Chapter 271 The Battle Begins, and Zogil Appears
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
When Michael became serious, the pressure he exerted on Aki surpassed anything Sirzechs had ever shown him. That was only natural. After all, this was the leader of the Four Great Seraphs, a top-class fighter who had survived the Three-Race War itself.
With Heaven resting on his shoulders, there was no way Michael could be anything but terrifyingly strong, and at the very least he stood on the same level as a Super Devil.1 In fact, Aki suspected that both Michael and Sirzechs had already surpassed that benchmark long ago, only holding themselves back to avoid causing catastrophic damage to the Three Realms. Even after witnessing the overwhelming power displayed by the Calamity Group, he had not seen the slightest hint of panic from either of them.
The Seraph’s gentle, handsome face grew solemn. It was not because Ornis had appeared as an enemy. Instead, it looked as though he had accepted some unpleasant necessity. Following Michael’s gaze, Aki looked toward the massive mechanical creature whose appearance clashed so badly with the battlefield that it seemed to belong in an entirely different world.
”I’ll call you the Mechanical Angel, if only for Michael’s sake,” Aki muttered.
Even without his usual smile, Michael still looked like the male lead of a shojo manga, his golden hair shining beneath the light. If he was being honest, Aki found Michael more attractive than Katerea. Still, that was like choosing between chocolate-flavored excrement and excrement-flavored chocolate. Either way, he wanted no part of it.
He studied the Mechanical Angel for another moment. The design stirred a faint sense of familiarity, yet no matter how hard he searched his memory, he could not recall anything like it from the High School DxD source material. While Shemhaza remained silent, Michael seemed ready to continue the conversation.
”Ornis, have the Ten Core Gods joined forces with the Calamity Group?” Michael asked in a calm voice. “Or is this merely the agenda of a select few?”
”Hmph.” The Mechanical Angel’s reply carried a heavy metallic distortion. “I have no obligation to answer a traitor who associates with the base-born.”
(Ten Core Gods?)
Aki’s eyebrow twitched upward as a thought struck him.
”Lord Michael,” he whispered, leaning closer, “is there a god-level powerhouse named Freya among the Ten Core Gods?”
”There is.” Michael nodded. “The one known by the codename Freya was among the original Ten Core Gods.”
”Codename?”
”The Ten Core Gods operate through a succession system. Those roles have changed hands several times over the years.”
He went on to explain that, much like Sirzechs and Serafall had inherited the names Lucifer and Leviathan, the Ten Core Gods followed the same principle. Divinity was not a fixed state, and for one reason or another, several generations of the Ten Core Gods had already come and gone.
Aki wanted to ask more, but there was no time.
Vali’s patience had already run out.
The moment Michael and Ornis stopped speaking, the White Dragon Emperor launched himself forward. The others followed immediately behind him. Four against four. Two Devils, one Fallen Angel, and one Angel facing their counterparts. Without needing a word, the eight Demon King-class fighters instinctively chose their opponents.
Sirzechs faced Sirzechs.
Leviathan faced Leviathan.
Even while restraining themselves, neither Vali nor Katerea could gain the upper hand against Sirzechs and Serafall. Thanks to the White Dragon Emperor’s Sacred Gear, Vali could absorb half of his opponent’s power through physical contact, allowing him to exchange blows with Sirzechs on even footing.
Katerea’s situation was far less impressive.
Even while drawing upon the sinister power of the abyss, the Black Beauty found herself completely overwhelmed by the long black-haired, twin-tailed Demon King who looked more like a schoolgirl than a ruler of the Underworld. After only a handful of exchanges, Katerea’s glasses were knocked away and her carefully tied hair came loose. Serafall seemed reluctant to finish her off; otherwise, the fight might have ended within minutes.
Elsewhere, Shemhaza and Kokabiel remained evenly matched. Although Shemhaza carried himself like a scholar, he was still a veteran who had fought beside Azazel on countless battlefields. Kokabiel was a fanatic for combat, but despite reaching Demon King class, he still lacked the experience that came with centuries of warfare.
