Chapter 115: Transcendence, Bikou Appearance!
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Vali Lucifer smiled faintly, unconcerned by the holy sword in Badr's hand.
Badr's expression remained calm. He stood poised in the air, King Sword in his right hand and Ascalon in his left.
"Indeed, to me, this so-called Dragon Slayer is just a sword. Did you know that this King Sword I wield was once just a piece of mundane iron?"
Looking down at the two weapons in his hands, Badr spoke in a relaxed tone.
"Is that so? What are you trying to say?" Vali seemed happy to engage in conversation with a strong individual like Badr.
"You consider Sacred Gears to be gifts bestowed by God, but I disagree."
Badr casually uttered words that would have been considered blasphemous in the past, but now, with the God gone, no one would pursue such matters.
"Whether it's the Dragon Slayer or King Sword, their power stems from certain unique properties.
Is it the one who draws the hero's sword that makes them a hero? No, it's the sword wielded by a hero that becomes the hero's sword."
"...An interesting perspective," Vali mused, seemingly lost in thought.
"The Dragon Slayer became the Dragon Slayer because the one who wielded it killed a dragon. King Sword became King Sword because the one who wielded it was a king. And now... I am the one wielding them."
Badr smiled faintly. "After my recent Progress, I've come to understand these intriguing concepts."
With that, he casually swung the Dragon Slayer.
--Balance Breaker."
Hummm~
As everyone watched in stunned silence, the Dragon Slayer, Ascalon, which was not a Sacred Gear, transformed into one right before their eyes, allowing Badr to successfully activate a second Balance Breaker!!
...
If Badr's previous feats were still comprehensible to a few Maou-level individuals, his current actions were beyond the understanding of even Sirzechs and the others.
The Dragon Slayer, Ascalon, was undoubtedly a powerful weapon, its might comparable to some ordinary Sacred Gears. However, it was not a Sacred Gear; this was a universally acknowledged fact.
But Badr had completely overturned this common knowledge!
He had transformed a holy sword into a Sacred Gear right in front of everyone!
There was no mistaking the distinct aura of a Sacred Gear. Sirzechs and the others couldn't possibly mistake it.
Azazel, in particular, was astounded. He had been researching Sacred Gears for a long time, even creating artificial Sacred Gears himself. Yet, the method Badr employed was something he had never witnessed before.
With the Dragon Slayer successfully transformed into a Sacred Gear and its Balance Breaker activated, Badr's gaze turned serious.
After the Balance Breaker, Ascalon, the newly ascended Sacred Gear, gained new abilities.
In addition to the significant increase in attack power that came with the Balance Breaker, it also gained the [Penetration] effect.
Only Badr, with his absolute control over the weapon, knew the explosive power contained within him.
The feeling of overwhelming strength gave him the illusion that he could split the heavens with a single hand.
Whoosh!
Badr vanished from his spot.
Vali's heart pounded in his chest. Even with his heightened senses, he could only perceive a faint blur approaching rapidly from his side!
He barely managed to raise his White Dragon Emperor's Light Wings to shield half of his body before he was sent hurtling backward.
While still in mid-air, a deep gash appeared on his chest, spraying blood everywhere.
I was hit?
The thought flashed through his mind.
He forcefully stopped the bleeding with his demonic power, but the intense pain still assaulted his nerves. It was the Dragon Slayer's inherent anti-devil attribute.
Badr, now a hybrid of holy and demonic power, wielding a weapon specifically designed to slay devils, was indeed a formidable opponent.
But what truly bothered Vali was his inability to comprehend the power Badr demonstrated.
How could he transform a holy sword into a Sacred Gear?
Weren't Sacred Gears created by God?
And he could even activate its Balance Breaker...
Were Sacred Gears supposed to be this easy to create?
It's not the sword that chooses the hero, but the hero who chooses the sword...
The phrase echoed in Vali's mind, stirring a flicker of understanding, but a thin veil still obscured the complete picture.
What kind of power had Badr grasped that made him so powerful?
The same question lingered in the minds of everyone present.
"Could it be... that you've touched upon that Domain?"
A voice suddenly emanated from Vali.
The crystalline fragments on his body shimmered, as if breathing.
Badr looked at Vali, recognizing the voice as belonging to the Sacred Gear residing within him.
"The White Dragon Emperor?"
"I am Albion, the Vanishing Dragon."
"It's an honor."
