Ituzo's manic theatrics finally got under Rias's skin.
"Just a human, and yet you dare strut around like this," she said, voice cold as steel.
Ituzo grinned, unbothered. "Then let me show you our masterpiece. Number Two—capture them. Don't kill them outright."
At his command, the cage sprang open. The silent youth inside snapped his eyes wide—deep green, luminous and unsettling.
Light shimmered across his skin, weaving into a suit of sacred armor. A blade of pure radiance formed in his hand.
Rias and Draconis both felt the surge—a divine power, not quite at the level of a high-class devil, but close.
Number Two lunged, moving with a speed that matched Draconis's own, even with both Knight pieces boosting him.
Draconis reacted instantly, raising the Divine Lament Shield and flooding it with power. The protective field flared—
Crack!
—with a single strike, Number Two's sword shattered the barrier.
Draconis's eyes narrowed. He snatched the shield, bracing it just in time as the light blade crashed against its surface.
Bang!
A jolt of numbness shot up his arm, and he slid back a full meter, forced by the raw force of the blow.
He didn't hesitate. Spinning, he brought the Regalia Blade down in a sweeping arc, magic pouring off the edge. The sword hit home, but instead of cutting through, it only sent Number Two flying. The sacred armor absorbed the impact—he emerged without a scratch, still gleaming.
"Not bad," Rias murmured, eyes sharp. "You've managed to push human modification this far. I'm impressed."
Ituzo cackled, drunk on his own success. "Surprised? There's more where that came from!"
Rias's smile was cool, unruffled. "I look forward to it."
She glanced at Draconis, who squared off against Number Two. "He's yours. We'll cover you."
She wanted him to have this fight—to test himself, to grow.
Draconis nodded, eyes never leaving his opponent. "Leave him to me."
Number Two was strong—just shy of breaking into high-class devil territory. The perfect sparring partner. Draconis hadn't gone all out since his last breakthrough; now was the time.
Even if Rias hadn't said anything, he wouldn't have let anyone else step in.
The Divine Lament Shield spun protectively around him. Draconis tightened his grip on the Regalia Blade and charged.
They collided, neither yielding. Magic and divine power clashed, whipping up violent winds. The Regalia Blade burned with purple-black light; Number Two's sword shone gold. Each impact sent shockwaves rolling through the lab.
Ripples distorted the air, waves of force twisting the atmosphere. The ground shattered beneath their feet, metal equipment crumpling like paper. The sheer destructive power outclassed any mid-tier devil—these two were fighting at the very top of their league.
Akeno watched, eyes wide. "Ara… Draconis's magic is already this strong?"
She remembered his breakthrough was only days ago. How had he surpassed so many mid-class devils so quickly? Number Two was peak-tier, yet Draconis held his own, refusing to give ground.
Rias's expression softened. "He works hard. Every day."
She'd always known—Draconis trained relentlessly, signing contracts with precision, risking himself nightly with dangerous Sacred Gear resonance. He never missed a chance to grow stronger. His progress was no surprise; he'd earned every bit of it.
Asia understood too—she'd helped him train, healing the injuries that made her heart ache. She'd begged him to slow down, but Draconis never quit. Treating his wounds had even made her own powers grow.
Ituzo was losing patience. "Number Two, what are you doing? Can't you handle a single devil?"
He stomped, frustrated by the lack of a quick victory. Number Two had torn through mid-class devil scouts before—what was different now?
Number Two seemed to respond, divine power boiling inside him. His sword grew brighter, his attacks more desperate.
Draconis stayed cool, blocking each strike with the Divine Lament Shield. No matter how hard Number Two pressed, Draconis held firm.
Ituzo's eyes narrowed. He was no fool. "That shield… Is it a Sacred Gear?"
Rias laughed, pride in her voice. "Sharp eyes. Yes, it's a Sacred Gear."
Draconis had never let her down. He was flawless.
Ituzo cursed. "So that's it… If it's a Sacred Gear, there's nothing Number Two can do…"
But then he grinned, a wild, twisted smile. "But Sacred Gears aren't invincible. Time to see Number Two's real power! Watch closely—I don't even know what'll happen!"
He barked another command: "Number Two, use the Holy Sword!"
Rias's composure slipped for the first time. "Holy Sword?!"
…
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