50- Let There Be Khaos
…..
Irisviel didn't like the present situation, not one bit. Not only did the organization that her daughter had joined, foolishly in her opinion, was attacking a peace conference, it also had managed to pass through her boundary fields.
'How did they do it?' The homunculus modeled after Justeaze couldn't stop herself from trying figuring that out. 'They managed to enter without breaking the primary boundary field. The second one is steady but it shows some signs of decay.' Which told her that the magicians were starting to run dry. Then there was the third one. 'How they hit our location so precisely.' Looking around she knew, she wasn't the only one thinking about it.
Yet the silver boundary field wavered a little more and the blast was considerable as well. The fact that Maya hadn't shown up yet meant that all magicians were fully committed to defense.
But Irisviel knew the protocols and mentally counted down from 10 when the door burst open. "Freeze!" Maya had invaded the meeting room with a pistol and two men with machine guns. After looking around and noticing only the students from Kuoh were paying attention to her, she put down the pistol as her men left. "Did they breach-"
"No, I have no idea how they did it either since Silver Shield is still up." Irisviel knew Maya appreciated the fast response.
"How long has the attack been going?" Sirzechs sounded cold and harsh while the others watched the combat. "Have we confirmed the enemy's identity?"
Deferring to the Maou was among Maya's orders so she didn't hesitate. "It has been two hours since the first skirmish started. After some problems organizing our force, we managed to fortify our defenses." A more detailed report would be a waste of time so she skipped to what mattered. "Symbols of the Old Satan Faction were spotted but prior information and the enemy support confirm they are also part of the Khaos Brigade. No leadership has been identified."
"So they have the numbers but so far no heavy hitters. Makes sense if they are waiting for us to make the first move." Azazel summarized for everyone. "It was a typical devil tactic during the Great War; send the weaklings ahead to spread chaos, a favorite of the first Beelzebub."
"You don't need to remind us how screwed up our predecessors were ." Serafall had summoned her magic girl wand and her eyes kept darting from one side to the next, her guard up.
Behind her was a nervous Sona who didn't dare to complain about her sister's protection as both her and Tsubaki felt exposed but were still thankful as the rest of their peerage wasn't around.
"Everyone made mistakes on those days, too many." Michael opened his wings again. "Irina, stay back." He prepared to fly but a hand grabbed his arm.
"Where do you think you are going?" Azazel looked concerned and furious.
"The enemy is waiting for one of us, I will go out there and force them out."
"Oh hell, no you aren't. Do you have any idea the kind of mess Heaven is going to be if something happens to you?"
"Our allies are dying. Our siblings!" It was worse than that and both angels could see, their eyes seeing dead fallen angels throwing spears at the barrier.
Necromancers were violating the dead and that only made the Seraph grow more furious.
"Most of them are more like our nephews and they are doing their job." His grip grew tighter and he tried to pull the angel down. Only for Michael to barely move, showing his older brother was still stronger. "We need to see the big picture here. Especially you! Remember that you are the only pure angel around for a reason."
"I hate letting people die."
"Lord Michael, perhaps you should pay more attention to the fight." Xenovia intruded and Michael listened out of respect. "The silver barrier seems to be holding back most of the attacks. If I'm seeing things right, most on our side aren't dying."
Maya took the opportunity to help calm the angel down, the risk of him dying making him VIP number one. "She is correct, Silver Shield was created to help our men to fight to the maximum of their capabilities with little risk. Note that the enemy's spells aren't breaking through it."
Michael stopped struggling and allowed Azazel to pull him back, turning to notice how their side had people going in and out the shield while bullets kept most of the enemy back.
Unfortunately he also noticed fluctuations that didn't belong to a stable boundary field. "It can't hold forever, probably not enough to win without any more losses.."
"It will hold for longer once Irisviel joins in the defense." Since the meeting was already ruined, Maya was going to use all the assets at her disposition.
Irisviel nodded without disagreements, with her mana capacity that was only logical. "With the damage to the school, rebuilding the third boundary field is impossible at the moment. Then-"
"Oi, some of them are moving to the woods." Vali announced outloud. "Is there something important there?"
Immediately Rias began to grow concerned, the members of the ORC sharing the same feeling. "Koneko, Gasper and Liz are back at the club!" She opened her wings and got ready to advance but was stopped by a hand on her shoulder. "Brother-"
"Are you planning to cross an active war zone?" Unlike Michael and Azazel, Sirzechs didn't try to force Rias down. His cold stare was enough to make her hesitate.
"But I-"
"I won't let you fly to your death." His head turned as some of her peerage looked ready to do the same. "Neither of you."
"No offense, Lord Lucifer, but our comrades need us." Kiba already had the Knight's Sword on his hands.
"No." Sirzechs made it sound final as Rias freed herself from him and glared.
"If we go around-"
"No means no, Rias."
"I won't let members of my peerage die."
"I am ordering you as Lucifer, stand down."
"Then arrest me after I save them!"
"You can't leave the boundary field." Irisviel inserted herself in the conversation. When she saw Rias about to protest, she shook her head. "I meant literally. I developed Silver Shield to stop any kind of direct mana usage from penetrating it. There is a reason why it needs to open for our men's blasts." She pointed to a hole that was close down just in time for the enemy's spells to collide against it.
Fallen angels and devils all around the school were already showing their exhaustion. The long fight was begging to wear the defense down and they needed to rest. With lesser numbers the rotations were too tight for them to keep going for long and soon the big players would have to intervene.
The same thing couldn't be said about their enemies as their superior numbers kept bombarding the boundary field with all they got while golems and familiars were cut down in droves, the metal striking unimpeded by the Silver Shield.
It was because of it that spears, halberds and swords became standard in the Underworld's army; as the average devil wasn't that strong, they needed an edge. The boundary field was an equalizer like their weapons. In most situations with Silver Shield active the troops could fall back on it holding until reinforcements arrived.
The problem in this situation was that there would be no reinforcements coming. Instead they were already there in the shape of their leaders but that created another dilemma; the moment the leadership moved there would be an attack from a similar or equal force.
And if things went wrong, the casualties may include them and that would definitively jeopardize the peace.
"There has to be some way." Akeno pointed out calmly. "No boundary field is perfect, you need only to see the army to know that." Irisviel frowned but couldn't disagree.
"Teleportation!" Shirou suddenly exclaimed, turning to Rias. "Remember how we beat the Hamelin Flutist?"
Rias shook her head. "If they don't use a pamphlet, we can't be summoned." All in her peerage looked at each other with concern.
"The boundary field won't let that happen, Shiro." His mother informed with a sad look. "The main boundary field and the Silver Shield are especially good at neutralizing teleportation of any kind."
Shirou pointed at the sky. "Then how did they get here?"
"That is the trillion dollar question." Azazel began to mess with something in the pocket of his coat. "Either way, to reach there, we have to pass through the army and the silver boundary field is faltering. Looks like we are running out of time"
Vali chuckled at his guardian's words. "So we need to distract the army. Sounds like fun." Divine Dividing sprung from his back. "Finally something to do around here."
"Wait-" But it was too late to stop him as Vali took flight faster than Azazel could speak. "That brat." Despite everything he didn't sound concerned.
A proud voice proclaimed. [Balance Breaker: Scale Mail.]
The majestic white armor showed itself on Kuoh again as Vali's power seemed to shine like a star, already repealing some of the Old Satan Faction. His power impressed everyone around as some of the devils on their side landed while fallen angels were more prepared for his sudden arrival.
Flying faster than sound, Vali quickly approached than passed through the silver boundary field, surprising Irisviel and Maya, to land in the middle of the familiars and golems assaulting it. A burst of mana destroyed all around as the fallen angels cheered.
"Looks like your boundary field doesn't work with sacred gears." Azazel tried to make it sound like a joke but Irisviel ignored it. "Maybe that was how they got in." A possibility that implied a certain sacred gear that he didn't want to think about but felt he needed to bring up.
