Chapter 62: Advice and words from Rias
Sona Sitri had an irritated look on her face as she looked at Rias, who was sitting on the floor; her eyes remained closed and her expression impassive. Even the sounds of explosions outside the room and the building they were in seemed unconcerned. Her legs were in the lotus position, her toes held together at the tips of their fingers, right above her legs.
She was meditating.
"Aren't you worried about them?!! RIAS!!" Sona couldn't resist any longer and shouted at her friend. Her calm, seemingly emotionless demeanor had been broken for a while. She couldn't help but feel worried about Kokabiel, who was fighting against the Gremory group.
Rias's eyes slowly opened; her blue eyes glowed scarlet for a second before returning to normal.
"Still a while... huh?" she muttered as she stood up. Her feet moved, she took steps forward and looked out the window. Kiba was using his Balance Breaker, discovered only a few minutes ago. Ise was in his armor, also using Balance Breaker. Akeno displayed four fallen angel wings while golden beams of holy power fell from the sky. Koneko had two necklaces sprouting from her lower back and two cat ears on her head while balls of bright fire floated behind her.
Finally, two people were in the rear. Asia could now heal from a distance. And, the surprise was Gasper, who was trembling in fear next to her, but still using his powers to stop Kokabiel.
Now their entire peerage was showing their true potential!
Rias smiled happily before turning her head slightly toward Sona.
"Relax, they can win."
"They're fighting Kokabiel! An existence who fought in the great war!" Sona growled angrily.
"Your nerves are getting the best of you, Sona," Rias teased a little, only managing to annoy her friend even more.
"Even if it's Kokabiel. Everyone in my family is using their powers at 100 percent. Even if it's Kokabiel, they can win. Everyone is working as a team, bringing out the best in each other while also covering their disadvantages."
"Besides... it doesn't matter if they can't defeat him..." Rias smiled as she looked outside, clearly sensing the person hiding.
Rias moved her hand forward, pointing a finger at Kokabiel. Despite her calm exterior and knowing that her family wouldn't die, she still felt worried inside.
Her finger extended fully, and a small sphere of her Power of Destruction was fired, creating a finger-sized hole in the window. The attack traveled at high speed, managing to sever one of the Fallen Angel's wings and surprising him. At that moment, Issei unleashed all his augmentations in a powerful blow that sent the squad flying toward Kiba, who slashed with his sword, splitting two raven-like black wings.
Akeno fired a charged beam with all her power, while Koneko fired her Kasha at the same time. Kokabiel, who saw this, endured the pain of his severed wings to dodge. However, he was stopped in his tracks by Gasper. Even though he could do this, he couldn't hold out for more than a few seconds, but it was enough for Koneko and Akeno's attacks to hit home.
BOOOOM!
An explosion reverberated through the Kuoh Academy courtyard, and Kokabiel fell hard to the hard ground, covered in wounds and blood as he glared at the Gremory group with resentment and boundless fury.
"See?" Rias smiled brightly at Sona.
Sona adjusted her glasses and snorted, annoyed by Rias's behavior.
"And now we have to leave, Sona."
"Why?"
"Our uninvited guest is about to leave." Rias carefully opened the window before stepping onto the floor and jumping out, revealing her wings. Sona sighed briefly before following her. Just as they stepped outside, they saw the barrier Sona and her peerage had erected effortlessly destroyed by a white-armored figure.
"Vanishing Dragon!" Sona exclaimed in surprise, as Issei turned and looked at his destined rival.
"He's stronger..." With a murmur, Issei acknowledged his rival's strength, sighing as he realized he couldn't fight him; he needed to become stronger. Inside his Sacred Gear, Ddraig nodded, recognizing its wielder's movements. Even if it hurt his pride, there was no point in fighting Vali right now. The smartest thing to do was simply watch and remain alert.
"Why did the wielder of Albion come all the way here?" Rias asked. "Perhaps for Kokabiel?"
"Princess Gremory..." Vali acknowledged her with a nod. He had heard the rumors and stories against her battle with Indra. He was curious and had a strong desire to fight Rias.
"I have to take Kokabiel. Azazel wants to lock him up in Cocytus."
"I see..." Rias nodded, but didn't look back at Vali. Her glowing eyes moved slowly and looked at Issei flying near her.
"Issei... kill Kokabiel."
"Huh?" Issei was surprised by Rias's order and looked at her, perplexed.
"This world isn't so easy that you'll be left alone, Issei. As a Ddraig wielder and a Boosted Gear user, stronger enemies and new allies will eventually appear. As a Celestial Dragon wielder, you'll attract these kinds of people as well."
"And... unfortunately, at some point, you'll have to stain your hands with blood. Now is the best time so you don't hold back in any possible future scenario."
Rias turned her gaze to Vali, showing seriousness.
"With me here, no one can stop you."
Behind his helmet, Vali frowned as he looked at Rias. At that moment, he was communicating with Albion.
"What do you think our chances are against her?" Vali might be a battle maniac, but he was by no means a fool.
"With the power we can currently unleash, we have a 10% chance. That's if she fights at full power."
"Only a 10% chance of winning?" Vali didn't like those odds.
"No, you're misunderstanding me, Vali," Albion replied seriously.
"If she goes all out, we only have a 10% chance of surviving."
Vali stood still, surprised by Albion's response. Was Rias really that strong? He wondered.
Issei approached a weak Kokabiel, frowning behind his helmet. He'd never killed a living being before, and it would be his first time. But he'd already realized the danger of the supernatural world. Rias was right when she said that stronger enemies would appear eventually, and Issei believed her. In all the time he'd spent as Rias Gremory's pawn, she had never lied to him.
