12. Close to Heaven
Sunday had never seen such business before, let along the best business it had seen in a while.
Wind of the Sun, as imaginatively as he called it, could not owe its entire success to just its mushroom gratin and other lesser known dishes— as much as Anos would disagree, but there was the extra appeal that was much too blatant to ignore with Akeno's presence.
That much is obvious when there are more lines outside than whatever premier movie one would care to name. It becomes even more impressive when accounting for the fact that it was still early morning.
"Do let me know what you think," Akeno enchants the lot of the customers with a voice of milk and honey, all by simply placing a plate in front of an eager customer.
She does this as she delivers a shoulder-towering stack of plates to and from the kitchen room, passing by people who stare at her as if she were a movie.
Two other waitress— who are actually Akeno's imp-familiars bathed in her illusory magic— attend to the packed tables as they carry plates and bowls of their own -- empty and full in equal measure. The way Akeno is able to direct them and move so methodically herself is nothing short of a nifty performance.
When she catches a certain someone's look, her hips seemed to sway with a little more bounce, Anos doesn't exactly know what to make of that. Some of the many male customers shift around in their pants though.
Behind the counter, Anos attends the waiting line, after writing down a few orders, he cooks, and then the process repeats itself.
In one cycle, Anos finds himself speaking with a man of what looks like a very wealthy background. He was expensively-dressed and seemed to be talking about buying the establishment for a generous starting price.
Anos ignores him. The former Demon King did not care much for anyone's wealth. If Anos so wished, he could transmute the very air this man breathes into the finest of gold; it was just a matter of mashing atoms together and bending its shape into his will.
Using a bit of magic on this rotund man, the compulsion is simple and easily mentally crafted: order something or leave.
The next second Anos is serving a little girl no older than eight and her in-a-hurry mother.
Things progress from there and morning goes by almost as fast as the supplies being used. Even Anos didn't anticipate selling out just before lunch. Speaking of lunch... Anos wipes his hands clean as he walks up front. There were still lots of potential customers standing outside his building.
"We're closing down for lunch, as well as the rest of the day. Thank you for coming." Anos announces to the displeasure of everyone still present. Oh well. If they had any sense— they would swallow their groans and looks of disappointment— and come back tomorrow.
Soon after, the lines were cleared and he turns to go back to his shop. Akeno looks rather pleased with the lack of a crowd now.
"What's with that look?" Anos asks as he closes and locks the door behind himself, flipping the open sign around.
"Just thinking," Akeno practically sang, her smile wide with jest, "I'll have you all to myself for the next few hours."
"We're only having lunch," Anos explained, they almost always ate together on Kuoh's rooftops, how would this be any different?
"If you say so," Akeno gives in a little too easily with her ever present smile, "What are we having?"
"Whatever you want. I'll cook it," Anos states, truthfully he thought nothing much of it, except as a small way to repay her for making him breakfast. Akeno thought differently.
"Can I ask you something, Anos?" Akeno looked at him as he pulled a chair to fall into. He could tell this was important.
"You never needed to ask before." Anos says, clearly it was something she thinks he might not want to hear.
"Do you have anyone special? Someone you've loved?"
...
"Someone I loved? Me, of all people." Anos certainly had those he held in high regards but someone he loved was not so clear, his upbringings made finding such connections... complicated, "No, I suppose I do not."
Akeno cupped both of her cheeks as she stared at him, her arms sat on the table propping her head up as she fashioned her entire attention on him.
"Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad thing to experience, no?" Akeno suggests.
"I'm not opposed to the idea, if there comes a time for love, I will learn to embrace it." He concluded and the Queen appeared satisfied.
"You still haven't answered me yet." Anos reminds her, getting up.
The black haired beauty hums a tune, "Surprise me."
—————
Akeno sighed with a smile, content and full. The meal Anos had given her was superb. Perfectly plated cooked steak, mashed potato covered by light gravy with a side of green salad, and some onion rings accompanied by purée.
He'd even prepared a bottle of wine along with two glasses.
Perhaps the thought in her head about this being a dinner date wasn't entirely untrue. Rias would have fumed and that image didn't displease her as much as she initially thought.
When it's made clear she's done, the empty plates, forks, knives and glasses found themselves in the kitchen sink at the snap of a finger.
"You're aren't going to ask me what I thought of the meal?" Akeno inquires, surprised.
