High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

Chapter 376: Chapter 366 Operation Agreas — The Surprise Attack Begins!

Half a day had passed since Kuroka brought us the coordinates.

The basement of the Hyoudou residence was packed. The ’D×D’ members had gathered around the massive teleportation circle: my peerage, the Gremory and Sitri peerages, Irina, Griselda-san, Dulio, Rayna, Ikuse-san from Slash Dog, Kuroka, and Le Fay.

This was a surprise attack. Qlippoth likely believed Agreas’s location was still a secret. To them, this would be a bolt from the blue. Even if they had countermeasures in place, the sheer suddenness would put them on the back foot.

It was our first true offensive. We owed this chance to Vali’s obsession; without his relentless tracking of the floating city, we’d still be playing defense.

The rest of the reinforcements—Sairaorg’s Baal peerage and Seekvaira’s Agares peerage—were on standby in the Underworld. Once we established a foothold, they would warp in to help us mop up the enemy and reclaim the city.

Azazel-sensei looked over the group. ”Kuroka provided the coordinates where Agreas is currently hovering. Ajuka Beelzebub is assisting us with the transport. However, the magic circle we’re using is a forbidden type. It can only transport a limited number of people at once. But without it, we’d never punch through the city’s barrier.”

I noticed the patterns on the floor were different from our usual circles. Azazel must have reconfigured it personally. I figured Ajuka-sama was probably operating the other end from a distance.

”The force will be split into two,” Azazel continued. ”The first is the Diversionary Unit. Their job is to draw the heat. Step forward.”

Sona and the Sitri peerage moved to the front. ”My peerage and I will go in first,” she said firmly. ”We will draw their attention and create an opening.”

”And I’m tagging along,” Dulio added with a wink. He was joined by Griselda and a few other reincarnated angels. Their mission was simple: manifest in the city center, cause absolute chaos, and make sure every eye in Qlippoth was on them.

Then, Azazel turned to Rias and me. ”Second Unit. The Main Force. Rias, Issei—this is on you.”

Our group consisted of my peerage, the Gremory peerage, Irina, and Rayna. Our goal: dismantle Qlippoth’s fighting strength and reclaim Agreas. In other words, our job was to find that bastard Rizevim and cave his face in.

Rias nodded, her eyes cold. ”I understand. I won’t forgive those who hurt my family and friends. We end this here.”

”If we run into the gods of Aste-Arde or their followers,” Riesha added, checking her firearms, ”we’ll take care of them. That’s our responsibility.”

”Yeah,” Maurice-san grunted, ”handling those ’brothers’ of yours is our job.”

My participating peerage members were Alice, Miwa, Ravel, Maurice, and Riesha. Diarmuid, my new ’Knight,’ was still under strict orders to rest, and Nina wasn’t a combatant. Walkūre was staying behind to guard them and my parents.

I leaned down to speak to Nina and Walkūre. ”I’m counting on you two to look after my Mom and Dad.”

Nina puffed out her chest. ”Leave it to me! They’re going to be my parents too, after all. I’ll keep them safe.”

”Don’t worry about this end, Issei-sama,” Walkūre added. ”I will fulfill my duty and ensure the safety of Diarmuid-sama and Ophis-sama as well.”

Azazel-sensei spoke up again. ”Slash Dog will accompany the Main Force but will immediately break off for solo support. I’ll follow shortly after. I’m heading for the reactor core in the depths of Agreas. If I can shut it down, I can freeze the city in place.”

Reclaiming Agreas was personal for me. It was the ”Holy Land” of Rating Games, the place where Sairaorg-san and I had clashed with everything we had. I wasn’t going to let Rizevim defile it any longer.

”Le Fay, where’s Vali?” Azazel asked.

”He’s waiting near Agreas with the rest of his team,” she replied. ”He said if he moved too early, his grandfather might just warp the whole city away again.”

Kuroka chuckled. ”He’s got the bastard by the tail now. He doesn’t plan on letting go until the head is off, nya.”

Azazel nodded, though a shadow of doubt crossed his face. ”Vali’s persistence found them, yes. But Rizevim’s recent actions have been... sloppy. Targeting Ophis and Issei’s parents is effective, but it feels rushed. Almost desperate. Or is he trying to make us think he’s desperate?”

I didn’t care what Rizevim was thinking. Diarmuid had bled to protect my family, and because of her, I could go into this fight without looking over my shoulder.

”Whatever he’s planning, be careful,” Azazel warned. ”He’s a piece of work. And don’t forget the ’enhancement’ Valpurga was using.”

”Do we know what that was yet?” Kiba asked.

”The sample vanished the moment Valpurga fell,” Azazel said with a frown. ”Based on the footage, it’s likely a refinement of Ophis’s power. A modified version of the ’Snake.’ Until we get a physical sample, that’s all I can tell you.”

Rizevim using Ophis’s power... modified by a transcendent being. That didn’t sound good.

But Azazel just smiled. ”There are a lot of unknowns. But remember this: those bastards walked into your home with mud on their boots. They’ve earned their deaths ten times over. If you get the chance, take them out. You have my permission.”

”YES, SIR!”

The Sitri team stepped into the circle. The air began to hum with forbidden magic.

The Siege of Agreas was live.

”Well, well. They’re already at it. The kids certainly have energy.”

Maurice-san stared into the distance. By the time our unit warped in, the city was already echoing with the thunder of explosions. I could see Saji’s black flames rising over the skyline. The Sitri team was making sure they couldn’t be ignored.

We had landed in a massive, lush park to the west of the central district.

The moment we arrived, Ikuse-san and his black dog, Jin, stepped forward. ”I have my own work to do. Good luck to you all. Go ahead and cause a scene.”

With a silent nod, he and his shadow-hound vanished into the trees.

Suddenly, Riesha whipped out her mana-guns. Without a word, she aimed and fired. High-speed beams of light lanced through the sky, swatting five mass-produced Evil Dragons out of the air before they could even dive.

Her red eyes glowed with clinical precision. ”Let us move. You all head for the front; I will provide long-range suppression.”

Maurice-san drew his sword. ”I suppose I’ll clear out the pests.”

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