Chapter 17: Chapter 17
Few hours later
The autumn wind carried the scent of dying leaves through Kuoh's central park, but tonight something else lingered in the air. I'd been walking the same route for three nights now, knowing they were watching, waiting for them to make their move.
The first sign was the silence. Not the comfortable quiet of evening, but the absolute absence of sound that came when predators claimed territory. No insects chirped, no small animals rustled through the undergrowth. Even the distant hum of traffic seemed muted, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Streetlights began flickering in sequence, creating a domino effect of dying illumination that followed me down the path. The shadows between the trees grew deeper, more substantial, until they seemed to writhe with their own malevolent life.
"Oh, look what we have here," a voice drifted down from above, dripping with false sweetness. "A little lost human, wandering all alone"
I stopped walking but didn't look up immediately. Instead, I let my senses expand, feeling the weight of hostile gazes pressing down on me like physical things. Three distinct presences, all radiating that particular corrupt energy that marked the fallen.
"You know," I said conversationally, tilting my head back to meet their eyes, "most people would have the courtesy to introduce themselves before trying to kill someone."
Three figures perched on the gnarled branches of an ancient oak, their black wings spread wide like accusations against the star-drunk sky. The male—Dohnaseek, if my intelligence was correct—wore a smirk that suggested he'd been practicing it in mirrors. The violet-haired woman beside him, Kalawarner, had the kind of beauty that came with a price tag written in blood. And the small blonde—Mittelt—giggled like a child who'd just pulled the wings off a butterfly.
"How rude of us," Dohnaseek said, his voice carrying that peculiar accent the fallen seemed to cultivate. "I am Dohnaseek, and they are Kalawarner and Mittelt. We've come to collect something from you"
The air around us began to shimmer, reality bending and warping as mystical barriers snapped into place. The park faded at the edges, becoming something other—a pocket dimension where screams wouldn't carry and blood wouldn't stain anything that mattered.
I observed, testing the barrier's limits with a casual probe of my senses "Very thoughtful of you to set up somewhere private. I do so hate it when civilians get in the way"
Mittelt's giggle turned sharper, more unhinged. "Oh, you're going to be fun to break. I can already tell."
My mind shifted into combat analysis mode, cataloging threats and opportunities with mechanical precision. Three opponents, all flight-capable, all armed with light-based weapons. The barrier meant no escape, but it also meant no interruptions. Good. I preferred my violence clean and decisive.
The tactical situation was actually favorable. In open sky, their aerial advantage would be overwhelming. But this enclosed space limited their maneuverability, and my leopard-enhanced agility would serve me well in close quarters. Water manipulation would provide both offense and defense, while the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist would handle anything that got too close.
"So," I said, settling into a deceptively relaxed stance, "what exactly do you think I have that belongs to you?"
Kalawarner laughed as she pointed at me "Don't play coy with us, little boy. We know about your Sacred Gear. Our superiors have expressed... interest in acquiring it."
*Sacred Gear.* The irony was delicious. They had no idea I was the one who'd been systematically dismantling their operations.
"Your superiors," I repeated, as if tasting the words. "And what makes them think they can just take what they want?"
"Because," Dohnaseek said, conjuring a spear of condensed light that hurt to look at directly, "We're fallen angels, and you're just human. The natural order is quite clear on this matter."
I smiled, and something in that expression made Mittelt's giggling falter. "You know what I love about the natural order? It's so... fluid. One moment you're the predator, the next you're prey. It all depends on perspective."
"Enough talk," Kalawarner snarled, her patience finally snapping "Take him and be done with it."
Mittelt moved first, her small form darting through the air with vicious intent. A spear of light materialized in her hand, brilliant and deadly, as she dove toward me like a hawk striking a mouse.
I waited until she was committed to her attack vector, then shifted. My body blurred, leopard-enhanced reflexes allowing me to read the trajectory of her strike before she'd even fully formed it. I sidestepped with liquid grace, the light spear passing so close to my face I could feel its heat.
Her eyes widened in shock as I counterattacked, water spiraling around my fist in a helix of destructive force. The punch caught her in the ribs, the impact sending her tumbling through the air with a sound like breaking branches.
"Impossible!" Kalawarner spat, her composure cracking. "He's just a human!"
"Your first mistake," I said, water beginning to rise from the park's fountain in response to my will, "was assuming I was 'just' anything."
Dohnaseek and Kalawarner attacked in concert, multiple spears of light raining down like a meteor shower. I moved between them, my body flowing like water itself, each dodge calculated to the millimeter. The spears that came too close met walls of pressurized water, exploding in bursts of steam and scattered light.
"What are you?" Dohnaseek demanded, his earlier confidence evaporating like morning mist.
"Honestly?" I said, gathering water around my legs for a spring-loaded launch. "I'm just someone who really, really hates uninvited guests."
I exploded upward, water-enhanced muscles propelling me toward Mittelt's position. She'd recovered from my first strike, but her movements were sluggish, favoring her injured side. Predictable.
She tried to dodge, but her damaged ribs made her slow. My Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist connected with her chest, the technique's flowing motions amplified by my devil fruit powers. The impact drove the air from her lungs in a whoosh of expelled breath.
She hit the barrier wall hard enough to crack it, then slumped to the ground and didn't move again.
"Mittelt!" Dohnaseek roared, his mask of civility finally slipping completely. He dove toward me, light spear extended like a lance of divine retribution.
