Kazuki, Yumi, and Xenovia arrived at Kuoh Academy, urgency in their every step.
At the front gate, Sona Sitri, the composed Student Council President, stood waiting.
--The battle is at its peak--
After explaining the situation in precise detail, she directed them toward the school's interior. Without hesitation, the trio stormed inside.
In the courtyard, they found Rias and her group locked in a fierce battle against two massive Cerberus beasts.
Yumi charged forward to support Rias and her allies, while Xenovia headed toward Issei to assist him directly. Together, they managed to take down the monstrous creatures.
Meanwhile, Kazuki stayed back, catching sight of Asia watching over everyone from the back.
Wasting no time, he entrusted her with the task of healing Irina. Without a moment's hesitation, Asia began her work, her Sacred Gear, Twilight Healing, glowing softly as she channeled its power.
Watching her, Kazuki couldn't help but feel a swell of admiration. 'As always, our Asia is nothing short of an angel.'
However, a pang of irritation struck him. 'How could no one think to assign her a guard?' he fumed silently.
If something happened to Asia, their entire group's ability to fight effectively would collapse. She was the linchpin of their team—without her, their endurance in battle would plummet.
Yet everyone else seemed too focused on charging into combat. 'This muscle-headed, charge-first mentality is something Rias's household needs to fix, and fast.'
Deciding to prioritize Asia's safety, Kazuki positioned himself as her temporary bodyguard, keeping a sharp eye on the battlefield while ensuring no harm came to her.
From his Pov, he observed the battle unfold. But then the atmosphere shifted dramatically.
The four sacred swords fused into one, activating a magical formation. According to the incantation, this spell would annihilate the entirety of Kuoh Town in twenty minutes unless stopped.
The only way to disrupt it was to take down Kokabiel himself.
Kazuki's expression hardened. 'There's no way I can just stand here now.'
Moments later~~
"Kazuki-san, I'm done!" Asia's voice cut through the tension, and as Kazuki turned, he saw Irina stirring, consciousness returning to her features.
"Ugh…" Irina groaned faintly.
"Irina!" Kazuki knelt beside her. "How is she, Asia?"
"I've healed all her wounds," Asia replied with a relieved smile. "But my Sacred Gear can't restore lost stamina or blood. She's in no condition to fight."
Kazuki nodded, his hand instinctively reaching out to ruffle Asia's hair. "Good work, Asia."
The soft praise made her beam, her face lighting up with a mix of pride and joy.
"Thank you, Kazuki-san!"
Irina propped up slightly and gave Asia a grateful look. "Thank you, Asia… you saved me…"
"It's nothing, really. Oh, but you shouldn't try to get up yet!" Asia scolded gently as Irina began to shift her weight.
"I'm fine," Irina said with a weak but determined smile. Her eyes locked on Kazuki.
"Kazuki… go."
"But Irina—"
"I'll stay with Asia. I can't fight, but if it comes to it, I can at least get her out of danger. You're needed on the front lines, not here."
Kazuki hesitated, torn, but when his gaze met Asia's, her firm nod sealed his decision.
"Alright," he said finally.
"But don't push yourself." He turned his attention to Asia. "Stay safe."
"I will," Asia said with unwavering confidence.
With that, Kazuki Fuwa rose, sprinting toward the chaos ahead, his figure disappearing into the fight.
On the battlefield, Xenovia clashed fiercely with Freed, their blades creating a cacophony of sparks.
Nearby, Yumi was down, her magic sword shattered, yet she glared defiantly at Valper as she demanded her fallen comrades be returned. The twisted priest sneered, mocking her anguish.
Kazuki's eyes narrowed. 'Valper's fate is sealed, but first…'
Moving silently, he crept up behind the unsuspecting Valper and delivered a bone-crushing kick to his spine.
The force of the blow sent the man flying, his cries of pain muffled as his body hit the ground with a sickening thud. Valper's crystalline artifact tumbled from his hands in the process, and Kazuki seized it swiftly.
"...Senpai?"
Yumi's dazed voice reached him, her expression caught between shock and confusion. Her wide, unguarded eyes made her look… endearing, despite the chaos.