"There's no need, I already know," Anos leans back in his chair, balancing on its back legs as if it is the easiest thing to do in the world.
Akeno looked thoughtful, "Is this the part where I get to pick apart what's on your mind?"
"You're asking me?" Anos comments.
"I've never been on a date before," She confesses.
"Neither have I. Funny how that works." Anos says it like it is.
That was fair. Akeno admits that in her head, "There is still so much I don't know about you, Anos. Its rude to keep a girl wondering."
"Then I'll humor you, Akeno, ask away to your hearts content," Anos can practically hear the gears inside her mind turning.
Akeno pulled her chair close to him. "Why isn't there any records of your family? You've told me you were an orphan before but surely you were adopted at one point?"
Anos stared intently, completely focused on her. She felt a bit flustered. This was maybe the longest he has ever looked at her. Akeno couldn't help but get lost in the deep, scarlet of his eyes.
"I was adopted, once, twice. It didn't work out, the ones that took me in thought I was too difficult."
"Were you?" Akeno asked.
"That was their reasoning," He simply said, not looking at her anymore.
He continues, his features softening a bit, "I was six when one of the elderly nuns decided to adopt me. She said she did it on a whim, proposing I stay with her. But I knew she only took me in because I reminded her of her late son."
Akeno nodded at his words, his tone didn't reveal how he truly felt by the nun's actions.
"She called me her little Noah, for some odd reason." Anos could never quite figure out why she gave him such a name. But there was a part of him that didn't mind. Shame he took to changing it. But he could never take another name, regardless of how it resonated.
"Where is she now?" The Queen asked.
"She passed. Her age had finally caught up to her."
"I'm so sorry."
A dense air of silence settled in, it was needlessly unsettling and awkward. The weight of loss was never easy, Anos had known that feeling by the thousands. Across races. Across worlds.
It was a melancholy feeling. Anos had warred for so long in his previous life that experiencing the permanent death of others didn't draw much of anything from him anymore; that was the cruel reality he lived. At the very least she had died peacefully after a full life.
"It's alright," Anos said after some time, "I appreciate her for what she did for me all those years, truly."
Akeno placed her hand over his, this time caressing it softly. Sharing her warmth with his own. Their eyes meet. "I shouldn't have prodded you into talking about this."
The two stayed like that for a bit, until Akeno had the decency to blush and let go.
"I should get going," Akeno got up, after taking back her hand, "I trust I'll see you at the clubhouse within the hours?"
A nod gave the devil her assurance and within the time it takes to blink, she was off to her King.
—————
She's done... almost.
Her eyes are closed, but her movements are proud and sure, weaved smoothly by practice. Each spell is flawlessly forged, and the pattern emerging on the wall is as if a painting. Raynare folds her magic into an art. She casts it in a way that most would find unconventional but appreciative.
Soon enough, she has covered the wall in a spiral of several matrix symbols. She's ran through hundreds, possibly far more even. And it is all rewarded. Everything seems and is to be in the right place.
Raynare feels her back hit the wall -- one last thing to do. Bright magenta plays across her hand, she reaches forward onto the seal, a magic circle emanates forward and Raynare turns her hand, figuratively and literally locking the seal until it is ideal for usage. It won't be required for another two hours or so, and the time was dawning of them all if the setting sun was to be noted.
The floor shakes and shudders, but nothing major. Nothing to alert the devils, thankfully, as Raynare feels the remnants of magic fade off the inscriptions.
"Is it finished?"
Raynare hears Kalawarna ask from the other side of the room. Even lost in her work was Raynare aware of her friend's presence.
"Yes," Raynare nods after a breath. She may have hated God, but thanking him for putting her talents in sorcery isn't entirely beneath her, "just needs a little look over before the solstice starts."
"So there is still ample time between then and now, to know everything is as it should be." Kalawarna reasons, falling into a chair that was not there before with fluid grace.
"So," Raynare questions, some time later, "what do you have on the whereabouts of Dohnaseek?"
Both fallen can tell this next part will be nothing short of difficult.
"He's dead," Kalawarna is blunt, and the sense of accomplishment Raynare has peters out along with what's left of her smile.
"Was it the devil's playpen of teenagers?" Raynare hears herself ask aloud, though she knew it wasn't. Deep down, she knew who.
"No." Kalawarna answers. Raynare looks away.
