Chapter 68: It is totally absurd ...!

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In a fit of anger, Issei's voice resonated with raw emotion, "It's utterly absurd to think that Ophis and her entire force could even pose a threat. The Great Red, renowned throughout dimensions, stands as the apex of power! Do you truly believe that you, or anyone else for that matter, can even come close to challenging such a titan? The mere thought is ludicrous!"

Crom Cruach, with an air of cool detachment, sized up Issei. "Your confidence suggests personal experience. However, I question if you truly grasp the magnitude of Ophis's capabilities, or even mine for that matter."

Unyielding, Issei's eyes sparked with defiance. "My grasp might be questionable to you, but I can certainly imagine my fist making a swift acquaintance with your face!"

Displaying an amused smirk, Crom replied, "It'd be quite a spectacle to see you put that imagination to the test."

From the sidelines, a blonde girl, her attire crowned with a distinctive magician's hat, interjected with palpable surprise, "How did you uncover the fact that Ophis stands at the helm of the Khaos Brigade?"

With a challenging glare, Issei responded, "Perhaps I have my ways. But here's a clearer message for you: Hand over Yasaka and Kunou. Do that, and I might just consider letting everyone here walk away unscathed."

Crom Cruach burst into laughter, a sound dripping with both amusement and challenge. "You have the audacity to challenge me? Such bravery, or perhaps foolishness? Well, let's not waste any more time – I'm ready to battle right now," he declared, an amused grin on his face.

The girl with the witch's hat, her face painted with alarm, quickly intervened. "Crom! This isn't the place for your antics! Engaging in a massive brawl with another dragon here would send ripples through the celestial realms. Heaven and hell would instantly be on our tail, especially with your lack of subtlety in combat!"

But Crom's eyes were locked onto his challenger, his gaze fiery. "Enough, Le Fay. He managed to get ahead of me during that race. I'm not letting him saunter off without teaching him a lesson in respect," he retorted, voice dripping with barely contained rage.

Frantic, Le Fay looked around for assistance. "Siegfried! Arthur!" she implored, her gaze darting to the bespectacled man and then to the silver-blonde haired individual beside him, "Someone needs to rein Crom in before things spiral out of control!"

The silver-blonde man, Arthur, stepped forward authoritatively. "Crom, control yourself! You mustn't jeopardize Ophis' intricate scheme. If you act rashly now and give our position away, Ophis won't be lenient in her reprimand!"

As tension continued to build, another stern voice echoed through the vicinity. "Crom Cruach, halt! Did you not process the implications of what he just shared?" The aggressive stance of the dragon eased slightly as a new figure entered the scene.

Issei, intrigued by the unfolding dynamics, observed as a man with raven-black hair and striking blue eyes confidently approached him.

The man who had just entered the scene took a moment to appraise Issei from head to toe. With a knowing smirk playing on his lips, he introduced himself, "It appears the ever-brash Crom Cruach has seen fit to drag you into our midst. Though, given the tides of fate, our paths were destined to cross sooner or later. Allow me to introduce myself - I am Cao Cao, the man at the helm of the Hero Faction. It's a pleasure to finally put a face to the name."

Issei, unimpressed and visibly impatient, countered, "Your name means little to me, so save the formalities."

Cao Cao, not deterred by the dismissive response, pressed on, "Issei Hyoudou, your motivations intrigue me. Why venture into this treacherous endeavor to rescue Yasaka and her offspring? Kuroka relayed that you've been adamant about having no ties or allegiances. So, why risk it all for a Youkai?"

Issei's eyes hardened, and his voice held a threatening edge as he responded, "I gave my word to a young girl that I'd bring her mother back. That's the only piece of the puzzle you need."

Cao Cao, raising an eyebrow, continued his inquiry, "Admirable dedication, I must admit. But it does lead us to a pivotal juncture - just how do you plan on extricating her from our grasp?"

Leaning forward, Issei's tone grew colder, "While the option to eliminate each and every one of you stands available to me, I'd prefer to conserve my energy. Whatever grand plans your Khaos Brigade harbors, they hold no interest for me. Release the girl and her mother, and we can avoid unnecessary conflict."

Cao Cao chuckled softly, the confidence in his stance undiminished, "Such audacious claims, Mr. Hyoudou. Do you genuinely expect us to believe you're capable of dispatching our entire faction? Sounds like an empty threat to me."

Issei, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, proposed a new tactic, "You know, I've had a change of heart about our current predicament. How about this for a solution? You release them, and in return, I ensure that Serafall Leviathan remains blissfully unaware of the Khaos Brigade's misdeeds and sinister intentions."

Cao Cao's composure visibly faltered, his eyes widening in alarm. "You dare to try and use that information as leverage against us? You're attempting to blackmail the Hero Faction?"

Issei smirked, leaning in menacingly. "That's precisely my intent. And if you don't believe I'm serious, I won't stop at Leviathan. I'll make sure every powerful figure, from the Sitri and Gremory households to the esteemed Archangel Gabriel and the cunning Azazel, are in the loop about your little club's activities," he vowed, placing emphasis on every name, reminding Cao Cao of the gravity of his threat.

Cao Cao's eyes, now narrow slits of suspicion, met Issei's defiant gaze. "You're well informed about our operations, more than an average drifter should be. Who enlightened you about the Khaos Brigade and our association with Ophis?"

Without skipping a beat, Issei responded candidly, "Vali and Tiamat were quite chatty when we last met. They laid out the intricate tapestry of the Khaos Brigade's plans, hoping to entice me to their side. I made it clear that your political games were of no interest to me."