Kuoh Town, Kuoh Academy.
It was the weekend, so students were off.
Club members who might show up were barred from campus.
Angels from Heaven, devils from the Underworld, and Fallen Angels appeared, setting up powerful barriers per Michael's orders.
"Been a while since I've seen this," Serafall mused on the school rooftop, overseeing barrier progress. "Last time was during the Three Factions War."
"That war… we all lost too much," replied a stunning angel in ornate attire beside her, white wings unfurled, a golden halo glowing saintly above.
"Gabriel, don't kill the vibe with that talk~" Serafall patted her shoulder, grinning. "Chill! Today's about why we're here."
"Once the summit's done, no more wars like that."
"Exactly why I'm here," Gabriel said, a gentle smile forming.
As she opened her mouth to continue, an unfamiliar mana pulse flared.
Turning, she saw a teleportation array materialize on the rooftop.
A striking figure stepped out.
"You?" Serafall blinked, surprised.
"Guess why I'm here," Roy said, flashing an Akatsuki application form.
Serafall got it instantly, making a peace sign by her eye. "So? Shocked by Magical Girl Levi's grand entrance?"
"More like you're begging for a beatdown," Roy said, cracking his knuckles.
Of the five awakening applicants:
Masaru Suzuki bribed.
Ichiro Suzuki abused authority for big missions.
Meredith formed a clique.
Gojo Satoru threw cash.
Serafall? Pure intimidation for points.
"Ten seconds to explain. If I'm not satisfied, you're done."
"Eh? That's harsh! I was just joking!" Serafall flailed, pleading to Gabriel. "Help me out!"
"Uh, I don't know what's going on," Gabriel said, tilting her head.
Still, aiming for peace, she pulled a book from her storage space. "Mr. Roy, this is a manual for Tongtian, one of eight mystical arts."
"If Serafall upset you, please forgive her."
"Tongtian? Why's Heaven got its manual?" Roy asked, puzzled.
Like Stephani, Roy had studied global factions and knew of Tongtian.
A mystical art born from peak talisman mastery, it allowed instant creation of thousands of talismans for attack, defense, healing, and sealing.
Hard to learn and master, even in its homeland, few accessed it.
Why was it in Gabriel's hands?
"We've collaborated with certain factions over the years," Gabriel explained. "A master gifted me this Tongtian manual."
"Got it," Roy said, understanding its origin.
Taking the book, he shot a glance at Serafall, hiding behind Gabriel. "Someone bailed you out this time. Pull this again, and it won't be so easy."
"Gotcha~ You're so strict, Roy," Serafall whined.
"Your 'jokes' are nuts. I didn't build Akatsuki for your games."
"Fine, I'm sorry," Serafall apologized, then pivoted to Gabriel. "Oh, introductions!"
"This is Seraph Gabriel, here with Michael for Heaven at the summit."
"Fun fact: Gabriel's single~"
"Pointless fact," Roy deadpanned, rolling his eyes.
Angels who fall for love become Fallen Angels, not angels.
"Boring! I was trying to add a star to your harem," Serafall huffed.
"You're making this awkward," Gabriel said, waving off romance talk.
Serafall finally settled down.
She couldn't push Gabriel further after her help.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Roy," Gabriel said, now calm. "Michael spoke highly of you after meeting."
"Seeing you, I get why."
"That 'remarkable' tag fits you too, Miss Gabriel," Roy replied, pausing.
F-rank powerhouse. Terrifying.
"Quit the formalities, you two. Loosen up~" Serafall butted in as they traded compliments.
"Say, Gabriel, wanna tour Kuoh? Lots of cool folks here."
"Hm, I'm curious about the Red Dragon Emperor's turf, but I need to oversee the barriers," Gabriel said.
"Leave that to me!" Serafall nudged her back. "Let Roy guide you. Explore!"
"That's… okay?" Gabriel hesitated.
"No biggie, right, Roy?"
"I'm free today," Roy said, meeting Serafall's winking gaze. "If you're curious, Gabriel, I'll show you around."
"Please, then," Gabriel agreed after a pause.
"Yosh~ Now no one's in my way," Serafall muttered, pulling an array diagram Roy gave her days ago.
Glancing at it, she called out, "Hey, angels over there! Your Lady Gabriel has a task for you!"
---
Time passed, afternoon arrived.
After half a day touring Kuoh with Gabriel, they returned to Kuoh Academy.
Unlike midday, three heavy barriers now cloaked the school.
"Hm?" Gabriel paused at the gate, eyeing the barriers.
Something's off.
Three layers—meant to be devil, angel, and Fallen Angel-crafted, interlocking for defense.
But none were Heaven's.
Staring, Gabriel pieced it together, turning to Roy. "You and Serafall deliberately sent me away?"
"Yup, on purpose," Roy admitted.
"Why?"
"The Brigade's crashing today. Your Heaven barriers are too soft for my killing style."