I waited until he was almost on top of me, then shifted into full leopard form. His spear passed harmlessly through empty air as I twisted around his attack, my claws finding the soft flesh between his shoulder blades. He screamed, black ichor spattering the ground as he crashed into a tree with bone-jarring force.
Kalawarner was already retreating, trying to gain altitude and distance. But the barrier had limits, and I'd been watching her movement patterns. She favored wide, sweeping attacks that required space to execute—space she no longer had.
Water erupted from the ground around her chosen perch, forming tendrils that wrapped around her legs and wings like living chains. She slashed at them with conjured light-blades, but for every tendril she severed, two more took its place.
"Let me go!" she screamed, panic replacing her earlier arrogance. "You don't understand what you're doing! The consequences—"
"The consequences," I said, using the water constructs as stepping stones to reach her position, "are exactly what I intended."
My fist, enhanced with both devil fruit power and water manipulation, connected with her temple. The sound was final, absolute. She went limp immediately.
Dohnaseek was trying to rise, his wings struggling to support his weight. Black blood leaked from the gashes in his back, and his breathing was labored. I walked over to him with the unhurried pace of inevitability.
"Any last words?" I asked, more out of professional courtesy than genuine interest.
He spat blood, his eyes blazing with impotent fury. "You... you have no idea what you've unleashed. They'll send more. Stronger ones. They'll tear this pathetic world apart looking for you."
"Let them come," I said simply. "I'll be waiting."
The water around my fist compressed, taking on the consistency of a high-pressure drill. It was over in seconds.
The barrier flickered and died with its creator, reality reasserting itself over the pocket dimension. I stood alone in the park, surrounded by the rapidly dissolving corpses of three fallen angels. The night air felt clean again, free of their corrupt presence.
Then I felt it—that familiar electric tingle that meant the system was responding to my actions. A notification materialized in my vision:
**[Rank 5 Gacha Ticket Acquired ]**
I selected yes without hesitation, watching as the individual ticket dissolved into light and reformed as something far more potent. The new ticket pulsed with golden radiance, heavy with potential.
This was it. My reward for eliminating these threats, for taking the first real step in this supernatural war. My hand trembled slightly—not from fear, but from anticipation—as I activated it.
The ticket dissolved into motes of light that swirled around me like a galaxy in miniature. When they coalesced, something solid and warm materialized in my palm.
A sword
But not just any sword. I could feel the power contained within it—vast, hungry, and eager to be unleashed.
**[Incursio - Teigu: Demon Dragon Armor]**
**[Rank: EX]**
**[A suit of armor created from the flesh and bones of Tyrant, an Ultra-Class Danger Beast. Grants the wearer incredible defense, invisibility, and the ability to evolve through battle.]**
My breath caught in my throat. Incursio. I knew this weapon from my previous life's memories—one of the most powerful Teigu from Akame ga Kill. An armor that could adapt, evolve, and grow stronger with each battle. The key itself was warm to the touch, pulsing with a life of its own.
"Incredible," I whispered, turning the key over in my hands. Even in its dormant state, I could feel its potential. This wasn't just armor—it was a symbiotic organism, a living weapon that would grow alongside me.
I closed my eyes and reached out with my senses, feeling the connection forming between us. The armor recognized me, accepted me, and I could sense its hunger for battle, its desire to protect its chosen wielder.
But this was just the beginning. Three fallen angels dead, but their superiors were still out there. There were more of them out there there, and they needed to be eliminated before they could regroup and strike back.
"Time to finish this," I murmured, thinking of the remaining fallen angels hiding in their sanctified stronghold. "All of it."
I took a deep breath and spoke the activation phrase I somehow knew: "Incursio"
...
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Chapter 18: Chapter 18
The abandoned church of Kuoh.
Broken stained glass windows leaked fractured moonlight across the nave, creating patterns that writhed and shifted like living things.
Raynare paced around, twitching with barely contained fury. Every few steps, she would pause and glance toward the church's main entrance, her eyes burning with impatience.
"Where the hell are they?" she snarled, her voice echoing off the vaulted ceiling. "Dohnaseek should have returned hours ago with that human."
Freed Sellzen lounged against a broken pillar, his white hair catching the moonlight as he cleaned his blessed blade with practiced indifference. The stray exorcist's smile was a twisted thing, equal parts madness and malice. Around them, nearly twenty other rogue exorcists went about their preparations, their movements sharp and efficient despite the casual cruelty in their eyes.
"Maybe they're having trouble with one little human" Freed suggested, his voice carrying that sing-song quality that made even killers uncomfortable "Though I can't imagine why. Three fallen angels against a mortal? Should have been over in minutes."
Raynare whirled on him, her eyes flashing with dangerous light. "They were ordered to bring him back alive, not as a corpse. That's more complicated than your usual butchery."
"Alive, dead, what's the difference?" Freed giggled, testing the edge of his blade against his thumb. A bead of blood welled up, which he licked away with obvious pleasure. "The dead tell no tales, but the living... oh, the living can be so wonderfully chatty when properly motivated."
"I need him breathing," Raynare snapped, her wings spreading wider in a display of dominance. "His Sacred Gear is useless if he's dead. And with that bitch Asia vanishing into thin air, we can't afford to lose another potential asset."
The mention of Asia made her pace even more aggressively. The saint's disappearance had been a devastating blow to their plans. Twilight Healing was supposed to be their ace in the hole, their ticket to redemption in the eyes of their superiors. Without it, they were just another group of exiled failures.
