Draconis wasn't about to play nice.
The instant he sensed the Fallen Angel's killing intent, he was already calculating the odds of taking her down. And he certainly wasn't going to bite his tongue.
His blunt retort made the Fallen Angel's eyes narrow to slits—like a tigress on the edge of violence.
"Just a filthy low-tier devil, and you dare insult me!?" she spat.
Her rage spilled out, a shimmering barrier flaring to life and sealing off the block. She raised her hand, conjured a Light Spear, and hurled it straight at Draconis.
But this time, Draconis wasn't the helpless rookie he'd been during his first run-in with a Fallen Angel.
He tracked the spear's path, every detail reflected in his eyes. The attack that once seemed impossible to dodge now moved in slow-motion.
He bent his knees and sprang backward—effortless, almost casual—covering more than ten meters in a single leap. He landed solidly as the Light Spear detonated, sending a shockwave ripping down the sidewalk and shredding every plant in its path.
So she wasn't all that.
Stronger than the Fallen Angel he'd killed a few days ago, sure, but now he had a devil's body—and the power of his Sacred Gear. This was a fight he could win.
He sized up her strength. She was dangerous, but not out of his league.
Time to end her.
Draconis remembered Rias's words, clear as day:
"You're a devil now. Human rules don't apply. If anyone shows killing intent—kill them first. No hesitation. That's the world we live in."
She really did care about him.
His eyes sharpened. In a flash, a silver sword materialized in his grip.
Whoosh.
His body vanished, moving at a speed that defied logic.
Knight-class power—speed incarnate. And Draconis had been boosted by two Knight pieces, making him even faster. He might be a low-ranked devil, but he was far from weak.
His sudden disappearance made the Fallen Angel—Bellegno—flinch in shock.
"What!?"
A chill and a stabbing pain prickled at her throat—her battle instincts screamed danger.
She twisted backward, her snake-like waist bending in a desperate dodge.
An instant later, Draconis appeared before her, his blade slicing past her throat—so close she felt the wind of death.
Too close.
Bellegno flipped backward, putting distance between them. Sweat beaded on her brow. She'd underestimated him.
Fear and fury tangled inside her. She spread her wings, conjuring another Light Spear, her nearly bare body shifting with every movement.
Draconis pressed in, relentless. His Regalia Blade gleamed with silver light, trailing a comet's tail as he slashed for her neck.
Clang!
The sword met the spear with a shower of sparks. Bellegno's expression turned grim as she traded blows with Draconis, their weapons ringing out in the night.
But after only a few exchanges, she felt her Light Spear begin to falter, its form wavering.
She could handle Draconis's raw strength, but that sword—something was off. It made even a low-ranked devil's attacks hit like a hammer.
She was a former high-ranking angel, now a Fallen. Facing a bottom-tier devil, she was fighting for her life—and losing ground.
Was that sword some kind of unknown Sacred Gear?
After several more clashes, Bellegno realized she couldn't keep up with his relentless assault. Her pride burned.
No more playing defense.
She burned most of her divine power to force Draconis back a few steps, then swept her black wings wide and vaulted away.
"Light Thorns!"
Her voice was cold as ice. Behind her, golden thorns materialized from thin air, shooting toward Draconis in a deadly barrage.
Draconis's pupils shrank. Needles of pain crawled across his skin, cold as death.
Those thorns were lethal.
He exploded into motion, dodging the barrage with blinding speed.
But there were too many—his escape routes sealed off, thorns whistling in from every direction. No matter how careful he was, one pierced his calf.
Agony stabbed through him, so intense his body convulsed.
The pain was overwhelming—far beyond a simple puncture wound. It felt like fire in his bones.
What the hell…?
Just one wound, but his whole body screamed.
His heart sank. Those thorns had effects he hadn't anticipated.
Bellegno saw him shuddering uncontrollably and burst out laughing.
"What's wrong? Weren't you so fast? Why the dumb look now? Didn't you know light's pure poison for a devil like you? Hahaha! Hahahaha…"
She laughed without restraint. To her, once hit by Light Thorns, Draconis was finished.
But Draconis's eyes were icy. He said nothing, just raised the Regalia Blade and charged, his speed only slightly dulled.
Bellegno's eyes went wide. Realizing what was happening, she dodged his attack in a panic.
"You… you can still move after being poisoned by light?"
She was furious and confused. How was he still standing?
Draconis was affected, all right.
If anything, he felt like his body was splitting apart from pain.
But his Sacred Gear and devil physiology were fighting the poison, letting him push through on sheer willpower.
He knew he couldn't last long.
Time to finish it.
Without hesitation, Draconis poured all his demonic power into the Regalia Blade. The weapon flared with power, its true potential surfacing. The pressure pinned Bellegno in place, unable to move.
She saw the cold resolve in his eyes and frantically summoned more Light Thorns. Draconis ignored them, charging straight through.
Was he insane? Was he going for mutual destruction?
Bellegno's eyes went wild. Fine. If that's how he wanted it—fight to the death.
Her angelic body was a full rank above his. Surely she could survive.
Let's see who dies first.
…
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