It was after school, and in the clubroom, Koneko was briefing Rias-senpai on the holy sword-wielders she sensed this morning. With her spiritual sensing skills and Kuroka's support, they made a sharp duo, humans couldn't match their sensitivity to holy sword energy.
"So… two holy sword wielders made contact with Sona and the others?" Rias leaned forward.
"Yes. Issei, did you sense them too?"
"I did. And their energy seems to be moving through the town on foot right now… I can't tell where they're heading yet."
Scouting the field ahead of a potential showdown makes sense.
"That's worrisome… Ever since seeing that photo at Issei's house, Yuuto's been consumed by holy sword thoughts. If he runs into them by chance, we could have a fight ballistically. And he's already in school iffy..."
"Where is Yuuto?"
"He's not even at school today. He's gone silent, hiding his presence from everyone, even from Koneko and Issei."
Strange, Yuuto's energy wasn't detectable here. If he were nearby, even concealed, Koneko or I would sense him. So he must be far off.
"President, what exactly happened between Yuuto and the holy swords?" Issei demanded.
"He's been acting weird since yesterday! I know it's serious, but the holy sword users are already in town! Tell me!"
Rias took a deep breath, preparing to reveal the link between Yuuto and the sword.
====================
Backstory (as told by Rias-senpai): The Church announced a secret Holy Sword Project, creating more wielders of sacred blades like Excalibur to combat demons. But Yuuto and a few others were all deemed mismatches. Worse, when they concluded the "products" were defective, the leaders decided to dispose of them.
Asia gasped in disbelief.
Rias added, "It was top-secret. Even church insiders wouldn't hear about it unless you climbed high enough. Asia, since you left the Church, it's only natural you never knew."
"When I found Yuuto," Rias continued, "he was barely alive. But still burning with vengeance. His friends, others in the experiment, had died in gas attacks. He was determined to survive, to avenge their betrayal."
"Damn!" Issei slapped his knee. "Whether it's Asia or Yuuto… the Church only does harm! What the hell are gods even thinking?"
Rias sighed.
"It just proves gods aren't omnipotent. Even with a perfect deity, there are beings evading them, even angels fall. That's why fallen angels exist."
Asia bowed her head quietly.
"This… this evil from the Church, God would never allow it."
Silence fell in the room at the heaviness of the words.
====================
Akeno-senpai arrived late, escorting two figures behind her, Sona, the student council president, and Tsubaki, the vice-president.
"Sona, Tsubaki?" Rias greeted.
"We have urgent news," Sona explained. "The Church's sword wielders requested a meeting with you."
Everyone gasped.
"The Church is summoning devils? What joke is this…?"
Rias shook her head, thrown off-course. But Sona nodded, "They confirmed, they'll meet you here tomorrow after school."
Rias locked eyes with Sona, hesitant.
"But… I hope there's something useful coming from it."
"No contracts today. We'll go home early and prepare. Issei, you're not attending tomorrow."
"Wait, what?! I'm being left out?!"
Rias placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Tomorrow's meeting may involve politics, and the Church may be clashing with Devil factions. You're neither Church nor Devil. It's safest if you're not present."
Issei nodded, suppressing his frustration.
"I understand… But if you're allowed to share anything you can tell me afterward, I'd really appreciate it."
Rias smiled.
"If there's anything you can know, I will tell you."
They dismissed the meeting. Everyone ended their after-school session and went home early.
====================
The next afternoon…
Issei, not participating in the meeting, hung out in the library, keeping an ear out for any sign it escalated. When nothing alarming happened, he decided to head home. He walked out as the sun was setting, checking nothing seemed to be active.
Then, in the fading light, a tall silver-haired figure appeared ahead, dripping with mysterious charisma.
It was Vali, the White Dragon Emperor himself.
Issei's mind raced: But wait, Azazel and Vali are already in town, hiding from Kokabiel! Vali had stayed hidden even during the Kokabiel invasion, to survey all strong opponents, including the Red Dragon Emperor, before making an entrance.
He panicked, this is a single road with no escape, and if Vali spots me, I'm done...
He let out a relieved breath as Vali walked past unnoticed, he must not notice every face, after all. Time to just keep moving!
But then came a thunderous roar.
He turned toward the sound:
"Bwooooaaarrr!"
A powerful wind rushed past, someone was running by on the nearby jogging path.
And then he realized: Vali was watching him. He'd caught Issei's presence as the runner passed, now Vali's icy gaze was locked on Issei.
"Hmm. I hadn't noticed you earlier, but you… you hide your refined, intense aura well. This should be fun."
Vali smirked with a grin that could freeze souls.
Issei froze in place, not now!
Vali continued his smooth drawl:
"You… I believe you belong to the club with Rias Gremory. I didn't have enough info on you while you hid in town. But finding you now… sometimes I trust Azazel's words. Since you're human, if we duel, people may chalk it up differently."
Those last words: "Try a match with me, not Kokabiel."
Here comes the battle-fanatic again.
Issei tried to protest:
"If we fight here, there's no excuse for collateral damage!"
But Vali unwrapped a glowing device and threw it between them. A magic circle materialized at their feet.
"It's a teleportation glyph!"
Before Issei could react, the world shifted…
====================
This place… Kuoh Academy? No, that's not right. That sky, it's the same as when I fought Riser. Then… is this a Rating Game arena? What the hell is going on?
["Welcome."]
"…This is a Rating Game arena, isn't it?"
I threw the question at the annoyingly handsome face in front of me.
"Oh? You figured it out quickly. Did you know that the Rating Game arenas used in the underworld are tossed away into the dimensional gap after they're done? The device I just used teleports us to one of those abandoned arenas.
Where I currently train, the field gets destroyed every time I practice, and I was told to do something about it. Personally, I couldn't care less, but someone who insists on acting like my guardian made this little gadget for me. He said something about how recycling is all the rage these days, so why not give it a try."
Azazel-saaaan!? Your kid's using the toys you gave him for dangerous games!!
"You mentioned Kokabiel earlier, didn't you? Why not go play with him instead of wasting time on a mere human like me?"
"No, I've no intention of interfering with him yet. I simply wanted to see with my own eyes what kind of opponent my destined rival is… and to measure his strength in battle."
The way this guy goes at his own pace… that's dragon-level selfishness.
Though, to be fair, Issei isn't much different…
"Well then, enough chatter. Shall we get started?"
"I'd honestly prefer we just keep talking until morning, if it means I don't have to fight."
I truly meant it. A one-on-one showdown against the White Dragon Emperor? That's nothing short of torture!
"Don't say that. It's a rare chance—let's enjoy the fight."
[Vanishing Dragon Balance Breaker!]
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