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Seeing the three fallen angels seize the initiative, Jack actually told them to go all out. That alone made Rias and the others tense.
With Asia being held hostage, a full-force attack would inevitably hurt her. The fallen angels wouldn't go out of their way to protect her.
But Jack wasn't reckless. He wouldn't just throw Asia's life away either…
Rias and Akeno exchanged a glance. Without a word, both began quietly gathering their magic.
A streak of silver flashed across the sky. The silvery seal fluttered back, tiny wings beating as it landed in Jack's palm. The anti-magic field spread once more, enveloping the fallen angels and darkening their expressions.
"Kid, call off your familiar's anti-magic field. Or I'll kill this woman right now."
Dohnaseek leveled his spear of light, the tip pressed against Asia's chest. The blade tore her clothing slightly, exposing a sliver of pale skin. A thin line of blood seeped through the fabric.
"Hurry up. I'm not joking."
His voice dropped low. Under the anti-magic field, he knew the three of them were no match for Rias's group. The hostage was their only leverage.
Jack did consider using his familiar to finish them off. But the anti-magic field had a time limit, and it had already spent a lot of power sealing the three female fallen angels earlier.
At its current strength, the sealing mark couldn't maintain the field long enough to secure a kill. And after seeing its sealing ability, the enemy would definitely be on guard.
So Jack withdrew the seal. The Sword of Kings lowered.
Then he stepped forward, calm as ever.
"I'll be your hostage. Let Asia go."
"Stop right there!" The fallen angels snapped, instantly on guard, not allowing him to come closer.
Jack remained unbothered.
"What's wrong with that? Compared to her, I'm far more valuable. I'm someone who used two Knight pieces and eight Pawn pieces at the same time."
Even though they suspected a trick, his words still made them pause.
"No way. What do you take us for, idiots? A single person can only hold one chess class!"
Jack smiled lightly. "And yet I used two. In terms of value, I'm worth far more than Asia. Taking me benefits you more."
As he spoke, he took another two steps forward.
Those two steps brought him within striking distance.
And then—
Without warning, the three fallen angels attacked.
"Idiot! Doesn't matter how valuable you are. Since you came to us, we'll take your life!"
They had never planned to exchange hostages. Jack delivering himself was perfect. Kill him while they had the chance.
But Jack exploded into action just as fiercely.
Everything he'd said earlier was just an excuse to close the distance.
Revealing that secret had worked well. While they were distracted by his chess-class anomaly, he'd already entered attack range.
He leapt, sword raised high, and brought it down in a massive overhead strike.
The blade's radiance surged, its force overwhelming, engulfing all five targets—including Asia.
At the same time, Rias and Akeno attacked.
Magic roared forth like a tidal wave, as if determined to annihilate the fallen angels along with Freed and even Asia herself.
"What?!"
Freed felt his scalp go numb. A chill of death ran down his spine.
These people… Asia is still in my hands!
Do they not care if she dies?!
The hostage instantly became a burden.
Faced with such merciless attacks, even the three fallen angels' expressions changed drastically.
This shouldn't be happening!
But they had no choice. They immediately shifted into defense.
Survive first—everything else could wait.
What shocked them even more was that Jack charged straight in with that downward strike.
While they were still reeling, he had already closed the gap, Sword of Kings raised, bringing it crashing down toward Freed like he meant to split him in half.
They couldn't understand how he could be this fearless.
Didn't he realize he was now inside the blast radius of Rias's attacks too? This wasn't some game where allies were immune to friendly fire.
"Damn it!"
Freed shouted, pulling out a hilt without a blade. A beam of light extended from it, forming a sword that met Jack's strike.
But in the next instant, Jack's sword was knocked away with ease.
Freed blinked in surprise. The attack had been… ridiculously light.
Then he saw Jack flick his wrist. The sealing mark appeared in his palm.
"…Huh?"
"Seal!"
Jack hurled the mark without hesitation.
With its remaining power, sealing multiple fallen angels might be difficult—but sealing a lone, separated priest at this distance? No problem.
Smack!
The solid seal slammed straight into Freed's face with zero finesse, knocking his mouth crooked.
Before he could react, Jack's fist crashed into the joints of his arm. Pain exploded through him, forcing his grip to loosen.
In that instant, Asia was gone from his grasp—snatched away by Jack.
Right then, Rias and Akeno's full-force attacks arrived.
Koneko even lifted a decorative boulder from the park and hurled it at the fallen angels.
Jack immediately raised the Divine Lament Shield, pulling Asia into its protective barrier.
Boom!!!
Thunder and fire swallowed everything—the fallen angels, and Jack with Asia along with them.
Heat surged through their bodies. Even with the shield's protection, it felt like they were about to melt under the girls' attacks.
They hadn't held back at all.
But they couldn't afford to.
If they hadn't gone all out, the fallen angels wouldn't have committed fully to defense. And they never would've let Jack snatch Asia back right in front of them.
They had never imagined he'd charge in so recklessly.
And yet, the result was exactly that—Jack forced his way through their attacks and took Asia back.
"Jack!"
Under the shield, tears welled in Asia's eyes as she saw blood continuously spilling from his mouth.
"..."
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