"Valver Galilei... As long as you're still alive, there will be a second, a third... our lives will continue to be disregarded," said Kiba Yuuto quietly as he slowly raised his head.
"Hmph, research has always come with sacrifices since ancient times. It's just the way it is," Valver scoffed, dismissing Kiba's words.
"I will become a sword..." Kiba murmured softly, beginning his chant.
"I will become the sword of President Rias, of my comrades—of everyone! Answer my will now—Sword Birth!"
A sword appeared in Kiba's hand, radiating both holy light and ominous demonic energy.
"Balance Breaker—Holy-Demonic Sword of Twin Sovereignty! A sword that embodies both holy and demonic power. Now, feel its force with your own body!"
Proudly announcing the name of his Balance Breaker, Kiba charged toward Valver.
"Ridiculous! The Excalibur in my hand is a fusion of four fragments!" Valver shouted, rushing to meet Kiba without fear.
But the moment their blades clashed, Valver's expression drastically changed. The sacred aura of Excalibur had no effect whatsoever on the sword in Kiba's hand.
"Tch... How is this possible?" Valver clicked his tongue in frustration, trying to push Kiba back with his sword and leaping away.
"The bonds between me and my comrades, our shared will—you could never understand them. And this power... is not something you can defeat!" Kiba declared, and the holy-demonic sword in his hand erupted with a strange glow—a fusion of light and darkness.
"Impossible! I'm holding the mightiest Excalibur!" Valver screamed in panic, lunging again. But even Excalibur could not withstand the radiant force of Kiba's sword.
CRACK!
A crystalline sound echoed—it was the shattering of Excalibur into pieces.
"See? Our power has surpassed that of Excalibur!" Riding the momentum of his strike, Kiba's sword slashed directly at Valver's body.
"No way... A Holy-Demonic Sword...? That's impossible... Two opposing elements can't coexist..." Valver muttered. In the next instant, a torrent of black and white light engulfed his body completely, erasing him from existence.
Everything was over... their shared vengeance...
Kiba quietly gazed at the vast chasm in front of him and let out a sigh of relief.
But... now was not the time to let his guard down. A far more powerful enemy still hovered above.
Realizing this, Kiba quickly looked up at the sky.
"How boring. I thought someone holding four Excalibur fragments would put on a good show. But to die in such a pitiful way—how disappointing," said Kokabiel, arms crossed, staring disdainfully into the ravine where Valver had vanished.
"Well, I never expected much from you anyway. I planned to handle this myself from the start," Kokabiel laughed coldly, slowly descending with his black wings spread wide.
"Hahahahaha! Now, let's have some real fun!"
As he landed, a terrifying aura swept across the field—an overwhelming pressure.
Kiba nearly collapsed to his knees, crushed by the sheer difference in strength. He couldn't even muster the will to resist.
"Your Balance Breaker was impressive... quite the show. But now—just die."
Kokabiel grinned cruelly and extended a hand toward Kiba. Helpless, Kiba trembled in despair, unable to move, paralyzed by the hopeless difference in power.
No one on the school field could save him. No one had the strength to face Kokabiel.
Just as Kiba closed his eyes, bracing for death—
—a tall figure stood before him.
"Kiba Yuuto, you've really stolen all the spotlight from me."
A teasing voice rang out. Kokabiel's eyes widened in disbelief.
His attack was stopped—by a mere low-class devil?!
"Sorry, but your opponent... is me."
Yoru raised an eyebrow as he gripped Kokabiel's wrist with tremendous strength.
In an instant, the temperature on the field plummeted. Kokabiel's look of shock turned into terror.
A piercing sense of danger flooded his mind. Only one thought remained:
Get away from this kid—far, far away!
CRACK!
Jagged shards of ice exploded from their locked hands. Kokabiel flapped his wings hard, retreating in haste, his gaze fixed on Yoru—filled with wariness.
If he hadn't dodged in time, that unremarkable-looking boy might have seriously injured him.
That icy power... it filled him with dread.
He couldn't remember the last time he felt fear like this. Maybe… not since that war?
The terrible war… the war where even God had fallen…
Ah… how he longed for that kind of battle again—
A world filled with screams and despair…
"...Interesting. I underestimated you. What kind of monster are you, exactly? That last attack… it was Devil King-level, wasn't it?"
Kokabiel muttered in disbelief. This was just a low-class devil—how could he unleash power on par with a Maou?
How was this even possible?
While Kokabiel pondered, Yoru calmly evaluated the power levels based on their brief exchange.
Ten-winged Fallen Angel? Not that impressive.
"You all go. I'll handle this guy."
Without turning back, Yoru spoke to the others behind him.
Rias nodded. Now was not the time to be stubborn. Staying here would only drag Yoru down.
"Kiba, Akeno—retreat!"
"Understood!"
Rias and her peerage retreated in an orderly manner.
Though Kokabiel wanted to chase them, the intense stare from Yoru rooted him in place.
This youth… was now a threat on his level.
Someone extremely dangerous.
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