Nodding silently, Irisviel placed a hand on Shirou's shoulder. "Your arrows can pass as well. Don't leave the boundary field." He frowned at the commanding tone and she shook her head. "You have people to protect here." Said her while pointing at Medusa. "I will keep the Silver Shield for as long as possible."
"Wait, Irisviel. There has to be some way for us to help those in the club. Please." Rias was begging in her tone and Sirzechs shook his head, silently commanding Irisviel to say nothing.
Revealing a weak spot in their spells wasn't something any kind of magician should do. "Teleportation can work with a medium… and brute force." Irisviel informed them with a smile either way and left before Sirzechs could complain.
Eyes grew wide in realization. "We can use Castling." Her brother was concerned immediately. "I have an unclaimed Knight in my office."
"Rias, no." Sirzechs feared she would reach that conclusion, a function from Evil Pieces that was great to circumvent teleportation blocking boundary fields. "Not only that is the wrong Piece, this boundary field is much stronger than any sealing spell. Moving around with teleportation is harder than you think."
That didn't stop Rias from trying as a magic circle appeared in her feet before Sirzechs could stop her. He didn't try and soon the circle fizzled out. "What the-"
"Kiritsugu-sama is extremely paranoid. When Irisviel-sama meant brute force she was saying more than just using mana. " Grayfia commented much to her King's displeasure. "You need someone with an affinity for teleportation."
"Then help me, Grayfia. Your Power would be more than enough to break the barrier."
"Rias, there is a chance the White Dragon Emperor was wrong." Sona could see that her friend was desperate.
The redhead Gremory glared at her oldest friend. "If it was your peerage there, would you wait?" With that Sona took a step back and Sirzechs knew his sister wasn't going to quit. "Please, Grayfia. Lucefuge's Power of Space is ideal for a situation like this. Even if the Piece isn't a Rook then you can bridge the gap."
"I can't risk your life without permission from my King." The maid's words were final.
Then Shirou Traced his bow. "Then we just have to open a path." Brute force had multiple meanings after all and Sirzechs clearly didn't like the suggestion. "Unless you are planning to knock Rias out, then she will do it anyway. You either help her teleport or we destroy everything until we get back to the club."
At her lover's words Rias motioned to her peerage. "Akeno, you are with me, Asia, stay back. Ise, I need you to start gathering Boosts for everyone. Kiba, once I give you the signal make a wall of sword's in the club's direction. Luvia, support everyone with spells."
"I can help as well." Xenovia touched Durandal's handle and it jumped from its sheath. "Just tell me what to do."
"Me too." Said Irina earning a nod of approval from Michael.
Rias looked at Shirou who nodded. "When we start you support Kiba and-"
"Fine, we will help." Sirzechs cut his sister off with more than a little frustration. It grew more intense at Serafall's giggle and Azazel's chuckle. "Grayfia, since the boundary field disrupts teleportation in its entirety, is it really viable?"
The original Castling was supposed to ignore such restrictions, and use a Rook but that was about to be irrelevant, but Kiritsugu wouldn't allow any weakness in his wife's magic.
"Yes but it will be costly. Especially since I am not connected and it is a Knight Piece." The Queen already knew that would have been the result of any discussion and was already making the proper calculations. "To force the Castling I will need a huge quantity of mana, more than I have or else Rias can't teleport and if the King can't then the spell is useless."
In which case Rias would command her peerage to charge and that was a can of worms Sirzechs won't open. "Use my mana and get ready." Grayfia nodded and began to work. He was already feeling a dip in his reserves and it was growing. 'This is bad.' Already it was clear the improvised Castling would cost a lot.
Due to their connection and status as husband and wife, sharing mana was simple. They could do it at any time and was considered the ultimate proof of trust amongst devils. After all, if in a race obsessed with power those who shared it really loved each other.
A new magic circle began to form, one Rias stepped forward to lay claim as quickly as possible. She felt the connection with Grayfia and her Piece in the club beginning taking shape.
However Grayfia threw a curve ball. "Another thing; Normal Castling allows the King to choose which Piece they are to take in the teleportation. However, due to the special boundary field and the fact we are using a Knight Piece we need to limit the flux of mana to make it happen." Even with Sirzechs powering up the spell, limits were still imposed on it.
This situation shouldn't be happening but nobody expected an invasion in such an excellent defense. "Irina could go, acting like a second 'Piece', if we can make it possible." The girl nodded at Michael's offer but Rias surprised everyone by shaking her head.
"Any of my Pieces are worthy an army of these terrorists." She stated proudly and to not give the enemy exactly what they wanted, an easier target in a weakened Michael as they didn't know what sort of tricks the enemy still had. Besides, she wasn't lying. "Ise, you have the lowest levels of mana so you are coming with me so my brother doesn't exhaust himself."
"You didn't need to remind me of that, buchou." Still the Boosted Gear was out and he was ready to rescue his friends as he stepped inside the magic circle.
Sirzechs felt the drain of his mana but chose to focus on his sister. "Once you arrive, evaluate the situation. If it is safe, stay at the club, if not, make a beeline back here. We will have our forces secure a route."
More could have been said but there was no time. "Akeno, keep everyone else safe." The Queen nodded as they were most likely the ones to reinforce as no one else was coming.
"Don't worry. I won't let them see the front lines." Azazel offered, his eyes never leaving the battle.
With no time for anything else Rias gave Shirou a look and he nodded as the magic circle began to power up.
Grayfia joined her hands and began to move them slowly as space around the magic circle began to bend. That was her separating the Space of the boundary field from the magic circle.
"What is going on?" Medusa asked, curious about the effect the Ultimate Maid power had over the area.
Michael was happy to explain. "The Lucifuge Clan isn't one of the Pillars but Extra Devils made to serve the Lucifer Clan directly. Extra devils are the Clans that aren't considered Pillars and are usually weaker with a few exceptions. Like the Lucifuge Clan who reign over Space."
Azazel would have found his brother's eagerness funny if not by the situation at hand. "A devil could explain more." He waved to Serafall who didn't want to talk directly to Medusa.
Still she spoke out loud for everyone's sake. "The Lucifuge were the leaders of the Clans directly under Lucifer, Six Extra Devils Clans each with defensive Powers focused in controlling the fight and guarding the Maou." She didn't mention most of them died during the war. "In their case the Lucifuge has the Power of Space so the stronger ones can teleport even through dimensions by themselves if there is nothing on the way. It was their Power,with Grayfia's help, that helped develop the Castling spell for the Evil Pieces."
A demonstration was happening right before their eyes as Grayfia's hands moved slowly and methodically using her husband's mana as fuel for her Power. Rias was guiding the magic circle to the unused Knight back at the club so Grayfia allowed her mind to expand in that direction.
Barriers, people, monsters, it didn't matter what was in the way as the Silver Haired Queen of Annihilation's Power won't touch any of them. The only condition it needed was that the 'passengers' didn't fight it and since neither Rias or Issei were trying they would arrive safely.
The two vanished in a red light once Grayfia locked on Knight Piece's presence, certain to appear on the ORC building as the Evil Piece landed on the ground.
Akeno picked it up for safe keeping as Shirou began to move. "Xenovia, watch over Medusa for me, would you? I will get closer to help with the fighting."
While firing arrows was certainly an option, Shirou could do more by just sending a rain of swords. Something that Kiba could assist with and jumped after the redhead, both getting closer to the Silver Shield.
"Lucky us to have a magus and a devil specialized in swords." Azazel frowned as he watched the swordsmen racing in the direction of the woods. "I always hated sending children to war."
"We aren't children." Akeno replied coldly."And the war came to us."
Azazel gave the girl a sad look that only Michael could interpret. "You will always be a child in my eyes."