On another section of the battlefield, where blinding light flooded the sky, Michael completely dominated the Mechanical Angel. Even so, Ornis proved absurdly durable. Though Michael had smashed him into the ground hard enough to create multiple craters, the machine’s aura showed no sign of weakening.
After taking a quick look around, Aki realized there was nothing for him to do.
Their side held a clear advantage.
The same conclusion had apparently been reached by the silver-haired beauty standing guard nearby. Grayfia, Sirzechs’s Queen and the woman known as the Strongest Queen in the Underworld, possessed power worthy of Demon King class herself. She simply kept such strength hidden. With Sirzechs and Rias present, she devoted herself completely to the role of a maid, which often caused others to overlook how dangerous she truly was.
Since the battle had begun, Grayfia’s priority had been protecting Rias. During a brief lull, she had attempted to create a transportation magic circle, but the Calamity Group had already deployed a suppression field that prevented any such magic from functioning. Seeing that the battle remained under control, she let out a quiet breath as a small silver-white sphere of light appeared above her palm, surrounded by shifting runes. While Grayfia poured her attention into breaking the spatial seal, Aki watched the world-shaking battle unfolding overhead and remained on guard beside the girls.
(Hm…)
A dark-purple magic circle suddenly appeared nearby.
The moment he saw it, every instinct in Aki’s body screamed a warning.
”Fall back!”
At the same time, he deployed a barrier from the Underworld and threw it forward.
A violent explosion erupted.
The blast tore through the area, sending dust and smoke skyward in the shape of a small mushroom cloud that swallowed Aki completely. The shockwave was so intense that even the fighters clashing overhead turned to look. When Sirzechs and Serafall saw the smoke engulf the group’s position, both of them stiffened. The battlefield’s mana had become too chaotic to sense anything clearly, leaving them unable to confirm whether Rias and the others had survived.
”Cough… Cough…”
Aki lowered his left hand. The Red Dragon Emperor’s gauntlet had already formed around it. As he waved away the smoke, his eyes searched the surroundings for another attack.
”Aki-chan, are you alright?”
Rias’s anxious voice came from behind him.
”I’m fine,” Aki replied. “Buchou, stay alert. I might not be able to protect all of you for much longer.”
Because of Aki’s warning and quick defense, Rias and the others had escaped with only minor injuries. Grayfia’s attempt to break the seal, however, had been interrupted, and restarting the process would take time.
”To block my strike… impressive.”
An elderly Devil stepped forward from the smoke.
His horns were unusual, and despite his bald head and white beard, his tall frame still radiated intimidating strength.
Aki clicked his tongue.
Without saying a word, he activated the Sacred Gear’s amplification ability.
No wonder the Calamity Group had not been rushing. Reinforcements had been on the way all along. Only moments had passed, yet another Demon King-class fighter had arrived.
Grayfia immediately sensed the newcomer’s strength.
”Lord Aki, I will—”
”Ms. Grayfia, I don’t know how to break this barrier,” Aki interrupted. “If this drags on much longer, more reinforcements could arrive.”
If there was any way to avoid it, he would rather not challenge opponents above his level every single time. Unfortunately, if one or two more Demon King-class enemies appeared, the situation could become disastrous.
Grayfia fell silent.
A moment later, she lowered her head slightly.
”Lord Aki, please be careful.”
With that, she abandoned any further hesitation and focused entirely on breaking the barrier.
”Zolgear, you’re finally here.”
High above, Vali and the others used the opportunity to regroup.
Still furious after being suppressed by Serafall, Katerea snapped, “Quit wasting time and help me take her down already.”
Shemhaza glanced toward Sirzechs.
”More Devils? If there is a next meeting, perhaps all four Great Satans should attend.”
”Zolgear…” Sirzechs’s voice grew heavy. “So you’ve not only reached Demon King class, you’ve also joined forces with the old Devil faction.”
