Kokabiel's smile turned predatory as he swirled his fingers. "Allow me to introduce my pets."
Two massive magic circles flared to life beside him. From them emerged two colossal three-headed Cerberus, each one towering over the school building. Their roars made the ground tremble beneath our feet.
I tightened my grip on Incursio, but Valerie stepped forward, Chastiefol spinning lazily around her.
"I'll handle them," she said quietly.
I glanced at her. "Both of them?"
She nodded, meeting my eyes with steady determination. "I won't let you down."
*She's grown stronger since joining my peerage,* I thought, feeling a surge of pride. *And more confident. This is what I wanted to see from her.* Something in her tone convinced me completely. "Alright. Show me what you've got."
Rias shot into the air, her crimson hair whipping behind her. "Akeno, you and the others handle that Cerberus. I'll take Kokabiel myself."
"Ara ara~ How exciting," Akeno purred, her sadistic smile already forming as lightning crackled around her fingers.
Valerie positioned herself between Asia and the right Cerberus. "Chastiefol, Form Four."
The spirit spear transformed into a massive golden sunflower, energy beams shooting from each petal. The Cerberus howled as the attacks struck, but barely flinched.
"Tougher than it looks," Valerie muttered, then called out again. "Form Two."
The sunflower collapsed and reformed into a towering green black patched bear that charged the three-headed beast head-on. With few strikes from him and koneko's heavy punches, it landed face first to the ground, seeing this opportunity, Ingrid did what he does best.
Asia stayed close to cover, her hands clasped together nervously. "I-I'll do my best to help everyone..." she whispered, her gentle nature showing even in the midst of battle. Ingvild's divine presence shimmered protectively around her.
The clash of metal drew my attention. Kiba had engaged the stray exorcist, who was swinging around what looked like several Excalibur fragments welded together.
"Still playing with broken toys?" Xenovia's voice cut through the air as she landed behind the exorcist, Durandal gleaming.
The exorcist spun around with a manic grin. "Two for the price of one! Perfect!"
While they fought, green vines suddenly erupted around Valper Galilei, wrapping around his throat and cutting off his incantations.
"Form Seven," Valerie said under her breath, somehow managing both the bear construct and the vine restraints simultaneously.
*Impressive. She's using multiple forms at once without losing focus. My knight is exceeding my expectations.*
The old priest struggled against the vines, his face turning purple as his Excalibur fusion ritual began to collapse. In desperation, he managed to gasp out words between the choking vines.
"The... the sword fragments... they're not just weapons!" Valper wheezed. "They're... monuments to a lie! God... God isn't watching over them anymore! Or else it wouldn't have been interrupted"
Kokabiel's attention snapped to his subordinate, and a cruel smile spread across his face. "Ah, how fitting. Even a pathetic human heretic speaks the truth." His voice grew louder, addressing everyone on the battlefield. "Yes! Let me enlighten you all about the reality you refuse to face!"
"You fools still believe in your pathetic charade!" Kokabiel's voice boomed with centuries of accumulated bitterness. "I'll tell you the truth that will shatter your delusions - God has been dead since the Great War! Your prayers fall on deaf ears!"
"This is impossible!" Rias's usual composure cracked as she hovered unsteadily. "The Church... the angels... they would never..." "This is seriously messed up!" Issei shouted, his Boosted Gear flickering. "First fallen angels, now this?! I just wanted a normal high school life!"
"Lord... Lord, that cannot..." Asia's voice trembled, her faith shaking to its very core. She stumbled slightly, one hand reaching for her cross pendant.
Xenovia's entire body went rigid, her knuckles white as she gripped Durandal. "You're lying," she said flatly, but there was a crack in her usually unwavering voice.
*Interesting,* I thought, leaning against a nearby tree. *So Kokabiel's using psychological warfare now. Smart, but...* I watched as the revelation shattered everyone's morale. *If God really is dead, then what about Runeas? The devils think she died in the war too, but I know better. There's more to this story than even Kokabiel realizes.*
The emotional impact on my allies was immediate and devastating. I could see it in their movements—hesitation where there had been confidence, fear where there had been determination. *This is exactly what he wanted. Break their spirits before breaking their bodies.*
From my vantage point, I watched Rias and her team get steadily beaten down. Even with Issei using Transfer to boost them, they couldn't scratch Kokabiel. Xenovia and Kiba joined the air battle but fared no better, after they took care of stray exorcist and Valper.