"I'm sorry," Raynare avows those words like an arrow through and apple, quick and hole opening at the heart. Kalawarna knew Donhaseek for longer.
"I know you are," Kalawarna wavers for a second, her words heavy like extinguished love for a fallen brother, "so am I."
Their friend of centuries had been killed without even a whisper. Kalawarna stands up, a hand to Raynare's shoulder, "we're going to get ourselves killed if we stick around here. Raynare, are you certain this will work?"
"It will, it has to," Raynare does not know what she will do if it didn't -- perhaps exchange her own life if nothing more, "Anything else?"
"Freed is also gone," Kalawarna says, dismissing it with a hand wave. There is a steep smile on her face at saying it aloud.
Raynare almost visibly brightens at that, if he also did away with that worthless mad-priest then perhaps that was the small consolation they needed, atop the ritual process being completed.
"Alright," Raynare moves her back from the wall with a little more effort than one would think required, "I'll get the girl. Have Mittelt gather the exorcists, I want them both in and out of the church's wards. We've spent enough time here as is."
Raynare feels her resolve peak. Her soul much clearer. Tonight is the night they win.
—————
Enough of this.
Her palm cracks against his cheek, hard enough that a physical print of her hand forms across his skin like scorched fire. He stumbles a tad, but still stands upright.
"Buchou," Issei's face burned but he still spoke back, his fist clenched. The entire peerage looked on, keeping to themselves as their King cast her judgement, "I'm forever indebted to you. I owe my life, to you. But, I can't, I just... just can't leave Asia behind! She'll die and if she dies when I know I can stop it then I have to go! Let me do this!"
The two had argued on this for an entire hour.
"They'll kill you before you even get to see her," Rias hissed, magic flaring slightly as blackened-entropy danced in her hands reflexively. The Power of Destruction threatened something fierce but Issei did not give an inch in the face of oblivion.
Then it waned, Rias' magic did. She was let down by Issei, again. "Fine. Go. But as you do, I want you to know, you'll die. Going by yourself will take your life. Are you truly content when things turn out in such a way?"
"Yes," The single word holds more emotion than all the burdens in the world put together.
Rias turned away from him. The King in red had her plan. She had her whole strategy figured out. Issei threw it all away on a whim, for someone he knew not even for a full day. More than that, they were wasting time; and they didn't even have Anos to accompany them yet.
"Very well." The King relented.
"Buchou... thank you! I'll make it up to you when -- if I get back!" Issei didn't even realize how damp his face was as his footfalls echo until reaching the door, each step laced in extremity ceased in the distance.
"Issei." Rias called out, suddenly. Issei didn't want to stop but he did.
"If you go now then we go together. All of us," The redhead looks to Akeno who had already started preparations on the magic circle, "besides, you'll never get there in time on foot, this way is much faster."
"Buchou," The boy faced his King, some tears welling up in his eyes. Issei couldn't control himself, but he would have to wait.
"Save those tears for later, that is an order from your King," Rias orders and Issei listens this time.
"Right." He answers, his sleeves come up to his face to dry it.
Akeno's body is already glowing with power. Rias reaches over and grabs her hand, and her radiance soon outshines even her Queen. Circles of unholy light stretch across the floor and take them where they need to be.
In a very literal flash— the ORC room disappears, to be replaced by a vacant street Issei recognizes as the one just before seeing the abandoned church. Almost immediately, Rias and Akeno take to the air, their wings unfolding from their backs.
"Follow us on foot. When Akeno and I have established the situation, we'll signal on what to do next."
Everyone nods and they move.
—————
At present, Argento is slumped unconscious. When Raynare retrieved the girl, all she did was cry and whine. All in the name a boy she did not know even for a full day.
So yes, the girl is unconscious, for it is not out of mercy, but convenience. Raynare couldn't care less whether or not she suffered through the extraction process, the less she resists, the easier this will be.
The blonde nun is tied to the cross; despite how fitting it might have been, actually crucifying her would be doing a bit much, her body needs to be mostly untouched anyway. Nothing needs to go wrong and as long as Raynare is careful, nothing will.
"They're outside the church." Kalawarna spoke, it was like a magic alarm set off and Raynare knew in that moment. It couldn't be him as Kalawarna implied multiple. That demon gave off the impression of working alone and he had no motive to actually be here, as far as she knew.
So it must be, for reasons she was yet to figure out, Issei. That boy was fool and a sharp thorn in her side.