Akeno didn't react but the pure angel did, his eyes growing wide as he turned to Akeno. "You are-"
"We have no time for this." The Queen refused to think about anything else. "Shirou-kun and Kiba already took the front and we need to help our allies." She turned to Sirzechs. "If we bring the wounded here, Asia can save them." She summoned EM one. "And so can I."
It was Serafall who reacted. "This place already has an infirmary but I can show you the place." As one of the Maou she was well informed. "But we can have the room besides this place made into another."
"I will set up a barrier." Michael offered immediately, trying to keep his mind on the battle taking place. "Neither here nor the adjacent rooms, not a single enemy will get past."
Unfortunately more changes were about to come as they all felt a huge power flying from the university towards the school. The leaders could already tell it was a Satan Class level threat.
Finally their opponent was starting to take things seriously as the Old Satan Faction's army began to spread around to make space for a light blue aura that approached the front. Didn't take a second for the men inside the Silver Shield to redirect all their fire towards it but a magic circle appeared and a huge blast of mana flew in their direction.
It was like a dam had broken and a deluge was unleashed to cover and attack all of the Silver Shield at the same time. It didn't take too long for all that power to damage the shield that had survived so far. There was no denying that the offensive was overwhelming.
"BRACE FOR IMPACT!" Michael shout covered the whole area and he formed a shield around Kuoh as quickly as he could.
It took only a second for the shield to crack as magic circles and shields were hastily raised with Kiba grabbing Shirou and creating a dome of blades to protect him and some fallen angels close by.
Even powered by Irisviel the Silver Shield broke as the magicians, including Irisviel, were thrown back as the crystal ball exploded inwards, exactly like the Silver Shield as the rest of the attack slammed and crushed many inside.
Fortunately for many Michael's quick reaction and the Silver Shield had weakened the blast enough that the deaths were minimal. But there were still plenty of dead as the White Dragon Emperor observed from a distance with his arms crossed.
"Show yourselves, Fake Maous. A true devil came to reclaim what is hers by right!" The voice covered the whole area as the Old Satan Faction army cheered for their leader.
Soon Michael let go of the barrier as those in the meeting room watched the woman descend with her wings proudly on display, her power pulsing around her body and a long magic staff taller than her with a purple gem located inside a half moon.
"Who is she?" Medusa asked as the fight seemed to stop with the new arrival. She cursed once more her lack of power as the situation reminded her too much of Kokabiel. 'She isn't as strong but still.' Xenovia's presence beside her didn't help much as she knew the former Exorcist also had no chance of winning if it came down to it.
Quickly all the fighting died down with even the army of golems stopping and retreating. It wasn't a surprising event as nobody wanted to get in the middle of the crossfire or waste energy now that one of the big players showed themselves. Except that her arrival, as bombastic as it was, meant that there may be others like her around.
Or not, that could be a bluff but if the armies weren't going to keep fighting none of the leaders of the Three Factions would risk calling it. All their eyes were focused on the woman who arrived with a great deal of malice, both in her power and in her beautiful but venomous gaze.
"Katerea Leviathan." Serafall finally answered, forgetting any animosity towards the goddess and with a complex expression on her face.
Katerea stopped mid air and chuckled. "It is good to see you again, Serafall. Tell me, how has it been sitting on my family's throne for the last decades? Comfortable?" Serafall's expression grew cold as her eyes had none of the jubilance from a magical girl. Instead they were the eyes of a warrior who saw too many deaths. "I hope it didn't. Time has come for you to give up my family's throne."
The former Heiress of Sitri took a deep breath to steel herself. "Katerea, you know that what you are doing is unforgivable, correct? There is no turning back from your actions."
"Ehh~ Funny, I could say the same about you who dared to steal a True Maou's throne." At that point Katerea was at the same level as the rooftop of the school. "That is the only unforgivable sin between the two of us, Serafall Sitri."
A loud bang echoed and a bullet blessed by Holy Water flew on Katerea's direction, a sniper recovering enough and taking the shot at his first opportunity. He didn't realize the size of his mistake until it was too late.
For a devil of Katerea's caliber the bullet was just too slow and with a turn of turn of her staff a ball of blue mana the size of a baseball swallowed it and flew in the direction of the shooter.
When it arrived at its destination, the explosion ripped apart a corner of the school and killed everyone in the vicinity.
"Does that answer your question, Serafall Sitri?" Katerea smiled as she felt the life force of the shooter and his companions vanish. She pointed at Serafall with her staff, her demonic energy growing more intense. "I came here to take back the throne of Leviathan! WIth your head!" Her smile was beautiful and full of lust, like a flytrap attracting its prey. "So come, Fake Maou."
'Something isn't right.' Akeno thought with fear as Katerea's attitude was too confident. 'It is like she is ignoring everyone but Serafall.'
Then she felt it, a strong energy pulsing among those in the remnants of the meeting room, her head turning slowly to the one letting out a great quantity of power.
"Michael-sama, please, calm down." Irina pleaded with the Acting God but it was useless.
With an unreadable expression was Michael but all present could tell he was angry, the power building up and up with a weight ready to crush them all. Only the angel's impressive control of the massive power he was letting out protected them even as his vision was completely focused on Katerea.
"Do you think I will allow you to take anymore lives, devil?" There was a threat of death in his tone and they all knew it. All his wings appeared on his back as he showed the extent of his power.
He never had known the men who died with that blast or those that already perished protecting the school but Michael lamented all their deaths. Add that to the guilt he felt for the latest victims as he didn't expect Katerea to kill so many in cold blood, even if they were enemies.
Michael was a true angel that cared about all lives and the fury he felt was as true as his power all in the area could feel.
Yet Katerea wasn't intimidated or even worried. "While it would be a pleasure to take down an angel such as you." Her words carried the most sweet honey. "However this is not a problem for Heaven or even the Grigori, it is a devil matter so if you wish," she pointed to Kuoh's exit, "you can leave whenever you please."
"What are you implying?" Sirzechs asked with sweat on his forehead. Giving his mana for Rias' sake left him considerably weaker.
But even as he tried to hide it, Katerea noticed it. "That while we are enemies, the angels have subordinates that they want to save and my target is her." Her staff was locked in Serafall's form. "So here is the deal, leave with your men, we won't pursue, after the true devils take over the Underworld, perhaps we shall see the matter of peace again."
"You want us to believe you would try to sue for peace?!" Sona shouted out of concern for her sister and disbelief. "Only a fool would fall for that."
"Then all their men will die. Not that Michael needs to worry much as I can only see two Exorcists." She was referring to Irina and Xenovia who were in similar clothing.
Nobody bothered to correct her, it didn't matter. "You speak like you have already won." Because Serafall began to let her power out and Sona grew more worried as her usually upbeat sister had a blank expression that only showed apathy. "I will make sure to give you a painless death."
"Fufufufufu. Like a fake could ever surpass the real deal." Katerea prepared herself as Serafall opened her wings.
Only for Azazel to hold her by the leg. "What the-" The Cadre didn't hesitate and threw Serafall at her sister and Tsubaki, the three falling on the table. "What the hell, Azazel?"
"Good, anger looks better than the blank face you were making. Also, you aren't thinking." Azazel commented with a cheerful smile. "Did you forget we are in an alliance now?"
Katerea frowned before chuckling. "Please, don't act like the deaths of one or two pureblood devils would make you lose any sleep."
"It would, actually. Especially such fine specimens of women. Would be a real tragedy." The fallen angel rubbed his chin with a grin. "Besides, even if I let her fight, it doesn't mean that you didn't come prepared for that exact fight. As her ally, that would be a mistake."
"Your Faction would benefit from any of our deaths. Better yet, you could even kill Sirzechs if you want to destabilize the Underworld." It was both an observation and an offer. "After all, we went through so many painful lengths to weaken him."
"I see, so you predicted he would teleport his sister even with the special boundary field." Azazel concluded. "Well that settles it, we have a traitor among us. Maybe more than one."
