The open ground outside the Supernatural Research Club crackled with tension, the air so taut it felt ready to snap.
Xenovia stepped forward, her grip firm on the Holy Sword of Destruction—Durandal. Her eyes were cold, her voice sharper than steel. "If you're ready, let's begin."
Across from her, Irina mirrored the gesture, Mimic in hand, gaze locked on Yuuto Kiba.
Shuo strolled into the arena, utterly relaxed. "Alright, let's get this over with."
Xenovia's eyes narrowed as she took in Yuuto's summoned Demonic Swords and Shuo's empty hands. "Where's your weapon?"
Shuo yawned. "To deal with your Destruction Sword? Don't need one."
Xenovia's expression frosted over. "You're underestimating me?"
She didn't wait for an answer. Durandal flashed, and she lunged—her swing whipped the air into a frenzy, a storm of holy power surging toward Shuo.
The force of her attack was enough to make even Rias and her friends tense up. No one was taking this lightly now.
But Shuo didn't flinch. He simply called forth Susanoo, the spectral armor manifesting around him in a blaze of energy.
BOOM.
Durandal crashed into Susanoo. The explosion ripped a crater ten meters wide into the ground, dust and debris billowing.
Xenovia's pupils shrank. "What—?!"
She was stunned. She'd held back at the last moment, not wanting to actually hurt him—just teach him a lesson. But even so, that blow, amplified by Durandal, should have flattened any High-Class Devil.
Shuo grinned, dusting off his shoulders. "Were you worried about me? Pulled your punch at the end, didn't you? That's kind of sweet."
He flashed a cocky smile. "But you don't need to hold back. My strength's in a whole different league. Give it everything you've got."
Xenovia's lips pressed into a thin line. This time, she stopped holding back.
Golden light blazed, surging along Durandal's blade. With a burst of speed, she closed the distance, her sword a blur.
Shuo sidestepped with casual ease, weaving through the wave of sacred slashes. Each attack missed him by mere inches, his movement uncanny—almost prophetic.
Xenovia's frustration mounted. The gap between them felt insurmountable, suffocating. Was she really this far behind?
Suddenly, Shuo vanished, reappearing behind her in a flash of motion. Before Xenovia could react, he clamped a hand on her shoulder, the other seizing Durandal. With a practiced twist, he wrenched the sword from her grasp.
"Too weak."
He held Durandal out, completely unfazed.
Xenovia's face drained of color. "Impossible!" She scrambled back, magic flaring defensively.
Irina, locked in her own duel with Yuuto, froze mid-swing. Her eyes were wide, disbelief written all over her face.
Rias and her crew, on the other hand, remained calm. If anything, they looked almost bored—after all, even they weren't sure of Shuo's true strength, but they'd guessed he was at least on par with a Satan-class Devil.
Shuo inspected Durandal, then tossed it back to Xenovia. "You're gonna need your best sword if you want even a chance."
Xenovia gaped. "How do you know about that?"
Shuo shrugged. "I'm the master of Excalibur. Sensing another legendary blade isn't exactly hard."
She hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. No more holding back."
Xenovia wrapped Durandal in white bandages, then reached into the space beside her. Reality shimmered, and a second sword—far more ornate, its blue hilt radiating a savage aura—materialized in her hand.
Yuuto's jaw dropped. "That's… Durandal?!"
Even Akeno muttered under her breath, "Ara ara, no wonder she's confident about facing a Fallen Angel cadre."
Rias and the others shared grave looks. The name Durandal carried weight—its previous wielder, Vasco Strada, was a legend among humans. In his prime, he'd felled a Satan-class Stray Devil with a single blow.
No one had expected Xenovia—a girl barely older than a high schooler—to wield not one, but two Holy Swords. And one of them was the infamous Durandal.
Maybe, just maybe, she and Irina had a shot at a sneak attack on Kokabiel. But in a straight fight? The odds were grim.
Xenovia's grip tightened on Durandal. "Honestly, I can't fully control its power. That's why I keep it sealed most of the time."
She glanced at Shuo. "If I lose control, do you still want me to use it?"
Shuo summoned Excalibur, its light answering Durandal's savage glow. "Think your sword can outshine mine?"
Xenovia's lips quirked in reluctant defeat. "...Probably not."
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