I looked between Rias and Sona, their worried faces telling me everything I needed to know about the gravity of the situation.
"Contact your siblings," I said plainly. "They can handle Kokabiel without breaking a sweat. See, it's that simple"
Rias immediately shook her head. "No. I'm confident, together we can defeat Kokabiel ourselves."
*Here we go again.* I sighed mentally. *She didn't learn anything from the Rating Game against Riser. Her overconfidence is going to be the big hurdle for her to climb over*
Sona pushed up her glasses "I would prefer not to involve my sister. Should Serafall learn that Kokabiel is targeting me directly... the collateral damage would likely extend far beyond acceptable parameters. Japan itself might not survive her response."
"Sounds like she cares about you," I commented.
"Only if you knew," Sona muttered under her breath.
I rubbed my temples. Two stubborn devil heiresses with pride issues. Perfect.
"Fine. What's the plan then?"
Sona straightened "The most logical approach would be for my peerage to establish and maintain a containment barrier around the academy grounds. This will prevent civilian casualties and contain any collateral damage. Simultaneously, you and Rias's peerage will engage Kokabiel in direct combat."
I nodded. It was a solid strategy, even if I wished we had backup. "I'm in."
"We'll head to the academy first," Rias said, her confidence still radiating despite the circumstances.
"I'll be there shortly," I assured them.
Both magic circles flared, and they vanished, leaving me alone with Asia and Valerie.
---
I turned to face my two newly reincarnated companions. Asia remained human but was now my Bishop, while Valerie maintained her dhampir nature as my Knight. They were trying to hide their nervousness, but I could feel their emotions through our bond.
"Alright, listen to me," I said "This is going to be your first real battle since joining my peerage. You're both stronger now, but strength means nothing if fear controls you."
Asia fidgeted with her hands, unconsciously touching the hilt of Ingvild—the divine sword I'd given her for protection some time ago. "I... I've never been in a real fight before."
"And that's okay. Your job isn't to fight—it's to keep everyone alive. But Asia," I looked directly into her gentle green eyes, "you cannot be afraid. In battle, hesitation is a big problem to deal with. Trust your instincts, trust your power, and trust us to protect you. Ingvild will react and defend you automatically, but stay alert."
She nodded, determination replacing some of the fear as her grip on the divine sword's hilt steadied.
I turned to Valerie. "You're my Knight now. Use Spirit Spear Chastiefol—its versatility will give you options in any situation. But watch your back. Kokabiel isn't some street thug. He's a ten-winged fallen angel with centuries of combat experience. Don't go straight for him, alright?"
"Understood," Valerie said, chasteifol swirling around her fingers.
I began tracing a teleportation circle beneath us, silver light spreading across the floor. "Ready?"
"Ready," they said together.
The circle flared, and we vanished.
---
We materialized outside Kuoh Academy just as Sona's peerage finished establishing their barrier. The translucent dome shimmered around the entire school grounds, sealing off the area from the outside world.
Rias was waiting with her peerage—Akeno, Koneko, and Issei.
"About time," Rias said, though relief was clear in her voice.
"My, this should be interesting," Akeno said quietly.
Koneko just nodded grimly, her usual stoic expression even more serious.
"This feels different from when we faced Riser," Issei muttered, looking toward the academy.
I could feel the oppressive aura emanating from within the barrier.
"The barrier has been successfully established and is operating within optimal parameters," Sona reported through her communication spell. "Current projections indicate we can maintain structural integrity for approximately six hours under normal combat conditions."
I looked up at the shimmering dome, then at the academy grounds beyond. Through the windows, I could see flashes of light and shadows moving.
"He's not alone," I observed, extending my senses "There are two more individuals with him and one of them seems to be holding multiple swords. Merging them?"
Rias frowned. "What do you mean?"
The memory of Freed's insanity flashed through my mind. At least that particular madman was dead and gone. "They're trying to fuse the Excalibur fragments into something more dangerous."
"Then we stop them before they succeed," Rias declared.
I felt Asia and Valerie's nervousness spike, but they called down when I nodded at them. Their trust in my capabilities was way beyond the terror of Kokabeil.
"Alright," I said, taking out Incursio sword in my hand, in response to my rising battle instincts—though I kept the dragon's warning firmly in mind. "Let's get done with this"
We approached the barrier's entrance, where Sona had left a small gap for us to pass through. As we stepped onto the academy grounds, three figures awaited us.
Kokabiel sat casually in an ornate chair that floated several meters above the ground, his pairs of black wings spread wide behind him. He was a tall, pale man with long black hair and narrow, blood-red eyes. Unlike other Fallen Angels, he had pointy, elf-like ears. He wore a black robe with detailed accessories, and his presence radiated the kind of ancient malice that came from millennia of bitterness and war.
Below him, a short, bespectacled elderly man with gray hair and a mustache worked frantically over several glowing sword fragments, his black eyes gleaming with obsession as he muttered incantations in his priest outfit.
Beside the working priest stood another figure—a younger man with wild eyes and a manic grin, clutching modified holy weapons with the unmistakable identity of a stray exorcist.
"Valper Galilei," a new voice said from behind us, filled with recognition and hatred.
We turned to see Kiba approaching, his usual calm demeanor replaced by barely controlled rage. His hand gripped his sword hilt so tightly that he might jump on said man, any moment.
"Kiba!" Rias called out, but he was already moving past us, his eyes locked on the old man.
The elderly priest looked up from his work, while the stray exorcist's manic grin widened at the sight of us. "Ah, more test subjects for my beautiful creation," the priest said with calculated madness. "How thoughtful."
The stray exorcist laughed, a sound that reminded me too much of Freed's insanity. "It's time to spill lots of blood!"
Kokabiel's narrow red eyes fixed on our group, and when he smiled, it was filled with bloodthirsty anticipation.
"Finally," he said, his voice carrying both authority and barely contained excitement for battle. "I was beginning to grow bored waiting. Though I must say, I'm disappointed the Satans themselves didn't come to play with me."
I stepped forward, feeling Incursio's power coursing through me while keeping careful control over it. The dragon's warning echoed in my mind—I had to be in control. No reckless moves.
"Sorry to disappoint," I said, my voice steady despite the overwhelming presence before us. "But you'll have to settle for us."
Kokabiel's laughter was sharp and aggressive, filled with a warlord's hunger for conflict.
"How amusing. Let's see if you can provide some entertainment before I wreck this pathetic peace"
. . .
Read upto 20 chapters at patreon.com/opeler
Check out my patreon, if you find it interesting do join or support me
Enjoy!