Chapter 474 One Strike
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The commotion of the Barrier shattering drew everyone’s attention — Loki, currently pursuing Rias, was no exception.
But before he could feel even a flicker of hope, a red blur flashed past. In the next instant, the God of Thunder’s hammer he’d feared above all else was already in the newcomer’s grasp.
”Red Dragon Emperor?!”
Loki finally got a clear look at who’d arrived. The rumors about this generation’s Red Dragon Emperor had reached even his ears.
Not even two full years since his Sacred Gear had awakened, and already he’d climbed to God-class ranks purely through his Sacred Gear’s ability and his own unique talent.
But by the looks of things, rumors could only go so far.
This was no fledgling God-class fighter. The sheer aura pouring off him — even the top-tier gods would have believed the hype.
”Mm. Hello.”
Aki gripped the massive Thunder Hammer, hefting it high.
”And goodbye.”
The hammer was undeniably heavy — even at Sub-Dragon God-Class, even boosted by his Balance Breaker, Aki could feel the weight.
But it was only heavy, not unwieldy. In his hands it moved as naturally as his own limbs. Loki had no time to react. The hammer of judgment, light as a feather in his grip, came crashing down in an instant.
The effect of Mjolnir was not what Aki had expected. Loki wasn’t knocked flying. He wasn’t slammed into the ground.
At the moment of contact with the hammer, layer upon layer of lightning-based Magic Circles enveloped and bound him completely.
That mighty evil god was now like a fly caught in a spider’s web — no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t break free even an inch.
All he could do was watch as overwhelming law-force pressed down upon him, grinding him away, until he was utterly erased.
”Damn it! How dare you…!”
Loki was furious, helpless. No matter how unwilling he was, in the end he could only dissipate completely from the world.
With Loki’s fall, the bizarre dark-red sky gradually returned to normal.
But outside the Barrier, every faction leader staring at Aki holding Mjolnir was stunned speechless.
They knew this generation’s Red Dragon Emperor was no ordinary person — more powerful even than the White Dragon Emperor with the primordial Sirzechs Lucifer bloodline. But was this really too much?
They knew — facing the Red Dragon Emperor wielding Mjolnir, Loki had held nothing back. His guard had been at maximum.
Even so, before Aki he’d had not a shred of ability to fight back.
True, the one-strike suppression owed a great deal to Mjolnir’s law-based power. But even in a straight fight, Loki would almost certainly have been unable to retaliate.
Like Albion and Beelzebub before him, most of the faction leaders hadn’t rated Loki highly. Even so, he was still an established deity, his realm and power approaching the upper limits of godhood — one step more and he’d have been Sub-Dragon God-Class.
Even Odin, Chief God of the Norse pantheon, couldn’t say he could have dealt with Loki so easily.
Compared to the shock on Odin and the others’ faces, Aki himself felt nothing particularly remarkable.
Loki had never been a fighter by nature. His strongest demonic pet, Fenrir, had already been taken by Vali. On top of that, he’d been perfectly countered by Mjolnir.
If he couldn’t triumph in a single strike under those conditions, Aki would have been seriously considering finding a powerful deity of his level for some real sparring practice.
Loki was gone, but the Fenrir sons and the Dragon King Talisman copies remained.
Having finally gotten his hands on a legendary Sacred Gear like Mjolnir, Aki took the opportunity to have some fun with it.
He’d never handled a hammer-class weapon before, but his Weapon Grandmaster Talent meant he picked it up in no time, swinging it with real style.
While testing Mjolnir, Aki had a certain insight.
The Weapon Grandmaster Talent hadn’t stirred in a long time. Conventional weapon talents — swords, spears, staves — were no longer useful.
If he wanted to keep advancing, it would be best to obtain Talents for more unusual weapon types: hammers, whips, claws, and the like.
BAM!!!
”Wait —!”
Just as Aki was about to reverse-swing and crush the head of the Dragon King Talisman copy, and was winding up to bring the hammer down on the two snarling Fenrir sons, Rossweisse’s sharp cry reached his ears.