"That is right." Katerea didn't bother to deny it. Instead she would use that information to secure the match she wanted. "We didn't know all the details but our mole informed us of enough."
"Who was it?" Xenovia demanded to know, many of the younger generation looking at each other with suspicion.
Akeno was glaring at Azazel's back as the members of the Gremory Peerage made a tight circle around Sirzechs and Grayfia. Irina rushed to Michael's back but the angel remained furious even if his priority was watching over Irina and Medusa.
"Nobody here." Azazel replied with a casual shrug, some not believing in him. "Sure that trick managed to get Sirzechs weakened but everybody knows the kind of siscon he is. I mean, the guy gave his sister a whole town for herself. I bet she is even planning to threaten Sona to get Serafall to fight."
Getting caught like that did bother Katerea as the looks of suspicion turned into fury and back at her. "Why don't you leave, Governor General? Pick the rest of your men and depart. There are plenty of holdings belonging to the traitors that you could seize once we restart the civil war properly."
"So generous buuuut~ I will pass. Didn't you hear me." He used his hands to enhance his voice. "We are allies now, there is no way I am letting you get your way!" Then he shrugged. "But I also don't want to kill a beautiful woman. Can't we have a drink instead?"
Those words made Katerea smile. "We can, if you leave now and forget this foolish alliance." She turned her staff to Sirzechs. "Look at them, they aren't even the real Maous. Sure Sirzechs deserves some credit by the progress he made in keeping all the Clans united in the Underworld." Then she turned her attention back to Serafall. "But Astaroth developed a forbidden technology which infected our race, the Glasya-Labolas didn't hesitate to burn down true devils with cowardly tactics and Sitri corrupted us with influences that stole our fangs. Those three can't be called Maou!"
"Funny, I think they deserve it because they are all true leaders who care about their people. Unlike you who wants to pick a fight she can't win." Azazel revealed two of his wings and began to fly up, much to Katerea's frustration. "But if you want a match, fine. It will be a shame to harm such a cute face but what can you do?"
Serafall advanced with purpose. "Azazel, get back here! This is my fight!"
"No, I got this. Giving the enemy what they want is a terrible idea anyway."
When it seemed Serafall was going to dismiss his words. Michael's wings got in her way. "Why?"
"Because she asked." He pointed to Medusa who was shaking her head.
"If you lose control like this, you won't be different from a monster." Was all the goddess had to say, her eyes looking up as both Azazel and Katerea flew a little higher as she was trying to keep her distance. "Besides, you should focus on keeping your sister safe first."
The descendant of Leviathan knew that a fight with Azazel would set her plans back by quite a bit. "Think what are you proposing here, Azazel. If you die, your Faction will suffer. Kokabiel wasn't the only one waiting on the wings and with you gone then Grigo-"
"Shemhazai, Penume, Barakiel, Tamiel and many others already know my wish. No! We all partake in it." Azazel's smile was confident and refused to be questioned. "There is no fallen angel like Kokabiel around to disagree with that ideal. Sure some may be discontent but they lack the power and resolve to do anything. That is why they joined your little club, Khaos Brigade." He made a show to look around. "Yet there isn't a single one of those cowards here, fancy that."
Katerea had a bad feeling, she really didn't want to fight him. "What about your research? Isn't it important for the Grigori? Aren't you producing sacred gears to-"
"Let me cut out any rumors right here!" Azazel spoke loud and clear, all his wings manifesting as an aura of darkness seemed to just exist on his back.
Some gulped in fear, others in wonder but all eyes were on the fallen angel, on the Governor General of Grigori.
Luvia was one of those afraid. "I can see what Issei meant when he said Azazel's wings 'absorb light'. It is like he steals it for them to take shape."
Akeno was too but she nodded, her hand shaking. 'He is stronger than Kokabiel. Not by much but enough for a clear difference.' And that terrified her.
Inside a classroom in the university building, Georg placed his crossword puzzle on a table and folded his hands behind his back. "This is going to be interesting."
Fortunately for all, Azazel's attention was on the pureblood before him who, unlike many, didn't retreat a single centimeter even if she looked cautious. "My research into sacred gears was never to gear up for war or for a plan of conquest or whatever conspiracy someone came up with in their basement." He placed his hands on his chest with a huge smile. "My research was born to see the potential of the human spirit."
"'Potential of the human spirit'?" Katerea couldn't believe it, many couldn't.
"But of course!" Azazel threw his arms up. "How does a sacred gear evolve? What are the intricacies of its power? The different forms of growth with different owners? Potential development under tests? Trial by fire? So many possibilities! How could I not grow interested?" He opened his arms fully, his gaze on the boundary field above their heads. "When I first gave humans knowledge, I thought I knew everything they could do with it. Same with sacred gears; I always thought that every power would be the same. I was wrong!" His gaze shifted to Katerea with a huge grin. "And I couldn't be happier for it. That is why I started researching them, to see how to push that potential further and then create my own to see how us fallen angels, and now devils and pure angels alike with anyone else I can offer them to, will develop them!" He chuckled, crossing his arms. "Curiosity. That is all there is to it. Very human, wouldn't you agree?"
It was a sentiment the pureblood devil abhorred and she grasped her staff with two hands, taking aim. "Grigori will still suffer with your death!"
"You still don't get it, do you?" Azazel was more amused as a golden aura, similar to Kokabiel's but much stronger, began to emerge. "Amongst the leaders on this meeting I am the least valuable!" Katerea gasped in shock, flying back at his power escalating. "Can't you see? Sirzechs and Serafall are needed for the stability of the Underworld, Michael is my brother and Heaven will fall apart without him! Me? I already got my Will written and plans in place for the sake of peace." A glint of madness showed in his eyes. "That is why if you want to kill any of them, it will have to be over my dead body!"
A daunting task that even the army of the Old Satan Faction weren't sure their leader could accomplish even with their help. Katerea charged anyway, ready to kill him first to then take a piece of Serafall, ignoring who the man was.
For he was Azazel, the First True Fallen, the Scapegoat.
The Winner of the Great War.
…
'Rampage' was the only way that anyone could describe what Leysritt was doing, with her opponents invisible she threw herself into the combat, charging recklessly, throwing swords and swinging her halberd almost out of control.
It was like she couldn't be stopped by either blast or curse, she just turned in the direction the spell came from and attacked it until another spell gave her another direction. When the witches tried to do nothing she moved her arms like crazy, trying to cut anything in her range.
For that reason alone her past self was more than correct in picking the halberd to be her weapon, unlike a sword her reach was tremendous and the damage she did upon contact fatal.
All because she thought it would be cool but it just suited her fighting style just fine.
Dead and dying covered the club's entrance hall as the result spoke for itself, despite invisibility, magic, numbers advantage and the fact that they had hit the homunculus hundreds of times, she didn't fall once, not since she returned to the battle.
"What does it take to kill this bitch?!" Flavia, the head witch, demanded to know while quickly changing her position as Leysritt's halberd smashed her previous location. Then she spun around, trying to get to her. 'At least she is predictable.'
While the leader planned, more spells were flung by the witches, Leysritt took many hits before charging in another direction and grabbing a previously thrown sword. She didn't aim, just threw it in the direction of one of the spells. She didn't bother to watch as a witch was hit on the shoulder, she just kept running in that direction.
Once she got there the wounded witch's eyes were revealed by the hood and they were wide in fear. Leysritt's face was blank as the halberd cut the woman in half even as more spells hit the homunculus.
Leysritt barely held any thoughts in her condition as she dragged the body around and sprayed more blood in the area. It wasn't the first time she did it and some witches managed to escape but two were revealed for a few seconds while the spells in the hoods adjusted.
Not fast enough for them to be decapitated or for Leysritt to notice another's footprints trying to run away. She took a swing with her halberd that failed to connect but the tip of the weapon still cut the hood and revealed the fearful woman behind it.
