Shin High School DxD - Volume 2 Chapter 5.6

Durandal

After the match was settled, Xenovia Quarta fell to her knees. —Even though Ise, their [King] had defeated Rias and won…what appeared before her eyes was Vasco Strada who was unscathed.

—I couldn’t defeat him. Nevermind that, I couldn’t even give him a hard time.

Even though Irina and Nakiri Kouchin Ouryuu who were fighting alongside her didn’t retire, they had both used up all of their stamina, forcing them to collapse on the spot. Judging from the retirement announcement, the remaining members of team [Sekiryuutei of the Blazing Truth] were Ise (Ddraig), Xenovia, Irina, Rossweisse, Ravel and Nakiri. From the enemies’ side, Akeno, Koneko, Strada and Crom Cruach were left.

…So it’s true that we can only defeat Master Rias with our current strength. We couldn’t manage to defeat Strada and Crom Cruach.

Strada then took a deep breath and said,

“Hm, it seems like the match has been decided.”

Strada picked up the broken part of Durandal II and said to Xenovia and the others,

“I’m dropping out early from this tournament. —But, keep going on, young ones.”

In response to her predecessor who encouraged her, Xenovia was—

“Your Eminence! I…!”

Strada then smiled cheerfully.

“Warrior Xenovia. —My body is that of a human. There is a limit to my age. But I’ll strive so that I can live for thirty more years. During that time, come and challenge me again.”

With those parting words, he left the place. Nakiri, who had collapsed, smiled bitterly.

“…In thirty more years, His Eminence Strada will be more than a hundred years old.”

Irina also laughed.

“However, I don’t think he was joking. His Eminence would still be strong even if his age were more than a hundred.”

Even with more than half of the offence squad of the team [Sekiryuutei of the Blazing Truth], Xenovia Quarta, Shidou Irina, and Nakiri Kouchin Ouryuu, they weren’t able to defeat him—. Still, Xenovia strongly wished to surpass him.