"Maybe someone else got to her first," suggested one of the other exorcists, a scarred man with dead eyes. "Could be devils, could be angels. Hell, could be the Church itself."
"Impossible," Raynare snarled. "We had her under constant surveillance. She was in that apartment, and then she was gone. No traces, no witnesses, no—"
The temperature in the church plummeted.
It happened so suddenly that breath began to mist in the air, and frost started forming on the broken windows. The shadows deepened, becoming almost solid, and an oppressive weight settled over the assembled killers like a burial shroud.
Freed stopped laughing.
"What the hell?" one of the exorcists muttered, his hand moving instinctively to his weapon.
The darkness in the far corner of the church began to ripple, like water disturbed by some unseen presence. The shadows there were too deep, too substantial, as if they were hiding something that existed just beyond the edge of perception.
And then, without warning, Freed's head separated from his shoulders.
The stray exorcist's body remained upright for a moment, his mouth still twisted in that eternal smirk, before toppling backward in a spray of crimson. His head hit the stone floor with a wet thud, rolling until it came to rest at Raynare's feet, his eyes wide with shock and the last vestiges of his madness.
A spear materialized in the air where Freed had been standing, its crystalline blade dripping with fresh blood. But this wasn't a spear of light like the fallen angels wielded—this was something else entirely, something that hummed with power and purpose.
"What—" Raynare began, but the words died in her throat as the shadows began to shift and coalesce.
The darkness peeled away like layers of an onion, revealing something that made hardened killers take involuntary steps backward. An armored figure stood where empty air had been moments before, his form wreathed in residual shadows. The armor was unlike anything they'd ever seen—organic in appearance, with plates that seemed to breathe and shift like living tissue. Spikes jutted from the shoulders and knees, and the helmet was fashioned to resemble a dragon's skull, with glowing red eyes that burned with inner fire.
"Incursio," I whispered, feeling the armor's satisfaction at the successful stealth kill. The invisibility function was even more perfect than I'd hoped—complete optical camouflage that made me one with the shadows themselves.
The remaining exorcists recovered from their shock with professional speed, weapons appearing in their hands as they spread out to surround me. But their movements were tainted with fear, their usual confidence shaken by the sudden, brutal death of their most skilled member.
"What are you?" Raynare demanded, her voice sharp with authority despite the uncertainty in her eyes. Light began to gather around her hands, forming the beginnings of a spear.
"I'm the one who's been dismantling your operation piece by piece," I said, my voice distorted by the helmet's speakers into something inhuman. "The one who spirited away your precious saint. The one who killed your subordinates."
Her eyes widened with recognition and rage. "You! You're the one who—"
"Took Asia?" I finished, tilting my head with predatory amusement. "Yes. She's somewhere safe now, somewhere you'll never find her. Your plans for Twilight Healing died the moment she walked out of that apartment with me."
The truth hit her like a physical blow. Her carefully constructed operation, months of planning and preparation, all undone by a single individual. The rage that filled her eyes was beautiful in its purity.
"Kill him!" she screamed, her voice cracking with fury. "Kill him now!"
The exorcists moved as one, their blessed weapons gleaming in the fractured moonlight. They were experienced killers, men and women who had spent years perfecting the art of supernatural murder. Under normal circumstances, they would have been formidable opponents.
But these weren't normal circumstances.
I moved.
The first exorcist—a burly man with a blessed mace—never saw me coming. Incursio's enhanced speed turned me into a blur of motion, and my spear punched through his chest armor like it was made of paper. He looked down at the crystalline blade protruding from his sternum with confusion, as if he couldn't quite process what had happened.
I withdrew the spear and spun, the weapon's shaft catching another exorcist across the throat. The blessed silver of his collar provided no protection against Incursio's power, and his head snapped back with a sound like breaking timber.
"Impossible!" one of them shouted, backing away. "No devil should be able to move like that!"
Three more rushed me from different angles, their coordination speaking of years of practice. I let them come, waiting until they were committed to their attacks before activating another of Incursio's abilities.
Time seemed to slow as my perception accelerated. I could see the trajectory of every blade, the positioning of every foot, the fear in every eye. The Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist flowed through me, enhanced by the armor's power until it became something transcendent.
My fist caught the first attacker in the solar plexus, the impact lifting him off his feet and sending him crashing into a pillar. The second got my elbow across his jaw, the blessed steel of his weapon flying from nerveless fingers. The third managed to score a glancing blow across my armored shoulder, but the plates absorbed the impact without even scratching.
My return strike caved in his ribcage.
"How?" Raynare breathed, her earlier fury replaced by something approaching awe. "Holy weapons should be able to hurt you!"
"Should," I agreed, stepping over the bodies of her followers. "But theory and practice are often very different things."
The remaining exorcists were beginning to panic now, their formation breaking down as fear overwhelmed training. Some tried to flee toward the exits, only to find their way blocked by walls of pressurized water. Others bunched together, seeking safety in numbers that no longer existed.
I moved through them like death itself, Incursio's power amplifying every technique I'd mastered. The Leopard Devil Fruit's speed, the flowing motions of the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, the tactical precision of water manipulation—all of it enhanced beyond human limits by the armor's symbiotic systems.
Bodies fell around me like wheat before the scythe.
