Kokabiel appeared and seized control of Kuon Academy—an unmistakable act of defiance against the Satans. Taking his enemies' territory was more than enough cause for war.
"Rias, please contact your brother," Sona said as she struggled to raise a barrier around the school.
"Why don't you call yours?" Rias shot back.
"You know my situation," Sona replied, sharp with irritation. Rias scoffed.
"I already called Rias's brother," Akeno said, appearing behind them.
"Akenooo…" Rias chided her Queen, but it was already done.
(—)
Rias's team moved inside the barrier, planning to crush Kokabiel with brute force—Akeno and Rias leading the assault, Issei backing them up. But they had gravely underestimated him. Kokabiel was far beyond the reach of high- and mid-class Devils like them. He summoned several of his subordinates to toy with them.
Valper Galilei finished reassembling the fragments of Excalibur into a single blade. Fred, the fanatical priest, took it and began ranting, threatening the Devils. Xenovia and Kiba arrived just in time to turn the tide—striking down one of the fallen angels, proving they could still fight. Rias and Akeno pressed forward too.
Kiba activated his Balance Break. Drawing on the souls of his fallen comrades, he forged a sacred demonic sword. Xenovia summoned Durandal. Together they charged Fred. Kiba closed the distance in a flash, striking the newly reforged Excalibur and shattering it. Everyone stared in shock—even Kokabiel, who promptly killed Valper.
"You can use god-speed?" Kokabiel laughed, delighted. "What a fascinating little group you have, Rias Gremory."
Akeno hurled a lightning bolt at him. He blocked it effortlessly.
"Barakiel's daughter," he said, impressed. "Truly fascinating. Someone who wields both sacred and demonic power… and can use god-speed. Even for low-class beings, the daughter of a fallen angel and the Sekiryuutei…"
"Barakiel's daughter?" Issei asked, stunned.
"Barakiel is one of the leaders of the Fallen Angels," Xenovia explained. Everyone stared at Akeno, who bowed her head in shame.
"Rias Gremory, you've shown me your toys. Now let me show you mine," Kokabiel declared with a laugh. Gargantas began opening all around them. Dozens of Hollows poured forth, howling deafeningly.
Horror seized them—especially Rias and Sona outside the barrier. They'd heard the legends of the Masked Ones in the Underworld. Seeing so many at once was like staring into the face of their worst nightmares.
"The Masked Ones?" Rias gasped. "How are you controlling them?"
"You know, Rias Gremory… I've learned some very interesting things about them," he grinned. "First—they're called Hollows."
A Gillian roared, charging a Cero in its mouth.
"What in the world… that's far too much energy!" Akeno cried out. Before it could fire, a bolt of light struck and shattered its mask, turning it to dust.
"What?" Everyone froze. Only Kokabiel smiled, looking up toward the roof.
"Just as Valerio told me," he laughed. "Care to introduce yourselves, Princesses?"
All eyes turned upward. Standing there were Yuzu and Karin Kurosaki. Karin wore a white uniform; Yuzu a black yukata.
(—)
The twins had listened quietly to Ryu, Nel, and Sun-Sun, then slipped away to the kitchen. They exchanged a look.
"Should we follow Sun-Sun-chan?" Yuzu asked. "She said she's going after an Arrancar…"
"C'mon, Yuzu. She said he's just a Gillian," Karin replied with a determined smile. "It's not fair that our brothers get all the fights while we sit around with our powers waking up and do nothing."
They followed Sun-Sun to Kuon Academy, sensing the Hollow there—until a barrier slammed shut, trapping them inside. Explosions rocked the air, and they felt a terrifying spiritual pressure—far greater than their own. Not Hollow, not Shinigami, not Quincy, not human. Other signatures flickered nearby too.
They hid and watched a winged figure descend—Kokabiel. Rias, Issei, Koneko, Kiba, Asia, and a girl they didn't know fought desperately. But they were outmatched. Kokabiel's power was Captain-level. Not as strong as Nel or Orihime, and nowhere near their brothers—but still impossible for them to defeat.
"What do we do?" Yuzu whispered, trembling. "They have no chance. We're the strongest ones here besides him and Sun-Sun."
Kokabiel summoned allies, tearing open portals that spilled forth Hollows—twenty in all, five of them massive Gillians. One charged a Cero at Rias. Karin and Yuzu moved without thinking. Karin's cross transformed into a bow; she fired, killing the Gillian instantly.
All eyes turned to them. Kokabiel laughed.
"Just as Valerio said," he crowed. "Step forward, Princesses."