"Do it... brat... it's my loss," Kokabiel muttered weakly. He already knew the possible consequences if he failed.
"Kiba..." Issei called out to his friend.
Kiba understood immediately and created a sword before throwing it at Issei. Then, holding the sword, he raised it and slashed at the weak Cadre's neck, severing his head.
"Damn..." Vali gritted his teeth, seeing that his mission had failed. He could barely move. He had intended to move to grab Kokabiel and escape immediately, but Rias had unleashed her aura and Supreme King Haki, oppressing Vali and rendering him unable to move.
Issei dropped the sword, took a deep breath, and clenched his trembling hands into fists.
"You may go..." Rias said as she looked at Vali. And he could only do that, leave empty-handed. When the academy courtyard fell silent, Rias moved to stand in front of Issei and gave him a warm hug.
"Well done, Issei. I'm sure you did your best."
Issei sighed and nodded, thanking Rias for her support. Shortly after, Asia approached, jumping up to Issei and hugging him. Rias smiled at this and allowed the two to comfort each other.
"Uwaaa! I was so scared!" Gasper began to cry as he fell to his knees. Rias smiled before approaching and petting the little Dhampir's head.
"You did great too, Gasper. Without you, the battle would have been more difficult."
"Really?" Gasper looked at Rias as he wiped away the tears and snot that had started running from his nose.
"Of course it's the truth."
"Mm..." the little boy just nodded with a small smile.
"Guys, you've all grown more powerful! I'm proud to have you as my family!" Rias exclaimed with a big smile, causing everyone to feel better after the tiring battle.
Sona once again frowned at this scene. She couldn't help but compare her peerage to Rias's. Or herself to Rias's. In both cases, they were different.
. . .
In the Underworld, Sirzechs awaited the information brought back from his wife, who, coincidentally, had only just appeared.
"What happened? Did you win?" Sirzechs immediately stood up and asked. Even though he knew a little about his sister's level now, he still genuinely cared for her.
"Even though Rias didn't fight, they won without much trouble. Rias's peerage was the one who confronted Kokabiel and defeated him. Finally, on Rias's orders, Hyoudou Issei killed Kokabiel."
Sirzechs sighed with relief before sitting back in his chair.
"That's good... really good," he nodded twice.
"By the way, the wielder of Vanishing Dragon appeared. However, Rias oppressed him until he had to retreat; apparently, Azazel wanted to imprison Kokabiel in Cocytus."
"I see..." Sirzechs frowned slightly. "It seems we'll have to arrange a meeting with the leaders of the other two factions. This can't happen again. If this keeps up, another great war will eventually begin."
. . .
"Rias..." Sona called to her friend as they all returned to their respective homes, hoping to get some sleep until the next day.
"Yes?"
"How did you get so strong?"
Rias blinked, a little surprised by the question. No, more by the person who asked it. She didn't think Sona would ever ask her something like this. She was generally quite cold and proud, so she wouldn't ask this kind of thing.
"Well... I think I said it in my battle with Riser," Rias replied, looking at Sona with even more curiosity.
"I was able to recognize things that were flaws, but I hadn't realized it before. By recognizing my flaws, I was able to improve. This wasn't just about my power, but also about improving myself as a person, as a living being in general," Rias replied with a small smile.
"Also... I have things I want to protect with all my might. Unfortunately, my power before wasn't enough for that. Therefore, I worked hard to achieve that."
"Good intentions are fine; even just thinking them means you have something to protect. However, without the power to back up your words, no one will take you seriously, Sona. If you want others to do so, you need the power to back up your actions and goals."
At this point, Rias sighed a little.
"It's a bit sad the way the world works, but it's reality. Things like love and peace are fine, but you need something to protect and back it up. Even in the human world, where they don't know the supernatural world exists, it's the same way. Maybe you wouldn't need power for battles, but you would need money, a job, or even political power..."
"Mostly money..." Rias shrugged with a wry smile. "In the end, it doesn't matter if many say money can't buy everything; the reality is different. Just like power in this supernatural world, money in the human world makes the world go round. It's necessary if you want to live."
"In short, Sona..." Rias pointed a finger at her and spoke sternly, "You're missing the point. Or do you really think your dream of a school for all will be accepted at the next youth gathering?"
Sona's eyes widened as she heard the last part of Rias's speech.
"It's different for you to think you can achieve it than for others to accept it. Those old people, even those our age who attend that meeting, would laugh at you. You have to change a little, Sona; that's if you want to achieve what you set out to do."
"Personally and as a friend, I'm supporting you," Rias smiled warmly before turning to leave.
"Wait!" Sona called out, managing to stop Rias.
"Mm?" Rias looked at her curiously once more.
"You said you supported me... as a friend..." Sona inhaled slightly as she gritted her teeth; she was struggling to ask this.
"But... objectively... what do you think?"
"Your current dream... is impossible," Rias replied seriously.
"As I said, you don't have the power to back what you want to do. And regardless of that power, you don't have enough backers to support you even a little."
"Have you thought about the location for this school of yours? Its teachers? Classes, entrance fees? Will it even be free?" Rias looked at her friend sadly.
"You haven't thought through everything that's required. You dream of this goal of yours, but you haven't done anything to try and achieve it. You're just sitting there waiting to gather support for it." Rias turned to leave, leaving only a few words at the end.
"Even if you think about my words a little, Sona. Even if you think objectively about yourself, you'll discover things, just like I did."
Sona looked at Rias's back before sighing in annoyance and sadness.
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