I sprinted through the dim, cold halls of the church, each footstep echoing like a war drum. My heart beat in rhythm with the pulses of power surging through my Boosted Gear.
Boost!
The red gauntlet on my left arm flared with energy again, feeding more and more strength into me. But even so... my gut told me this wouldn't be enough.
I skidded to a stop before a large set of doors. A heavy, suffocating aura seeped through the cracks.
Asia…
I shoved the doors open.
The sight before me made my blood freeze.
The chamber was a twisted mockery of a sanctuary. Candles flickered in crimson holders, casting long shadows across the cracked floor. Symbols I didn't understand were painted across the stone in glowing purple. And in the center—
Asia.
She hung from a tall cross, her arms bound in glowing chains, her head tilted forward. Her body was glowing with a soft green light—the aura of her Sacred Gear, [Twilight Healing].
"Asia!" I shouted.
Her head jerked up, eyes wide. "I-Issei-san…?"
Before she could say another word, a blast of magic struck her from behind, and she slumped forward, unconscious.
"No!" I roared.
"Aw, don't be so loud," a mocking voice sang.
Raynare stepped into view from the shadows, adorned in a revealing black dress now laced with ceremonial armor. Her wings unfurled behind her as if to remind me of her power.
She looked smug—far too smug.
"You really did come. How sweet. I was hoping you'd show up before it ended. Watching your face as she dies will be so much more satisfying."
I clenched my fists. "Let her go!"
Raynare pouted mockingly. "Why would I? Her Sacred Gear is useful. Healing-type Sacred Gears are rare… and we can't have Devils like you getting your filthy hands on it."
Boost!
The gauntlet throbbed again, hotter this time.
"Still boosting? Cute. But it won't help."
She raised her hand, and a barrage of black energy spheres shot toward me.
I leaped aside, barely dodging them. The floor behind me shattered, sending debris flying.
"She's unconscious now, so you can't even show off your little protector act," she giggled, circling slowly. "And to think, we even had a date, remember? You were kind of sweet. A little dumb, but sweet."
I didn't respond.
Her grin twitched at my silence.
"Oh? No angry shouting? No cheesy hero lines?"
I took a breath and stood tall. "You made a mistake, Raynare."
"Hm?"
"You showed me who you really are. And now I'm here to end this."
She narrowed her eyes. "So dramatic."
Boost!
The sixth boost. I could feel the heat building in my body, but Raynare didn't even flinch. She knew. She knew this wasn't enough.
'Partner,' came the voice of Ddraig inside me, low and rumbling, 'You're nearing your limit. Even with continuous boosting, your current strength… is not enough to defeat her.'
'I know,' I thought back. 'But I can't back down.'
Raynare flew forward in a sudden rush, faster than I could react. Her fist slammed into my stomach, and I was sent flying into a pillar. My ribs screamed.
She was laughing again before I could even get up. "You're weaker than I thought! Maybe I should've kissed you again before I killed you. A goodbye kiss—"
Boost!
I lunged forward mid-sentence, my fist glowing bright red as I aimed for her face.
She twisted just enough to avoid the full blow, but my gauntlet clipped her cheek. Blood sprayed across the stone floor.
Her expression twisted with rage. "You… dare?"
Energy gathered in her hand and she fired another blast point-blank.
I braced, raising my arm. The explosion tore into my guard and threw me back again, but I landed on my feet this time.
"Still standing?" she hissed.
"I'm not here to impress you," I said, walking toward her. "I'm here to save Asia."
Boost!
The seventh boost. The power was starting to hurt now, like fire in my veins. But I couldn't let it end here. Not when she was so close to completing her ritual.
Raynare flew high, charging a massive spear of energy above her head. "Then DIE WITH HER!"
She hurled it down.
I threw myself to the side as the explosion obliterated the floor, showering the sanctuary in stone and flame. My ears rang, but I kept running, dashing toward the cross.
Boost!
Eight. The last one I could manage without breaking something.
I reached her. Asia's breathing was faint, but still there. Still alive.
But Raynare landed between us.
"Tsk. I was hoping you'd die, but this is fine too," she said.
Her hand glowed again, not with an attack this time—but a ritual sigil.
"No!"
I lunged forward, but she waved her hand—and an invisible force slammed into me, pinning me to the floor.
She turned back toward Asia.
"You can watch, Hyoudou Issei. You can watch as I take her Sacred Gear… and leave you with nothing."
The ritual circle activated beneath Asia, glowing brighter, and a green light began to draw out of her chest.
"Asia!!" I screamed.
But she didn't wake.
Raynare's laughter echoed across the room as the power condensed into her hand.
The ritual was complete.
"I'll admit," she said softly, turning back toward me, "you did better than I expected. I almost had fun."
She stepped back, wings unfurling.
"Now stay down, or next time, I won't leave you breathing."
With a final smirk, Raynare vanished in a blink of light, taking Asia's power with her.
The silence left behind was deafening. And I let out a sigh.
~~~
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