Under the cover of night, the city still bustled with life; cars streamed endlessly through the neon-lit streets.
Atop the glittering skyline, Ryuya Kurobane sprinted from rooftop to rooftop like a bird in flight, the wind cutting past his ears. With a devil's enhanced body, leaping dozens of meters in a single bound was nothing more than child's play. He raced toward the intersection of the bustling downtown streets with incredible speed.
Meanwhile, in a nearby park beside that very intersection—
a place that should have been lively with nighttime strollers—
not a single person remained.
Several figures now stood there, locked in confrontation.
On one side stood Rias Gremory and her peerage; on the other, six Fallen Angels—three men and three women—each with black wings unfurled behind them.
Rias's group was clearly outnumbered. Only four young women stood beside her, but the air between both sides was tense and crackling with hostility. As for the ordinary people who should've been in the park—thanks to the alteration of common sense, they had long since left the area.
"Well, well, Asia. We finally found you."
One of the male Fallen Angels smiled with false gentleness.
"To think you'd leave the Church and join the ranks of devils… how truly heartbreaking for us."
"Yes, yes," another woman—clad in little more than scraps of black cloth—laughed mockingly. Her tone dripped with venomous sweetness.
In fact, all three female Fallen Angels were dressed in the same scandalously revealing manner—barely enough fabric to even call "clothes."
One glance and you could already see every sharp curve outlined beneath the dim park lights.
Compared to them, Rias and her girls looked far more proper and dignified.
Like stray devils, these Fallen Angels had long since abandoned their divine origins. They were beings ruled by desire—creatures who had fallen completely into debauchery. It was no surprise that their manner and dress reflected such corruption.
Seeing them made Asia's heart tighten with fear.
Ever since she'd accepted Ryuya's gentle invitation to join Rias's household, she'd realized that devils were nothing like what the Church had described. Here, she'd found real friends—something she never thought she would have.
Once, in the Church, she had been hailed as a "Saint." But when it was discovered that her Sacred Gear could heal even devils, they branded her a heretic.
And later, there were those who coveted the power sealed within her body.
Asia might have been pure and innocent, but she wasn't stupid. She could clearly tell who truly cared for her and who only wore a mask of kindness.
What truly broke her faith, however, was that day on a mission—when a priest slaughtered a human woman before her eyes.
From that moment, her heart turned away from the Church completely.
That was why she had so readily accepted Rias's hand when it was offered.
But she never imagined that the Church—or rather, these Fallen Angels—would still come after her.
Earlier that evening, while returning from a contract mission, she'd been ambushed and nearly captured. Thankfully, Rias had foreseen the possibility of such an attack—ever since a similar incident had happened with Ryuya—and had made preparations in advance.
Because of that, Asia managed to summon Rias and the others just in time to escape danger.
Seeing Asia's trembling hands, Akeno gently took hold of them, her voice soft and reassuring.
"Don't worry. No one here will hurt you."
Asia's eyes regained their light, and she nodded firmly. "Mm!"
Aside from Ryuya, Akeno had always been the one who took the most care of her—an older sister figure with warmth and grace.
Watching the Fallen Angels flaunt their arrogance, Rias narrowed her eyes and stepped forward, one hand resting on her hip.
"Well, good evening to you too, dear Fallen Angels," she said coolly. "Attacking my servant without warning—what exactly do you intend to do to my precious Asia?"
As her voice chilled the air, she raised her right hand.
From her palm, a surge of crimson flames flared to life.
She looked both elegant and deadly.
"Heh, we only came to bring back our lost Saint," one of the male Fallen Angels said with a faint smile. Though his words dripped with hostility, his eyes remained narrowed in that mocking, ever-smiling expression. "Since when did the princess of the Gremory family start stealing other people's beloveds?"
"'Saint,' you say?" Rias's tone turned sharp. "Asia is already a devil—my precious servant. And you dare to covet what belongs to me? Are you asking for a death?"
"Hah! Don't make us laugh," another female Fallen Angel sneered. "You think the Gremory name makes you untouchable? You're nothing but a dying breed clinging to your old glory."
Her smile twisted into a snarl as she barked,
"Enough talk! Kill them all and take Asia back! The Smile of the Holy Mother must not fall into a devil's hands!"
Rias's crimson eyes glimmered coldly. "You're welcome to try."
Crack!
In the next instant, battle erupted. The Fallen Angels struck first, hurling spears of light through the air—but before they could reach their targets, bolts of golden lightning crashed down from the heavens, shattering them mid-flight.
"Ara, ara… looks like I'll have to take this a little seriously tonight."
Akeno smiled sweetly, her eyes curving like crescent moons. Yet the moment she moved, her power surged with terrifying intensity. The outfit she wore dissolved into glowing particles, replaced in a flash of light by a shrine maiden's attire.
The Fallen Angels' pupils shrank.
"The Thunder Priestess…"
For a moment, unease flickered across their faces. Akeno's presence radiated overwhelming danger.
Still, they held the advantage—six against four. Of Rias's team, only three could truly fight. Asia was more of a mascot than a combatant; she had no offensive power at all.
"Stephanie," the leader commanded, "go capture Asia. Leave the other three to us."
Every one of the intruders was at least high-class angel level, and two among them were super-class—brought precisely to deal with strong foes like Rias and Akeno.
"Understood," Stephanie replied, taking flight, circling above as she searched for an opening.
Rias and the others all frowned slightly. The situation looked grim.
Even with Rias and Akeno's strength, they'd be hard-pressed to handle six enemies—especially with two of super-angel rank. At best, the two of them could stall three at once, leaving Koneko Toujou to deal with another two… but Asia? There was no way she could hold her own against the last Fallen Angel.
Ryuya, where are you…?
Rias's heart tightened with worry, though her expression remained calm and composed, her aura unwavering.
"Akeno," she commanded, voice ringing with authority, "blast those bastards out of the sky!"
"Yes, President."
Akeno's lips curved in a serene smile as she rose gracefully into the air. Lifting one hand toward the clouds, she called out to the heavens.
Rumble!
The sky darkened, and golden lightning coiled like furious serpents before crashing down upon the Fallen Angels, engulfing them in a storm of divine thunder.
The enemies' expressions hardened.
"Arrogant fool!"
They spread their wings and ascended, divine power gathering in their palms as spears of light once again took shape—
and in the blink of an eye, they streaked forward, tearing through the storm toward Rias's team.
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