"This is important to you, isn't it?" Kazuki said, extending the crystal toward her.
"Don't lose it again."
Her trembling hands accepted the object, cradling it delicately as if it were the most precious thing in the world. Her fingers traced its surface with a mix of sorrow and longing, and finally, she hugged it tightly to her chest.
"...Everyone…" Yumi whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
A single tear fell from Yumi's eye, landing softly on the crystalline object in her hands. The moment the tear touched its surface, the crystal emitted a blinding, radiant light that engulfed the area around her.
The light spread rapidly, and from the ground, orbs of glowing energy began to rise. They floated toward Yumi, encircling her in a surreal display of ethereal beauty. The orbs began to take form, shaping themselves into human figures bathed in a pale blue light.
Yumi recognized them immediately. These weren't just spectral forms—they were her cherished companions, the friends she had lost. Overwhelmed by emotion, she finally gave voice to the thoughts she had kept buried deep within her heart…
"Everyone… I've always wondered… Is it right for me to be the only one alive? For me, and only me, to be saved by kind-hearted people and live in peace while leaving all of you behind… I've carried that guilt for so long…"
One of the figures, a boy named Marco—he had once dreamed of becoming a soccer player—stepped forward with a gentle smile.
"We're fine now. You don't need to feel guilty anymore. So live for us, Yumi. Be happy, for all our sakes."
Another figure, a girl named Flonne, who had been older than Yumi and a leader among the girls, added with a playful laugh:
"That's right. Now that you've become a beautiful woman, you should fall in love once or twice! Promise me, Yumi."
Lucy, another girl who had been a romantic at heart and loved gossip, chimed in: "That's right. We helped you escape, so if you think like that, you'll just waste your life."
Finally, Laurent, the eldest and their steadfast leader, spoke.
"Our wish is simple. We just want you to live a life full of happiness, Yumi. That's all we ever wanted."
'Ah, ah! I can feel everyone's feelings; their words poured into her, each one piercing the veil of guilt that had suffocated her for so long. She felt their love and their unwavering support, and it brought her to tears.
Before long, the group began to sing a hymn, the same one they had hummed together on those torturous days, enduring inhumane experiments while clinging to the fragile hope of a brighter tomorrow.
Yumi joined in, her voice trembling at first but growing stronger with each note. As they sang, the tears she had once shed in despair dried up, replaced by a smile of pure serenity.
"We were incomplete as individuals…"
"We couldn't wield the power of the holy swords alone…"
"But together, we can do it. Together, we are enough."
The figures began to dissolve into glowing orbs once more, swirling around Yumi in an intricate dance. Their voices resonated within her as their light infused her being.
"Accept the holy sword…"
"Fear is no longer necessary…"
"Even if God isn't watching…"
"Even if we are unloved by heaven…"
"We…"
"We are…"
"…One."
Everyone's souls rose to the heavens, merging into a single, radiant beam that descended back down to Yumi, enveloping her in divine light. She felt their souls intertwining with hers, becoming one with her own.
"Together… forever," she whispered, a fierce resolve igniting within her.
Rising to her feet, Yumi activated her Sacred Gear, summoning forth a sword. It was a fusion of opposites—a blade that was neither purely devilic nor wholly holy, but a perfect amalgamation of both powers. The energies of darkness and light swirled together, birthing something entirely new.
The voices of her dead friends cheered her, "Let's go," on as she held the weapon aloft.
"Balance Breaker: Forbidden Sacred Devil Sword—Sword of Betrayer! Witness the power of a blade forged from both holy and devilic might!"
With a feral grin, Yumi charged at Freed, who cackled madly as he taunted her.
CLAASSHHH~~
Their swords clashed in a flurry of sparks, but it didn't take long for her to assert dominance. Her Sacred Devil Sword's raw power overwhelmed Freed's strikes.
Desperate, Freed activated Excalibur's unique abilities, resorting to underhanded tactics to try to gain the upper hand. But Yumi, her newfound strength resonating within her, evaded every attack with ease.
Then, to everyone's astonishment, Xenovia stepped in, summoning a second holy sword—Durandal.