WHOOSH — …
The gale generated by the giant hammer came to a dead stop just in front of the Fenrir sons’ heads. One centimeter more and it would have smashed their furry wolf skulls in.
It was an absurdly oversized long-handled maul — Rias and the other Demon King-class powerhouses couldn’t even lift it. But in Aki’s hands it was as obedient as a well-worn toy.
”Grr…”
A low whimper. The Fenrir sons, belatedly aware of how close they’d come to death, lowered their hackles and backed off submissively — keeping their distance from the terrifying weapon that had nearly pulped them.
The other one wasn’t faring much better — Mjolnir had swept right over its head. Had Aki not adjusted his angle at the last moment, its head would have been the first to go, followed immediately by its sibling’s — brother or sister, who could tell.
”Rossweisse, what is it?”
Aki looked at the silver-haired, blue-eyed Valkyrie with the excellent figure.
Though this was their first meeting, he remembered her vividly.
Rossweisse was a heroine who’d appeared after the DxD world’s expansion. In the original timeline, after the Loki incident she had stayed behind, eventually converting to Devilhood, and had taken up a homeroom teacher position at Kuoh Academy.
Born into a Valkyrie clan in the Norse countryside, her grandmother, Gerd, was a famous mage among the Valkyries. Her parents were warriors in service to the gods.
But as the eldest daughter she’d been unable to master the family’s seiðr summoning technique, and instead had become proficient in the Valkyries’ offensive combat magic.
This had eventually caused the family headship to pass to a distant relative.
From then on she’d buried herself in study and magical research, becoming a Valkyrie through her family’s unusual attack-type magic — she’d had no time to pursue romance with Heroic Spirits like the other Valkyries.
She had once attempted to research the Beast of Revelation 666 starting from Apocrypha “616,” but had abandoned the study without reaching any conclusions.
With the Valkyries’ numbers reduced by the changing tides, she had worked her way up to become personal bodyguard to Odin, Chief God of the Norse pantheon.
Frequently speaking her mind and correcting Odin’s undignified behavior, she’d been teased by him for being stiff and unlikely to ever find a man — so she’d resigned herself to self-deprecating labels: “Useless,” “Virgin,” “A Valkyrie whose age equals her boyfriendless history.”
Later, after staying in the Human World, she had earned the additional nickname: “Discount Store Valkyrie.”
Her character fit Aki’s tastes perfectly, and combined with her teacher archetype and sharply contrasting personality, he remembered her especially well.
*Gulp…*
Under Aki’s heated gaze, Rossweisse swallowed hard, flustered.
The Valkyrie, single for years, had no idea what was reflected in Aki’s eyes. She thought her interjection might have angered this powerful Red Dragon Emperor.
Aki realized he’d been a bit too forward. No matter how interested he was in Rossweisse, a first meeting called for more restraint.
He was so invested in her for two reasons. First, genuine interest in her as a person. Second, he wanted to study Valkyrie bloodlines.
He’d never forgotten his plan to transform his girls from school into Valkyries — but Valkyries were apparently unique to Norse mythology, and he had no idea if they could be replicated.
”Cough… Rossweisse, what did you need me to wait for?”
”A-ah, mm…”
Though encased in red armor, Rossweisse couldn’t see Aki’s expression. But the softened tone in his voice gave her some relief.
After a moment, she spoke quickly: “Red Dragon Emperor-sama, could you please spare the two Fenrir sons? We will discipline them properly after this.”
Worried Aki might be displeased, she added: “With Fenrir taken and Loki-sama fallen, it may take a long time, but these two Fenrir sons may yet grow into true Fenrir.”
Aki nodded in understanding. Fenrir held considerable standing in Norse mythology — his name was more widely known than many gods’.
As they spoke, the two wolf cubs sensibly laid themselves flat on the ground. No aggression — they didn’t dare move at all.
