Chapter 39: Shitty Power

Issei, Asia, and Koneko looked at Rias, who had a tense expression, and Akeno, who was calmly focusing on her thoughts. And as Issei heightened his tension, he awakened the power within him.

"Boosted Gear!"

The red dragon armguard, the Sacred Gear "Boosted Gear: Gauntlet of the Red Dragon Emperor," appeared on Issei's left arm. It contained the soul of one of the two dragons, the "Red Dragon Emperor," which had once caused a fierce three-way battle among angels, fallen angels, and demons. One of the powers it commanded was "Doubled Boost," which progressively multiplied the physical abilities of its wielder over time. Depending on the wielder's potential, it could possess the power to destroy even gods, making it an unfair and overpowered Sacred Gear.

Until recently, Issei was just an ordinary high school student, and using Boosted Gear to a certain extent would cause his power to go out of control. However, even if he stopped the boost midway, he could still gain enough power.

"Listen, everyone."

Rias looked around at Issei and the others, who were prepared for battle, and spoke to them as if addressing each one individually.

"Since we don't know the enemy's surrounding situation, scattering our numbers is dangerous. That's why we will act as a cohesive unit from now on. We'll forcefully break through their encirclement and create an opening, then cut our escape route from there. There's a possibility that it's a trap in itself, but staying inside this vulnerable school building indefinitely won't improve the situation."

If they wanted to, they could destroy the old school building with their previous attack alone. If the Gremory camp's defensive stance dragged on for too long, it would be normal for the enemy to get impatient and resume their attack.

So, they would boldly confront the enemy's invitation with their full strength.

"Agreed?"

In response to Rias's emphasis, Issei and the others all replied in unison.

And just as they were about to start moving as a united group, something chilling enveloped their entire bodies.

A shiver ran down their spines, and fear licked at their minds and bodies. Issei hadn't noticed the groaning voice Asia had squeezed out nearby. Just standing here was a struggle. The presence by the window was intimidating his instincts as a living being.

He didn't want to turn around. He shook off that thought along with the fear and looked towards the window.

"Have your lengthy discussion ended...?"

On the inside of the window. Yes, inside the room. A woman stood in a place where no one had been just moments ago. Only the right half of her face was covered by a mask. Once she confirmed that everyone, including Issei, was looking at her, she lifted her right hand and created something on the palm.

"Now, let's begin..."

It started as a small ball of fire. In an instant, it swelled up and caused a massive explosion.

The deafening explosion temporarily paralyzed their hearing. Their field of vision was covered in a dazzling light, and Issei could only instinctively protect his face with both arms. The impact was far greater than before, and his body was blown away, with wooden debris that used to be part of the old school building hitting him.

Thrown from the height of the third-floor classroom where the clubroom was, Issei was slammed into the ground and rolled without being able to stop his momentum.

He rolled for a few seconds, and his uniform became covered in dirt.

"Cough, cough...!"

His whole body was in pain. But he wasn't unable to move.

Issei whipped his legs and stood up, then rushed towards the rubble in an attempt to find his unseen comrades.

Could it be that all of them were too slow to escape? It was inconceivable. Except for Asia, Issei was the weakest among the servants. Even if his Sacred Gear was powerful, his physical state without receiving its blessings was still feeble. It was strange for him to be the only one to escape unscathed while his comrades were in danger.

"If you're my comrades, over here..."

A voice raining down from above. Issei raised his gaze and saw a masked woman descending from the sky. According to the information he had been taught by his comrades during training, this woman was Isabella, the "Tank" of the Phenex servants.

Around Isabella, Rias and the others were floating, captive.

From Isabella's back, wings made of purple flames spewed out. The flames extended like tentacles and restrained the bodies of all the comrades except for Issei. It seemed like she could freely control the heat of the flames, as there was no sign of pain on the faces of the comrades who were bound all over their bodies while unconscious.

"That was disappointing... To think you'd be this weak..."

With her jacket opened wide at the chest, and one side of her jeans cut off to expose her thighs, Isabella had an appearance that contradicted her cool demeanor. Despite the impression she gave off, her tone of speech was oddly polite. Issei had thought she would have a rougher way of speaking, but it seemed different.

Isabella slumped her shoulders as if disappointed. This gesture made Issei feel angry. He wanted to rush to her side right away and snatch back his comrades. However, as Issei couldn't fly properly with his devil wings, he couldn't reach the sky.

"Hey, come down here!"

If his hands and feet were useless, all he had left was his voice. Even though Issei knew that the opponent wouldn't come down to the ground just because he said so, he couldn't be satisfied without doing something.

But the opponent was surprisingly compliant.

Isabella led Rias and the others and stood atop the pile of rubble.

"Is this acceptable...? Issei-senpai...?"

Issei-senpai. It was a calling similar to that of a little kitten. Being called that by the enemy, Issei thought he was being ridiculed. Heat began to rise within him, and Issei began to prepare himself to gather his strength.

『Boost!』

In response to Issei's call, a male voice resonated from the gauntlet covering his left hand. And then, power surged throughout his body.