Looking at the elderly Devil’s face, Sirzechs released a slow sigh.
Another relic of the previous era would disappear today.
Devils possessed extraordinarily long lives, yet even by those standards Zolgear was nearing the end of his lifespan. The horns on his head were proof of just how ancient he was. Modern Devils, including those who inherited the blood of the old Demon Kings such as Vali and Katerea, no longer possessed horns like that.
(Shit.)
As Aki listened to the conversation overhead, the memory finally clicked into place.
No wonder the old man had looked familiar.
It was bad enough that Ornis and the Ten Core Gods had become involved, but now even an ancient fossil like Zolgear had appeared.
Damn it.
He had not even gotten his hands on the Naruse sisters yet, and now the mastermind himself was practically standing in front of him.
Then another thought crossed his mind.
If he killed Zolgear here and removed that source of experience from the timeline…
…what exactly would happen to Basara?
—
Summary:
Battle lines are drawn as the Calamity Group initiates a direct confrontation with the leaders of the Three Realms. The sudden arrival of Zolgear, an ancient Devil and unexpected mastermind, shifts the dynamic of the ongoing 4v4 combat. Aki now faces the dilemma of protecting Rias and her group while potentially confronting this new, powerful adversary to prevent further escalation.
—
Trivia:
The Ten Core Gods rely on a succession system, meaning the mantle of “Freya” has been held by multiple individuals over time.
New-era Devils, including those with ancient lineage like Vali and Katerea, do not possess horns, unlike the ancient Zolgear.
The Calamity Group deployed a spatial suppression field that prevents the use of teleportation magic circles until the barrier is actively breached.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Sirzechs – Sirzechs Gremory is a powerful, red-haired Demon King holding the title of Lucifer. As Rias’s brother and a high-ranking Devil leader with a powerful lineage, he commands a regal presence and immense magical capacity, actively restraining his strength to prevent destruction. A skilled political navigator focused on his family’s interests, he serves as a pivotal figure in peace negotiations.
• Michael – A gentle, handsome Archangel with a radiant aura, halo, and golden armor, he leads the four Seraphs who survived the Three-Race War. As Heaven’s representative, he is a calm, pragmatic, and polite leader whose strength exceeds a Super-Devil. Following God’s disappearance, he serves as the central figure of the System, prioritizing its stability and negotiations above individual lives.
• Aki – A tall, handsome Kuoh Academy strategist and devil-lineage cultivator with a sturdy physique, he acts as a dominant mentor and healer within the Occult Research Club. His unique power influences Evil Pieces, while his pragmatic, predatory approach to intimacy restores others’ potential. He navigates complex soul contracts and deep relationships with Marion, the Naruse sisters, and Mio with calculated rhythm.
• Ornis – A mechanical monster dubbed a Mechanical Angel by Aki. It is associated with the Ten Core Gods and displays high durability and synthetic speech.
• Katerea – A dark-skinned descendant of the Demon King Leviathan with dreadlocks and square-rimmed glasses, this aggressive, mocking Khaos Brigade member seeks to reclaim her family’s glory. Known as the Black Beauty, her deep resentment fuses with abyssal power, unleashing black lightning. Now disheveled and suppressed by Aki, she exhibits desperation in combat despite possessing Demon King-class power.
• Shemhaza – A veteran Fallen Angel leader and Governor-General, this scholarly yet pragmatic powerhouse succeeded Azazel to manage high-stakes diplomacy and asset preservation. He commands subordinates like Kokabiel, masks his true intent with calm analysis during peace summits, and is currently locked in a high-stakes duel against a demon king-class opponent, balancing strategic retreats with raw combat power.
• Vana – An alias used by Kalawarner, a fallen angel subordinate to Raynare and a member of Aki’s peerage. She often wears mature, seductive outfits or standard human disguises.
• Nao – A delicate, frail Class 2-C registered vampire who currently presents as male. Immune to sunlight from birth, his unique nature shapes his identity and interactions within the school.
