High School DxD: The Man Who Surpasses God

[GRISELDA'S POV]

The battlefield was chaos.

A cacophony of screams, gunfire, and the unholy wails of vampires meeting their demise.

With Excalibur Destruction in hand, I carved through the oncoming horde, each swing of the holy blade unleashing devastating bursts of divine energy that shattered the ground and obliterated these unholy creatures in my path. 

Arthur's summoned T-800 Terminators flanked me, their futuristic firearms blazing as they efficiently mowed down vampires.

Their cold, mechanical precision was both eerie and awe-inspiring.

I had to admit, the boy has a very creative mind.

If nurtured correctly, he would make a fine Exorcist with his Longinus and gifted talents.

"The Church will definitely covet his capabilities."

I muttered under my breath.

As I skewered a vampire attempting to flank me, I smirked. 

But I barely had time to celebrate.

My instincts flared, and I spun just in time to see a vampire darting out of the shadows behind me.

With a swift motion, I plunged Excalibur Destruction into its chest, the blade's holy energy disintegrating it instantly. 

I continued my assault, taking down the horde with calculated precision when a sudden shift in the air caught my attention. 

A cloaked figure stepped forward, distinct from the mindless masses of vampires.

This one held a blood-red longsword, its edge shimmering faintly in the dim light. 

My brow arched as I raised my blade.

"You seem... different."

I remarked, readying myself. 

The vampire didn't reply, merely dropping into a stance that radiated discipline and skill.

In an instant, he vanished from my sight.

My body tensed, instincts screaming as I barely managed to block his blade with my own.

The clash of steel echoed as sparks flew from the impact, and I found myself staring into his cold, unyielding eyes. 

'He is faster than I expected.'

I gritted my teeth and pushed back, our blades grinding against each other before he disengaged and came at me again. 

We exchanged strikes at a speed so blinding it left afterimages.

Each clash sent shockwaves rippling through the air, forcing the lesser vampires to back away.

The Terminators, unaffected by the intense duel, continued firing at the scattered enemies, keeping them at bay. 

I grinned despite myself.

"You're skilled. I'll give you that. But you will die in the name of the Lord."

I said between clashes. 

The vampire swordsman remained silent, his focus absolute as he pressed his assault.

His swordplay was precise and methodical, like a dancer performing a deadly waltz. 

But I was no novice as I matched his strikes, meeting his speed and strength with my own.

With each clash, my respect for his skill grew, but so did my resolve. 

"Let's see how long you can keep up!"

I challenged, my grip on my own blade tightening as I prepared to end this dance with one decisive blow.

[BELLADONNA'S POV]

The captives' terrified eyes stared up at me as I carefully loosened the bindings that held them.

I tried to soften my voice, but urgency edged every word. 

"It's okay now. We're here to help. Just follow me, and I'll get you out of this nightmare." 

For a moment, silence hung in the air, then it shattered as tears welled up in their eyes.

They whispered words of thanks, shaky and overwhelmed, their gratitude tugging at my chest. 

"Come on. Stay close to me." 

I said firmly, gesturing to the nearest entrance.

We had barely made it halfway when a swarm of bats descended from the shadows, swirling like a living storm.

My gut twisted as the swarm coalesced into a group of vampires, hissing and leering, encircling us. 

One of them, a tall female with cold eyes and a cruel smirk, stepped forward.

"End of the line for you, mutt." 

My lips curled back, a growl building in my throat.

I scanned the group, counting the sheer number of them.

Too many.

"*Sigh* Oh well... I prefer moving without clothes anyway."

I sighed, glancing back at the frightened humans.

"Everyone, stay back as far as you can. And… try not to freak out, okay?" 

Turning back to the vampires, I narrowed my eyes.

My body tensed as heat surged through me, the shift beginning.

I hated ruining my clothes, but there was no other option.

My vision turned red, my human frame stretching and growing into my Feral State.

My claws extended, glowing faintly red, and my fangs gleamed like daggers. 

Standing twice the height of any adult, I let loose a deafening howl that reverberated through the chamber.

The force of it sent the vampires stumbling back, crashing into each other. 

"Who's the mutt now?"

I growled, my voice deep and guttural. 

Before they could recover, I lunged with breakneck speed, sinking my claws into the nearest vampire.

Its scream was short-lived as I tore through its chest, sending ash scattering to the ground. 

I moved like a storm, ripping through them one by one.

Claws slashed, teeth snapped, and crimson blood painted the air.

They didn't stand a chance.

By the time I reached the last two, my fur was matted with blood, and the chamber reeked of death. 

"Phew. Okay, now back to-"

But then my instincts screamed a warning.

