"Kiryuu Aika?"
Tenra stared at his phone, brow furrowed. Why was she calling now of all times?
He answered. "Kiryuu, what's wrong?"
"Captain! Please, you have to save us—we're trapped at school!"
Her voice was frantic, almost in tears. As Aika rushed through the story, Tenra's expression darkened. He got the picture fast.
"I told you all to go home after practice. We'll talk about this later."
He snapped, "If you want to live, stay in the dojo and don't move. I'm coming—now!"
"We're sorry, Captain! We promise, we won't go outside…"
Tenra hung up, jaw clenched. Furious didn't even begin to cover it. The sun was setting, Kokabiel was prowling, and these girls were still loitering at school? If the fallen angel found them, even a hundred lives wouldn't be enough.
Rias caught his mood. "Tenra, what happened?"
"The kendo club's trapped at school. Change of plans—we move now."
Rias and Sona both stiffened, but nodded. No more waiting for Underworld reinforcements. They'd take down Kokabiel themselves.
—
Kuoh Academy—
On his floating throne, Kokabiel sneered down at the new arrivals. Tenra, Rias, Sona, and their teams stepped from the teleportation circle, faces set.
"Oh? I was going to give you more time. So eager to die?"
Freed cackled, waving like a lunatic. "They're here! Aisha-chan, Irina-chan—hey, everybody, over here!"
Aisha and Gasper shrank behind Tenra, terrified. The rest ignored Freed completely.
Tenra met Kokabiel's gaze, unflinching. "The Demon Lords are on their way, just as you wanted. But until then, you'll have to settle for us."
He turned to the squat, grinning figure beside Freed. "Valper Galilei, I presume?"
Valper's smile was all surface charm. "My, my. The famous Sacred Gear thief knows me? I'm honored."
He looked harmless—like someone's kindly grandpa. But Tenra knew better. This was a monster who'd sold his soul for power.
Tenra's sneer was ice-cold. He rested a hand on Tosca's trembling shoulder—her eyes burning with rage.
"Hold on, Tosca. You'll get your revenge soon."
She sucked in a shaky breath, forcing herself calm. But her glare at Valper could have frozen hell.
She'd waited too long for this day. He wouldn't escape.
"Yubelluna, take everyone and set up a barrier around the school. No collateral damage."
"Yes, Lord Tenra."
"Rias, Sona—I'm leaving things here with you. I need to check on the kendo club."
"Go. We've got this," Rias said, voice steady.
Orders given, Tenra headed for the clubroom, praying those girls were still safe.
Kokabiel crooked a finger, mocking. "Running off already? Weren't you going to fight me?"
He conjured a spear of light and hurled it at Tenra.
BOOM!
Rias and Sona's teams sprang into action, magic circles flaring to block the attack.
"Kokabiel, your opponent is us!"
Kokabiel shrugged, bored. "Fine. Until that brat gets back, my pets will keep you busy."
He snapped his fingers. Pillars of lava erupted, and monstrous shapes lumbered forth—three-headed beasts, steel claws, bodies wreathed in flame.
Hellhounds. Cerberus.
Rias and the others recoiled in shock and anger.
"He brought those monsters into the human world?!"
"Gasper, Aisha—support us! Akeno, Koneko—let's go!"
"Yes, President!"
Rias and Akeno soared into the sky, Sona and her peerage mobilizing below.
The night exploded in fire and fury. Cerberus howled, magic thundered, the battle to destroy Kokabiel had begun.
—
Tenra burst into the kendo club—and was instantly mobbed by shrieking girls.
"Captain, you came to save us! The monsters outside are terrifying!"
"Rias-senpai and Akeno-senpai grew wings and started flying! Did you see, Captain?"
"That's magic, right? Captain, that's totally magic, isn't it?"
They crowded him, voices high and trembling—equal parts terror and wild curiosity.
Tenra's patience snapped. "Enough! Quiet!"
Silence crashed down. Not a whisper.
He glared at them, voice cold. "Someone explain why you're still here so late. Didn't I tell you to go home after practice?"
He was genuinely angry. If Raynare hadn't set up a barrier around the club, Kokabiel would have found them long ago—and slaughtered every last one.
None of the girls had ever seen Tenra angry. Heads bowed, shoulders hunched—they looked ready to vanish.
Suddenly, Aika stumbled forward, pushed from behind. "Who—who shoved me?!"
She caught herself, then spun around, fuming. With everyone hiding behind lowered heads, she couldn't tell who'd done it. Inside, she cursed her luck—what kind of friends were these, throwing her to the wolves?
Tenra's eye twitched. "Kiryuu Aika. Start talking. What happened?"
Aika laughed nervously, backing away. "C-Captain, we… we…"
Tenra's presence was suffocating. Sweat broke out on Aika's forehead. No one dared interrupt.
—
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