• Nue – A B-rank Youkai with a high concentration of Youkai blood. He possesses the appearance of a typical office worker and is associated with the Miura family company. An avian Youkai with B-Rank strength hired by the Miura family. He possesses the ability to sense magical auras and is referred to with the title of Master by Miura Akira.
• Y – The first initial/part of the name Y Ddraig Goch.
• Leviathan – A title of the Four Great Satans held by Serafall, a Demon King scheduled to attend the summit. She carried this title after ascending to leadership, maintaining crucial diplomatic ties with other factions.
• Serafall – Sona Sitri’s sister Serafall is a buxom, long-black-haired schoolgirl in twintails, a Super-Devil, and one of the Four Great Satans (Leviathan). A peer to Sirzechs and combatant of the new era, she possesses immense power but is reluctant to engage in conflict. Known for her extreme sister-complex, she often maintains a bubbly, energetic facade despite being a high-ranking Devil leader.
• Lucifer – A house name associated with the White Dragon Emperor’s lineage. An original Demon King whose lineage is inherited by Vali.
• Vali – The White Dragon Emperor, Albion’s wielder, is a stoic yet arrogant half-demon youth of Ancient Devil blood. Donning resplendent white armor with light wings that absorb and negate power on contact, he can trigger Balance Breaker mode at will. Taken in by Azazel, this cynical, battle-junkie Khaos Brigade member is obsessed with strength, locked in a fated rivalry, and seeks an evenly matched opponent.
• Kokabiel – A twelve-winged obsidian Fallen Angel and battle-maniac who recently reached Demon King-class status, now facing orders for solitary confinement.
• Azazel – A decadent, arrogant fallen angel and former Governor General, this middle-aged man in a neon hot-spring yukata pairs a rogue personality with immense, Demon King-class power. Defeated by and confirmed weaker in combat than Aki via Balance Breaker, he still acts as a formidable antagonist who researches Sacred Gears, provides the Occult Research Club with data, and shapes their view of Aki.
• Grayfia – A composed silver-haired woman of refined behavior, she is the strongest Queen, a high-ranking Underworld Devil, and Sirzechs’ wife/secretary. Serving the Gremory house with tactical expertise, she uses magic circles and Demon King-class power as a medical examiner, neutral Rating Game referee, and barrier dismantler. Seductive yet efficient, she authoritatively conveys the Demon King’s wishes.
• Queen – A devil serving Riser Phenex.
• Rias – Rias Gremory, an elegant SS+ rank devil heiress and Kuoh Academy’s authoritative president, is a stunning woman with crimson hair, blue eyes, and porcelain skin. As head of the Gremory household, she leads her peerage with empathetic, decisive leadership. Sister to Sirzechs and friend to Sona, she navigates complex duties, including her mentorship of Aki and managing her own powerful destruction mana.
• Zolgear – An ancient, gaunt Devil Grand Duke with white facial hair, baldness, and unique horns, this aging demon’s lifespan is nearing its end. He possesses Ultimate-Class strength, serving as a power benchmark for Maria and monitoring remote magical signatures. Fearing the Gremory household and the Red Dragon Emperor, he leads a faction to eliminate Mio, while shifting timelines spared Shela. Frustrated in combat against Aki and provoked by his teammate, he seeks to steal Wilbert’s power to survive.
• Naruse – Mio and Maria, members of a significant lineage tied to Wilbert and a central pursuit, are transfer students whose arrival has triggered recent instability and activity within the Occult Research Club, which includes their parents.
• Basara – Handsome, spiky-haired magic novice with a distinct scar, Basara is Jin Toujou’s son, Chisato’s nephew, and a Kuoh Academy student from a Hero Village. He possesses the unique Banishing Shift ability, is a loyal friend to Aki, and handles complex dynamics involving the Hero Clan, his mothers, and cousins. Recovering from physical training, he also provides information on school vampire rumors.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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