I, Hyoudou Issei, am wandering the town at night dressed as a priest. I'm not alone—Kiba, Koneko-chan, and Saji, a servant from another peerage, are with me.
…As Devils, this feels pretty shady, but it's all for my friend Kiba.
I negotiated with Xenovia and Irina to get permission to destroy Excalibur. I thought it'd be tough, but Xenovia's flimsy excuse of "borrowing the power of a dragon, not a Devil" made it surprisingly easy. …We're keeping this from President Rias and Saji's master, Sona. If this goes wrong, it could upset the balance between Devils and the Church, so we can't let it get out.
We heard priests were being attacked, so we figured disguising ourselves as priests would draw the enemy to us. But these past few days? Nothing. It's been so dull that I brought up something that's been bugging me with Saji and Kiba: those flesh pillars stirring up trouble in the Underworld.
"Those pillars of flesh that killed the founders. What are they, anyway? President Rias said there's no record of such creatures in Underworld history."
"No idea, President Rias doesn't know either. Even the Satan are clueless, apparently. That's why they're talking about forming a treaty with our sworn enemies, God and the Fallen Angels. You know about the church attacks, right? Turns out, the Fallen Angels' bases in the Human World have been hit these past few months too. Even in this town. They think it's all connected."
Yeah, I know about that. The gas explosion at the church where Asia was supposed to be sent. President Rias told me it wasn't a gas explosion at all. …Asia, I want to see you again.
So, it's been happening everywhere. If it was just Fallen Angels getting hit, I'd say serves them right, but with Devils taking damage too, it's not that simple. I wonder what happened to Yuuma-chan… I mean, Raynare.
"But it's not all bad news."
"Huh?"
"You mean the power balance between the Satan faction and the Great King faction, right?"
Saji nods, and since I'm lost, Kiba explains.
"Issei-kun, the current Devil political landscape is broadly split between the Satan faction and the Great King faction."
The Satan faction, led by figures like President Rias's brother, Sirzechs Lucifer, and the other four Satans, is a progressive group driving innovations like the Evil Pieces system. The Great King faction, on the other hand, upholds the traditional values of the Seventy-Two Pillars. Their differing ideologies cause friction. Of course, neither faction is monolithic; they're made up of smaller groups.
"The conservative Great King faction was practically run by the first Great King, Zekram Bael, but he suddenly passed away. Now, the Great King faction lacks a leader. The current and past Great Kings don't have his charisma. With the first Great King gone, they're squabbling over who'll take charge next."
"During a crisis in the Underworld?"
"Exactly because it's a crisis, It's easier to target or be targeted. Like I said, the Great King faction is a major wing of Devil society, with many government officials. Right now, those officials can't act because the faction's direction isn't set. Moving on their own risks expulsion once a new leader is chosen. The Great King faction followed Zekram Bael's lead, so few act independently. With them paralyzed, the Satan faction's agenda passes more easily."
"Even those founders who were cooperative with the Satan faction were always throwing in their opinions, President Rias was vague, but this is definitely a win for the Satan."
So that's the "not bad" part. Yeah, I've seen those political debates on TV where I wonder why they're wasting time. Fewer conflicts mean faster decisions. That's why the treaty talks with God and the Fallen Angels went smoothly. As I'm nodding along, a chill runs through me.
"Above us!"
We all look up to see a white-haired boy descending, sword drawn.
"Blessings upon this band of priests!"
Kiba summons a sword from his Sacred Gear to block the white-haired priest's strike. Kiba's Sacred Gear can create any demonic sword—pretty impressive.
I already know this white-haired priest.
"Freed Sellzen!"
"Well, well! You know me? Being famous is tough!"
Xenovia and Irina briefed us on this rogue exorcist. Freed Sellzen. His flippant attitude hides high skill. A genius, but a madman who's killed even his allies.
Kiba actually fought him a few days ago. He should've reported it to President Rias, but since Freed had an Excalibur, Kiba kept quiet. He wanted to take it down himself, to destroy Excalibur with his own hands.
"I'll destroy Excalibur!"
"Quit dreaming, you shitty Devil! It ain't that easy!"
Kiba summons another sword, dual-wielding, and charges. Freed parries effortlessly.
After a few clashes, they back off. Kiba's sweating, while Freed looks relaxed.
"Tch! Destroying Excalibur isn't that easy, huh?"
"It's not just the sword—I'm just that good! A super genius, you know!"
"So, these are Gremory's servants, huh?"
Did his tone just shift? It went from crude madness to something colder, more calculated.
"I freaking hate you lot! Time to die! Say your prayers!"
Guess I imagined it. Either way, we've got to take him down and settle Kiba's score with Excalibur!
Khaos Brigade.
A group formed by rogue elements from various factions, akin to human terrorists. Their internal dynamics are tangled, each using the others. Currently, they're gathering talent and strength beneath the world's surface.
Nominally, their leader is the Infinite Dragon God, Ophis. Lately, she's been slipping away on her own, going who-knows-where. As a figurehead for rallying power, they'd prefer she not act so freely, but she's uncontrollable. Many are content as long as she lends them her "snake," so few see it as a major issue. Since no major incidents have arisen, she's probably not contacting gods or Satan.