They’d just lost their mother and master, and this red-clad figure had nearly killed them with Mjolnir. Instinct had made the right call for them.
Glancing at the two Fenrir sons — better behaved than puppies, almost wagging their tails and panting — Aki’s urge to kill evaporated.
”Fine, I’ll leave the little ones to you. I’m going to check on Buchou and President.”
Before he left, Aki took Mjolnir with him, adding: “If these two get out of line, just give me a call.”
Legendary demonic beasts were no fools. They couldn’t speak, but understanding a conversation was trivial.
Hearing Aki’s words, the two Fenrir sons visibly flinched. Then they lowered their heads and let out a couple of ingratiating yips at Rossweisse.
Skilled in a wide range of Norse magic, Rossweisse quickly re-sealed the Contract with the two cooperative beasts and sent them back to their dimensional space.
Sona Sitri had taken serious injuries, but Rias had acted decisively. While Aki shattered the Barrier and suppressed Loki in a single strike, she’d already pulled Sona Sitri out of the battlefield.
Now that everything had settled, Rias had handed the gravely injured Sona Sitri over to Serafall.
By the time Aki arrived, he’d just seen Serafall hurrying away with Sona Sitri.
Phoenix Tears were hard to come by at the moment, but with top-tier Bishop-class healing, Sona Sitri would recover soon enough.
Though perhaps not if they’d waited much longer.
Just as Aki returned with Mjolnir in hand, Sairaorg — who’d come as reinforcement — arrived right on schedule.
Seeing Aki’s overwhelming aura, the next head of the House of Bael, the strongest young Devil alive, seemed practically itching for a fight.
Aki glanced at him and said nothing. He simply deactivated his Balance Breaker and tossed Mjolnir at him casually.
Sairaorg froze. Instinctively he reached out his right hand — and nearly toppled over.
THUD — …
The young Devil recovered in time, fumbling to grab the hammer with both hands before he could hit the ground.
He hadn’t fallen, but the heavy Mjolnir hadn’t lifted either. The hammerhead slammed into the ground, head-down, with a dull thud.
Decent — slightly stronger than Rias right now. At full power, he could probably actually wield it.
Aki made a mental note and moved on.
After that stunt, Sairaorg had lost any desire to challenge Aki.
His greatest pride was his strength — that was the House of Bael’s specialty.
Aki had tossed Mjolnir like it was nothing, and Sairaorg had needed everything he had just to hold it. Anyone with a working brain could see the chasm between them.
Aki could wield Mjolnir without a Balance Breaker boost. Sub-Dragon God-Class power, combined with the kind of physical strength that stood out even at that level, was more than sufficient.
It just wasn’t as effortless as it would have been with Balance Breaker active — after all, it wasn’t his Sacred Gear.
”Odin-sama — Loki was an important deity to your people. Are you alright with this?”
Sairaorg returned Mjolnir to Odin. Sirzechs took the opportunity to speak.
Originally, the plan had been only to suppress Loki. Severely suppressed by Mjolnir, he would almost certainly never resurface.
But there was always that faint possibility.
What none of them had anticipated was Aki’s raw power — in a single strike, and on his very first use of Mjolnir, he’d ended Loki entirely.
Though Sirzechs and Michael and the others were quietly pleased with the outcome, to formalize the alliance they needed to be mindful of Odin’s feelings as the Norse Chief God.
Old and wily — and Odin was more so than most.
His composure and calm exceeded anything Sirzechs and the others had expected. Even Aki hadn’t anticipated that the one-eyed old man’s state of mind would be this unshaken.
”Mm… the time has come for change.”
Odin’s words closed the book on this incident.
Beyond sacrificing his beast and one of his own, Loki’s meddling hadn’t produced any tangible impact on the major factions. The alliance remained on track.
If anything, he had exposed a little more of Aki’s true power.
Only two short years had passed, and now no one dared underestimate this generation’s Red Dragon Emperor.
