Splashes of red blood stained both Rian's clothes and the beach sand, creating a tragic contrast against the serene beauty of the shore.
Those rotten bodies were sliced apart like worthless sheets of paper.
Yet from the portal Alice had opened, zombie dogs continued to pour out nonstop. And Fear—more than even Rian—killed them relentlessly.
That was how the three of them spent the remaining time in the Resident Evil world: slaughtering zombies to gather exp.
Each zombie dog granted 1 Exp, and the total number eliminated by Rian—with Fear as his weapon—reached 12,550.
And when the final day truly came to an end, the trio—Rian, Fear, and Alice—returned to the Infinity Room. Calm. Safe. At least for now.
Rian intended to stop by the Infinity Room to stock up on a large amount of Vibranium at Alice's request…before heading to the DxD world for various matters.
***
The night sky hung quietly above Kuoh Academy, but the tension on the ground was anything but peaceful. Magical energy filled the air like a storm waiting to break.
In the outer courtyard of the school, Sona Shitori stood firm with both hands extended forward.
Sona led her entire Peerage, each member positioned around the perimeter of a wide circular barrier.
They formed a high-level defensive magic formation, creating a softly glowing shield that pulsed with power.
Every member poured in their magic with full concentration. Their faces were serious, sweat dripping, yet not a single one faltered. They knew that if this shield collapsed, the entire town could be wiped out.
But in the midst of all that seriousness, a voice suddenly came from behind them. Soft… yet with a tone that made anyone want to punch a wall.
"Sona-cwan~"
A teasing voice, almost like a naughty whisper in her ear. And right behind Sona stood a man whose unmistakable style instantly seized everyone's attention.
A crisp black shirt under a fitted vest, wrapped in a dark trench coat that reached his knees, paired with matching black trousers.
A look unmistakable to anyone who knew him: Rian Andromeda.
Rian crossed his arms over his chest, a mischievous smile curling on his lips.
With a teasing tone, he asked, "So? The book about becoming a good wife… have you finished reading it, Sona?"
Sona didn't need to turn around to know who that annoying voice belonged to. But she still spun on her heels, her movements sharp, her gaze cold and cutting.
"I burned the book," Sona said with heavy emphasis. "And if you still value your life, leave this place, Rian."
"Ouch…" Rian patted his chest lightly, as if struck by an invisible arrow. "Your words… they wound the heart of this handsome man."
Sona glared sharply and shot back without hesitation, "Good. Consider it a lesson, you narcissist."
Rian could only sigh and shake his head slowly, as if fully resigned.
"Unfortunately, this wound doesn't bleed…"
He stepped a little closer, a mischievous smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "…But I do hope you're the one bleeding on our first night."
Sona instantly flushed, caught somewhere between embarrassment and fury. Meanwhile, the members of her peerage could only let out a collective, exhausted sigh.
They were used to this… And they could already predict exactly where this chaos was heading.
But Rian didn't stop. He walked closer, then pulled Sona into a soft, almost playful embrace.
Sona jolted in surprise. Before she could throw a retort, Rian whispered teasingly into her ear,
"Well? I know you like it. Don't be too shy, Sona-cwan."
That was it. Whatever remained of Sona's patience evaporated completely—even though the situation they were in was extremely critical.
"Tsubaki," Sona said coldly without looking back, "how much longer can you maintain the barrier?"
Her head trembled slightly, and the eyes that were usually calm now gleamed sharply, as if ready to drown anyone foolish enough to interrupt her focus.
With a soft—but deliberately loud—voice, Rian added, "Hmm~ your ear is surprisingly sweet, Madam President."
Sona's face turned an even deeper shade of red. But it wasn't just embarrassment this time. It was anger. Or perhaps… both emotions had blurred together again.
Then, with a cold, bone-piercing tone, Sona spoke: "TSUBAKI. HOLD THE BARRIER."
In an instant, a bright blue aura enveloped her body—dense, intense, and overwhelmingly intimidating.
Seeing that, Rian slowly released her from his arms and stepped back three paces.
Not out of fear, but because she knew her mission had succeeded: finally making the usually rational Student Council President snap.
As he glanced toward the massive magical barrier protecting Kuoh Academy, Rian murmured, "Alice, handle Sona and the others…"
"Understood," replied Alice's clear voice, coming through the Interface glasses Rian wore.
Hearing him speak as if addressing someone invisible, the girls—including Sona, who had almost thrown a punch but restrained herself—could only freeze, filled with confusion.
Yet Rian gave them no time to question or react. Without a single word, he stepped forward, piercing through Kuoh Academy's magical barrier as if it were nothing more than a thin curtain.
***
The grounds of Kuoh Academy now resembled a ravaged battlefield.
Thin smoke and scattered debris lay everywhere, remnants of a fight that had just ended yet left a trail of destruction.
Even a building that should have been the gymnasium had been reduced to rubble.
Amid the chaos stood a tall figure dressed in black, his dark wings spread wide, though not entirely intact—Kokabiel.
Kokabiel's haughty gaze swept across the scene, and though his body was bruised and smeared with burns and scratches, his sly, arrogant aura remained completely untarnished.
Not far from him, several figures lay on the ground.
Among them was Xenovia Quarta, a young girl with disheveled blue hair and tattered clothing, kneeling weakly.
Her body trembled as she struggled against severe injuries, supporting herself with her holy sword, which was nearly slipping from her grasp.
Members of Rias' Peerage were not spared from the devastation. Kiba, Asia, and Gasper lay unconscious, their breathing weak, barely audible.
Magical wounds, blunt impacts, and blood stained their torn uniforms.
Meanwhile, Rias staggered on her feet, shoulders smeared with blood, desperately trying to protect the remaining members of her team.
Akeno, though still standing, looked pale, her arm rendered immobile.
Issei bore the worst injuries: bruises and burns covering his body, yet he stood, breathing heavily, shielding Asia.
Koneko, blood dripping from her forehead and trembling arms, stood close to Gasper, as if still ready to fight despite her frail body on the verge of collapse.
They all stared at Kokabiel, their gazes revealing anger, fear, or resignation.
Yet one thing was certain: they had been forced to kneel before a power far beyond their limits.
Kokabiel's laughter erupted, echoing sharply across the ravaged and eerily silent grounds of Kuoh Academy.
His voice tore through the quiet like a scornful sky mocking the fallen.
"Haha! You truly are impressive… especially that foolish Exorcist!"
"To have fought this far, even without 'Him' whom you once worshiped. How ironic, isn't it? Abandoned… yet still clinging to hope!"
His laughter slowly subsided, shifting into a sneering, mocking smile.
Kokabiel's glowing red eyes then turned toward Rias, who staggered, her body battered and bloodied, yet her gaze still burned with defiance.
"And you… the heir of Gremory. Lucifer's cherished little sister. But look at yourself now: wounded, on the verge of collapse."
"So this is what the pride of a demon noble's blood looks like? Pathetic. Truly… utterly pathetic!"