Located slightly north of Kuoh Academy, there was a wetland park, featuring a wide variety of public fitness equipment and recreational facilities, and covering a large area.
This park was the only plaza style recreational area in the entire town of Kuoh, and it was popular with the residents.
Even office workers used it for recreation during their free time.
The peaceful and tranquil environment effectively relieved the stress and boredom brought on by high pressure work.
However...
Tonight, the park was different from other times. The entire park was quiet and deserted, with only the soft chirping of insects in the night.
Yasuhiro used a barrier to repel people, resulting in its current state of complete desertion.
In the open space in the center of the park, Issei and Yasuhiro looked at each other.
The two brother's expressions were starkly different, Issei was filled with unease, while Yasuhiro wore a smile.
"Sacred gears feed on the host's thoughts, the stronger the host's thoughts, the more the Sacred gear will evolve and become stronger."
"And do you know the most effective method for developing a dragon type Sacred gear?"
Yasuhiro's ambiguous smile intensified Issei's ominous premonition.
"Extreme anger and the danger of death are both the most effective ways to draw out dragon type sacred gears."
Issei couldn't help but tremble, and asked uncertainly, "Brother, you wouldn't want to..."
Before he could finish speaking, Yasuhiro unleashed a light from his right hand.
The dazzling light illuminated the dark corners of the woods, and even the full moon and stars in the sky paled in comparison to this radiance.
Issei felt waves of dread washing over him, causing him to involuntarily take a few steps back.
Even so, he couldn't suppress the terror in his heart.
"This is..."
As the light faded, what came into view was a simple yet elegant double edged sword shaped like a ruler.
The sword wasn't long. It was entirely silver white, engraved with patterns, and had no actual blade.
It was less a sword and more a scepter resembling a ruler from the church.
"The Holy Sword Excalibur, the Excalibur Blessing. According to your understanding, it could be considered one of my sacred gears."
Having just entered the supernatural world, Issei had no idea what a Holy Sword was. In his mind, it was only natural for his brother, who was a holy knight to be paired with a holy sword, and he didn't feel anything was wrong with it.
However, Issei's unease grew stronger and stronger.
If the rest of the town witnessed this, they wouldn't remain calm.
The Holy sword brought more than just lethality to creatures of darkness like Devils, it also had a powerful deterrent effect.
Holy swords had slain countless devils throughout history, and the blood stained on them could make even the strongest devils tremble. Its formidable power was undeniable.
"You only need to remember one thing, the Holy sword is the nemesis of devils, their natural enemy. For devils, being cut by a holy sword is more terrifying and more painful than the power of light."
Issei's lips twitched, and he said, "Brother, you aren't going to use that thing to deal with me, are you?"
Issei desperately wanted his brother to tell him that it was all a joke, but the next words shattered that last bit of hope.
"Otherwise, do you think I would pull out this sword just to show off out of boredom? Be prepared, or you might die."
Yasuhiro strode forward, raised the Holy sword, and without any fancy moves, simply cleaved it downwards, aiming straight at Issei.
"Wait, wait... you bastard!"
Issei could tell that his bastard brother seemed to be serious. The sword was coming straight at him, and before it even touched his skin, the power it carried leaked out, causing him a sharp pain.
It was unimaginable what the consequences would be if it were a direct hit.
Issei immediately rolled on the ground and jumped away, successfully dodging the attack in an extremely unseemly manner.
"Huh, you dodged it."
Damn, what's with that disappointed look on your face? If I were hit in the face, I might be done for!
You bastard, you are just using the guise of developing my sacred gear to carry out my death, aren't you?
Regardless of what Issei was thinking, Yasuhiro continued his assault, wielding the Excalibur blessing relentlessly towards Issei.
"This is the first time I've seen a devil so vulnerable. Issei, your weakness has redefined my understanding of devils."
"With your current level, you've broken the record for the lowest devil class, and that record may remain forever."
...
"This time, I wasn't fooled..."
...
"I am swinging to the right. If I hit you, your right hand will be gone, and you'll have to rely on your left hand at night from now on. I think you'll get used to it..."
...
Faced with Yasuhiro's deliberate sarcastic remarks, Issei was now exhausted and had no energy left to pay attention or refute them.
From a distance, Issei looked like a pitifull animal being chased around, desperately dodging the attacks of the sword time and time again.
Yasuhiro blinked, and he cleverly struck Issei in the back.
"Ahh..."
Issei, struck by the excalibur blessing, gasped sharply and finally screamed in agony.
It wasn't that Issei couldn't help it, the pain that Excalibur blessing brought him couldn't be simply explained by the word pain.
He had never imagined that pain could be this intense, to the point that it pushed the absolute limits of his endurance.
Even the endless flames of hell burning deep within his soul couldn't compare to this.
However, no wound appeared at the spot where the sword struck. Excalibur blessing was a bladeless sword, yet his back had already been scorched into charcoal by the sacred power it carried.
"I forgot to tell you, the excalibur blessing occupies an awkward position among all holy swords, being both the weakest and the strongest."
"It's the weakest because it has almost no offensive power, not even a sharpened edge, however, it's the strongest because it possesses absolute lethality against devils and other dark creatures, far surpassing other holy swords."
Yasuhiro kindly reminded him, "With your current body, I only need to hit you twice more to break you down completely."
What did he mean forgot?
Issei knew his brother's personality all too well, it was definitely intentional.
But what he said next made Issei's expression change drastically.
"Dude, you aren't serious, are you...?"
The only answer he received was the sword coming crashing down on him, striking his chest heavily before he could even react.
It was another wave of pain that penetrated deep into his soul.
He could sense that through these two blows, a large amount of sacred power had accumulated within his body, constantly damaging his devil physiology.
Perhaps, just as his brother had said, another blow would completely destroy his body.
At the same time, the next attack was imminent. He wanted to dodge, but he lacked the strength.
He had no energy left in his body, and his legs trembled.
Just standing was a struggle.
Closer, closer, and closer.
Thoughts and ideas welled up in his mind.
The dissatisfaction of not being able to fulfill his ambitions.
Guilt for not completing the President's task.
And both dissatisfaction and respect for his brother.
...
Still not enough?
Yasuhiro frowned, looking at the unchanged Boosted Gear, already prepared to put away the sword.
Suddenly, a majestic voice rang out.
"Boost!!!"
The Boosted Gear on Issei's left arm changed drastically, becoming much larger overall.
"It's a success..."
Yasuhiro removed the excalibur blessing from Issei's forehead. Issei glanced at the sacred gear, which had changed drastically and feeling exhausted.
He fainted right on the spot.
Just as Yasuhiro was about to put away the sword and carry Issei home so that Asia could heal him.
An anomaly occurred.
Suddenly, a crimson magic circle appeared not far in front of Yasuhiro, and several people, no it should be said that several devils, appeared.