"Someone's breached the wards. I'll need more time to figure out who exactly but we've obviously been infiltrated." Mittelt spoke from by the door, wings already outstretched as if she hurried to inform.
"We know," Kalawarna breaths and Raynare takes the time to think.
"I can shore up the wards from around this room at least," Raynare says, her voice isn't kind. "Kalawarner, Mittelt, gather your forces outside, head up there and make certain no one makes it to this room."
—————
'Please don't take her away. She just wanted a friend. I will be that friend!' He spoke that in his head repeatedly, it was a prayer, a mantra, words to live by.
Issei's breath hiked. A hand took to his shoulder, he looked to find the owner's to be Kiba. The Pawn thought he had flayed his nerves, enough to actually keep a steady pace for the abandoned church. He truly appreciated Buchou for this, and even Kiba's small acts of concern.
"You think you can manage?" Kiba says, as if Issei would answer with anything other than 'yes' because any alternative simply won't do.
"Yeah," Issei felt himself say, his Twice Critical gleamed reminiscent of the moonlight overhead.
"You owe us, perv, remember that," Koneko voiced suddenly, perhaps to lighten the mood, her monotonous voice carried more than a simple demand. Issei understood that much.
"Of course," Issei answered the Rook who nodded lightly, more resolve on his tongue, all the while the three picked up pace. For a moment, Issei felt his heart beat quicker, as if the Sacred Gear had been responding to make that promise possible.
"We're here," Kiba spoke and both he and Koneko ceased their steps. Issei lagged behind just a bit.
"Do you think..." Issei halted, agitated. Time didn't favor them. Exercising caution looked less and less like a choice and more of a poorly executed joke.
"They know we're here," Koneko said after a mental message from Rias, there were so many scents of exorcist, priests and fallen. Of course no one really wanted to take any chances but if the enemy was already aware, "we can make a push for it. Buchou allows it."
It was time.
"We need to get in there then," Issei's words punctuate as his aura flared, his magic cascades as he marches forwards from the forests. Kiba and Koneko are just a hair behind.
Fallen angels and cloaked men dressed like priests swarm the trio in an instant. Overtaking Issei, Koneko charges toward them first, she leaps over their heads, slamming something mean into an exorcist's back with a sick and twisted snap of the bones— Issei isn't sure whether it was the man's spine that broke first, or the ground beneath them.
Similarly, Kiba almost disappears from Issei's side; he's swift enough in the fact that the loose ends of Issei's clothes actually blow in his direction. It was a mad dash— that's the only way Issei can describe it, only that the exorcist he is engaged with adorns a slash mark over his chest after a not-so-easily-seen swing from Kiba.
Issei's quick to follow the Knight after another doubling of his power. The night itself filling his bones with strength. An exorcist heads his way, only for Twice Critical to press itself in the unlucky bastard's jaw, even quicker than Issei thought. A tooth is knocked clean out of the unconscious exorcist.
The Pawn has never punched someone that hard—fine—really ever. But damn did it feel good.
Something burns over his head, and out of the corner of his eye, Issei notices a spear of burning cerulean -- the color was oddly beautiful ignoring the fact that it nearly takes his head off his shoulders -- instead it burns and penetrates through the back of another exorcist. It was just near a priest who found his arms bent back enough to dislocate the shoulder, courtesy of Koneko who looks to be just getting started if the casual crack of her neck is anything to note.
Issei feels inspired as his arm adopts a light burning sensation. He see's who threw the spear and narrows his eyes at a particular buxom-woman with long blue hair who was also fifty-percent legs. The boy partially wonders why all supernatural woman break his sexy meter.
Light coalesces in the fallen angel's elegant hand, the color of the ocean's blue, or the day sky it tends to reflect. To her allies, she's known as Kalawarna, to the peerage before her, she is nothing.
The fallen looks to throw, to the heart if nowhere else, and then the air around her marks itself black and crimson. Issei's eyes widen when he turns his attention skywards - entropy bellows from the night sky like a falling star to the earth, a wound in the ground, known to the world as Buchou's Power of Destruction, smiting the fallen from on high.
A shriek is heard one second, and the next, not even a murmur. When the smoke dissipates and the harsh scent of ozone fades, the ashes roll into the crater where that fallen woman had stood.
"Buchou," Issei would really have to make it up to her soon.
Rias doesn't say anything right away, she just nods. Somehow Issei understands perfectly.