Badr responded calmly, but everyone could tell it was mere politeness. He didn't sound particularly impressed...
"Albion, what Domain are you referring to?" Vali asked curiously.
He was truly itching to know. The feeling of being on the cusp of understanding but unable to grasp it was driving him mad.
"...That Domain is called [Transcendence]."
The words sent shockwaves through everyone present.
With Albion's explanation, Sirzechs and the other top-tier individuals of the Three Factions finally understood.
It was that unique state!
"Transcendence... It's said to be a Domain attainable only by those who become [Transcendent Beings]. I always thought it was just a legend... Has Badr truly reached it at his current level?" Serafall Leviathan exclaimed in astonishment.
"If this is true, then his talent is terrifying," Sirzechs said with a grave expression.
Transcendence was a power spoken of since ancient times, yet no one had ever witnessed it. It couldn't even be found in the entire history of the Three Factions...
This state existed only in legends, almost certainly dismissed as a mere myth. Yet, here it was, manifesting in reality.
What was even more shocking was that Badr had touched upon this Domain at his current level, leaving top-tier individuals like Sirzechs speechless.
Furthermore, it meant that Badr had the potential to reach the level of a [Transcendent Being]...
Vali pondered, "Simply touching upon the Domain of [Transcendence] allows him to transform a holy sword into a Sacred Gear? That's a power belonging to God... What a Scary ability."
He stared at Badr, his fighting spirit burning intensely.
"My goal is to defeat the legendary Great Red, but it seems you are also a formidable opponent. I doubt I could defeat you even in my [Diabolos Dragon] form."
Badr smiled serenely.
"Why don't you try?"
"Alright!"
Vali readily accepted the challenge.
Azazel opened his mouth, sighing.
"Badr is in a strange state right now. I doubt even I could defeat him. Vali, although you betrayed me, don't get yourself killed here."
The Governor General of the Fallen Angels wasn't exaggerating Badr's power. He genuinely felt that Badr had reached the level of a Maou...
It was truly bizarre. What did this kid eat to grow so strong?
Grayfia and Serafall nodded seriously in agreement. They, as Super Devil-class beings, weren't concerned, but Vali's current power wasn't enough to face a Maou-level opponent...
He needed to grow stronger.
Badr ignored their words, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor. His aura of strength fueled Vali's desire to test his limits.
But just then, a streak of light flew from afar, landing between Vali and Badr.
Vali paused as he recognized the newcomer.
His helmet deactivated, revealing his face. He looked at the newcomer and said, "Bikou, what are you doing here?"
"Heh, those Norse Gods are attacking. I came to get you to join the fight."
The newcomer, called Bikou, spoke casually, resting a metal staff on his shoulder. "Having fun here, are we?"
Badr's gaze focused on the young man.
"Bikou?"
The newcomer wore a golden circlet on his head and carried an iron staff, truly resembling the Monkey King.
But he looked human.
"Another member of the Khaos Brigade... Bikou, he must be a descendant of that Monkey King," Azazel said. "The infamous mischievous monkey from Journey to the West."
Upon hearing the name "Journey to the West," Badr turned around and calmly addressed Azazel.
"Speak with respect. That's the Great Sage."
Azazel: "..."
Everyone: "..."
...
No one expected Badr to be the first to confront him.
Wasn't the newcomer the enemy?
After a moment of stunned silence, Azazel chuckled. "So, you know Sun Wukong as well?"
"Hehe, the Great Sage... Interesting! What's going on? I don't recall meeting you before," Bikou said with a grin. "But your politeness is appreciated."
However, Badr, who was known for his bluntness, retorted, "I wasn't talking about you. I was referring to the Great Sage, the Victorious Fighting Buddha. It has nothing to do with you."
"Uh..."
Bikou scratched his head, hopping in place with his staff in hand, truly resembling a monkey.
"The Victorious Fighting Buddha was the original. I inherited his title!"
So, he was like a Maou successor...
Badr sighed softly.
Honestly, it was a bit hard to accept.
"Are you really a monkey? Do you have any fur? Not even a single strand."
Bikou: "...??"
Everyone: "..."
Frankly, if they hadn't sensed Badr's unusual respect for the Great Sage, suggesting a possible connection to the original, Bikou might have wanted to punch him.
How could someone be so rude?
Although Badr learned that the Great Sage from Journey to the West had truly existed, he didn't react strongly.
...
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