"Wait!" Were her last words as more blood was spilled, reducing the area the witches could run without their footprints exposing them.
However the homunculus could tell her body was not even close to peaky efficiency, it was almost starting to fall apart with how much effort she was putting on the fight.
Add that to the many curses still in her system and her organs shutting down because of the many, many curses she took through the fight and even she knew that her limits had long come and gone.
None of that mattered to her for she shut out most of her thoughts and senses to become a killing machine that would make the Einzbern proud.
The witches didn't know she was one but if they did then they would also realize that an Einzbern homunculus wouldn't die easily due to organ failure. They were good enough to last for days while the brain and heart were intact and those weren't easily affected by any curses so far.
Still Leysritt kept going on a rampage. It wouldn't be for much longer as she felt every reserve of energy she had gone dry but she also felt alive in a new way.
'This is what I was born to do.' The homunculus couldn't help but think as she crushed the skull of an invisible witch, her dead body being revealed and more blood spreading around.
She followed it up by spinning with her halberd extended completely. There was no particular target as she just swung it around to cut her enemies with no mercy. At that point of the fight she had run out of swords and that was the only weapon she had and it was a great weapon.
It was useless when snakes showed up to bite her heels but Leysritt had no fear of poison nor felt pain anymore. She stomped on the critters as she launched herself to the lead witch who kept throwing spells in her direction, finally pinpointing her location precisely.
Flavia tried to run again but she didn't realize that footprints gave her away one too many times and now Leysritt had her main target in sight.
'This is what I was made to do.' Most of her brain functions were already turned off when a chunk of her left arm was torn out by a curse, rendering it useless.
That made her lose her balance and her footing but she concluded the swing and her weapon reached her enemy. It was a deep cut that almost ripped the shoulder off.
The woman screamed from pain but her subordinates were there for the rescue as more spells flew in that direction. A desperate attempt to save their leader as they flung everything they could to no avail. Leysritt ignored everything that sent her path, her vision and body the only things she had.
That and her target that tried and failed to get away.
More curses were sent to kill the homunculus that had been tearing the witches apart, as many as they could with the number they had. There were still ten witches capable of fighting and their murderous intent was obvious..
Their leader was too immersed in pain and couldn't react but Leysritt did, she let go of her weapon and grabbed the witch by the neck to use her as a shield. Multi colored curses connected but not with their target and the remaining witches began to despair as their leader was their victim.
Turned into a meat shield the witch couldn't react as her robes' defenses broke, the enchantments of her body were overwhelmed and so were her bodily functions. Too many curses turned her insides into a mess and she soiled herself while coughing blood.
Leysritt broke her neck for good measure, it wasn't mercy from any potential pain, just eliminating a threat. Her clothes were falling apart with only her armor still intact and she was wounded all over. But with how her body was covered in blood she was just terrifying for the witches and many retreated when the homunculus began to attack again.
They jumped out of the way when a trio of them, invisible so far, revealed themselves pouring all their power in a huge magic circle. Leysritt was stuck on her charge and took the curse point blank, her body finally shutting down.
'I failed.' Most of her functions were already off so she could focus on combat but the accumulated damage and the last curse did the trick. She flew back and hit the ground hard, much to the witches' relief.
"Sensei!" Their target shouted in concern as he had tried and failed to stop the curse's time, it was just too powerful for him. He looked a mess but had few scratches even as the left side of his body couldn't move anymore due to a curse.
Koneko was the only one capable of fighting and the remaining witches looked to the wounded but still standing Rook with a good dose of fear. Much like her friend, the former nekomata had wounds all over and bruises on her arms. Her body was covered in less blood than the homunculus but unlike her friend it was mostly her own.
While Leysritt rampaged, Koneko had held her ground as well as she could but there were always a few witches peeling her with spells. Eventually she got some reprieve when their number was reduced but there was always one or two who kept attacking Gasper and forcing her on the defensive.
The Bishop ended up hit more than once and some curses were affecting the Rook even as she tried to purify her system with Ki. Unfortunately she was exhausted and had no practice so she couldn't even run to support her friend.
"What should we do?" One of the witches asked as she examined their leader's corpse. "We wasted too much time. The operation-"
"Screw the operation! Almost everybody is dead!" Another shouted in fury while glaring at Leysritt motionless form. "We need to retreat! To get away!"
"The Old-"
"Fuck them! Fuck the Khaos Brigade!" The second witch should with even more fury. "This was all our coven! Everybody is dead! Either we join with another or we will have to give up witchcraft!" Many of the women present were born into it and they loved the power they wielded.
But much like many organizations they had enemies and rivals and if they didn't return to the Khaos Brigade that number would grow exponentially.
However many agree with the second witch's thoughts, they all wanted out the terrorist group, especially since they would still be sent on missions on their behalf.
Another witch cursed under her breath. "If the King of Heroes hadn't killed most of us. If Walburga hadn't roped them all into that project. If he just had forgiven-"
"'Ifs' aren't going to help us!" The group of ten began to shout at each other but Koneko refused to relax.
'I need to get to Liz.' She looked back and saw the former dhampir crying. She was worried for her friend but couldn't leave Gasper. Trying to get up, the Rook felt her left leg almost give in. 'Darn.' There was a hole on her leg leaking blood and the bone was broken.
But she still moved, discreetly and as swiftly as she could, trying to get to Gasper. There was a chance that the witches would keep discussing and eventually leave but Koneko wasn't going to risk it. The dozens of bodies spread around the ORC certainly would bring out thoughts of vengeance, not mercy.
"Gasper." Once close enough she whispered. "Gasper. We need to escape."
"But sensei-"
"I can get her after you are safe." It was a lie. Both could barely move but hiding in a room was the only option they had left.
Except that Koneko wasn't planning to hide, just get Gasper out and then get back to kill the remaining witches and get Liz out of harm's way. With how she was her chances were nill but she was determined and wouldn't change her mind.
"Come on." Koneko forced her leg to let her stand but her small frame had already lost too much blood and she tilted. Grasping a wall she managed to stabilize herself but she couldn't pull the Bishop up. "Come on, Gasper. There is a door-"
"We have to kill them." Cat ears twitched at those words as the second witch took charge and glared in the devils' direction. "They saw some of our faces. If we don't eliminate them, Gremory will come for revenge."
Thinking quickly, Koneko raised her voice. "We only saw the faces of the dead."
"Still, better to not risk it." The woman's hatred was clear in her tone. "Besides, your friend killed a lot of us."
Koneko was afraid and Gasper was shaking, struggling to breath. "This won't bring them back." It was a plea since even if she could hold on it wouldn't be for long.
"But it will make me feel better." The woman summoned a magic circle and Koneko threw herself over Gasper to protect him.
But before the spell could be unleashed a sense of dread descended on the club as a powerful aura with murderous intent appeared from the deeps of the ORC.
Koneko smiled and Gasper stopped shaking. "Buchou arrived." She didn't know how but was grateful.
The same couldn't be said about the witches who felt a dread like no other, positioning themselves to aim at the top of the stairs. Only three of them had magic circles out giving their position whilst the other seven just positioned themselves to not get into each other's way.
"Buchou! Calm down!" The voice of a young man was heard. "I'm sure they are safe and-"
"You saw the damage! Stay on guard!" The danger intensified by the young woman's tone as Rias Gremory appeared from the hallway with Hyoudou Issei by her side. Both stopped and the Pawn almost puked at the sight of the lower floors. "It seems some rats showed up in my territory." Her aura grew more intense. "Where are Koneko, Gasper and Liz? Depending on your answer, I may allow you to leave with your lives."
Once they arrived and saw the intact office Rias grew calmer. Then she opened the door and the aura of power began to escape her as Issei watched how angry the pureblood could get.
