( 3rd Person POV )
The Kuoh Academy grounds had become a war zone. Scorched earth stretched across what used to be pristine grass, and the air itself seemed to ripple from residual magical energy.
Two massive Cerberus stood guard near Kokabiel's position, their triple heads snarling and dripping molten saliva that hissed against the charred ground. The first beast reared back, all three mouths opening wide to unleash a torrent of flames.
Before the inferno could fully manifest, a white blur shot through the smoke.
*CRACK!*
Koneko's fist connected with the center head of the first Cerberus, her Nekomata form fully unleashed. White cat ears twitched atop her head as her enhanced strength sent the massive beast crashing into the ground with enough force to create a crater. Shockwaves rippled outward, kicking up debris and dust.
The second Cerberus roared in fury at seeing its companion fall. All three heads inhaled simultaneously, their throats glowing orange with gathering flames.
"Ice Beam!" Asia's voice rang out, steady despite the danger.
The nun raised her hands, and brilliant blue light erupted from her palms. The flames that burst from the Cerberus's mouths froze mid-air, transformed into crystalline sculptures of fire suspended in ice. The beast's eyes widened in confusion at the impossible sight.
Koneko didn't waste the opening. She launched herself forward, using the frozen flames as stepping stones. Her small fist, wrapped in concentrated demonic power, slammed into the Cerberus's skull with devastating precision. The creature's eyes rolled back as it collapsed beside its twin, unconscious before it even hit the ground.
Landing gracefully beside Asia, Koneko gave a small nod "Thanks."
Asia smiled, a newfound confidence brightening her features "I'm glad I could help."
"You've both grown much stronger."
They turned to find Rias approaching, her crimson hair swaying as demonic bat wings folded against her back. Wrapped in cloth and slung over her shoulder were the stolen Excalibur fragments and Durandal, spoils from dealing with unknown exorcists, who now resting in the nothingness.
Akeno walked beside her, lightning still crackling faintly around her fingertips. She smiled warmly at the group. "It's all thanks to Yuuto-kun's training. You've all improved so much."
Rias's expression shifted to one of determination. "Let's go. Yuuto needs our—"
"Buchou." Akeno's hand caught Rias's wrist, stopping her mid-step.
"Akeno?" Rias looked at her Queen in confusion.
Akeno's usual playful demeanor was gone, replaced by serious resolve. "A Cadre isn't someone we can fight. Not yet. If we go up there... we'll only hold Yuuto-kun back."
The words hit Rias like a blow. Her grip tightened on the wrapped swords. Every instinct screamed at her to fly up there, to stand beside him, to refuse to let someone she cared about face such danger alone.
But she knew Akeno was right.
"We have to trust him," Akeno added softly.
"Senpai won't lose to that garbage crow," Koneko said flatly, her tail swishing with confidence.
Asia clasped her hands together. "I believe in Yuuto-san. He's always protected us."
Rias closed her eyes, taking a shaky breath. When she opened them again, they held reluctant acceptance. "You're right. All of you." She looked up at the sky where bursts of light and darkness were already beginning to clash.
Their attention turned skyward as the real battle began.
---
[ In the Sky ]
Looks like everyone handled things down there.
Yuuto tore his gaze away from his comrades below, focusing entirely on the threat before him. Kokabiel remained seated on his floating throne, that malevolent grin splitting his pale face. The Cadre's blood-red eyes gleamed with something between amusement and hunger.
LostVayne hummed in Yuuto's grip, the demonic sword resonating with his Assault Mode. Darkness writhed around his form like living shadows, his power radiating outward in waves that made the very air tremble.
Kokabiel's grin widened impossibly further. The sheer pressure of Yuuto's magical energy, the cold fury and ruthlessness in those eyes, stirred long buried memories of Great War. Memories of the silver haired demon with pride and aura that shook the heavens.
He reminds me of that Lucifer... the original one.
The Cadre stood slowly, the movement deliberate and theatrical. With a casual snap of his fingers, his throne dissolved into particles of light. His five pairs of jet-black wings spread wide, each feather seeming to absorb the ambient light around them.
"What do we have here?" Kokabiel's voice dripped with dark excitement. "A low-class devil powering himself up to Ultimate Class level. What sort of magic did you use, boy?"
Yuuto's response was immediate and brutal.
He raised LostVayne, and dozens of concentrated darkness spheres materialized around him. With a gesture, they launched forward in a devastating barrage, each one blitzing with enough power to level a building.
Kokabiel simply raised one hand. A magic circle bloomed before him, intricate patterns of light weaving together.
*BOOOOOM!!!*
The explosion lit up the night sky like a second sun. Smoke billowed outward in massive clouds, obscuring both fighters from view.
"*Kami Chigiri!*"
Yuuto's voice cut through the chaos as he burst from the smoke, moving so fast he seemed to teleport. LostVayne blazed with black flames—Hellblaze—as he closed the distance in a heartbeat.
