DxD: Chapter 276/277

Chapter 276: Leviathan

Even though it was just a skeleton, everyone present could clearly sense the anger on Barragan Luisenbarn's skull-like face.

Dark purple flames swirled around him, whistling like a dense fog. His skeletal features flickered ominously through the fire, adding to the chilling pressure.

Barragan Luisenbarn lifted his gaze coldly, staring at Katerea Leviathan.

Boom!!

Suddenly, flames erupted from his body, surging into the sky and sweeping straight toward Katerea Leviathan!

Katerea folded her arms calmly across her chest. She lowered her gaze slightly, glancing at the oncoming flames with an expressionless face.

It was as if she didn't care at all—she didn't even bother to defend.

Just as the flames were about to engulf her, she spoke softly, "Ingvild."

Ingvild Leviathan trembled. She shut her eyes tightly, her lashes quivering. "I, I understand!"

Crash——

The moment she finished speaking—

The sound of waves echoed in everyone's ears.

Starrk furrowed his brows. "Feels like…"

"Something's coming…"

Woooosh——

The sound intensified, and the air grew damp, thick with moisture that seemed to fill all of Las Noches.

The next moment.

A vast ocean appeared!!

The sea surged forth, instantly extinguishing Barragan Luisenbarn's flames before they could even touch Katerea Leviathan.

Barragan Luisenbarn: "?"

Forget the terrifying presence of this ocean for a second…

His flames, which contained the concept of aging, were doused just like that?!

And...

It wasn't over yet!!

The endless tide swept across the entire Las Noches!

Seeing this, Starrk and the others immediately activated their spiritual pressure, taking to the air to avoid being swept away.

But…

Looking at the now-flooded palace, Starrk twitched. "Las Noches is... even more wrecked than before."

Previously, only part of it was damaged. But now...

Still...

Compared to Las Noches, he was more concerned about something else.

Starrk stared at the vast ocean below and muttered in disbelief, "To be able to change the environment like this..."

Changing the environment itself wasn't a big deal.

But…

This was Hueco Mundo.

Filling an area as vast as Las Noches with sea water… Even for him, that wasn't easy.

Yet...

His eyes locked on Ingvild Leviathan, who stood on the sea with a timid expression.

It was hard to imagine...

Such a terrifying scene was created by a girl who looked so weak and powerless.

Tier Harribel's expression turned serious as she said solemnly, "At the very least, she's on par with me."

And…

Her abilities were similar. Possibly…

Even greater than her own— Imperial Shark Empress.

Subconsciously, Harribel placed her hand on her Zanpakutō.

Buzz—

Harribel pressed her lips together.

Imperial Shark Empress…

She's trembling…

Indeed…

Ingvild…

That must be her name…

Her abilities were incredibly powerful.

Harribel evaluated her in her mind, then shook her head. "I might not be her match."

Starrk looked at her, clearly surprised. "That high of an evaluation?"

Harribel nodded silently.

Obviously, she didn't know that Ingvild Leviathan had almost zero combat experience.

Otherwise...

She would've never said that.

Starrk stroked his chin, narrowing his eyes slightly before turning to Barragan Luisenbarn. "Careful, you might get sunk here."

Barragan Luisenbarn: "…"

He wanted to respond, but…

What he saw in front of him left him speechless.

Why…

Why did a girl who seemed so weak possess such terrifying power?

Is this even logical?

Barragan stared at Ingvild Leviathan in disbelief, his eyes narrowing as he studied her.

"?"

Ingvild blinked innocently, then awkwardly averted her gaze.

Afraid...

Barragan Luisenbarn: "…"

Could you at least look a little more intimidating?

Otherwise...

People might think the flames I unleashed just now were pathetic.

"Hey! Skullhead!"

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez called out suddenly. "She's not underestimating you. She gave you a real monster to deal with."

He pointed at Katerea Leviathan, grinning with amusement.

Monster?

Who?

Ingvild blinked in confusion, eyes wide with uncertainty.

"Tch!"

Barragan snorted coldly, saying nothing more.

He didn't even bother to respond to Katerea Leviathan.

Instead, his gaze focused seriously on Ingvild.

"In that case…"

Barragan Luisenbarn growled, "I'll deal with you first!"

"Ah!"

Ingvild Leviathan shuddered before she could even react.

Barragan's figure disappeared in an instant.

The next moment.

A massive skull appeared right in front of Ingvild's eyes.

"!"

"Don't come any closer, aaaaaahhhhhh!!"

Ingvild let out a piercing scream, like a siren echoing from the depths of the ocean!

Buzz——

Barragan Luisenbarn felt a wave of dizziness as his skeletal frame trembled violently.

Creak. Creak.

The sound of bones grinding echoed like someone playing a broken violin.

What the hell is this?

Before he could process it, a massive shadow rose behind Ingvild Leviathan!

It blotted out the sky!!

The overwhelming presence made Barragan momentarily forget the searing pain in his bones.

"This is…"

The flames in his eye sockets flickered, and a profound sense of dread gripped his mind, transmitted directly through his spiritual pressure.

It was as if he was facing a mythical, higher being.

The shadow—Leviathan—looked down on him indifferently.

Barragan's bones went cold.

He couldn't move!

His body froze!

Boom!!

The next instant.

A terrifying whirlpool erupted from the sea beneath him and swallowed him whole, without any warning!

(To be continued.)