An exorcist with twin blessed daggers tried to get behind me, but Incursio's enhanced awareness meant I knew exactly where he was. I spun, my spear bisecting him at the waist. Another attempted to use a blessed net, but water pressure tore it apart before it could even reach me.
"Stop!" Raynare screamed, her light spear fully formed now. "Stop this madness!"
I turned to face her, my helmet's red eyes boring into hers. Around us, the church floor was painted with the blood of her followers. Of the nearly twenty exorcists who had been preparing for whatever unholy mission she'd planned, only three remained alive, and they were huddled together in obvious terror.
"Madness?" I asked, my voice carrying amusement despite the helmet's distortion. "This isn't madness. This is justice."
She hurled her light spear with all the fury of a scorned goddess. It was perfectly aimed, a strike that would have killed any ordinary opponent. But I wasn't ordinary anymore.
I caught the spear in my gauntleted hand.
The light writhed and struggled against my grip, but Incursio's power was absolute. I could feel the armor adapting, evolving, learning from this new form of attack. The spear's radiance dimmed, then died completely.
"How?" she whispered, her face pale with shock.
"Evolution," I said simply, crushing the spear into fragments of fading light. "The armor learns from every battle, adapts to every threat. Your light spears worked on me once. They won't work again."
The remaining exorcists broke and ran, their nerve finally shattered. I let them go—they were small fish, unworthy of my attention. My focus was entirely on Raynare now, on the fallen angel who had orchestrated Asia's captivity and planned to steal her Sacred Gear.
"You took everything from me," she said, her voice shaking with emotion. "My mission, my redemption, my chance to return to grace."
"You took a innocent girl and planned to torture her for her power," I replied, stepping closer. "You forfeited any claim to redemption the moment you decided to prey on the defenseless."
She laughed, but it was a broken sound, empty of her earlier confidence. "Defenseless? Do you know what it's like to Fall? To have everything you believed in stripped away, to be cast out from the only home you've ever known? We were just trying to survive!"
"By victimizing others."
"By any means necessary!"
She launched herself at me with desperate fury, conjuring multiple light spears and hurling them in rapid succession. I moved between them with liquid grace, Incursio's power making me untouchable. When she tried to close for melee combat, I was waiting.
My spear punched through her chest, just below the heart. She gasped, black blood spilling from her lips as she looked down at the weapon protruding from her body.
"This... this isn't how it was supposed to end," she whispered.
"No," I agreed, withdrawing the spear. "It was supposed to end with Asia's death and the theft of her Sacred Gear. But you picked the wrong victim."
She collapsed to her knees, her wings folding around her like a shroud. "At least... at least tell me why. Why did you interfere? What was she to you?"
I considered the question as her life ebbed away. What was Asia to me? In truth, she was a reminder that innocence could exist even in the darkest places, that some things were worth protecting simply because they were good.
"She was someone who didn't deserve what you had planned for her" I said finally "That was enough for me to get involved into this mess"
Raynare's eyes dimmed, and she slumped forward, her rebellion finally ended.
I stood alone in the desecrated church, surrounded by the bodies of those who had traded their souls for power. The silence was absolute, broken only by the whisper of wind through broken windows.
It was finished. The fallen angels' operation in Kuoh ended, their plans for Asia's Sacred Gear buried with them. The town was safe, at least from this particular threat.
But I knew this was only the beginning. The supernatural world was vast and full of predators, and I had just announced my presence to all of them. There would be consequences, retaliation, escalation.
I looked forward to it.
...
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Chapter 19: Chapter 19
Few moments later
The silence in the abandoned church was broken by the whisper of wind through shattered windows. I stood among the carnage, standing proud in Incursio armor.
Then I felt it—that familiar electric tingle that signaled the system responding to my actions. A notification materialized in my vision, golden text hovering in the air like a divine proclamation.
**[Mission Complete ]**
**[Targets Eliminated: 1 Fallen Angels, 19 Stray Exorcists]**
**[Reward: Rank 5 Gacha Ticket]**
**[Activating Gacha Ticket...]**
The ticket dissolved into motes of light that swirled around me like a miniature constellation. When they coalesced, knowledge flooded my mind—not an item this time, but something far more interesting.
**[Born to Blow - Explosive Touch Ability]**
**[Rank: A]**
**[Description: Allows user to mark any surface or object with explosive energy through touch. Marked targets glow with a faint golden light visible only to the user. Detonation is triggered by snapping right-hand fingers, cancellation by snapping left-hand fingers. Maximum of 10 marks can be maintained simultaneously. Explosion power scales with user's energy output.]**
I stared at the notification, my mind racing with the implications. An explosive touch ability that could turn anything into a bomb with just a touch? The tactical applications were staggering. Combined with my other abilities, this could be a game-changer.
"Interesting," I murmured, dismissing Incursio with a thought. The armor dissolved back into its sword form, which I pocketed carefully in the system. I needed to test this new ability immediately.
I walked over to a broken pew and placed my palm against its surface. Immediately, I felt the energy flow from me into the wood, and a faint golden glow appeared where I'd touched—invisible to others, but clear as day to my enhanced senses. The mark pulsed with restrained power, waiting for my command.
Moving to a safe distance, I raised my right hand and snapped my fingers.
The explosion was magnificent.
The pew didn't just break—it disintegrated. Wood splinters flew in all directions, and the shockwave rattled the remaining windows. The crater left behind was perfectly circular, about three feet in diameter and several inches deep. The stone floor itself had been scorched black.