Her wings explode from her back for the second time that night. She ascends at a perfect vertical even further up and Issei sees Akeno in the air as well, wings unfolded also. Although, dressed not as a schoolgirl but a priestess. The sky was as dark as her expression, but a contradicting smile lingered on her face, as if uncertain in wanting to be kind or cruel.
Light echoes across the battlefield, and Akeno waves her hand, what appears is a magic circle, and then another, and another after that one. A few of the Catholic look on at the unholy display until those circles glow, and then pulse.
Akeno hums and licks her lips, unleashing a blast of something, which obliterates the earth in a wide swathe beneath her. It was like she'd stolen the lightening from the gray clouds themselves to strike; Issei's eyes hurt just from looking at it.
Some of the priests and exorcist look hesitant now, a few of the fallen still around don't break so easily and fly to engage the airborne devils. Issei focuses himself as he manages to evade a light sword to his left, an exorcist almost twice his height is over him before getting his sword stuck in the dirt below.
Issei does not miss this chance, his fist crashes into the man's jaw, pulsing with energy ripples across his cheek and almost taking his head clean off. Issei feels unstoppable, even running forward, as if to take the lead in this assault once more.
The Pawn doesn't get very far - Kiba pulls him back by his collar before he can rush ahead. Koneko meanwhile cuts off some of the exorcist's retreat by cratering the ground so their footing betrays them. What of the fallen in the clouds?
A quick glance over Issei's shoulder shows him more than he needed to know. That's if the slowly disintegrating corpses of around twelve fallen angels meant anything.
"We need to get in the church!" Issei shouts, breaking Kiba's hold on his collar, acting on instinct, he runs ahead like demons chasing him.
"Issei, wait!" He hears his King call before a twinkle flies into his line of sight.
A spear of shimmering yellow light trails through the air, straight at his head, and this time the Pawn has no means to dodge to one side. The blond fallen angel in gothic-Lolita attire carried out the attack like a falling sun. She goes by Mittelt, because any other name does her no justice.
The boy waits for the inevitable, eyes shut off from the world, it doesn't come. It won't come. not when a fingerless-gloved hand intercepts the golden lance.
Issei dares open his brown orbs, "S-Senpai," his mouth hangs and he looks like he's seen the face of God. If God had pitch-black hair, cerise-eyes, and a smirk to end all smirks.
"It's about time you showed up," Akeno giggled from above, just next to Rias who looks too relieved in the full sense of the word.
Anos does not waste even one-tenth of a microsecond, infusing a bit of magic into his cerise eyes, his pupil is endowed with a magic circle formula. It is an exercise of potency. The design is beautiful but that says nothing to the power it is radiating.
Power he uses to deconstruct the fallen woman. Her skin flays before her bones are torn asunder and soon, the very atoms that make up her being vanishes in a flickering flame.
"Go," Anos instructs the Pawn, Issei does not need to be told even once.
The former Demon King does not apologize for being late. Instead, he glances around the makeshift-battlefield. There seemed to be more exorcist and priests from the outstretches. Then there was also the numerous flapping of angry wings coming, fallen reinforcements. The cacophony of wings was so loud now it drowned out even the roar of Akeno's and Rias' spell casting.
Just as the first black wing eclipsed the moon, Anos acted, lifting a foot, he brought it down heavily, the ground began to rumble, jolting the bodies of the downed Catholic. A natural disaster was soon to come and an earthquake left a spiderweb of cracks that topple even those in the shadows.
The fallen approaching from above were not much better. They all decelerated, falling out of the air and nosediving into the blood-soaked soil below. They were held down by far more than just physics. Anos strode forward and addressed the lot of them.
"Did you really think the sky wouldn't fall under my heel?" Anos' magic surged into the ground and rippled through tremors that went even into the starry skies above. Everyone not of Rias' peerage fell to their knees, bashing their heads against the earth and involuntarily bowing like subjects to a king.
With one step of finality, all opposition forcefully plant their heads through the ground below, unmoving.
The peerage took the time to group up. All coming to Anos who had the very obvious hold over the situation if the still-bodies of their adversaries meant anything. Akeno was the first to speak, excitement on her lips, "What took you so long?"
"I had something I needed to take care of," Anos does not bothering to explain, "you handle yourselves well." he added a compliment just before the atmosphere turned serious, much more than before.