Thankfully, Aki had struck only once, and between the Red Dragon Emperor Gauntlet and Mjolnir — two Sacred Gears — while everyone was shocked by how strong he was, only Sirzechs knew that he’d already reached Sub-Dragon God-Class. He was now only a short distance from Dragon God-level — the highest combat power in the Three Realms.
The aftershocks of a Sub-Dragon God-Class battle could destroy the entire world. At Dragon God-level, fighting alone — even across layered dimensional spaces — the Three Realms themselves would feel the ripple effects.
That was why Dragon God-level was the true ceiling of power in the Three Realms.
The Khaos Brigade could only stand against so many factions precisely because of Infinite Dragon God Ophis’s protection.
Above Dragon God-level was Super-Dragon God-Level, and above that, Evil God-class — the Quasi-Saint and Saint Realms. Battles at those levels simply could not take place within the Three Realms.
Even the vast Primordial World had been shattered during the wars of the Saints. The Three Realms of the DxD world could never withstand combat between Super-Dragon God-Level beings.
Even in the endless cosmos and dimensional spaces, a fight between a Super-Dragon God-Level entity and an Evil God-class being could threaten the stability of the Three Realms.
This was precisely why world-destroying-level battles were almost all concentrated on the Eternal Battlefield.
The Eternal Battlefield was less a part of the DxD world than a convergence point for the outer planes of countless worlds.
Because of this, buttressed by the weight of so many worlds, the Eternal Battlefield’s sturdiness defied imagination — it could just barely withstand Saint-level combat.
Of course, living and fighting were two different things. With careful control of their power, even Evil God-class beings could stroll through the Human World’s streets and towns.
…
Once Sona Sitri was confirmed to be out of mortal danger, and after leaving Shinra Tsubaki to care for her, Aki and the girls returned to the Human World a day later.
The first thing Aki did upon arriving home was find Kuroko.
Kuroka’s appearance, her involvement in the Fenrir abduction alongside Arthur, made it clear that the sisters had been unable to reach an agreement after all.
Kuroko hadn’t managed to take Kuroka with her. And Kuroka hadn’t been able to take Kuroko away.
Kuroko never would have gone with her in the first place. Now, as Aki’s — well, his cat — that was simply out of the question.
She couldn’t win, so Kuroka had naturally given up.
But something was different about Kuroka this time. Her behavior from the original timeline had changed considerably, and Aki was curious what had transpired between the sisters — and whether Kuroka had fled, or if Kuroko had deliberately let her go.
With Aki around, Rias had no intention of interfering in the Tōjō sisters’ affairs.
Because right now, a problem had surfaced with Himejima Akeno.
Meeting Bakuya — her biological father — after all these years had reopened old wounds for Himejima Akeno, resurfacing long-buried childhood trauma and a knot in her heart she’d never quite untied.
Himejima Shuri, Akeno’s biological mother, had been killed when Akeno was still young — murdered by people who hated Fallen Angels.
She could have escaped. She’d only died because she was protecting the young Akeno.
The attackers hadn’t been particularly strong, which was why they’d struck while Bakuya was away on a mission, when the two of them were alone.
Young Akeno had naturally been shaped by that event. She’d concluded that Bakuya had caused Shuri’s death.
There were three reasons.
One: Bakuya was a Fallen Angel. The attackers had come for precisely that reason.
Two: Bakuya hadn’t protected Shuri.
Three: If she didn’t believe that, young Akeno had no way to bear the truth that her mother had died protecting her.
In reality, none of it made sense.
Shuri’s death was entirely the attackers’ fault. It wasn’t because Bakuya was a Fallen Angel. It wasn’t because he’d failed to protect her. And it certainly wasn’t because Akeno had been a burden.
But the attackers were long gone — Bakuya had erased them completely, down to the last ash. Yet the dead cannot return, and that knot in Akeno’s heart remained tied.
The only way to set her free of it was to chase away the cold and darkness inside her with some other, equally powerful emotion.
