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Outside Kuoh Tower, Rias and her group arrived in a flash of teleportation.
The building rose over two hundred meters into the sky, sprawling across a massive area. It was packed with people, a bustling hub filled with entertainment venues, restaurants, and more. If the fallen angels really had a hidden base here, any trouble would turn this place into chaos in an instant.
"I didn't expect a fallen angel hideout this close to our school," Rias murmured. "Hiding in plain sight, huh."
If not for the demon duke's investigation leading them here, even with her network, she might never have found it.
"There's an unpleasant smell…" Koneko muttered under her breath.
"Are we really just going straight in?" Asia asked, glancing at the crowds flowing in and out of the building, worry clear in her eyes. If a fight broke out, innocent people could get caught in it.
"I've already had Sairaorg make arrangements," Rias replied calmly, brushing her crimson hair back with effortless elegance. "If anything happens, magic will be used to evacuate everyone immediately."
She carried herself with natural authority, poised and commanding. At school, anyone who saw her couldn't help but feel that cold beauty and quiet dominance radiating from her.
As both knight and pawn, Jack naturally took point, walking ahead toward the entrance with steady composure.
The first two floors of the building were open and spacious, nothing out of the ordinary at first glance. But Jack could feel it—an unusual ripple in the air. Familiar. The divine power of fallen angels.
Clearly, Rias and the others sensed it too.
"This way," Rias signaled with her eyes.
Jack strode forward, casually glancing at the surveillance cameras above. The deeper they went toward the source of the divine energy, the more cameras appeared.
As expected, they hadn't gone far before a group of security guards blocked their path.
"Stop. This area is restricted. No further entry."
They were all human—but their expressions were hostile.
Jack swept his gaze over them and noticed something strange. A peculiar power lurked beneath the surface of each of them.
Something was off.
"Heh. Using followers to block the way? Fallen angels really haven't improved their methods," Rias sneered, stepping forward. Her eyes turned sharp and cold, her presence overwhelming.
"You corrupted believers of the fallen angels—move aside now, or don't blame me for what happens next."
A ripple of agitation spread through the guards.
"So it's those damn devils again! Put up the barrier and capture them!"
"Pathetic," Rias said flatly. "Don't waste time. Knock them out and toss them aside."
Jack and Koneko moved instantly, like wolves among sheep. Though faint divine power surged from the humans, it was far too weak to matter.
A few quick strikes and they were all down.
A gust of wind came from behind—someone swung a metal rod at Jack in a sneak attack. He turned calmly, about to counter with a kick—
Crackle!
A flash of lightning cut through the air.
The attacker convulsed and collapsed instantly.
"My, my~" Akeno smiled gently, though a hint of excitement flickered in her eyes. "It's been a while since I got to act. I couldn't quite hold back…"
Jack: "…"
Her sadistic side was really starting to show again.
Smiling faintly, Jack turned and walked up to the tightly shut steel door ahead. He drew the Sword of Kings without a word.
A cold gleam flashed.
The ten-centimeter-thick steel door split apart like tofu. With a casual kick, it flew inward.
Rat-a-tat-tat—
Machine gun fire erupted from inside!
Unfazed, Jack stepped forward, raising a simple magical force field. The bullets struck it and bounced away harmlessly. Behind him, Rias and the others followed in with relaxed expressions.
"You damn devils!"
The enemies kept firing wildly.
Jack frowned slightly. Then he moved.
To them, he simply vanished—and reappeared right in front of them the next instant.
A few swift strikes later, they all dropped unconscious.
Silence returned.
"Is that it? These are just pseudo-believers with a bit of divine enhancement…" Akeno said, puzzled.
Rias narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. "Search carefully. There's no way it's this simple."
"Over there…" Asia suddenly pointed toward an open hall ahead. "I feel something familiar…"
"There's a statue," Jack said from up front.
They approached and saw it—a towering angel statue over ten meters tall. Twelve pairs of wings spread behind it, giving off an air of holiness. Yet the figure was completely nude, creating an oddly unsettling contrast.
"Tch. What kind of twisted taste is this?" Rias scoffed, her gaze settling on the statue's abdomen.
She channeled her magic.
A glow ignited—and a spatial portal opened within the statue.
"An alternate dimension," Akeno said with a smile. "Quite the effort."
"Even I would need family resources to create something like this," Rias replied quietly, her expression darkening. "This isn't just some ordinary fallen angel base."
Especially not this close to Kuoh Academy. This was practically a direct provocation.
"Jack, take the lead."
"Got it."
Without hesitation, Jack stepped into the portal.
The moment he passed through, a surge of divine power slammed into his senses. Spears of light shot toward him in rapid succession.
Prepared, he immediately raised the barrier of the Divine Weeping Shield, neutralizing every attack.
As expected—fallen angels. And not just a few.
There were at least twenty of them.
Their earlier assault had clearly alerted the enemy.
Behind him, Rias and the others followed through the portal and launched their counterattack.
A massive wave of demonic power erupted from Rias, transforming into roaring flames that surged forward.
Two screams rang out.
Caught off guard, two fallen angels were instantly reduced to ash.
"Damn it—that's the Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess!"
Rias's reputation clearly preceded her. Someone on the enemy side recognized her immediately.
After all, she was the princess of the Gremory clan, heir to its future leadership.
Whether it was her beauty, her status, or her overwhelming power—Rias Gremory stood out in every possible way.
"..."
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