BOOM. BOOM, BOOM, BOOM—
Above the river, twin streaks of black light collided in a storm of violence. Thunder cracked overhead, lightning split the night, and waves of flame roared skyward. Spears of light rained down, punching craters into the ruined earth. The riverbanks were nothing but scorched wasteland.
With a final, bone-shaking crash, the two figures tumbled from the sky—
Azazel and Raynare.
"Tsk, tsk. Four wings now, and you've got Vritra's power too? That brat's been generous."
Azazel stood untouched, arms folded, a grin playing at his lips. "Raynare, your progress almost makes me proud."
Once, praise like that would have sent Raynare into delirious joy. But now—
"AZAZEL!!!"
She was blood-soaked, eyes burning with a cold, bottomless hatred.
He'd thrown her away—left her behind—and now he spoke as if nothing had happened. Unforgivable. This bastard was the one person she could never forgive.
Azazel waved a hand, unconcerned. "Easy, easy. You've come a long way, Raynare, but you're still leagues behind me. Let's call it a night. If you want revenge, try again when you're stronger."
He turned to leave, barely sparing her a glance. Her power had grown, sure, but to Azazel she was still the kind you could squash with a flick. Her hatred? Like a child's tantrum—hardly worth noticing.
"Stop…"
Raynare tried to block his path, but her knees buckled and she collapsed. Azazel had toyed with her for a few rounds; she was spent, battered, barely able to move.
"Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!"
"Move—MOVE!"
Her vision blurred with rage and frustration, nails digging into her palms until they drew blood. Weakness—always weakness. Abandoned for it, denied even the right to vengeance.
She needed power. More. More.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Her scream split the night. Hair whipped wild, and then—
A torrent of dark, chaotic energy burst from her body.
Azazel paused at the edge of his teleportation circle, eyes narrowing. He turned, curiosity flickering.
Shadow, curse, evil—black flames erupted around Raynare, twisting and shrinking until they formed a suit of armor that clung to her body. Pale skin flashed between plates; her silhouette was all lethal curves and hellish fire.
When a Sacred Gear wielder's will and desire violently overturn the world's flow, they achieve Balance Breaker—a forbidden power. Rage at her own weakness, hunger for strength—Raynare had forced Tenra's gift, the [Dark Evil King], into Balance Breaker.
She looked like a demon goddess risen from hell—stunning, dangerous, irresistible.
"This power…"
Raynare clenched her fists, feeling the surge of strength. Her laughter rang out, wild and triumphant.
Power. She had power again—enough for revenge.
"Lord Azazel, thank you. Hatred for you has let me transcend myself once more…"
Her voice softened, almost tender, eyes shining with obsession. Azazel just rubbed his forehead, exasperated.
"Achieving Balance Breaker now? Raynare, you really do surprise me."
Even as he spoke, threads of darkness snaked around him, black flames racing along their length.
BOOM—
A blast of cursed fire swallowed Azazel whole.
"Ask anything you want."
In the kendo club room, Tenra faced Kiryuu Aika and the other girls, explaining angels, fallen angels, devils. They listened, wide-eyed, stunned. If they hadn't seen it themselves, they would never have believed such legends walked among them.
"President, are you a devil too?"
"Sort of. Technically, I'm half-devil, half-human."
"What about Rias-senpai and the student council president?"
"They're pure-blood devils. Princesses, actually—Gremory and Sitri families."
"Wow… so Rias-senpai and the president are real princesses!"
"And that man with the black wings—he was a fallen angel? Why did you and the others fight him?"
"He's Kokabiel, a fallen angel cadre. He tried to start a war, so we stopped him."
"Trying to start a war? That's terrifying…"
The questions kept coming, curiosity bubbling over. Tenra answered them all, patient and honest.
But soon, the conversation veered into strange territory—
"President, what's your relationship with Rias-senpai?"
"She's my fiancée."
"Fiancée?!"
"What about Yubelluna-sensei and Xenovia-senpai?"
"They're my servants."
"Servants? Like the Demon Lord's servants in manga?"
"Something like that."
"So… have you done those things with Yubelluna-sensei and the others? Manga Demon Lords always do that with their beautiful servants…"
"…" What were these questions? Had they missed the point entirely?!
Yubelluna and the other girls blushed furiously; Tenra's eye twitched. He gave up trying to keep order.
"Alright, enough. You've had your fun. Now Yubelluna will erase your memories—you'll forget tonight and go back to normal."
He clapped his hands, cutting off the chaos.
"Erase our memories?"
"No! President, please don't!"
"I don't want to forget! I don't want to lose the memory of you saving us!"
Instead of relief, panic swept through the girls. For most, forgetting a terrifying night would be a blessing. But for these devoted fans, losing the memory of Tenra's heroics was the worst thing imaginable.
After all, most of them had joined the kendo club because they admired Tenra.
Yubelluna looked to Tenra for confirmation. One word, and she'd erase everything.
"You really want to keep those memories?"
"Mm-hmm…"
Tenra double-checked, and every girl nodded. Forgetting would mean peace, but remembering meant sharing in a world of wonders. It was their choice—he wouldn't force them. He just hoped they wouldn't regret it someday…
"Hah… hah…"
Raynare lay in a crater, gasping for breath, her armor in tatters. Utterly defeated—again. Even with Balance Breaker, she couldn't touch Azazel.
Hatred burned in her chest.
"Raynare, I have to say, I enjoyed myself tonight."
Azazel looked down at her, smirking.
"AZAZEL!!!"
Raynare tried to reach for him, but her arm fell limp—she had nothing left.
Azazel watched her, then a mischievous smile curled his lips.
"Raynare, you know, you've never learned the real reason I abandoned you."
"As a reward for all your effort to get revenge, I'll tell you—the real reason I left you behind…"
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