On another front, if Akeno wanted to advance further — to become a God-class powerhouse — this was a barrier she had to cross.
In the original timeline, Akeno had eventually let go naturally, surrounded by people she cared about, feeling their genuine affection.
Frankly, a knot like that was almost impossible for outsiders to untangle.
Even Rias, who’d known Akeno since childhood, had only quietly cared for her — there was nothing active she could do.
Especially not for Akeno, who was sharp and emotionally mature — the kind of older sister figure who didn’t need anyone holding her hand through her feelings.
As the people around her continued to open up to each other, eventually Akeno too would surely be able to show Aki her truest self — to reveal her real feelings.
While Rias quietly watched over Akeno,陪伴ing her childhood friend, Aki had gotten the full story from Kuroko.
After being sealed, Kuroka had quietly returned to the Human World with Kuroko.
But an older sister is always an older sister. Once things had settled, Kuroka had chatted with Kuroko, extracting everything that had happened to her over the years.
In the opposite direction, Kuroko had wanted to know how Kuroka’s years had been — but had gotten almost nothing useful in return.
Notes:
• Rias – Rias Gremory, a sharp, playful high-class devil and Gremory heiress, is Sirzechs’s sister and daughter of Venelana. Known for her crimson hair, she heads the Occult Research Club, protecting her peerage including Mio, Xenovia, and Maria. As Aki’s fiancée and partner privy to his transmigration, she guides his cultivation while navigating complex feelings toward his pursuit of Grayfia and her mother.
• Aki – A tall, handsome Kuoh Academy student and Red Dragon Emperor, he is a reincarnated cultivator who currently inhabits a pitch-black cat form with piercing azure eyes. Calculating and protective, he commands the Boosted Gear and Origin Blood. Connected to the Gremory household and Naruse Mio via a Soul Network, he manages a vast harem while navigating ancient conspiracies and his own feline instincts.
• Sirzechs – Sirzechs Gremory, the red-haired Demon King Lucifer, is a formidable strategist and Rias’s brother. Known for his battlefield prowess, he charmed the enemy general Grayfia into defecting, later marrying her and fathering Georgix. A complex, often elusive leader, he balances diplomatic duties and rebuilding the Underworld with a cultivation obsession that frequently strains his family life, yet he remains an ally to Aki.
• Lucifer – A house name associated with the White Dragon Emperor’s lineage. An original Demon King whose lineage is inherited by Vali.
• Albion – The White Dragon Emperor is an ancient, God-tier entity of immense power residing within the White Dragon Armor Sacred Gear. Serving as a clinical advisor and voice of reason for his host, Vali, during battles, he acts as a massive energy source. He maintains a distinct identity as a legendary dragon, communicating directly with his wielder to guide them through high-stakes conflicts.
• Vali – A stoic, arrogant half-demon youth of Ancient Devil blood, this battle-crazed individual is the White Dragon Emperor, Albion. Wearing resplendent white armor with light-absorbing wings, he triggers Balance Breaker at will. Taken in by Azazel but later joining the Khaos Brigade, this cynical warrior seeks a fated rival, though Governor Shemhaza admits his actions reflect a lack of supervision.
• Buchou – Stunning leader of the Swim Club who wears a tight-fitting swimsuit. As club president, she was mentioned as having peeked at Aki.
• Sona Sitri – Sona Sitri, aka Shitori Sona, is a High-Class, pure-blood devil who became a master strategist at seventeen. As Kuoh Academy’s Student Council president, she wears formal attire and glasses, sporting short black hair and a stern look. Noted for her massive Mana, she tactically leads the Sitri family and manages local supernatural threats while deferring to Rias Gremory.
• Sitri – The prestigious devil hierarchy family name carried by Sona, representing her noble lineage and identity.
• Sona – An analytical, bespectacled young woman with long black hair, she is the Sitri clan’s future head and Student Council President. Highly intelligent and composed, she manages her council with structured leadership. As a strategic, noble ally to Rias, she works to protect their shared interests and serves as a capable, potential collaborator.