"Holy shit," I breathed, genuine awe coloring my voice. "That's... that's incredible."
I tested the cancellation next, marking another piece of debris and then snapping my left fingers. The glow faded immediately, the explosive energy dissipating harmlessly. Perfect control, just as advertised.
My mind was already working through the combinations. Water bubbles filled with explosive energy, detonating on command. Mark an enemy's weapon and wait for them to bring it close to their allies. Set traps that could be triggered remotely. The possibilities were endless.
"The water bubbles," I said aloud, excitement creeping into my voice. "I can create water bubbles, mark them with explosive energy, and then detonate them at range. Mobile bombs that can be guided and positioned precisely."
I formed a basketball-sized bubble of water and carefully touched it with my fingertip. The golden glow spread through the liquid like ink, and I could feel the explosive potential contained within. It was perfect—invisible to enemies, completely under my control, and devastating when triggered.
The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted my experimentation. Multiple individuals, moving with purpose through the church's outer corridors. I quickly dismissed the explosive bubble and prepared for another fight, but the familiar signatures made me pause.
Devil energy. Specifically, devil energy I recognized.
"Akira?" a voice called out, filled with concern and barely contained panic. "Akira, are you in there?"
Rias Gremory stepped through the church's main entrance, her crimson hair flowing behind her like a banner. Akeno Himejima followed close behind, her usual serene expression replaced by genuine worry. Both devils moved with the fluid grace of predators, their eyes quickly taking in the scene of carnage.
"Rias?" I called out, genuinely surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"What am I—" She stopped mid-sentence, her blue-green eyes widening as she took in the full scope of the destruction. Bodies lay scattered throughout the nave, blood pooled on the stone floor, and the air still reeked of violence and death. "Oh my Satan, what happened here?"
Akeno's violet eyes were scanning the scene with professional interest, her gaze lingering on the various weapons and the patterns of destruction "This is... unbelievable"
"Though I'm still curious how you knew I was here."
Rias's expression shifted from shock to something approaching anger. "How did I—? Akira, I gave you that devil flyer for a reason! You were supposed to summon me if you found yourself in supernatural trouble, not... not take on an entire fallen angels by yourself!"
She gestured wildly at the carnage around us "This is what? And you handled all of them alone?"
"You—" Rias stopped, her mouth opening and closing like a fish. "You killed three fallen angels earlier tonight? And then came here to finish the job?"
Akeno moved closer, her usual playful demeanor replaced by genuine concern "Akira-kun, this level of destruction..."
I considered how much to reveal. Rias and I had developed a friendship, built on mutual respect and shared interests in supernatural lore. She'd given me the devil flyer as a safety net, genuinely concerned about my welfare. But I'd deliberately chosen not to use it tonight, partly because I wanted to handle the situation myself, and partly because I'd wanted the gacha rewards.
"Akira, you just single-handedly eliminated an entire fallen angel operation. It's strength at the level of a High-Class Devil!"
"Are you injured?" Akeno asked, her healer's instincts kicking in as she moved to examine me for wounds.
"I'm fine" I assured her, though I appreciated the concern.
Before I could answer, the sound of approaching sirens echoed through the night. The human authorities, finally responding to the explosions and supernatural energy discharge. It was time to leave.
"We should go," I said, already moving toward the side exit. "The last thing any of us need is to explain this to the police."
"Oh no," Rias said firmly, blocking my path. "You're not walking away from this conversation. We're going back to the club room, and you're going to explain everything. What you are, how you did this, and why you didn't call for help when you clearly needed it."
"I didn't need help," I pointed out. "As evidenced by the fact that I'm standing here uninjured while they're all dead."
"That's not the point" she sighed
Akeno giggled softly, some of her usual personality returning. "Ara, ara. It seems our mysterious Akira-kun has been keeping secrets from us"
"Secrets that nearly got him killed," Rias muttered, though her annoyance was clearly born of concern rather than malice.
The sirens were getting closer. I could see the flashing lights through the broken windows, casting red and blue shadows across the blood-stained stone.
"Look," I said, "I appreciate your concern, I really do. But right now, we need to leave before this becomes a diplomatic incident between the supernatural factions. We can have this conversation somewhere more private."
Rias looked like she wanted to argue further, but the approaching authorities made her decision for her. "Fine," she said "But we are having this conversation. Tonight. In full detail."
"Fair enough," I agreed. "Though I should warn you, the truth is going to be harder to believe than what you're imagining."
"After seeing this," Akeno added "I'm prepared to believe quite a lot."
We made our way to the side exit, moving quickly but carefully to avoid the approaching police. As we stepped out into the night air, I couldn't help but smile. The evening had been far more productive than I'd hoped.
New abilities acquired, enemies eliminated, and friends who cared enough to come looking for me when they sensed trouble. All in all, it had been a very good night.
Though I suspected the interrogation waiting for me at the club room was going to be far more challenging than anything I'd faced in the church.
"Oh, and Rias?" I said as we disappeared into the shadows. "You might want to prepare yourself for a very long conversation."
Her expression promised that she fully intended to get every detail out of me, one way or another.
This was going to be interesting.
The Occult Research Club room was exactly as I remembered it—warm, comfortable. The familiar scent of old books and expensive tea hung in the air, creating an atmosphere that was both scholarly and mysteriously inviting.
What I hadn't expected was the additional company.