A pulse of magic, coming from the church. Everyone present felt it.
"We need to go, now," Rias took charge, seemingly in her element now; her voice rings out into the night and everyone rushes the doors of the church. Some faster than others, but they all eventually halt together.
They have passed the hidden doorway leading to the catacombs but the rooms on the lower floor are plentiful and all have been secured with multi-layered wards. Issei was there too, he looked confused and panicked, obviously he didn't get very far.
"Guys, I—" Issei began, tremulous, though, before another word is spoken, Anos slams a palm against the stony-wall. It shuts the Pawn up.
Now having said that, it is more accurate to say it was a love tap than a full-on slam. Anos applies the necessary force to bring down the walls separating them from the goal but not the whole church, obviously.
Then they see it. They all see it.
—————
The girl was there, the nun, Asia Argento, the one Issei was fond of; she's not breathing, nor does her heart beat, nor does her soul linger on this Earth any longer.
Beside her was Raynare. The fallen paled at the sight, her eyes wide but more-so, she looked shaken at his presence. Scarlet vertigo came back in waves. Raynare feels as if a blade was kissing the back of her neck just by being in the same room as that Demon.
Other, much stronger, fallen stood beside them too. A dozen or so priests similar to the ones they handled before were down here as well.
It didn't take long for all hell to break loose.
Bullets fired like raindrops to the world. Every last clip had been blessed and soaked in Holy water, passages of the Bible engraved into each shells. Holy swords shone forward and the fighting ensued. Rias didn't even have time to command anything of her peerage, but they understood what to do.
Kiba and Koneko fought together as they took out a pair of exorcists. The Rook delivered a punch into one of the exorcists, she strikes with enough force to blow him back into two more. Kiba parried a holy blade and activated his Holy Eraser to subsequently nullify its effects. Akeno had a smile on her face when she took to flay an exorcist in her lightening.
To say the priests were pushovers wasn't exactly the case, but while they were no match for the small peerage, the numerous numbers and back-to-back fighting from before, and now, was keeping a decisive win just out of reach. Not to mention, they had more skill in this batch it seemed. One wrong move could be costly.
The fallen were also a bit different. Stronger than the others from before. Some had four wings, that could be bad... if Anos hadn't just casually palmed the face of leading soldier of the fallen.
What came next could only be described as brutally efficient. With a simple twist of the arm, the fallen is thrown off balance and Anos uses his body as a foundation, swinging a leg over and striking just behind the knee, causing the false angel to fall on all fours. Anos yanks back on not just the wrist but also one of the wings, all while pushing down on the neck. Soon, a nasty crunch can be heard. The elbow and the shoulder have dislocated. Not just that however, the arm and winglike appendages have been ripped like a hot knife through butter.
The scream is suppressed when Anos bashes the fallen angel's head into scarlet paste under his boot.
The other fallen do not look so sure anymore.
Raynare's eyes dared to look away after such a display, she could see the rest of the Gremory's peerage were busy engaging with the guards in the room. Even the Demon was preoccupied somewhat— though there was not a hint of anything that showed he was serious, he seemed to be playing with the lot of them.
Maybe she could flee before he acted on her. She had what she came for; Twilight Healing Maxima, she didn't need to stick around, maybe she could regroup with Kalawarna and Mittlet and then—
"Raynare!" Raynare barely registered the call out, it wasn't from the Demon, it was from the boy; Issei Hyoudou. The same boy she'd killed. The virgin pervert. The one who was actually focused on her.
"What did you do to her?!" She wasn't paying attention, when did that little pervert get so fast anyway? Fast enough to slip past everyone else. Raynare narrowly evaded a punch, she flies up, glancing around the room again.
The rest of the devils really were held up by the final line of fallen defense. The best exorcist Lord Kokabiel could supply, some of the other fallen had up to four wings and were built for combat, they should hold long enough even if they won't survive.
"Isn't it obvious enough?" Raynare produced a light spear, the color of cherry blossoms. She tossed it along with her frustration. Issei actually dodges and continues his advance. Things were going so well, were, "she was already marked for death. This was always her fate. I only made sure it wasn't in vain."
Those words made him stop - slow down, she means. "Don't you know, darling? Execution swiftly follows when a nun is exonerated. This was her mercy. I only took what was important, what was necessary."
"But what could you possibly want with Asia's Sacred Gear?"
