenly felt a wave of nausea wash over her and without a word, she turned and hurried out of the room, finding the nearest restroom. She barely made it to a sink before she began throwing up. Hopefully it was just because of the whirlwind of emotions and tension she had endured throughout the battle, because Grayfia doubted she was sick.
-Ajuka Beelzebub-
Ajuka Beelzebub raised a hand, signaling the official end of the Rating Game and with a simple spell, both Emrys and Ruval disappeared from the battlefield and reappeared in the infirmary, where the best healers of the Devil world were already waiting to attend to them. Satisfied that both competitors were now in capable hands, Ajuka teleported away, heading directly to the locker room where he knew an angry dragon was waiting.
The air in the locker room was thick with tension as Tiamat stood with her arms crossed, her piercing blue eyes narrowed. The faint hum of her draconic aura filled the space, a warning to anyone foolish enough to provoke her. When Ajuka materialized, she turned to him sharply, her expression a mix of anger and restrained relief.
"You waited until the very end to reveal that king piece. Why? You could have stopped the match the moment Ruval's power spiked. Why let it go on?" Tiamat said, her voice low and dangerous. He knew she would put together the sudden increase in Ruval's strength and the king piece, but Ajuka still met her glare with calm composure.
"You, better than anyone else, know how Emrys thinks. Would he have accepted a victory handed to him by default, without proving his strength? You know the answer as well as I do." He asked and Tiamat's lips tightened into a thin line. She knew Ajuka was right, but that didn't mean she had to like it.
"If anything had happened to him," she said coldly, "I would have called in every favor I'm owed and gathered every force I could muster to wipe out the entire Devil race, starting with the Phenex family and you."
Ajuka didn't flinch at the threat, though he didn't dismiss it either, "And I would have deserved it if I had failed in my responsibility, but I was observing closely and if either of them had been in mortal danger, I would have stepped in immediately."
Tiamat's gaze softened slightly, though her frustration remained evident, "He's not like other dragons, Ajuka. He's... precious to me." she said and while he knew Tiamat had affection for Emrys he thought it was strictly familial, but it seemed like he was wrong. It wouldn't be too long before little dragons are roaming Familiar Forest.
"I know. That's why I made sure this match ended when it did. He proved his strength, and you can be proud of him." Ajuka nodded and using the moment of silence he changed the subject, "Speaking of Emrys, you and Miss Argento should visit him in the infirmary, because while the healers are capable, there may still be lingering damage that Twilight Healing can address."
Not needing to be told twice Tiamat nodded and turned around grabbing Asia by the arm and dragging the wielder of Twilight Healing out of the locker room. The blonde healer looked startled but quickly matched Tiamat's pace, clearly understanding the urgency.
Once he was sure the two were gone he let out a quiet sigh, his usual stoic demeanor cracking just enough to reveal the faintest hint of concern. The implications of what he had witnessed weighed heavily on his mind. Not only had Ruval somehow acquired a king piece, something that should have been impossible, but Emrys had demonstrated strength and abilities beyond Ajuka's calculations. The young dragon's potential was staggering, and if left unchecked, it could destabilize the delicate balance of power within the underworld. He needed to get the dragon under control, hopefully in a peaceful way, but he needed to deal with another problem first.
Ajuka's thoughts turned to Sirzechs. The Crimson Satan's recent behavior had been erratic, driven by a need to possess Rias and if Sirzechs continued down this path, a clash between himself and Emrys was inevitable. And judging by what Ajuka had seen today, soon Emrys would have the power to challenge even the likes of Sirzechs.
"The real reason I let the battle continue..." Ajuka muttered to himself as he teleported back to his lab, "was to see what abilities Emrys could use and now that I have the data recorded. It's time to prepare."
He arrived in his lab and immediately began pouring over the recordings of the battle, isolating every moment where Emrys had used abilities linked to both Ddraig, Albion and even potential abilities from the Original Tiamat. His mind raced as he began crafting spells and countermeasures to neutralize his powers.
As he worked, a faint frown crossed Ajuka's face. He'd known for a long while that Emrys Welsh was no ordinary dragon, but for now, Ajuka focused on preparing for the future, knowing that the underworld's stability might one day depend on his ability to neutralize the extraordinary young dragon who had captivated and terrified everyone today.
AN: Okay well holy fuck there was a lot happening this chapter, but I wouldn't want to have it any other way because this is going to lead into the next arc and next chapter is also going to be a lemon scene with Rias who's been getting clam jammed for awhile. So stay tuned and like always I hope y'all enjoy.
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