Sona Sitri sat primly in one of the chairs, her violet eyes sharp behind her glasses as she observed me with the calculating gaze of someone accustomed to analyzing complex problems. Beside her stood Tsubaki Shinra, the tall, elegant woman maintaining perfect posture as she regarded me with polite but wary interest.
I knew exactly what they were, of course. Devils, just like Rias and Akeno. But playing ignorant had its advantages.
"President" I said, genuinely surprised to see the Student Council President here "I wasn't expecting to see you tonight."
"Akira-kun," she replied with a slight nod, her voice carrying that familiar tone of measured authority. "When supernatural incidents of this magnitude occur in our territory, it tends to draw attention from all interested parties."
Territory. Our territory. I maintained my expression of mild confusion at her phrasing.
Rias moved to pour tea, her movements precise despite the tension radiating from her. "Akira, there are some things about Sona and Tsubaki that you should know."
"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow, playing my part perfectly.
"Sona Sitri is a High-Class Devil and the heiress to the Sitri family," Rias explained matter-of-factly. "She's also the devil responsible for managing the other half of Kuoh's supernatural territory. Tsubaki Shinra is her Queen."
I let surprise cross my features, though internally I was noting how casually Rias had revealed this information. "Devils. Both of you."
"Indeed," Sona confirmed, adjusting her glasses slightly. "And now, Akira-kun, I find myself in the rather unusual position of trying to understand a human student"
"Did you really kill them all by yourself" Tsubaki's expression remained neutral, but her voice carried curiosity.
I settled into the chair across from them, accepting the tea Rias offered "I suppose I should explain what happened"
"Please do," Sona said simply.
"Three fallen angels ambushed me in the park earlier tonight," I began, keeping my tone factual. "They were after my Sacred Gear. Apparently, they'd been watching me and decided I was either a threat to be eliminated or an asset to be recruited."
"Ara, ara," Akeno interjected, her voice carrying that familiar musical quality. "And now that mistake has led to quite the massacre."
Sona's eyebrows rose slightly. "You were offered a place in a devil's peerage and refused. Did you?"
"I did" I confirmed "And I stand by that decision. Tonight proved, I can handle supernatural threats without becoming anyone's servant."
"Most humans would consider such an offer the opportunity without a thought "Tsubaki observed.
"I agree" I replied calmly, shifting back the conversation to topic "Besides, the ambush didn't go as the fallen angels planned. I killed all three of them. But before the last one died, she mentioned others—more fallen angels and stray exorcists operating at old church. She made it clear they wouldn't stop coming after me."
"So you decided to eliminate the threat entirely" Sona said, her tone neutral but calculating.
"I decided to ensure my safety," I corrected. "They made it a kill-or-be-killed situation. I simply chose to be the one doing the killing."
Sona mused "That's a significant feat"
"It was," I agreed. "But not significant enough, apparently."
Akeno's eyes gleamed with something that might have been approval. "Ara, ara. Such confidence."
"Confidence backed by results," I said simply.
Rias leaned forward, her expression serious. "Akira, do you understand what you've done? You've eliminated what amounts to a fallen angels operating in devil territory. There will be political ramifications."
"From their end, perhaps," I replied. "They came after me first. They threatened my safety and made it clear they would continue to do so. I responded accordingly."
"The fallen angel faction will want answers," Tsubaki said quietly. "They may demand retribution."
"Let them," I said, my tone calm but carrying an edge of steel. "I've demonstrated what happens to fallen angels who threaten me. If they want to test that lesson, they're welcome to try."
The room fell silent for a moment. Sona was the first to speak.
"Your confidence is noteworthy," she said carefully. "But confidence won't protect you from the political consequences. The fallen angel faction will demand explanations from the devils responsible for this territory."
"They can demand all they want," I replied. "The simple fact is that their people initiated hostilities against me. I responded in kind. If they have a problem with that, they should have taught their subordinates better judgment."
"He's right," Rias said firmly. "Akira was acting in self-defense. The fallen angels initiated the conflict by targeting him for his Sacred Gear. Everything that followed was a direct result of their aggression."
Her voice carried the authority of her noble lineage as she continued. "Moreover, Akira is my friend. I will not allow the fallen angel faction to make him a scapegoat for their own people's poor judgment."
"Buchou makes an excellent point," Akeno added, her smile carrying a dangerous edge. "If the fallen angels want to press this matter, they'll have to explain why their people were operating in devil territory without permission."
Sona observed this exchange with keen interest. "You're claiming protection over him?"
"I'm stating fact," Rias replied. "Akira is my friend, and friends protect each other. If the fallen angels want to escalate this matter, they'll find themselves facing more than just him."
"Even someone who refused to join your peerage?" Tsubaki asked.
"Especially someone who refused to join my peerage," Rias said with a slight smile. "His independence doesn't change the fact that he's my friend."
I felt genuine appreciation for her loyalty, though I kept my expression neutral. "I appreciate the support, but I'm perfectly capable of handling any consequences that arise from tonight's actions."
I believed in Azazel, he wasn't crazy enough to not understand, how it turned out tonight. He was far more reasonable than Raynare and her fellows.
"I'm sure you are," Sona said, her voice carrying a note of dry humor. "The evidence of your capabilities is quite clear. But sometimes it's not about who's right or wrong, but about who can be blamed without starting a larger conflict."
"Then perhaps," I said, leaning back in my chair "they should consider whether starting a conflict over this incident is worth the potential casualties."
The casual way I delivered that statement seemed to give everyone pause.