Because of the damage, the blood and the dead around, with no sign of anyone she cared for, Rias' concern quickly turned to anger and she was in no mood to repress it.
Not with three hostiles already identified from the magic circles that were 'floating' from her point of view. That only made her more concerned which fueled her anger which resulted in even more power unleashed.
Rias' presence and the witches' hesitation filled the younger devils of Gremory with relief. That was until Koneko's instincts felt one of the invisible witches move from her position. She realized that Rias wouldn't be able to feel them.
All her instincts screamed that her King was in danger and Koneko had to do something, she just didn't know what. With no time to think, she decided to get her King mad ."Buchou! We are down here! Look at the blood!"
The first part of the message was the important one as everyone in the building felt Rias' power escalate to new heights, a look of murder in her face. The second had the redhead paying more attention to the area.
Only with the warning did Rias notice one of the footprints changed and, without hesitation, summoned Born to be Wild to shoot in that general area.
The body that fell surprised Issei while the surviving witches were shocked at the speed of the attack. "Ise, take this." Rias called EM 2 from a magic circle. "Fly directly from where you heard Koneko's voice and heal her, do the same if the others are there." For a moment the Pawn seemed to freeze but not because of his skill flying, he was getting better.
No, it was because when nodding and moving in that direction he saw a sight that had his teeth gritting. "Liz-sensei!" Her body was bent in a shape no human should be and there was so much blood he could only be mad. "Buchou! I need to take care of her first!"
She didn't move her eyes from the magic circles on the ground and the pool of blood that had too many footprints to count but from Issei's furious tone it was clear the situation was urgent.
"Stay calm and go to Koneko first, keep your feet away from the blood."
"But buchou-"
"Liz can survive this, trust me." Because Rias really didn't have the patience to elaborate. She wanted to make those who harmed her precious people pay. "She is more durable than you but we have enemies around. Get Koneko." There were many footprints for her to keep her eyes on but the three magic circles helped.
When one of them disappeared, Rias didn't hesitate to shoot at a little above a new footprint. She saw the woman fall with a huge hole in her leg, screaming from excruciating pain.
Those screams were silenced when Rias aimed for the body that revealed itself after death. From who they were facing the witches understood that their robes couldn't save them from the power of Destruction.
"Show yourselves, drop to your knees and perhaps you will leave alive." That was all mercy Rias was willing to give.
Issei saw what happened and tried to ignore it as he took flight. "Koneko-chan! Call again!"
"Over here! Gasper is with me!" Didn't take long for Issei to identify the hallway, see the mountain of bodies around the entrance and just fly past it, his friends the priority.
"Koneko! How many of them are here?" Rias wanted to give Koneko a break but with so many bodies and footprints she needed an estimate.
"Eight alive."
With that Rias focused on the two witches that she killed and the last two magic circles. Already she was calculating where the enemy possibly was and she was confident they were all standing in the same area.
One with the witches with a magic circle, whose position was more exposed, took the initiative. "You said we could surrender, right?" She sounded shy and young. Really young.
Rias didn't give a damn about their age. "Depends." The reply was truthful but at the same time terrifying for the witches. They knew there was something wrong.
"Depends on what, Gremory-sama?" She just wanted to live.
"Depends if Koneko, Gasper and Liz are alive." Wounds could be healed, death was not so easy. "For now only Koneko seems to be fine but depending on the others' condition I will let you go." Because she had no time to apprehend them with a warzone outside.
However that condition didn't calm the witches down as they had rained curses on Liz for hours and they doubted that the woman would live for long if she wasn't already dead. Perhaps they would be more confident in her capabilities if they knew she was a homunculus, an Einzbern one at that.
Probably not because most homunculus would still be dead after how much punishment they put Liz through.
So they didn't want any sort of confirmation, "Kill her!" and unleashed everything they had in Rias' direction.
Every spell and curse was Destroyed together with the hearts and lungs of the remaining witches as bullet holes showed up in the front and back.
'Our robes-'
'Worthless-'
'Gremory-'
Were some of the last thoughts from the last remnants of a now extinct coven, Rias having dealt the killing blow.
None of that was privy to the Heiress of Gremory who opened her wings and flew on the fallen maid turned teacher's direction. She saw how much damage the white haired warrior had taken and could only hope it was too late.
On the other side of the entrance Issei had just landed beside Koneko and Gasper. "You guys alright?"
Koneko nodded with a small smile of relief as Gasper cried in her arms. "Senpai. Sniff, sniff. Thank you for coming."
"No problem, give me your arm." He was surprised when the former dhampir shook his head and nodded in Koneko's direction.
"I was hit with only curses. They will wear off." He was struggling to breath a little but his wounds were superficial at best.
There was no hesitation from Koneko when she offered her arm, showing that she agreed with the assessment. Issei didn't need to be told twice and stabbed EM on an open wound, the scalpel would be incapable of penetrating her skin otherwise.
He was about to start when a scream stopped him. "Issei! Come quick!" Rias' voice sounded so full of panic that he didn't think, just ran, ignoring all the blood he was stepping on.
[Explosion]
Accelerating further he went back to the entrance hall to look at Rias who was kneeling besides Liz's still form. "Buchou! What is wrong?!" When was close he saw why the King was desperate.
Liz had given everything she had in the fight and her body had so many wounds that Issei found it difficult to find any trace of her usually pale skin. It was all red from the blood with a hole on her arm that Rias was struggling to close with magic.
Just a look was enough for him to know why he was called and EM was stabbed on the maid's leg, the limb closest to him, and began to inject the necessary mana. "Gift!"
[Transfer.]
Immediately EM began to shine with the same color as the gem from Boosted Gear as its capabilities were pushed beyond its limits. The usual few seconds that it would take to close a small wound were turned into milliseconds. Every single wound was closed before the counting of three with the exception of the missing part of her arm which took five seconds.
While still drenched in blood, Liz was fully restored and Issei had to jump back when Rias approached her chest and laid her head on it. The Pawn stayed quiet as his King didn't move, obviously looking for a heart beat and Issei grew concerned about how long it was taking.
Rias closed her eyes and just focused on her ears, dread was already beginning to fill her but she didn't allow herself to panic.
Relief only came when she heard an extremely weak beat. "She is alive."
"Then she is going to be fine?" Issei asked with excitement but Rias hesitated. "Buchou?"
No answer came as Rias placed a hand above Liz's head and tried to detect any mana. "She was facing witches, Issei. Curses are their speciality and I am picking some foreing mana in her system." She shook her head and looked at him. "Go heal Koneko and Gasper as quickly as you can, use all the Boosts if you have to." He ran and she looked back at the maid. 'I don't know how to treat this.'
Because there was so much foreign mana on Liz's system that it was a wonder how she was alive. She suspected it was because she was a homunculus but that was also part of the problem.
'Her own reserves are dangerously low, not enough to fight off even the lowest of curses.' Because, much like with hypnosis, curses could be flushed from one's system if they were powerful enough.
As a homunculus, Liz had the ability to ignore it to an extent but her mana was also her fuel. With the wounds she accumulated Liz would have to burn more and more to just keep going.
Then there was the blood, most of it on the ground wasn't hers but Liz still lost a lot. Had she been human, or even a devil for that matter, she would be dead. But that still didn't take into account whatever damages the curses were still doing, how she was being affected or worse, the damage that was already done.
Options were beginning to shrink as Rias debated on cutting herself to feed Liz some of her blood to establish a temporary contract and give her mana. Unfortunately that method was too inefficient and could make little difference since she doesn't know enough about a homunculus' anatomy.
Another alternative presented itself as her last Evil Piece landed in her hand all the way from Akeno's magic circle. It could solve the mana problem and Gasper had some packs of blood around. It would also get rid of the curses so Leysritt would be safe, if not a bit upset but Rias could take the heat if that saved her life.
So the Knight Piece was placed on the woman's chest and it began to shine quickly, the process starting.
