"The scent of blood. Rot and corruption. No doubt about it—these are lost souls."
Raynare, wings spread in full fallen angel glory, licked her lips as she eyed the building ahead.
Rias, Akeno, and Koneko exchanged silent glances. Last time they'd seen Raynare, she'd only had two wings. Now, four jet-black wings unfurled behind her—a sign she'd evolved, and none of them had noticed until now.
"Master, let me handle this. I could wipe them out in a heartbeat."
Dark curses crackled around Raynare, her eagerness palpable. With four wings and Tenra's gift—the Sacred Gear [Dark Evil King]—she was a force even high-class devils would hesitate to face.
But Tenra shook his head.
"Stay outside with me. This is Mira and the others' training session."
He turned to his peerage, voice encouraging.
"Mira, Ile, Nel—you ready?"
"Absolutely, Lord Tenra!"
"Hehe, leave it to us!"
Mira's Ruyi Jingu Bang spun through the air, a blur of confidence. The twin sisters grinned, flashing their little fangs as their magic chainsaws roared to life.
"What about me, Lord Tenra?"
Gasper's voice was barely more than a whisper.
"You want to go in with them?"
"N-no... not really..."
"Then stay outside."
"Oh..."
Gasper shook his head so hard it was a wonder it didn't fall off. Tenra just sighed—years of training, and the kid was still support-only. Brave in spirit, but not cut out for the front lines.
"Koneko, you're with them. Be careful."
Rias nodded as Tenra finished his deployment. With Koneko joining Mira's team, she felt reassured.
"Yes, President."
Koneko tugged her gloves on, exchanged a glance with Mira and the twins, and the four girls strode into the building.
"Akeno, let's set the barriers. Don't let anything escape."
"On it, President."
Rias and Akeno moved with practiced precision, layers of magic enveloping the area.
Raynare yawned, bored. Tenra and Gasper, useless with magic, could only wait.
It didn't take long. The first sounds of battle echoed from inside.
"It's started."
BOOM!
Half the building collapsed in a single blow—only Koneko could manage that kind of brute force.
"Ruyi Jingu Bang—extend!"
Mira's shout rang out. A monstrous figure was sent flying, smashed into Rias and Akeno's barrier, and vaporized by a surge of electricity.
"Hahaha! Don't run, don't run!"
"Let's chop you up! Into tiny pieces! Tiny pieces!"
Chainsaws screamed. Ile and Nel's manic laughter mingled with the stray devil's desperate howls.
Rias and Akeno shot Tenra a look. He just buried his face in his palm. He didn't need to see the carnage to know it was ugly.
"Monsters! You're all monsters!"
A huge, twisted figure burst from the rubble, shrieking in terror. It still bore a hint of human shape—a stray devil, corrupted beyond recognition.
Freed from their masters, obsessed with power, these strays devoured humans, body and soul, until nothing remained but filth and hatred.
They were the cancer of this world—and tonight, they'd be purged.
"Oh my, what an ugly little monster," Akeno said sweetly, stepping forward.
"Betrayed your master, devoured humans... time to die."
She raised one elegant hand to the sky.
"Thunder Pact!"
A massive magic circle blazed, lightning crashing down. The monster shrieked, burning to ash as Akeno's cheeks flushed with savage pleasure.
Tenra and Rias exchanged glances—Akeno's sadistic streak was in full bloom. Their shared look said it all: embarrassment, resignation, and more than a little concern.
Gasper stared in awe. Raynare licked her lips, watching Akeno with new interest.
The battle was nearly over. Mira, Koneko, and the twins tore through the remaining strays with ease.
But then—
"Hehehe... Die with me!"
"Tenra, look out!"
"Tenra!"
One last monster, wild and desperate, exploded from the ruins—intent on dragging Tenra into oblivion.
Mira and the others rushed after it. Rias and Akeno moved to intercept.
Tenra hadn't planned to intervene, but as the creature lunged, he sighed and readied himself. Then—
"Don't you dare hurt Lord Tenra!"
Gasper's voice rang out, trembling but fierce. His crimson eyes blazed, and suddenly, an invisible field rippled outward—everything caught in his gaze froze in place, monster and allies alike.
The Evil Eye that Stops the World.
Rias and Akeno stopped dead, astonished. Even Raynare paused, curiosity piqued.
"Heh... not completely useless, after all."
Raynare stepped forward, conjured a spear of light, and hurled it into the immobilized monster.
Gasper released his power. The monster stared dumbly at the gaping hole in its chest—then black flames erupted, swallowing it whole before it could even scream.
Tenra nodded, satisfied. The [Dark Evil King] fit Raynare perfectly—dark, cursed, and beautifully destructive. In just days, she'd mastered its hellfire.
"Gasper, nice work."
He ruffled Gasper's hair. The boy's eyes filled with tears—Tenra's praise meant everything.
Mira and the others returned, battered but grinning. The stray devils were gone. The mission was a complete success.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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