Sona studied me for a long moment. "You're more than you appear to be, aren't you?"
"Maybe" I said simply.
"Ara, ara" Akeno murmured, her voice carrying that familiar musical quality.
"The point remains," Rias said, steering the conversation back to practical matters, "that Akira acted in self-defense against an organized supernatural threat. If the fallen angels want to make an issue of it, they'll have to explain why their people were operating in devil territory without permission."
"Exactly" I agreed "This entire situation exists because fallen angels decided to operate outside established protocols. They initiated hostilities, they escalated the conflict, and they suffered the consequences"
Sona nodded slowly. "A valid point. The fallen angels will be in a difficult position politically if they try to seek retribution for an incident they initiated."
"And if they do try to escalate matters," Rias added, "they'll find themselves facing the consequences of breaking law in devil territory."
"Though we should be prepared for the possibility that they might not approach this situation logically," Tsubaki said quietly. "Fallen angels are not known for their diplomatic restraint."
"Let's hope it turns out well" I said simply.
The confidence in my voice affected everyone differently. Rias looked determined, Akeno appeared intrigued, Sona seemed thoughtful, and Tsubaki maintained her careful neutrality.
"Well then," Sona said finally, adjusting her glasses, "I suppose we'll see how the fallen angel faction chooses to respond. In the meantime, Akira-kun, I trust you'll inform us if you notice any unusual supernatural activity."
I nodded, as it wasn't too much of a trouble for me.
As I prepared to leave, Rias spoke up. "Akira, thank you for trusting us with the truth. Whatever comes next, you won't face it alone."
I looked around the room at the four devils who had, in their own ways, offered me their understanding and support.
"Thank you. All of you."
"Sigh!" Sona said with a tired expression "Something tells me life in Kuoh is about to become much more tiresome"
...
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Chapter 20: Chapter 20
The morning sun streamed through the elegant dining room windows of Chysis's mansion, casting warm golden light across the polished mahogany table. I sat across from my benefactor, watching as she delicately cut into her perfectly prepared omelet with the precision of someone accustomed to the finer things in life.
"So," she said without looking up, her voice carrying that familiar tone of casual authority, "I take it your evening was... productive?"
I paused with my coffee cup halfway to my lips. "You heard about last night already?"
"Dear" Chysis smiled, finally meeting my eyes, "when an entire fallen angel operation gets obliterated in a single night, word tends to travel quickly through certain circles. The question isn't whether I heard about it—it's whether you're going to tell me the truth about what happened."
I set down my cup and leaned back in my chair. There was no point in being evasive with Chysis. She had proven herself trustworthy time and again, and her insights had been invaluable.
"Three fallen angels ambushed me in the park," I began, watching her expression carefully. "They wanted my Sacred Gear. When I refused to cooperate, they made it clear they would keep coming after me until they got what they wanted."
"And you decided to eliminate the threat entirely," she said, not a question but a statement of fact.
"I tracked them back to their base—the old abandoned church. There were twenty-one enemies in total. One fallen angel leader named Raynare, and twenty stray exorcists under her command."
Chysis paused in her eating, her fork hovering in midair. "Twenty-one. And you handled all of them alone?"
"Yes."
She set down her fork completely, studying my face with an intensity that made me slightly uncomfortable. "Akira, do you understand the magnitude of what you accomplished? Most High-Class Devils would think twice before taking on those odds alone."
"I had advantages they didn't expect," I said simply. "New abilities, better equipment, and the element of surprise."
"New abilities?" Her eyebrow arched elegantly. "Care to elaborate?"
I considered how much to reveal. "An armor that enhances all my physical capabilities and grants additional powers. Something... unique."
Fascinating, Chysis thought to herself, her mind racing even as she maintained her composed exterior. In just two weeks, he's gone from a promising student to someone capable of single-handedly dismantling entire supernatural operations. The rate of his development is unprecedented. And that casual way he speaks about eliminating twenty-one enemies...
She had seen many devils grow in power over the centuries, had witnessed the rise of legendary figures, but there was something different about Akira's progression. It wasn't just raw strength—it was the tactical thinking, the cold precision, the willingness to make hard choices without hesitation.
He saved Asia without a moment's doubt, putting himself at risk for someone he barely knew. Yet he can eliminate threats with the efficiency of a seasoned killer. Compassionate but ruthless. Loyal but independent. He's becoming something extraordinary.
"The fallen angels will demand answers," she said aloud, cutting into her thoughts.
"Let them. Rias and Sona have already made it clear they'll support my position. The fallen angels initiated hostilities in devil territory without permission. They have no legal ground to stand on."
"And you're confident you can handle any retaliation they might attempt?"
"After last night? Yes."
The simple confidence in that single word spoke volumes. Chysis found herself believing him completely, which was remarkable in itself. She had lived long enough to distinguish between arrogance and genuine capability—and Akira was definitely the latter.
"What about Asia?" she asked, changing the subject. "I'll be returning to the Underworld next week. My vacation time is over, and I have duties to attend to. What are your plans for her?"
I was quiet for a moment, staring into my coffee cup. "I... honestly don't know. When I first got these powers, my only thought was survival. Getting strong enough to protect myself and those I care about. But now..."
"Now you have friends who care about your welfare," Chysis observed. "Rias, Akeno, even Sona in her own way. They've offered their support."
