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Crack!
Just as Rias and the others were preparing for a desperate last stand, a streak of golden lightning suddenly shot across the sky, closing in fast. In an instant, it tore through the heavens with overwhelming force.
The lightning was massive—easily a hundred meters long. Its presence was powerful and awe-inspiring, like divine punishment itself, ready to obliterate everything in its path.
"Who's there?!"
Kokabiel's eyes widened in shock, pupils contracting violently. He instinctively turned his head, his voice trembling with unmistakable fear.
It was pure instinct.
He could feel how terrifying that lightning was.
In a daze, for a split second…
He felt like he was back on the ancient battlefield, facing off against the Demon King.
Without a second thought, Kokabiel instantly switched targets and raised his arm, ready to hurl his weapon.
"Die!"
With a furious roar—
The giant spear of light in his hand expanded several times over and flew straight at the golden lightning bolt.
Zzzzz!
Wherever it passed, the air rippled. It looked like it could tear through space itself, along with the lightning.
In the blink of an eye—
The two forces collided.
Buzz!
At that moment—
The entire sky seemed to dim, as if every last shred of light had gathered into one point.
BOOM!
The deafening explosion shook the heavens.
The spear of light only lasted for a second before it was completely obliterated by the golden lightning, like a block of tofu smashed to bits.
"Wait... is that Lin Luo's aura?"
Seeing this, Rias and the others were visibly stunned.
"What kind of magic is this?!"
Kokabiel's face twisted in disbelief. But before he could react further, he launched another move.
A massive surge of holy light burst from his body, and a huge, dazzling magic circle appeared beneath his feet.
CRACK!
The golden lightning struck the magic circle directly. In an instant, the terrifying power shattered it like glass.
Next second—
Kokabiel's entire body was swallowed by the golden lightning.
For a moment—
The only thing lighting up the sky was that blinding golden flash.
No one knew exactly when Minato had appeared above Kuoh Academy, but there he stood, watching everything unfold with a cold, indifferent gaze.
No one spoke.
Eventually, the thunder faded, and the storm passed.
Kokabiel—charred black from head to toe and trembling in fear—fell from the sky like a puppet with its strings cut.
A high-ranking Fallen Angel, defeated in a single hit.
Everyone turned to each other—Rias, her friends—wordless, eyes wide. They were all clearly shaken.
They had seen Lin Luo's true magic during the last Rating Game…
…but that was from another world.
Seeing it firsthand like this—it was something else entirely.
In front of everyone, Minato slowly descended and walked up to Kokabiel.
"Gotta say, you're tough. Still breathing after that."
Kokabiel's body was practically charcoal, but he managed to lift his head with great effort.
"Since when did devils have someone like you...?"
"Your magic… it's terrifying…"
"You don't know about me just because you live under a rock."
Minato replied coldly, "Lemme ask you something. The God of the Bible—he's dead, right?"
"Of course he's dead. Among beings like us, that's hardly a secret."
Kokabiel was barely hanging on, but he still sneered.
"Michael's been doing everything he can to hold this mess together, but the system for managing faith is full of holes."
"Do you know how many devout believers got branded as heretics?"
Still putting on a show, huh?
Minato gave him a slightly amused look. Then, with a wave of his hand, another bolt of golden lightning struck down and erased what little life was left in Kokabiel.
And in that moment—
Rias and the others completely froze.
What Kokabiel said before he died was just… too shocking.
Especially for Xenovia and Irina. They collapsed onto the ground, their legs giving out.
Their eyes were empty, blank—like dolls with no souls.
Just a few words—
And everything they had once wondered about was answered.
So that's why…
The Lord is dead.
That's why so many devout followers were labeled heretics.
Then what about them…?
Where were they supposed to go now?
It felt like the entire world had turned its back on them.
"Lin Luo… this was your goal all along, wasn't it?"
Rias snapped out of it and walked up to Lin Luo.
"Wasn't this a bit too cruel?"
"Hey, it's the truth, isn't it?"
Minato shrugged. "They were gonna find out eventually."
"True," Rias nodded, then gave him a skeptical look. "But how do you know all this?"
Minato didn't answer. He just smiled mysteriously.
"That's a secret."
With that, he walked up to Irina and Xenovia.
"So… are you two ready to reconsider my offer?"
Irina and Xenovia slowly looked up, murmuring blankly:
"Become… devils?"
"Yup. Take your time. When you're ready, come find me."
"....."