"Tch." Karin clicked her tongue. She and Yuzu vanished, appearing instantly before Rias's group.
"You're Kurosaki Ryu-sensei's sisters?" Rias gasped.
Karin ignored her, eyes locked on Kokabiel. "We'll handle the Hollows. You keep him busy."
"Wait—what are you?" Rias cried. "How are you here?"
"It feels like a trap," Yuzu said softly.
"Hey—you seem to know us," Karin called out, nailing two more Gillians with a second arrow. "But we don't know you."
"A friend told me about you," Kokabiel grinned. "He said you're the younger sisters of Kurosaki Ichigo—and he wants revenge. He gave me these Hollows to kill you."
Karin's eyes widened. She unleashed her spiritual pressure. Issei, Asia, and Kiba gasped, pushed back by its sheer weight.
"Finally—some entertainment!" Kokabiel laughed. "I was getting bored fighting weaklings. You two are at least Final-class." He forged a massive spear of light and descended.
(—)
"AAAHHH!" Valerio screamed as his arm was severed. "Dammit… dammit all!"
Even in his Resurrección, he couldn't force Sun-Sun to release hers. That was the difference: a common Arrancar born from a Gillian, versus an Espada born from an Adjucha at the peak of its power.
He cursed her. Sun-Sun swung her trident, blood splattering the ground.
"Disgusting," she said, hiding her face behind her sleeve, her voice cold and mocking. "You talk big for someone who's getting beaten like a rat."
"So be it… my purpose is already fulfilled," Valerio laughed maniacally. Sun-Sun's eyes narrowed. "Can't you feel it?"
He cackled as Sun-Sun sensed two massive spiritual pressures—one equal to her own, perhaps greater.
"Karin-sama… Yuzu-sama…" She realized too late. Valerio opened a Garganta and fled. She didn't care about him anymore. She had to reach the girls.
(—)
Kokabiel used god-speed, appearing instantly before Yuzu and Karin. Neither could react. Rias's eyes went wide. Issei and Asia squeezed their eyes shut.
Clang.
The sound rang out. When Issei opened his eyes, a girl stood between them—like a princess from a fairy tale. She wore a white dress with long sleeves, her hair pale green, three delicate white crests rising from her head.
Kokabiel recoiled. Her power was immense—nearly equal to his own. He saw she was holding back, just as he was, and jumped back.
"Yuzu-sama, Karin-sama," Sun-Sun said, glancing at them without breaking eye contact with Kokabiel. "What are you doing here?"
"We're sorry… we followed you because we thought we could help with the Arrancar," they said in unison.
Sun-Sun sighed. "Don't ever do that again. You could have died."
"Sorry."
"Let me take them somewhere safe, and I won't interfere with whatever you're planning," Sun-Sun said, deadly serious.
"No!" Issei shouted. "We need you—you're the only one who can fight him!"
Sun-Sun gave him a look of pure disdain. "My only priority is Karin-sama and Yuzu-sama."
"I don't think so," Kokabiel declared, spreading his arms. "If I kill them, yous Hollow rage will turn against all three factions. And then I'll have my war."
Rias froze. He'd called her a Hollow. He'd called the Masked Ones Hollows.
"Ooh… how clever of you to know what I am," Sun-Sun mocked.
"You feel like Valerio… but far stronger," Kokabiel laughed. "Who would've thought everything the world believes about the Masked Ones is backwards? They don't grow stronger as they get bigger—they get weaker."
She laughed, forming spears of light, and closed the gap at god-speed. She dodged and countered, but Kokabiel was no fool. He vanished and struck from a distance. Their attacks collided—light and Cero—annihilating each other.
"Bite, Anaconda!" Sun-Sun released her Resurrección. Her spiritual pressure flattened every low-class Devil in the area. Rias gasped, but the twins stood firm, awed by her power. Her form shifted into a terrifying Gorgon.
"Fascinating!" Kokabiel shouted, blocking her strikes. "Two forms—and you're stronger in your original state!"
They clashed again and again, the ground shattering around them.
"We wanted to fight that?" Issei whispered, horrified.
"Damn… this crow's strong. I have to get serious," Sun-Sun muttered. "Segunda Etapa."
"Ooh? You've been holding back?" Kokabiel grinned. "This is getting fun!"
"You seem to be enjoying yourself too much," a voice said from outside the barrier.
"Who dares—?" Kokabiel snarled, only to be struck by the White Dragon Emperor. The dragon tore through his defenses and battered him. Then the two dragons spoke to each other through their hosts.
In that moment, Sun-Sun grabbed Yuzu and Karin—and vanished.