Rias felt a pang in her heart of concern and disappointment as the glow disappeared. 'I needed a Rook.' She evaluated. "If I had a Rook then I could Reincarnate her but Luvia is my Rook." She held her forehead in frustration, it was the right decision at the time, a Piece that fitted the former heiress perfectly.
Cursing herself despite the fact that there was no way for her to predict all this ever was going to happen. Knowing that the only options left were not good ones, Rias scooped Liz's in her arms. Blood ruined her uniform but she didn't care, there was only one person in Fuyuki who could help the maid and the devil needed to get to her.
"Buchou!" Issei returned with Koneko right behind him, Gasper on his back and looking extremely weak. "How is Liz?"
"It is bad." She admitted, looking between her Pieces with worry. "We have to go back to Kuoh." No matter how much she wished otherwise, their position was compromised and leaving anyone behind would be too risky. "This place isn't safe and only oka-sama can help Liz. There is also the army outside which means we probably are going to have to fight our way back once we leave the forest."
All three younger devils gulped but Issei and Koneko nodded resolutely, just the sight of Liz's condition was enough to silence any protest or stomp out their fear. Gasper took a look and then shrunk back on the Red Dragon Emperor's back, not wishing to be a burden but unable to move the left side of his body.
Then he had an idea. "Senpai, can I drink some of your blood?"
"Huh?"
"To get rid of the curse."
"Sure but… Saji isn't here and you…" Issei didn't want to sound insensitive and Rias blinked in surprise at Gasper's initiative.
It would make things easier as Gasper would be able to move on his own, increasing their chances, but Issei was the one who spent more time training with the Bishop. Since the Pawn was worried that made Rias worried too and with so many people she cared about in danger that made her hesitate for a second.
Before she could make her mind, Gasper already had steeled himself. "To save sensei, no, to save Liz, we can't waste time." He pulled himself with his right arm, getting closer to Issei's neck. "Can I?"
"Sure." The Red Dragon Emperor didn't wait for permission. 'Can't tell if it was Xenovia's insane training, the pickle we're in or Gasper growing up but he looks stronger.' Still, better safe than sorry. "Don't drink too much."
"Thanks senpai. Thanks for the food."
"Wait what-" Issei didn't get a reply as Gasper bit his neck. "Cha! Don't lick! Only a girl should lick my neck!" Had the situation not been as dreadful, Rias would be laughing. "Are you done?"
"Humhum." Gasper surprised everyone by jumping from Issei's back and landing with a red aura around his body. "Yummy."
"Don't say that!"
"We are wasting time. Liz is dying." Koneko brought on a reality check as she placed a hand on the teacher's neck. 'Work, please work.'
"Koneko?"
"Nothing, Buchou." She had purified curses before and could feel Liz's unstable condition but natural talent only took her so far. "They are eating her alive, the curses." At least she could give a diagnosis but there was nothing good.
"Then let's move out!" Issei shouted as the Boosted Gear kept accumulating power, making his way to the door.
'No sign of the enemy is both a good thing and a bad thing.' Rias thought before opening her wings. "Fly low. We are just trying to avoid noise. Ise, Koneko, remember the formation we used during Riser's Rating Game."
""Yes, Buchou.""
"Gasper, stick close to me." The Bishop did as told with Koneko in front, Issei right behind and the two of them on the back. "You see anything suspicious, you use your sacred gear, do you hear me?"
"Buchou…" There was some shame in Gasper's tone but also resolution. "I haven't stopped using my sacred gear since I drank senpai's blood."
Surprised by the declaration and that Gasper was looking at Liz with great intensity. 'That is how he is circumventing the excess of power. It also buys us some time.' She smiled proudly but Gasper just stuck to her back, paying attention to the weakened maid. "Keep going and place a hand on my shoulder so I can guide you."
The devils stopped for a moment at Koneko's prompting, with her ears and tail twitching it was clear she detected something so they remained silent until the Rook got moving, revealing a trap with curses before Koneko punched them out of the air with a flaming Ki covered fist.
"Woah. That is new." Affirmed Issei and Rias nodded in agreement but the former nekomata said nothing, just advanced.
In a minute they were on the open grounds of Kuoh and if there was an ambush Rias expected it to be there. She didn't even bother to hide her surprise when nobody showed up to stop them and they kept moving at full throttle.
"There." Issei saw the school and noticed the armies above, however something else filled his thoughts. "Why aren't they fighting anymore?"
Not only the armies grew quiet but, the golems were missing with only the most savage familiars still running around and attacking anyone on the ground. Since the Old Satan Faction army was composed mostly of devils, only their side had anyone on land and most of them were wounded.
From the distance they already were in, Koneko caught a glimpse of a shining sword. "That is Kiba."
A flash in the sky stopped any reply as Rias realized why the armies weren't fighting. "The big guns are out."
"What do you mean, Buchou?" Gasper asked, eyes still stuck on Liz.
Another flash confirmed her thoughts as she saw two figures moving at high speeds. "It is why nobody else is fighting up there; they are giving space for the real fight. It is how wars are fought in the moonlit world." Not that different from tales of old wars where legendary warriors fought in a circle of circles that stopped interruptions. 'But who is fighting and what happened to the Silver Shield?'
None of that mattered as they ignored the powers colliding atop their heads and rushed towards the school, Kiba's presence acting like a beacon.
Some creatures tried to stop their run but Issei and Koneko dispatched them without missing a step. Rias was ready to step in but that proved unnecessary so she focused on protecting Liz and Gasper.
It was also fortunate that the armies weren't noticing their arrival because she knew how much of a desirable hostage she was. A loud boom over their heads and more bright likes cutting the artificial night were plenty of reasons to not look down. No one wanted to die from a stray attack.
When Kiba noticed them he smiled and smiled his hand on the ground. "Sword Birth!"
At his command many swords sprung from the ground and impaled many familiars and remaining golems. They also served as a signal for their troops that, when they saw Rias approaching, quickly began to unload every bullet they had remaining. Fallen angels flew in her direction to make a perimeters, as devils began to move erratically on the sky as a distraction.
When Kiba began to walk beside them, the fallen angels' formation broke, not giving the enemy any reprieve. "What happened?" Rias needed to be briefed as more loud blasts showed the fight was growing intense.
"One of the commanders showed up, Katerea Leviathan." The blond directed them closer to the building where Shirou was Tracing EMs for devils and fallen angels alike while eight stood around with a barrier.
It was an improvised medical tent without the tent where first aid was given before the exhausted warriors either got ready to fight again or retreated inside the school. Some had enough mana to treat themselves while others, mostly those already hurt before the barrier fell, needed assistance.
While there was a rotation, just a dozen or so were in the area, Shirou already had made enough EMs for everyone when he noticed his friends' return. "Are you-" When he noticed Liz his eyes grew wide and he placed a hand on her cheek. She was cold.
"She was cursed and is low on mana." Rias had no idea of any extra damage but it was obvious that the situation was bad. When Liz began to breathe erratically, they froze only for her to suddenly stop. "Gasper?"
"Sorry, just a little tired." The Bishop had lost the aura of power he had before, fortunately the solution was simple.
Kiba turned to Issei. "Hand or arm?"
"Arm." The Red Dragon Emperor offered his exposed flesh and the Knight slashed it superficially. "Here, Gasper."
"Thanks again." However they all knew that action only bought them time.
"We have to take her to mom." His thoughts were similar to Rias'. "She probably is still-"
A huge blast came close to their barrier as the flash of light blinded everyone and cut off any thought they might have. No matter how much he didn't want to, Gasper had to close her eyes and Liz's time began to run its course as the fight above her heads intensified.
"What is wrong, Katerea? Need a new pair of glasses? I thought devils were perfect." Azazel joked around as he dodged to the side then down from two different blasts of mana. "Or perhaps you are running out of breath?"