I spun just in time, dodging a lightning bolt that scorched the ground where I had stood. 

Growling, I looked up to see two identical vampire girls floating in the air, each clutching a magic staff.

They were pale, with delicate features twisted in smug amusement. 

"Hey, look, sister. The big bad doggy didn't catch it."

The first twin said, her voice lilting. 

The other twin pouted.

"Aww, and I thought it'd be over quickly." 

I snarled, slashing out with a long-range claw strike aimed at the first twin, but they raised a glowing red magic circle, blocking it easily. 

The first twin laughed, twirling her staff.

"Oh, this is great! I've always wanted a pet dog to play with. This gonna be fun!" 

The second twin sighed stoically.

"But sister, I wanted a new ingredient for my potions. Oh well, we'll just have to skin it later." 

My growl deepened, and I tensed as fireballs began raining down.

They were fast, too fast to rely solely on dodging.

I leapt and darted, evading most, but a few were aimed at the humans. With a snarl, I shifted, blocking the blasts with my arms.

The impact stung, but I wouldn't let those monsters hurt these innocent people. 

"Great. This is gonna be a long night."

I muttered to myself, baring my fangs.

[ARTHUR'S POV]

Manthar's blood magic came at me relentlessly, his spells weaving through the air like living nightmares.

I dodged with precision, Teleporting and Flash Stepping out of reach as blood bats and razor-sharp crimson blades sliced through where I'd just been. 

"Persistent old geezer, aren't you?"

I muttered, countering with a move of my own.

I teleported behind him, conjuring five glowing Gaster Blasters and unleashing their devastating beams in unison. 

The attack struck his blood barrier with a deafening crack, but the barrier held firm, leaving Manthar untouched. 

"Hmph... That was a futile effort, boy."

He sneered, slamming his staff against the ground. 

A wave of oppressive darkness enveloped me instantly.

I conjured a fireball in my palm, but the light barely pierced through the inky blackness.

I couldn't see anything, just an endless void pressing against me.

"Okay? This is getting pretty creepy."

Then, I started hearing whispers of my name, called from all directions, echoing like a maddening chorus.

"Arthur..."

I spun, trying to pinpoint the source, but it was futile.

Suddenly, sharp, searing pain tore through me.

"Ack! The fuck-?!"

Blood slashes struck from every angle, cutting through my body in incredible speeds. 

"Damn it!"

I hissed, staggering but refusing to fall.

Each strike left me more battered, but it wasn't enough to take me down. 

"Alright, enough of this shit."

I growled.

"Time to turn the tables, you mongrel." 

Summoning every weapon I could muster, I unleashed a storm of projectiles into the void, firing in every direction.

Swords, spears, and blasters carved through the darkness.

Finally, one of them hit its mark. 

"Ahh!"

The oppressive void shattered like glass, and light rushed back in.

Standing in front of me was Manthar, clutching a dagger embedded in his stomach.

His elderly face twisted in pain, but his crimson eyes burned with fury. 

"You annoying little human maggot."

He spat, yanking the dagger free.

Before I could press the advantage, he unleashed a wave of blood magic.

A crimson tide rushed toward me, forcing me to teleport clear. 

As I reappeared, I opened my mouth to throw out a sarcastic comment.

"Hah! You missed, you decrepit-"

But it died as I watched this scene.

A blood-red portal emerged as Manthar grabbed a homeless man from the sacrificial crowd, his claws plunging into the man's neck. 

"Shit!"

I shouted, already too late. 

Manthar drained the man of his blood in seconds, the victim's lifeless body crumpling as the vampire lord's wounds closed.

He tossed the corpse at me as if it were trash.

My blade flashed, cutting the corpse in half before it reached me, but the irritation in my expression was unmistakable. 

"Really? Now that was just disrespectful." 

I said, narrowing my eyes.

Manthar glared.

"Hmph. You are a thousand years too early to face me, child. I've fought in the Great War, slaughtered a thousand soldiers in my youth, and even battled a Bael Clan member of the 72 Pillars. And you are just a mere human, what can you do to stop the inevitable?" 

I raised an eyebrow, deadpan.

"Okay first of all, weird flex. Second, I can kill you right here and now, and stop this whole operation of yours, you sentient fossil." 

Manthar's eyes glinted with malice, and he lunged.

"I would like to see you try, boy!"

I met his charge head-on, the clash of his blood magic and my summoned arsenal shaking the very ground beneath us.

[AUTHOR' NOTE]

Hello readers!

I require Power Stones to fuel my imagination.

Also, I started sending images in the chapter comments.

Thank you everyone and see you later!