Within this group is the Hero Faction, the second-largest after the Old Satan faction, composed of descendants and followers of a true Satan. Made up entirely of humans, their goal is to test how far humans can go against supernatural beings. Their ranks include descendants of renowned heroes, reincarnations, and even Longinus possessors.
Their leader, Cao Cao, is a descendant of the Three Kingdoms' Cao Cao. He wields the True Longinus, considered the ultimate Longinus Sacred Gear—a spear that pierced Jesus Christ, paradoxically imbued with god-slaying power. As a "Holy Spear," it's effective against impure beings like Devils. Cao Cao has also awakened a subspecies Balance Breaker, giving him versatile techniques. He's a fitting leader for the Hero Faction.
His strategist, Georg, is another Longinus possessor, wielding Dimension Lost, the strongest barrier-type Sacred Gear, also with a Balance Breaker.
Right now, these men are collapsed in exhaustion at an airport in some country, their faces etched with crushing defeat. They've just failed a recruitment mission—not just failing to gain talent, but having something far greater shattered.
It started with a rumor they needed to verify: a nurse capable of extracting Evil Pieces. If true, the Hero Faction couldn't ignore it. No one who knows of Evil Pieces could. The rumor's low credibility meant few others acted, but as terrorists operating in the shadows, their agility was their strength.
Finding the "nurse" from eyewitness accounts was no easy task. Someone was clearly erasing information. Only a well-resourced organization could detect those traces. Still, they tracked her down to a hospital in a conflict zone.
But when they arrived, they found hell.
It was a scene any warrior throughout history would recognize.
Wounded soldiers begging in hoarse voices to be killed. Countless missing limbs, unconscious bodies. Blood-soaked bandages. The inescapable stench of death. Screams mixed with the sound of the reaper's footsteps. Grown men sobbing, pleading for God's forgiveness.
Cao Cao and Georg had fought, killed, seen gruesome corpses, even conducted human experiments for their organization. But faced with a sight heroes of old took for granted, they felt only pain, breathing air that made them nauseous.
This was the opposite of the glory they sought. No honor for warriors here—only blood, pain, suffering, and death.
Ugly, ugly, ugly, ugly. Painful, painful, painful, painful. Filthy, filthy, filthy, filthy. Agonizing, agonizing, agonizing, agonizing. No, no, no, no. Terrifying, terrifying, terrifying, terrifying.
Denying in their minds that their battles weren't like this, that they wouldn't end like this, Cao Cao and Georg averted their eyes—from the hell before them and their own futures.
In that hell, the nurse fought on. Despite her own battle-worn aura, her spirit showed no wear. The women assisting her were visibly exhausted but never stopped. They didn't flinch at the wounded's abusive outbursts, even silencing them forcefully. Ensuring hygiene, performing treatments, completing them swiftly. With each move, the oppressive air seemed to lighten.
Hero.
Not the hero they aspired to be, but no other word fit. Unlike them, striving to become heroes, she already was—a perfected human being. Her radiance was blinding, sparking envy. She and her aides were like beautiful angels.
They had assumed the hospital was a front for extracting Evil Pieces. But it was just a hospital, and she was just a nurse. The treatments weren't special or cutting-edge—just slightly rough, ordinary medical care. To her, extracting Evil Pieces was merely one of many procedures.
When the treatments paused, Cao Cao and Georg spoke with her, explaining the Hero Faction's existence, goals, and request for cooperation. When they finished, she said:
"You are a disease."
What followed, to put it mildly, broke their spirits.
A "treatment" in the broadest sense—a brutally accurate counseling session. What was said is best left to them alone.
When new patients arrived, Cao Cao and Georg seized the chance to flee, using Dimension Lost at full power.
And so, here they are. Cao Cao speaks with resolve.
"Georg, let's forget about that nurse."
"Yeah, I never want to see her again… Let's get back to the hideout."
"Fou!"
"Hm?"
Looking down, they see a small, white creature—part cat, part rabbit—at their feet. As they wonder when it appeared, a girl's voice comes from behind.
"Where do you think you're going? The doctor's treatment isn't finished."
"Vali, we've located that idiot Kokabiel. Of all places, he's in Sirzechs' sister's territory. Go retrieve him quickly."
"Got it, Azazel. A provincial city in Japan, right?"
"Yeah. Here are the exact coordinates… Speaking of Japan, there's talk of an absurdly strong youkai showing up in Kyoto recently."
"Sounds interesting. Can you have someone check it out while I deal with Kokabiel?"
"Sure, I'll send someone free to take a look. I like Japan, you know. It'd be a shame if Kyoto got trashed."
"I hope this youkai's strong enough to satisfy me."
"Why'd you turn into such a battle maniac? Oh, and don't fight the Red Dragon Emperor in Rias Gremory's peerage. We're about to negotiate a treaty, and thanks to Kokabiel's stunt, we're already in a bad spot. We can't afford to make it worse."
"If it comes to it, can I fight?"
"Obviously not. If you want to fight, you'll get your chance with those flesh pillars. Once the treaty's set, we'll have to fight them whether we like it or not."
"Heh. They took down the founders of the Seventy-Two Pillars. Those flesh pillars might just entertain me."
***
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