One.
Hundred.
Five hundred.
One thousand.
In less than a second, Yuuto's blade carved through the air in a perfect dance of destruction. Each strike was precise, each cut aimed at vital points, the sword leaving trails of burning darkness in its wake.
The smoke cleared.
Kokabiel stood there, clothes torn and marked with countless shallow cuts across his body. Minor wounds at best. He tilted his head back and laughed—a sound of pure, manic joy.
"Yes! YES! This is it!" The Cadre ran his hand over the cuts, blood staining his fingers. "It reminds me of when I fought the original Belphegor! This pain, this thrill!" His eyes blazed with ecstasy.
Shit. Yuuto's thoughts raced even as he maintained his combat stance. His defense is no joke. No wonder this bastard survived the Great War against the original Satans and God himself. LostVayne alone won't be enough to cut him down.
Kokabiel's expression shifted to something more dangerous. Light spheres erupted around him, hundreds of them, each one combining to forming a spear of light. But this wasn't an ordinary light spear.
One manifested fully—a construct of pure light energy that rivaled the size of the entire academy building. The air itself screamed as reality bent around its immense power.
"Better not die too soon!" Kokabiel roared, his grin stretching ear to ear. "The real fun has just begun!"
He hurled the massive spear with force that created sonic booms.
Yuuto's hand blurred, dismissing LostVayne and summoning a different blade in the same instant.
[[ Aether Cleaver ]]
The sword that appeared in his grip seemed to cut through the fabric of space itself just by existing. With a single slash, Yuuto tore open reality. A massive spatial rift opened before him like a yawning void, and the enormous light spear was swallowed whole, disappearing into the tear between dimensions.
Kokabiel didn't give him a moment to breathe.
The Cadre closed the distance instantly, twin swords of light forming in his hands. He attacked with the fury and skill of someone who'd spent millennia perfecting the art of killing. Each strike came from impossible angles, each thrust aimed to kill, the flurry of blows so fast they seemed to create afterimages.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Yuuto dismissed the Aether Cleaver, summoning the Holy Eraser mid-combat. The blade materialized just in time to intercept Kokabiel's light swords—and the light swords in the Cadre's hands shattered on contact, dissolved by the Holy Eraser's unique property.
Taking advantage of the opening, Yuuto pivoted and slashed horizontally with all his strength.
*SLASH!*
Blood sprayed into the air as the blade carved a deep wound across Kokabiel's torso. The Cadre actually grunted in pain, forced to retreat several meters.
But as Yuuto created distance, his expression darkened. Even with Assault Mode enhancing my demonic swords' power... it's not enough. The damage isn't significant.
Kokabiel looked down at the wound on his chest, blood staining his robes. His hand traced the injury almost lovingly before he looked back up with that ever-present malicious grin.
"I made the right choice starting the war here." He gestured at Yuuto with genuine respect. "You're astounding, devil brat. That strength, that skill...you're wasted in this era of false peace."
The light spheres bloomed around him once more, each one forming another massive light spear.
"But you still can't defeat me."
He's right, Yuuto admitted to himself, mind racing through options. My demonic swords aren't cutting deep enough. I need more power!
His eyes hardened with resolve. Then I have no choice.
The decision made, Yuuto reached deep into his arsenal. The Holy Eraser in his hand began to shift, its form wavering as he poured a different type of power into it.
When the transformation completed, gasps echoed from the ground below.
The sword was pitch black like midnight itself, but running down the center of the blade were crimson letters that seemed to burn with inner fire. Holy and demonic energy swirled together in impossible harmony, creating something that shouldn't exist.
[ A Holy-Demonic Sword ]
Kokabiel's eyes widened with genuine surprise before understanding dawned. His grin turned into something more sinister.
"That sword..." The Cadre's voice resonated across the battlefield "That's not a demonic weapon. It's holy-demonic." He threw his head back and laughed. "So YOU'RE the one! You're the one behind Valper disappearance!"
The revelation struck like lightning.
"You've merged the holy element with yourself!" Kokabiel's voice boomed with dark glee as he announced it to everyone below. "This battle is turning out to be more exciting with each moment!!!"
"What?!" Rias's shocked voice carried from the ground.
"That can't be..." Akeno breathed.
"Senpai..." Even Koneko's usual stoic expression cracked with surprise.
Asia's hands covered her mouth, eyes wide.
"Holy and demonic elements can never be balanced," Rias said, her tactical mind working through the implications "Unless..."
Realization struck all of them at once—all except Asia, who looked confused at their horrified expressions.
Kokabiel spread his arms wide, his grin stretching impossibly as he prepared to shatter their world.
"That's right, sister of Sirzechs!" His voice thundered across the ruined academy. "You've figured it out! The reason this boy can wield holy and demonic power together!"
His blood-red eyes gleamed with malicious grin as he delivered the truth that would shook everyone down to their core.
"*GOD IS DEAD!*"
. . . .
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