The sudden turn of events caught Ryuichi completely off guard.
This wasn't some prank, or a setup, or even a case of school bullying.No—this was straight out of some goddamn supernatural city!
If it had just been a few delinquents trying to scam him, he could've handled that. Three or four punks at most—nothing he couldn't deal with.But now? Facing something clearly beyond human? Ryuichi could only curse under his breath.
He never imagined this world actually had powers like this!
There wasn't even time to question why this girl suddenly wanted him dead. The only thing that mattered now—was surviving.
Run.Escaping was the only rational choice.
If she had chosen to attack him here, in this deserted park, that meant she probably couldn't strike openly in front of others.
Ryuichi quickly recalled the layout of the park, mentally tracing the path they'd taken. He'd paid attention earlier, just in case things went south.Looks like that paranoia was about to pay off.
"Explosive shot!!"
Ryuichi shouted suddenly, whipping something out of his pocket and hurling it straight at Amano Yuuma.
Startled by his sudden cry, the Fallen Angel flinched and instinctively dodged aside—only to see a cellphone smash into the fountain railing with a sharp crack, scattering plastic and glass everywhere.
Yuuma blinked in confusion. Then realization hit.She spun around—just in time to see Ryuichi already bolting in the opposite direction.
"…Pathetic."
Her lips curled into a cold sneer. With a beat of her black wings, the Fallen Angel shot into the air, gliding after him like a shadow. The lightning spear in her hand gleamed menacingly as she thrust it straight toward his back!
The wind howled around her as she dove, the air itself shuddering with the pressure.
Ryuichi's instincts screamed at him. He threw himself forward into a roll—just as the spear slammed into the ground where he'd been standing.
The earth exploded.Chunks of stone and dust blasted outward in all directions.The shockwave struck Ryuichi mid-roll, flinging him off his feet like a rag doll.
The Fallen Angel smirked coldly. To her, his movements were sluggish, clumsy—laughably human.With a flick of her wrist, the lightning spear snapped back into her hand. Her black wings beat once, and in an instant she was upon him again.
—Splat!
The spear drove straight through his side.
A flash of numbness shot through Ryuichi's waist, followed by a sharp, tearing pain that made his vision blur. A roaring filled his head as the chilling scent of death washed over him.
He'd been impaled.
He was going to die.
For a moment, the world seemed to fade into silence—but Ryuichi had already experienced death once before. Fear barely touched him now.
Maybe… maybe he'd wake up and find himself alive again.
But to die like this—like some random bug—was too damn pathetic!
A spark of anger flared inside him. With a growl, Ryuichi twisted his body, lunging forward to wrap his arms tightly around the Fallen Angel, clinging to her like a vice.
"Filthy insect! Get off me!!"
Her voice turned venomous. She slammed her elbow into him twice—hard. Blood spurted from Ryuichi's mouth, but he didn't let go.
In that instant, he yanked out the fruit knife from his pocket—and jammed it straight into her eye socket!
A shriek tore through the night. Divine power exploded from her body, sending Ryuichi flying backward with brutal force.
The Fallen Angel staggered, her face twisted in fury and pain.With a snarl, she ripped the small knife from her eye, blood and light mingling as the wound began to heal instantly—but the humiliation burned hotter than the pain.
She'd been wounded. By a human.
Unthinkable. A disgrace.
But then—
She looked down at the tiny knife in her hand. Just an ordinary fruit knife. Plain steel. No enchantment, no aura.How had it pierced her divine flesh?
On the ground, Ryuichi coughed up blood, forcing himself to sit up. Every inch of him screamed in agony, yet his gaze burned with cold defiance.
Blood streamed from the gaping wound at his waist. He could feel his life leaking away—but he'd already made peace with death.
To fall to such a powerful being… was only natural.Still, the fact that he'd managed to wound her at all—That was enough for him to feel just a little proud.
He glared up at the Fallen Angel, black eyes steady and sharp.
Damn you, Heaven.You didn't send me a beautiful angel girlfriend—you sent a Fallen Angel to kill me instead.
Fine. I'll remember this.If I get another life, you'd better hide your face from me.
The Fallen Angel—Raynare—flinched under his gaze.
There wasn't a trace of fear in those human eyes.To think that such a fragile, mortal creature had dared wound her—it ignited a deeper rage within her chest.
Snarling, she raised her hand. A new spear of lightning formed instantly.If she didn't erase him completely, she'd never be able to swallow this humiliation.
"Die, worthless insect! Turn to ash—and curse the god who placed that Sacred Gear inside you!"
The spear shot forward like a beam of light, screaming through the air.
Sacred Gear?
What the hell was she talking about?
Was that why she wanted him dead?
What kind of joke was this—he didn't have any Sacred Gear!
…Or maybe he did.Not that it mattered anymore.
If he did have one—then now would be a damn good time for it to show up and slice this crazy witch in half.
Ryuichi stared at the oncoming light, his mind strangely calm.
But then—
Time seemed to slow. The world dimmed.And just before the lightning spear struck, a brilliant silver light flared from Ryuichi's chest.
A gleaming, silver-white object materialized out of thin air—and blocked the spear's impact!
BOOM!!
The explosion rocked the park. Dust and smoke filled the air.
When it cleared, Ryuichi was still alive.
He stared wide-eyed at the shining object floating before him.
It was a shield—polished silver, intricate and radiant.Behind it, embedded upright in the earth, was a matching sword—its crossguard set with a blood-red gem that pulsed faintly with light.
Together, they formed a set. Sword and shield—manifested from pure divine power.
"A Sacred Gear?!"
Raynare's eyes widened in shock. She stumbled back, her wings trembling, her expression wary.
Even Ryuichi was stunned.He actually had one?
Too bad he'd only found out now.
Without hesitation, he reached out, gripping the sword's hilt with both hands—and pulled.
SHING!
The sound of the blade leaving the earth rang clear as crystal. Power surged through his body like wildfire.
Pain and exhaustion vanished beneath a tide of energy. His vision cleared. His blood roared.
With a snarl, Ryuichi opened his bloodshot eyes wide—and swung with everything he had.
SLASH!!
The sword's radiance burst forth, forming a beam of light that cleaved through the park like a column of destruction.
The power of a true Sacred Gear was overwhelming.
Raynare's pupils shrank to pinpoints. Her instincts screamed—but she couldn't move.
The pressure from the sword's aura locked her body in place, pinning her to the ground.
Then—
A crushing force descended.Her divine garments shattered into ash, and crimson lines tore open across her delicate body.
"No—! Lord—save—"
Her voice was cut off as the light consumed her whole.
The explosion echoed through the park, the ground splitting apart in a jagged trench nearly three meters deep. Stone fragments scattered, trees swayed, and black feathers rained down from the sky like ash.
Ryuichi stared blankly at the devastation.
"…Guess she's dead," he muttered hoarsely."Not a bad way to go out."
He planted the sword into the ground, dropping to one knee. His vision dimmed.
"Yeah… no regrets."
With that faint whisper, his body finally gave out.
As the last of his consciousness slipped away, he heard faint footsteps approaching.
Tap… tap… tap…
Forcing his eyes open one last time, Ryuichi caught a glimpse of a familiar silhouette—long, flowing crimson hair dancing like flame in the moonlight…
Then everything went dark.