• Serafall – Serafall Leviathan is a Super-Devil, one of the Four Great Satans, and Sona Sitri’s bubbly, energetic sister with an extreme sister-complex. A peer to Sirzechs who once vied with Grayfia for the title of the Underworld’s strongest female devil, she balances her immense power and threat-monitoring duties as a leader with a personal preference to avoid conflict.
• Phoenix – The Phenex noble clan, from which Riser and Ravel originate, is known for their unique bloodline abilities and the healing properties of their tears.
• Michael – A handsome, pragmatic Archangel in golden armor, he leads Heaven and the surviving Seraphs after God’s disappearance. Wielding a dragon-slaying Holy Sword, he possesses power exceeding a Super-Devil and unmatched intelligence. He maintains the System to preserve peace among the Three Factions, prioritizing order over individual lives, and modified the Holy Sword Project’s fatal rituals.
• Ophis – The Infinite Dragon God, an initiator of the Khaos Brigade who refuses to coddle others.
• Shinra Tsubaki – Shinra Tsubaki – dark‑blue hair, refined vice‑president of the student council in a status‑worthy uniform; childhood friend and Queen‑type retainer to President Shitori Sona. A middle‑class reincarnated devil with Mirror Reflection talent, later a Demon Bloodline A‑rank peerage member; her mana surged after meeting Aki, turning her into a strategic ally and loyal subordinate.
• Tsubaki – Shinra Tsubaki, Sona Sitri’s stoic, glasses-wearing Queen and Student Council VP, is a black-winged Devil who assists in the battle’s aftermath. As Sousuke’s loyal wife and Sakura’s mother, she balances maternal devotion with a playful, jealous side. A key link to Aki with a shared dual cultivation history, she monitors Rating Games, masking vulnerability behind fierce loyalty.
• Shinra – Shinra Tsubaki is a refined, dark-blue haired middle-class reincarnated devil and A-rank warrior. As Student Council Vice President and Queen, she faithfully assists her childhood friend Sona Sitri with administrative duties. Gifted with Mirror Reflection talent, her mana surged after meeting Aki, transforming her into a loyal ally who also manages and displays crucial combat feeds.
• Kuro – A companion or observer who hides during combat and provides information to Aki.
• Kuroka – Koneko’s older sister is a Nekoshou with a top-tier physical figure. She possesses a dark history of killing her own master, a defining aspect of her identity that deeply shapes her past and complex relationships with others.
• Himejima Akeno – A buxom, black-haired student and member of the Gremory peerage, this “Lightning Flash” is a key ally to Rias and a devoted lover to Aki. Known for a calm, calculating demeanor that shifts to a sultry energy, she is a central figure in Aki’s inner circle. Dedicated to supporting Rias with magic, she remains a poised and essential presence within the group, even navigating complex personal dynamics.
• Himejima – Akeno Himejima is a tall, curvaceous Kuoh Academy senior, high-ranking Devil retainer in Rias Gremory’s peerage, and a powerful Occult Research Club member known for her strength in combat. Bound by a Soul Contract to Aki, she possesses long black hair and a queen-like demeanor. Combining sadistic charm with maternal authority, she wields golden lightning and is deeply loyal to Rias and Aki.
• Akeno – Himejima is a tall, voluptuous Orc-devil shrine maiden with red eyes, dark wings, and calf-length raven hair. The sadistic, black-bellied “Priestess of Thunder” serves as Rias Gremory’s loyal S+ rank Queen and administrator. As Akira’s soul-bound, dedicated partner, she maintains a deep bond, frequently participating in dual cultivation while constantly longing for his attention.
• Baku – A B-rank Youkai with gold-rimmed glasses and a gloomy gaze. He possesses high perception abilities and functions as a ‘refined scoundrel’ within the group.
• Y – The first initial/part of the name Y Ddraig Goch.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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