The woman didn't reply as she gritted her teeth and began to spin her staff so fast it was like a blur. Her magic circle moved with the top of the staff but now there was an uncertainty of where her attacks would go and she waited for Azazel's attack.
With a frown the Cadre didn't disappoint her and his power took the shape of a spear taller than he was. "Fine, I will play." He threw the Light Weapon so fast that none in the armies could see it.
If she was honest with herself Katerea didn't either but she unleashed a barrage of mana that destroyed it, resulting in another explosion of light. This time she kept her attacks going in a random rhythm, trying to take the man down before he recovered his vision.
Except that this was Azazel, an angel. "You really expected that to blind me?" He asked as the light disappeared and all watched him fly in a spinning motion, letting her attacks brush against his wings. "You have power but are missing a couple of things."
She ignored him and made a slashing motion with her staff, a blade of yellow mana flying in Cadre's direction.
Azazel didn't bother to contest it, flying around its axis. "Experience." Another spear was formed, thinner and looking like a spike. He threw it faster than before and Katerea expanded her magic circle for defense. "Finesse."
The magic circle broke but Katerea managed to move just before a fatal blow. Her skin still burned as the spear connected with her shoulder and she screamed. Despite the lack of Holy, Azazel's Light was still extremely powerful.
Fighting against the pain the descendant of Leviathan folded her wings and allowed gravity to take her down, the fallen angel pursued but kept his wings open. 'Here comes.'
Just as Azazel expected, Katerea shot more mana in his direction but he easily dodged only the barely necessary amount to let the attack pass, his back not even feeling the heat. When he saw her wings open, he already knew which side she was going to so he turned a little.
After her gamble failed Katerea sent a ball of mana at Azazel as she turned in the direction of some fallen angels. 'With how soft he is I doubt he will risk his men.'
"Bet you are thinking I am a softy that won't risk his men." Her eyes grew wide as Azazel was already to her right. "Desperate already?"
This time she didn't bother with her staff, the angle wouldn't help with it either and she wanted to attack fast. A magic circle bigger than the palm of her hand was formed and she threw as much power as she could.
Not enough as Azazel bashed the small ball away and threw a wave of Light in Katerea's direction. An explosion created a cloud of smoke where her attack had landed and a bigger one was created as result of Katerea's collision with the ground.
Dust was banished by the Cadre's wings as he watched the devil trying to get up with her staff, her body presenting some burns, however superficial. "To be honest I was expecting you to block that. Even went for a kick."
"Tch, curse you, Scapegoat." Katerea glared with hatred as another magic circle was formed where she was standing. She lifted her staff above her head and slammed it into the ground, the yellow light from her circle growing more intense. "Prepare yourself, Scapegoat. I have no intention of letting this humiliation slide!"
"Gonna go for real now? Great!" Azazel also raised the intensity of his power and created ten new spikes of Light. "Show me what you got!"
With a wave of his hand the fallen angel's attacks flew towards Katerea like missiles but the woman wasn't far behind as from her magic circle eighteen tentacles flew up from different points of the circle.
Half of them were destroyed by Azazel's weapons but the rest managed to block the spikes except one until a new tentacle of mana appeared behind Katerea to save her. She began to sweat and Azazel frowned as more tentacles of mana appeared and charged in his direction.
"Die you cur!" Not impressed, Azazel just flew a couple of meters higher and watched as the mana tentacles stopped half way and looked like an octopus flailing around. "What?"
"Connecting mana with a magic circle imposes a range defined by your power and capabilities. That is why most devils shoot their attacks instead of holding them on." Azazel sounded like a teacher and a mischievous smile began to form. "This is really your best, isn't it? Oh boy, here I was treating you like your grandmother but you aren't even half as tough as she was."
"What?" Katerea's voice was shaking as the fallen angels cheered their leader.
"Well, to be fair, you are a little stronger, at least in the mana department. It is on everything else you are lacking, especially the abstinence of something." The Cadre could see how furious the woman looked. "You didn't inherit the Serpent of Doom, didn't you?" Her teeth gritted so hard he could hear them from the sky. "Shesh, I was waiting for you to use it but you don't even have the ability. That was what made the original Leviathan so tough in the first place. I mean, half of that was my fault for fighting her alone but I didn't expect her to summon a downpour so strong that blind me during the fight. She almost got me too."
"Shut your mouth, Scapegoat!" Katerea was livid as many of her army clearly were losing heart. "I may not have inherent Sea Serpent in the End but I am stronger than my ancestor ever was!"
"In terms of raw mana capacity, sure." Azazel shrugged. "But you don't have skill and your grandma would pound you into the ground in a fight." He loved how upset the woman looked. "For real, if you think the little power that you have over her can compete with the absolute domain over the ocean then you are an idiot." He turned to the Old Satan Faction army. "Why are you following someone so childish again?"
"Aaahhhh!" Katerea broke her magic circle and flew towards Azazel at full speed. All the mana she was using was directed to her staff as she approached an amused fallen angel. "Die!"
She took a hard swing with her staff and unleashed a huge ball of mana in Azazel's direction, the thing was the size of the school building and had enough mana packing to blow up half of the town.
Azazel smiled and raised a hand as his power began to form a new shape, a wall made of pure Light.
When the ball of mana connected with the Light it simply fell apart as Katerea utterly failed to do anything against it. While a wall of Light wouldn't show any damage anyway, there was no mana being spent besides the little sustaining it
The lack of need to repair the wall showed how little effect Katerea had. "You know, considering how weak you are, you have to be more arrogant than your grandma. She at least had the power to pick a fight." Azazel made a circular gesture with his hand and the wall bent into a ball smaller than the attack it blocked, way smaller. "Here, have a wrecking ball."
Moving his hand and wings Azazel sent the wrecking ball straight for Katerea who tried to protect herself with a magic circle only for it to be utterly crushed and the Light to keep pushing the woman until she met the ground again, opening a huge crater.
But the damage wasn't done as Azazel kept the ball's existence going since its Light was burning Katerea. With no place to run and the wrecking ball pressing on her, she felt her skin cook and screamed, the painfulled desperation in her voice prompting some of her army to the rescue.
The Cadre saw them charging on his peripheral vision and created a dagger of Light in his free hand before throwing it, killing one of the attackers with barely any effort. "I would surrender if I were you. Still got enough in the tank to take you all." That was enough to make the small squad give up and he let the ball's existence go. "Hey, Serafall, Sirzechs! Should I kill her?"
Back on what was left of the meeting room the Maous looked at each other. "What do you think? It is your 'chair' she is after."
"She wouldn't be getting it anyway, too weak." Serafall replied pensively. They suspected there may be another enemy waiting in the shadows but for the moment things were under control. "So I don't mind but is it worth it? She doesn't have the Sea Serpent in the End. Usually when a Clan loses their Power there is no coming back."
"Usually but there were cases of descendants recovering the Power even one generation apart." Sirzechs remind Serafall and she couldn't challenge him on that.
Someone else would. "Must I remind you, that woman killed some of our guards and placed all lives here at risk. She is responsible for every soldier that gave their lives for us." Michael was still furious even if his face showed only sadness. "As your ally, I must insist she be punished."
"No offense Michael but it is somewhat complicated as we need every devil we can get to repopulate. Also her capture could give us information while convincing the other devils to surrender. Then there is also the Sea Serpent in the End. It would be a valuable asset."
"We aren't at war anymore, Sirzechs."
"Would you mind if the punishment was life in prison with privileges offered if she agreed to marry and sire children?"
"That… seems doable. Isn't she going to cause you any problems? There are also the other heirs of the Old Satans." He turned to Serafall. "Her very presence is a threat to your power."
"I can handle her." Serafall spoke confidently.
"I am sure she could!" Azazel had approached the building but didn't land. "Without the Sea Serpent in the End she isn't really a threat!" He didn't want just his allies to hear it but the enemy army too, to break their morale.