The sight of her wielding both Excalibur and Durandal left even Kokabiel stunned. Unlike Yumi, who wielded an artificial holy sword, Xenovia was a natural holy swordsman, a prodigy in her own right.
With Xenovia's support, Yumi struck the decisive blow. Her Sacred Devil Sword shattered Freed's Excalibur, the shards scattering as he fell to the ground in defeat.
Yumi Kiba had finally succeeded in destroying Excalibur.
Freed lay motionless, cut down, and Valper had no means of escape. All that remained was Kokabiel.
Kazuki turned his gaze skyward, locking eyes with the arrogant fallen angel who floated above them, a smirk still playing on his lips.
"Ready for round two, Kokabiel?" Kazuki growled, his voice laced with deadly determination.
"Hmph. Useless subordinates, unable to take down even one of you. Very well," Kokabiel sneered, snapping his fingers with a casual flick. "I'll kill you myself."
From the shadows emerged yet another Cerberus. This one dwarfed the earlier beasts, its colossal frame towering over 10 meters. Its monstrous size and aura of sheer malice hinted at its superiority—likely the parent of the smaller creatures they had fought earlier.
The massive Cerberus unleashed an enraged roar from its three heads, then lunged at Rias and the others. Its power and speed far outmatched the previous ones, and it was clear the group wouldn't last long against this behemoth.
"Yumi, Xenovia! Protect Rias and the others!" Kazuki commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Senpai?!" Yumi exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief.
"You're not seriously planning to face Kokabiel alone, are you?" Xenovia added to her expression a mixture of shock and worry.
Kokabiel's overwhelming strength wasn't something to be underestimated; they had already tasted his power in their earlier encounter.
The idea of facing him solo seemed like madness.
"I'll be fine," Kazuki assured them, his voice steady. "Trust me—I have a plan."
Yumi hesitated, her eyes scanning his face for any hint of doubt. Finding none, she nodded.
"...Understood. Let's go, Xenovia."
"Are you insane, Yumi?!" Xenovia protested. "He's strong, but Kokabiel—"
"It's fine," Yumi interrupted, her tone calm but firm.
"Senpai still has a trump card. Just watch."
Kazuki smirked. "Exactly. It's time I show you. GUYVER—activate!"
His voice echoed across dimensions, reaching deep into the fabric of space and time. A dazzling light erupted around him, enveloping his entire body.
When the light faded, a figure emerged—a crimson devil god in bio-boosted armor.
The Guyver had taken shape around Kazuki, transforming him into a fearsome warrior of unimaginable power.
"W-what… is this?" Yumi whispered, her breath catching at the sight of him.
"Go now! Protect Rias and the others!" Kazuki barked.
"Yes, senpai!" Yumi replied, snapping out of her daze. She grabbed Xenovia's hand and began running toward the others.
Kokabiel observed the transformation with a mixture of intrigue and amusement.
"So this is your trump card… Interesting," he mused. "Very well, show me what you've got."
"Let's dance, Kokabiel!" Kazuki roared, activating the gravity controller at his waist. With a burst of energy, he launched himself into the air.
"Come!" Kokabiel snarled, summoning a sword of light to meet Kazuki's charge.
The two beings clashed midair, the sound of their weapons colliding echoing like thunder.
Kokabiel's holy blade crackled with divine energy, while Kazuki's high-frequency blades hummed with deadly precision. Sparks flew as their strikes collided, neither gaining an advantage.
"Tch!" Kazuki grunted, straining against the weight of Kokabiel's blows.
"Hmph!" Kokabiel smirked, holding his ground.
Despite Kazuki's enhanced strength—amplified by both his own magic and the Guyver armor—Kokabiel matched him blow for blow.
The fallen angel's sheer power was no joke, and the battle pushed both fighters to their limits.
At the same time, Kokabiel couldn't hide his surprise.
'What is this? Is this mortal holding his own against me? Such a sensation—I haven't felt anything like this since the Great War!'
Kokabiel's lips curled into a wicked grin. "Hehe, this is interesting, really interesting!!" he chuckled, exhilarated by the challenge.
For the first time in ages, Kokabiel felt the thrill of a true battle, and it consumed him with excitement. The stage was set for an earth-shattering showdown.