*They're falling apart,* I realized with growing concern. *Rias is second-guessing every move, Akeno's lost her usual sadistic confidence, and the others are just trying not to get killed.*
"Aren't you going to help?" Valerie asked, appearing beside me after her Cerberus collapsed into golden particles.
I watched Rias take another hit that sent her tumbling. "She said her peerage could handle it."
"They're getting destroyed."
*She's right. My pride isn't worth watching them die.* The sight of Asia cowering behind debris, tears streaming down her face as her entire worldview crumbled, made something twist in my chest. *Enough of this.*
She was right. Kokabiel was toying with them now, and it was getting ugly. *I can't just stand here and watch them suffer because of my stubborn principles.*
I pushed off from the tree. "Yeah, okay. Enough of this."
*Time to remind everyone why dragons are apex predators.*
Drawing Incursio, I let its power flow through me. Golden light erupted as the armor materialized, but this time it felt different—stronger. *The dragon's power is responding to my emotions. My anger at seeing my allies broken, my determination to end this.* Massive golden wings burst from my back as I launched myself skyward.
*Let's see how a war maniac handles a real dragon.*
"Finally!" Kokabiel's eyes lit up with genuine excitement. "A real opponent!"
I hovered opposite him, wings beating slowly. *He's enjoying this. The chaos, the despair, the violence. Everything I despise about pointless conflict.* "Sorry I'm late. You looked so pathetic I wasn't sure you were worth the effort."
His face darkened. "You arrogant little—"
A light spear the size of a telephone pole materialized in his hand. The same attack that had leveled part of the school earlier. He hurled it with everything he had.
I caught it in my right hand.
The spear simply... dissolved. Absorbed completely.
*All those encounters with fallen angels finally paid off. Every light attack they threw at me, every time I had to adapt and overcome—it all led to this moment.*
"What the hell?!" Issei shouted from below.
"Impossible," Kokabiel breathed.
I flexed my fingers. "Thanks to your underlings, for the gift they gave me. Light attacks don't really work on me anymore." I shrugged. "Got anything else, or is this it?"
His response was to unleash everything—dozens of light spears filled the air.
I swatted them aside like they were made of paper. Some I absorbed, others I just knocked away. *Pathetic. Is this really the best a ten-winged fallen angel can do? No wonder the war ended in stalemate.*
"How disappointing," I said, dodging another incoming spear "Here I thought a war-hungry maniac would be more entertaining. You're just a bitter old fool throwing a tantrum."
That did it. Kokabiel's face contorted with rage, but before he could respond, I was already moving.
*Time to end this*
My fist connected with his stomach before he even saw me coming. The impact launched him into the ground with enough force to crater the academy courtyard.
*That felt good. Maybe too good.* I floated above the crater, looking down at him. *Control yourself, Akira. You're sounding like him. Don't become what he is.* Kokabiel lay there, covered in dirt and blood, hatred burning in his eyes.
"I never imagined... when we crossed swords in spar, you held back this much," Xenovia said, her voice filled with genuine awe and a hint of warrior's respect.
"If I'd used this against you in our spar..." I glanced down at her.
Xenovia managed a weak smile despite her injuries. "I would have been annihilated before I could even react."
"Hey partner," Ddraig's voice rumbled from Issei's gauntlet, "I can sense incredible draconic power from him, but it's... different. Unlike anything in my memories."
"Ddraig, please don't give him ideas about fighting me!" Issei's voice cracked with panic. "I'd rather not become a red stain on the ground!"
Down in the crater, I called out, "Come on, get up. Don't fall down so soon, I didn't even get to use my Bungee Gum."
*He's not done yet. I can see it in his eyes—that desperate fury of someone who refuses to accept defeat.*
Kokabiel snarled and summoned another Cerberus behind me.
*Predictable.* I didn't even turn around. A golden spear materialized in my hand, and in five quick slashes, the beast was in pieces. *Is this really the caliber of opponent that had everyone so worried?*
"Time to meet your Lord," I said, pointing the spear at him.
Moving faster than anyone could track, I hit him with a combination that would have killed a lesser being instantly. When I was done, I flicked the blood off my spear and watched him fall.
*It's over.* The satisfaction felt hollow somehow. *Another enemy defeated, another crisis averted. But seeing everyone's faith shattered like that...*
The Incursio armor faded as I drank from a vial of holy water, healing the backlash damage. Looking down at Kokabiel's still form, I thought it was finally over.
*At least Asia and the others can start picking up the pieces now—*
Then the barrier shattered like glass.
*Of course. It's never that simple.*
Standing in the sky above us, white wings spread wide, was Vali.
. . .
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