Raynare drank in his nervous look, the Raynare of days prior would have laughed at him, toyed with him, she couldn't take that chance now. "More than you could ever know."
Her statement is punctuated by two twin light spears that penetrate Issei's legs.
"AAAUUUGH!!!" Issei groans and is brought to his knees. Fresh fatal wounds, two bloodied holes just below the knees. The scent of cooked flesh tainted his senses, tears fell from the boy's eyes, but he wouldn't allow the pain to win.
The fallen who now boasted Twilight Healing Maxima saw her chance to flee, and she does, until... she vaguely feels her leg being clutched at the ankle, stopping her from flying, "Let go!"
"No!" Issei had advanced enough to catch her, why the hell was he so strong?
"You killed Asia! Why would you do that?! Why couldn't it be you?!" Issei screamed like mad, manic was his breathing and voice.
"Boo woo you, she's gone now, a favor if you ask me!" Raynare screamed back, louder, each syllable is enough to puncture the heart, "You couldn't possibly understand! You— who cares for nothing but getting your pole greased! I waste my breath on you as did the girl! How could she have possibly tolerated you, let alone liked you?!"
Rias was the first to hear the conversation.
The fight between Raynare and Issei plays in the background. The King could see out of the corner of her eye what had been happening, she wanted to help Issei but couldn't. Not until the last of the priests and exorcist tasted her entropy. Enemy numbers dwindled but there were still enough to keep her busy at the moment.
Near her King, Akeno let loose a dance of lightening, it was beautiful, the last of her opposition fell in a smoking heap acknowledging said beauty. Not far from her, and within her sights is Anos, standing over the last of the small battalion of the fallen, a grasp around one's throat, his fist swinging down over and over. Blood splays as Anos beats the last of the fallen to death with his bare hands.
At the same time, Akeno feels hot and bothered. Her sadistic side whispers to take him.
During the time this happens, Kiba expertly swung his most familiar sword, cutting down the last exorcist he'd pinned against the wall. Meanwhile, Koneko kicks off the ground and palms the face of the last priest in her sights, her efforts focused into breaking the floor with his face, an endeavor she succeeds in.
As for Rias? Well, the ashes at her feet tells more than words ever could.
"I want Asia back!" Issei yells at the false angel, his voice was loud enough to constitute all eyes on them. The Pawn faltered on weak legs, the gauntlet's emerald jewel glowing bright and then brighter.
All eyes are drawn to the gauntlet on his left hand. It covers his arm to the elbow -- a bright, shining crimson flecked with gold, like it's been forged from fire. The gem in its core— a glittering green almost the size of Hyoudou's palm— glows like the inside of the sun, the same color as the sparks that pour from his body in an endless rain of crystalized power.
There are scorch marks across its talons.
BOOST!!!
The word is not so much spoken as it is felt.
The fist capable of killing God collided against the Raynare's face, pure power appearing at the point of contact, she flew forcefully to the other side of the catacomb. Raynare does not get up. She is conscious, but that says nothing of her shattered limbs and unfeeling body.
"How?" Is all Raynare can say. Her left cheek had Issei's fist imprint, like a kiss that threatened to kill. "A Twice Critical shouldn't be so strong."
Rias initially couldn't believe that she could so easily accept that what he's told her is the real truth.
Anos...
She recalled how his words held such power, such confidence. Rias had no choice but to believe the truth that Issei was indeed the Red Dragon Emperor.
And wouldn't you know it. Anos was right.
"That's where you're wrong," Rias, walked forward. She faced the last of the fallen, glancing at a crying Issei who now held Asia.
"Look closely. You would think a fallen would recognize the weapon that could kill even your creator. Though I must thank you, Raynare. Without you, I wouldn't see my cute servant awaken such strength."
Raynare scowled, and then realized. Coming fist to face with the awakening of the Red Dragon Emperor.
Her mouth opens to speak, but she doesn't, her jaw shuts with the click of colliding teeth.
Raynare's mind felt like it was on fire, 'The boy who stole my victory... the same boy with nothing but tits on his mind has the power of the Welsh Dragon?!'
"Oh?" Akeno realized something, "You have Twilight Healing, don't you? You naughty crow~"
Rias noticed as well, it had become quite clear what this whole operation was. A Sacred Gear extraction ritual. Eventually it becomes even more blatant, Raynare's form is more than less, restored. A green light in her hands flickered.