Chapter 277: Praise

Barragan suddenly lowered his head.

The whirlpool beneath him pulled him in tightly, rendering him immobile.

Damn it!!

Barragan reacted quickly, violently swinging the chains wrapped around his body.

Whoosh—

A strong gust of air swept toward Ingvild Leviathan.

The next moment, a massive axe blade came slashing down toward her!

Ingvild's pupils contracted, and she instinctively raised her arms and shut her eyes.

But...

The pain she expected never came. Instead, she heard a clear metallic echo in her ears.

Ingvild's eyelashes fluttered slightly. She cautiously opened her eyes.

"Huh?"

Ingvild blinked, staring at the massive blue shadow that had blocked the axe. She smiled in surprise. "Leviathan!"

Upon hearing Ingvild speak, Leviathan glanced briefly at Ingvild before quickly looking away.

Sigh…

It really didn't want to look.

How could such a coward be its contractor...

It felt like its life was going to be ruined in her hands...

Still...

As Leviathan's master, she couldn't be underestimated.

Thinking this, Leviathan's gaze turned cold as it glared at Barragan Luisenbarn. It raised its massive hand and struck forward!

"!"

Barragan's pupils shrank sharply. He released all of his spiritual pressure in an instant.

Boom!!

Dark purple flames ignited violently!

Ssshh——

The flames, imbued with the concept of aging, surged fiercely toward Leviathan's shadow.

The sizzling sound of corrosion echoed constantly, like acid eating through metal.

Leviathan's eyes shifted as it looked at its own decaying shadow. A hint of helplessness flickered in its gaze.

With Ingvild's current magic output, it couldn't unleash its full power.

But still...

Could such a small output already hurt it?

Leviathan was silent for a moment before grumbling, "Ingvild, you've been slacking lately!"

"Hurry up and raise your power!"

"Hehe…"

Ingvild blinked, putting on her usual innocent expression.

It shook its head, then warned, "I'm going to increase the pressure."

It was a reminder for Ingvild to release more of her magic.

The next second.

Ingvild could feel the magic in her body surging wildly.

Leviathan's shadow grew clearer and clearer.

The flame carrying the concept of aging began to shrink visibly.

"That thing…"

"What the hell is it?"

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez stared at the towering shadow of Leviathan, dumbfounded.

Starrk fell silent for a moment. His eyes flickered before he muttered, "That's way bigger than any Hollow I've ever seen."

Tier Harribel hesitated, her tone worried. "Will Barragan…"

"…be okay?"

Starrk opened his mouth but had no answer.

He had always been confident in Barragan Luisenbarn's strength.

But now…

He was no longer so sure.

Meanwhile.

While everyone was focused on the battle between Leviathan and Barragan, Nnoitra Gilga quietly took a step back, intending to flee this chaotic battleground.

His thoughts were clear.

Yes, their side had numbers and power.

But...

The people backing Nelliel weren't weak either!

Just Ingvild alone was enough to suppress Barragan, possibly even overwhelm him.

So...

Who knew what other monsters might be hiding?

Plus…

Nelliel had become stronger!

As satisfying as that ambush had been back then, he never imagined retribution would come so soon.

But...

Just as he was preparing to use Sonído to escape, Nelliel appeared in front of him.

She looked at him coldly and asked, "Where do you think you're going?"

Nnoitra Gilga: "!"

So fast!!

A chill shot down his spine as he instinctively drew his Zanpakutō and slashed at her!

Clang—

A sharp sound rang out.

A green barrier emerged, stopping his Zanpakutō dead in its tracks.

But Nnoitra reacted fast, retreating quickly using ringed footwork to gain distance.

That attack had been just a feint—his real aim was to escape!

There was no way he could defeat the current Nelliel!

That was the thought running through his mind when...

Nelliel's icy face appeared before him once more.

"!!"

Nnoitra froze.

He realized...

He wasn't getting away.

"We never finished our business," Nelliel said coldly.

"Wait!"

Nnoitra raised his hand, trying to stall for time, but...

Nelliel didn't give him the chance.

"Praise, Capricorn Knight!"

The moment her words fell.

Something in Nelliel changed dramatically!

Her slim Zanpakutō transformed into a massive spear!

The twin horns on her skull mask extended and curved back, segmented like antlers.

White armor formed over her collarbone, shoulders, elbows, and hands, and her arms were wrapped in black gloves.

Her most striking feature now resembled a satyr, or a knight of the wild.

Buzz—

Without pause, emerald green light shimmered across her massive spear.

Nnoitra gritted his teeth. "Nelliel, are you seriously going to kill us all?!"

"Oh…"

Nelliel sneered. What a joke.

"The moment you ambushed me, you should've known you'd die by my hand!"

As the words fell—

The huge spear in her hand came crashing down with full force!

"!"

Nnoitra's pupils shrank, and he quickly raised his Zanpakutō. "Pray, Santa Teresa."

A crescent-shaped horn sprouted from his head, a cross-shaped yellow pattern formed on his face, and a fanged eyepatch-like mask appeared at his hollow hole.

Six amputated arms grew from his back, each gripping a dual-edged sickle.

Without hesitation, Nnoitra entered his strongest form!

Facing the now stronger Nelliel, he didn't dare to hold back!

He crossed his sickles, forming a tight defense.

The next second.

The glowing tip of Nelliel's spear struck his sickles with overwhelming force!

Boom.

(To be continued.)