"Does Michael know?"
"I told Sazeks. Whether he told Michael, no clue."
"…Got it," Gabriel said after a silent moment, trusting Roy's honesty. "Next time, just talk to me. No need for this hassle."
"Tell Serafall that," Roy shrugged.
His plan was for Serafall to negotiate with the other factions, swapping outer defenses for his kill-trap barrier.
She said it wouldn't work; the others wouldn't play ball.
Easier to sideline their leaders.
Originally, Roy wasn't involved.
He got roped into babysitting Gabriel because Serafall was too chaotic.
"Serafall… her personality's a bit wild," Gabriel nodded, agreeing, then parted to check the barriers.
Roy headed to the old schoolhouse, finding Rias and the others.
"Roy, your outfit," Rias said, handing him a tailored suit.
The summit was formal; casual clothes wouldn't cut it.
Except for Gasper, whose Sacred Gear could go haywire, the Occult Research Club dressed to impress.
Roy donned the suit, checking the mirror.
Dashing, regal.
99/100—just shy of you, dear reader.
"Not bad," Rias said, eyes sparkling, pleased.
Clothes make the man, and Roy looked sharper than ever.
Circling him, Rias rallied the others to the main building.
The meeting was on the top floor, in the boardroom for school brass.
Inside, a crowd packed three zones by faction.
Michael and Gabriel led angels near the windows.
Azazel and Vali headed Fallen Angels by a mural.
Sazeks and Serafall fronted devils near the door.
Spotting Roy, Sazeks waved him over. "Roy, your seat's here."
"Back row's fine," Roy said, taking a front-row spot.
Rias and the others settled in the back, joining Sona's group.
"You're a star today. Back row's too low-key," Sazeks said, scanning the room. "Everyone's here. Let's start the Three Factions Summit."
---
Kuoh outskirts.
Figures materialized.
"They've begun," Katerea said.
A Leviathan descendant and Old Demon Faction leader, she spearheaded the summit disruption.
Sharing fresh intel, she eyed her allies. "Wapor, your people ready?"
"Long ready," Wapor replied.
A pure terrorist who fled Roy during Shibuya, she wasn't cowed.
Invited by the Old Demon Faction, she brought Night Witches' rogue mages for this new operation.
Katerea shifted to a gray-haired girl. "Takanotsume's gear set?"
"Distributed. Results depend on you," the girl said.
"Trust me, this won't fail," Katerea said, turning to the last two. "Hueco Mundo sent just you two?"
"What, need more?" Grimmjow smirked. "When do we start? I'm bored."
"Grimmjow, don't act solo," Ulquiorra said, restraining him, then faced Katerea. "Don't worry. Our lord sent us because we're worth an army."
"Fine," Katerea said, dropping it.
This much firepower was already a bonus.
Kill one faction leader, and the mission's a win.
"Wapor, you're up."
"On it," Wapor said, teleporting to Kuoh Academy's edge, contacting an inside traitor.
Moments later, a barrier gap opened, and she slipped inside.
---
Room 503, meeting hall.
As agenda items wrapped, talks neared their end.
As Azazel proposed the peace treaty, a voice cut in.
"They're here."
"Pretty quick," Azazel said, squinting.
Roy's abrupt words clicked instantly.
"How many slipped in?"
"One."
"Scouting prep? Where's she at?"
"Old schoolhouse, by Gasper."
"Hm?" Azazel froze.
A Sacred Gear nerd, he knew Gasper.
A bad possibility hit, and his face darkened.
A massive mana pulse erupted from the old schoolhouse.
It morphed into relentless time power, engulfing Kuoh Academy.
Time froze.
Most in the room, under Azazel's gaze, were locked in stasis.
"Trouble," Azazel sighed.
Worst-case scenario.
The Brigade amplified Gasper, forcing his Balance Breaker into a rampage.
Not just the meeting room—outer angel and devil defenses were halted by time power.
In a blink, their forces were nearly wiped out.
Only faction leaders, Roy, and Vali could move.
"Big crowd," Vali said, peering at the plaza.
Through Wapor's gap, Night Witches' rogue mages poured in.
Within breaths, hundreds appeared, joined by a dozen 7-8-meter ant-like mechanical beasts.
"Narakuvira, war machines from another world," Sazeks said, recognizing them at the window. "Even Takanotsume's here. The Fourth Primogenitor's ruins must've stirred them."
Vali: "What's the play? Want me to clear them?"
Azazel shook his head. "Enemy numbers unknown. Don't burn energy till we know more."
"Use this building as a stronghold. Set barriers to stabilize."
"A solid plan," Michael agreed.
The visible enemies were mostly rogue mages.
Rushing in wasted energy and risked ambushes.
Holding ground and assessing was smarter.
Roy activated Balance Breaker, standing. "I'm with Azazel's plan, but the enemy won't sit idle."
"I'll hold their advance while you set barriers."
---
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