When Saeko Busujima reopened her eyes, she found neither enemy corpses nor devastated surroundings before her.
She still stood upon wasteland earth. Beneath her feet—hard rock and soil's texture. Viscous blood plasma soaked her ankles, flowing slowly.
A novel sensation.
Honestly, Saeko had never before witnessed her own Domain Expansion's appearance. This marked the first time.
Because previously, every single deployment had resulted in lost consciousness. Upon reawakening, cursed spirits lay slain—her innate domain already shattered alongside them.
In gamer terminology: pure auto-battle mode. Zero gameplay experience whatsoever.
Yet now, Saeko could distinctly feel that surging, roaring power within.
Different from usual mirror-still waters. Like a beast brimming with battle intent—shackles released, standing at completely-opened cage doors. No one could any longer prevent her from freely wielding her power.
BOOM—!
Merely slight force through her toes—massive blood waves erupted tsunami-like skyward. The kendo girl's silhouette vanished in place. The next moment, already manifested mid-sky—blade held slightly downward, feet treading lightning.
Hm?
Noticing a figure suddenly appearing before her, Nagisa couldn't help releasing soft questioning sounds.
Like Saeko, she possessed no flight capabilities. Only through Lion's Gold serving as mount could she ascend—participating in aerial combat. Functioning like a summoner: providing fierce ranged damage output while repositioning to avoid Loki's attacks.
Now, someone had suddenly appeared atop her lion's head. The Primogenitor girl reflexively looked upward.
"Eh? Busujima-senpai?"
"Apologies. Being flightless, I could only temporarily employ this method reaching everyone's vicinity."
Turning, Saeko first apologized toward Nagisa before raising her volume—ensuring her voice reached other airborne combatants.
"This battle—lacking flight capability prevents my direct frontal engagement. However, even so, I can still provide remote healing support. Please fight confidently with full offensive commitment."
Words barely concluded when Loki raised his hand, releasing magical assault toward Koneko Toujou—who'd just initiated close-quarters offense without time to retreat.
Though the white-haired cat-eared girl had preemptively reacted, crossing both arms defensively before her chest, she still took direct hits—leaving scorched blackened marks along her forearm exteriors.
Witnessing this, Saeko raised her blade with an upward flick through empty air. A blood blade constructed from viscous liquid automatically separated from the blood sea below—flying skyward with precision, landing upon Koneko's wounds.
Hisss~
Like ice water meeting red-hot branding irons—wisps of white smoke curled upward. Originally blackened flesh instantly restored to pristine pale condition.
This level of recovery power...
Having already prepared to deploy "Twilight Healing" for Koneko's treatment, Asia turned—mouth opening with surprise upon witnessing this.
She understood her Sacred Gear's capabilities clearly. Back when serving as Church saint, though allegedly capable of healing all afflictions, truthfully required certain timeframes. Even ordinary scrapes underwent healing processes.
Though now upgraded to angel status plus strengthened through Bokue-san's "cultivation"—she still couldn't achieve this degree of literally "restoring flesh and bones to the dead."
Naturally, not jealousy. Rather—genuine joy from her heart.
Asia understood clearly: her current mastery over post-angelification powers remained severely lacking. She could only utilize one spell type simultaneously.
Since Busujima-san could assist with healing, this meant she could wholeheartedly focus on supporting Rias-san and company's offensive!
"Then healing responsibilities fall to Busujima-san."
The blonde nun spoke earnestly toward Saeko before turning back. Facing the still-composed Norse evil god, she inhaled deeply before forcefully raising her hand upward.
"Apocalypse!!"
Words concluded. Instantly, a golden sun erupted magnificently skyward—cascading dazzling golden radiance across its coverage range.
"What...?"
Loki raised his hand, summoning defensive magic circles to block combined destructive lightning from Akeno and Rias. Squinting toward the risen golden sun above.
Undoubtedly angel-exclusive magic. Though unclear regarding specific functions, obviously—whether attacks or blessings—any angelic power inflicted irreversible damage upon devils.
Like how believers during prayer sensed divine power's embrace—entire bodies warming comfortably.
But if devils attempted such prayers? Only one outcome: skull-splitting agony unto death.
Yet now, Asia employed angelic magic enveloping Rias and company together. To Loki—this appeared purely friendly-fire behavior.
However, the next second proved him utterly wrong.
Rias condensed destructive magic once more—this time lacking even Akeno's lightning enhancement. With solo power alone, she assaulted the Norse evil god.
Loki snorted coldly while raising defensive magic circles again—intending to block as before. Yet the instant both powers collided, defensive arrays shattered explosively.
Loki's pupils contracted—instinctively dodging. But destructive magic's aftershocks still grazed his cheek—directly severing one ear.
This...?!
"Truly impressive firepower."
Simultaneously, a thousand meters distant atop rocky precipices, Serafall—face flushed while embraced from behind by the young man—murmured softly.
"First, a jujutsu sorcerer capable of instantly recovering injuries. Then, a nun who can bless devils with angelic power. Bokue-kun, tell me—how'd you even accomplish this?"
"Well..."
Bokue considered seriously.
Saeko's healing abilities undoubtedly stemmed from innate talent. A naturally-formed technique for continuously experiencing combat pleasure.
Except previously, due to insufficient physical durability, excessively intense pain during Domain Expansion triggered her brain's self-protection programs—shutting consciousness down. Thus every battle concluded unconsciously.
Now, through repeated cultivation significantly enhancing Saeko's physical durability, she could finally deploy Domain Expansion while conscious—engaging in combat awareness intact.
Regarding Asia—more like her power's fundamental nature had been forcibly altered. Despite angelification, she could even bless devils. Theoretically impossible circumstances.
In summary... probably because he'd irrigated her too excessively.
However, at this moment, battlefield situations shifted abruptly.
Fenrir—previously kited continuously by Sona and company—suddenly released skyward howls capable of shaking the atmosphere. Exploiting the moment when those girls' attack rhythms were disrupted, he turned charging toward his sons Hati and Sköll—similarly being restrained nearby.
"Ah, Saji-kun seems endangered..."
Witnessing this scene, Serafall commented.
Words barely finished when Fenrir—already reaching target locations—raised massive claws high. One strike—like hot knife through butter—effortlessly pierced the unresponsive Saji Genshirou's abdomen.
Seated behind the Maou girl, Bokue raised an eyebrow slightly.
As expected, battle planning encountered issues.
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