It was madness and Rias knew she needed to pass her judgement. Gathering the magic that made her Pillar what it was. She doubts Raynare could heal from complete obliteration down to the matter that makes her being.
Akeno's magic had risen as well, it seems the black haired beauty would take no chances either. Her magic threatened to even outclass Rias' in that moment. Golden light at her fingertips with an expression unfit for a Queen.
Crimson and gold mixed together in a sphere of condensed energy, reminiscent of the pulse of a star. Destruction and devastation aligned. Entropy and natural light infused and became one; this was checkmate.
There's a brief silence that takes the catacombs. Until it was broken -- broken by audible panic and desperation.
"S-Senpai! She's not breathing! Please, help her. Do for her what you did for me!" Issei may not be friendly with the upperclassman but he was in Asia's presence, and she would make a friend out of Anos, so Issei guesses he could too.
Anos didn't know the girl personally. But she was wronged. And that look on Issei's face, he didn't want to see that look ever again.
"She needs her Gear," Anos told the Pawn, "wait here. I'll be right back."
Anos stood up from crouching next to Issei, walking between Gremory's peerage whose King and Queen mitigated their magic at the sudden intrusion, and towards the fallen.
"You..."
"Raynare," Anos addresses, not unkindly. The fallen woman paled. Fear carved its way front and center. Her body wasn't completely healed, she didn't have the readily available energy to flee.
For the duration of his walk. Raynare felt choked, like she couldn't breathe properly.
He stood above her, a hand reaches out and cups her cheeks, forcing their eyes to meet. He brings her closer, their lips are not too far from interlocking. Some of those who watch are jealous.
What a man, to give such a presence. Raynare can at least admire this in her defeat, though she felt like a speck of dust in a world of monsters.
"You would have died," Anos stated, catching her attention and the subsequent attention of everyone else, "your silly scheme to acquire the Sacred Gear, succeeding meant death."
"You lie..."
Anos' smile could not be graced with words, "As if I need to lie to you. You can't be this much of a fool. The Sacred Gear manifests inside human souls and not of those that are inherently supernatural. Even if you had gotten away, you would not have lived very long. Your own soul would have betrayed you, and in the end, you would be unmade."
Raynare, listens to his words and she... cries. She weeps. She shakes. She curses. She grieves. It is an ugly and unforgiving sight. Unbecoming of an existence so old and beautiful. But Anos spares no sympathy and watches when she weeps herself unconscious.
He warned her. Her own tears are proof of her stubborn foolishness. There was no hope for her. But there was a chance for Asia.
"Goodbye, Raynare." Anos' voice is perfectly pleasant as he wishes her farewell. His fingertips that are now blackened go down to her sizeable chest, he pushes a hand forward with his fingers resting directly on what was deeper than the mind, body and soul. Then, he pulls.
Raynare struggle weakly beneath his grip even in her sorrowful slumber, like he's lit a fire inside her being. But no, all he does is shatter her source along with retrieving what was owed. Out came a green light, one that reminded Issei of Asia.
Anos stood back up, stalking to Rias, he took her hand in his, and placed the emerald sphere in her palm, she was deeply surprised at this.
"Help her for his sake," Anos said nothing more.
The redhead was the perfect picture of shocked, "I don't see why you would leave this up to me? We both know you can just as easily bring her back," Rias mentions, to be returned with a soft chuckle.
"Hyoudou had to see that girl die, and then watch the woman who did it— and who killed him too— nearly get away. That was something I could have long prevented." Anos admits, "It is better for you to manage the situation."
Rias heard his words, she looked to Issei and then Asia and back to Anos, "She'll become a devil."
"She's a nun no longer, Rias," Anos reminded her, "the church rejects her, the fallen seek to destroy her. She has no where else to go. Besides, you'd be a fool to give up such a Sacred Gear user."
Anos took to leaving.
"I'll see you back at your house, I've had enough for one night," He said, casting his magic to leave.
But before that happens, Issei suddenly got on his feet, dusty and bloody but mostly unharmed. He wiped the last of his tears on his sleeve as he ran up to Anos, the boy felt his voice come to him as he bowed, "I owe you one, senpai. Thank you."
The corners of Anos' mouth rose up at the boy, "You're a good kid, Issei. Carry on as you are now and you will owe me nothing in return," he turns away and tosses a jaunty wave over his shoulder even as Gatom flashes his exit.