"Yes, but there are limits to how far they'll go," I said, looking up to meet her eyes. "I'm human, Chysis. At the end of the day, their first loyalty will always be to their own kind, their own factions. I understand that, and I don't begrudge them for it. But it means I can't rely on them completely."
He's thinking like a strategist, she mused. Planning for contingencies, understanding the political realities of supernatural society. Most humans would be content to accept the devils' protection and live under their umbrella. But he recognizes that dependency is its own form of weakness.
"Besides," I continued, "I don't like feeling helpless. These past two weeks have shown me what I'm capable of when I take control of my own fate. I've been thinking... maybe it's time to build something of my own."
"Your own group?" Chysis leaned forward, intrigued. "Tell me more about this idea."
"A organization of strong individuals who aren't beholden to the existing power structures. People who can stand on their own but choose to work together. Not a traditional peerage or faction hierarchy, but something more... egalitarian."
"Ambitious," she said approvingly. "And Asia? Where does she fit into these plans?"
I hesitated. "That's the problem. Asia is kind, innocent, pure-hearted. She doesn't belong in the kind of world I'm getting involved in. She deserves a peaceful life, not one filled with violence and political maneuvering."
And there it is, Chysis thought with something approaching pride. He's protective of her innocence, even while planning his own rise to power. He understands that not everyone should be dragged into the darkness, even if they have abilities that would be useful.
"Have you considered asking her what she wants?" Chysis suggested gently.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean," she stood gracefully from her chair, "that Asia Argento has spent her entire life having other people make decisions for her. The Church sent her away because of her abilities. The fallen angels planned to use her for their own purposes. Even you and I decided her fate without consulting her. Perhaps it's time someone actually asked what she wants to do with her life."
The truth of that statement hit me like a physical blow. She was right—everyone had been making choices for Asia, supposedly in her best interest, without ever considering her own desires.
"Asia, dear?" Chysis called out sweetly. "Could you join us for a moment?"
From the next room came the soft sound of footsteps, and Asia appeared in the doorway. She was wearing one of the dresses Chysis had provided—a simple but elegant green number that complemented her eyes. In her hands was a small watering can, and there were tiny droplets of water on her fingers from tending to the plants.
"You called for me, Chysis-san?" she asked politely, then noticed me. "Oh, good morning, Akira-san. I hope you slept well."
"I did, thank you. How are you adjusting to your new circumstances?"
"I'll leave you two to talk," Chysis said smoothly, gathering her plate and coffee cup. "Take all the time you need."
As she left the room, she paused just long enough to give me a meaningful look that clearly said: Ask her what she wants.
When we were alone, Asia set down her watering can and took the seat Chysis had vacated. The morning light caught in her blonde hair, making it seem almost luminous.
"Asia," I began carefully, "how are you really feeling about everything that's happened? About being here, about leaving the Church behind, about... all of it?"
She was quiet for a moment, her hands folded in her lap. "It's strange," she said finally. "For so long, my life was dictated by others. The Church told me where to go, what to do, who to heal. I never questioned it because I thought it was God's will."
"And now?"
"Now I find myself wondering if perhaps God's will was for me to make my own choices." She looked up at me with those innocent green eyes. "Does that sound terribly selfish?"
"It sounds human," I said gently. "You have every right to decide your own path."
"The strange thing is," she continued, "I feel more at peace here than I have in years. Chysis-san has been wonderfully kind, but more than that... I feel safe. For the first time in my life, I'm not afraid that someone will hurt me or use me for their own purposes."
"You shouldn't have to be afraid of that," I said firmly. "You deserve to live without fear."
"But I also don't want to live without purpose," she said, her voice growing stronger. "My healing abilities... they're a gift. I want to use them to help people, but I want to choose who I help and why."
I studied her face, seeing a strength there that I hadn't noticed before. "What if I told you I was thinking of forming a group of people like us? People with special abilities who want to help others but don't want to be bound by the existing power structures?"
Her eyes widened with interest. "You mean... like a new kind of organization?"
"Something like that. But Asia, I need you to understand—the world I'm getting involved in can be dangerous. There would be risks, enemies who might target us. I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you because of choices I made."
To my surprise, she smiled. "Akira-san, something was already going to happen to me because of choices other people made. At least with you, I would have a say in my own fate."
The simple wisdom of that statement left me momentarily speechless.
"Besides," she continued, "I've been thinking about what happened to me. The fallen angels, the way the Church treated me... there are probably other people out there in similar situations. People who need help but have nowhere to turn. If we could create something that truly protects the innocent..."
"You want to help build this?" I asked, genuinely surprised.
"I want to choose to help build this," she corrected with a gentle smile. "There's a difference."
Looking at her in that moment—seeing the quiet determination in her eyes, the way she held herself with newfound confidence—I realized I had been underestimating her. Asia Argento wasn't just an innocent victim to be protected. She was someone with her own strength, her own convictions, her own desire to make a difference in the world.
"Then welcome to the team," I said, extending my hand across the table.
She took it without hesitation, her grip surprisingly firm. "Thank you for asking me instead of deciding for me."
"Thank you for being brave enough to choose your own path."
As we shook hands, I felt the first pieces of something new beginning to take shape. Not just a group or organization, but a partnership built on mutual respect and shared values.
From the doorway, I caught a glimpse of Chysis watching us with an expression of satisfaction. She had been right—Asia needed to make her own choice. And the choice she made was going to make us all stronger.
This is just the beginning, I thought as Asia smiled at me with genuine happiness. But it's a good beginning.
...
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