BOOOOOOOMMM!!
"Cough! Cough!"
He coughed blood onto the floor, it poured from the broken helmet and into the ground. "Interesting.... This is incredible!" he muttered to himself.
"Albion," Vali said, his voice low with excitement, "do you think they're worth using Juggernaut Drive against?"
Albion's voice answered inside him "Vali, that would be unwise. If you activate it now, without the proper precautions, the consequences will be severe."
"It'll be fine, Albion. It is time for I, who has awakened, to embrace the supreme law—"
"Restrain yourself, Vali!" Albion snapped. "Do you truly wish to place yourself at the mercy of my power?"
Adrien, Azazel, and Issei stood ten meters away from Vali.
"It's over, Vali," Azazel said, a faint melancholy in his voice. Vali was still his student, after all.
Vali's smirk didn't fade. "Do you really think so, Azazel? I still have Juggernaut Drive."
"What's that?" Issei asked, his voice echoing from inside his helmet.
Azazel kept his eyes on Vali as he answered. "Some Sacred Gears were created by sealing powerful beings inside them. Those beings are usually locked away behind strict restraints, but their power can still be forced out if the wielder knows how. That is Juggernaut Drive. It lets the user draw out the sealed power inside the Sacred Gear. For a short time, it can grant strength close to that of a god. But the price is severe, it can shorten your life span and strip away your reason."
"Huh?" Issei raised his guard again. "He's seriously going to use something like that?"
"Albion doesn't sound very eager," Adrien said with a small snicker while staring at Vali. "So I'm guessing Vali would be putting himself in serious danger. A god who loses his mind is nothing but a beast in rage anyway."
Vali's smirk widened as he stared back at him. "Do you want to test that theory?"
Before Adrien could answer, a shadow swept down from the night sky, the moon shining behind it. It landed swiftly between Vali and the three of them. He was wearing an ancient Chinese armor and had a handsome face.
"Vali, I've come for you," he stated.
He rose to his feet, wiping the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. "Bikou? What are you doing here?"
"Don't be so cold, partner. The moment I heard you were in trouble, I came all the way to this gloomy little island country to pick you up. HQ's losing its mind right now, you know? We're about to start fighting those northern bumpkin gods, so why didn't you head back after the mission went bad? Katerea failed to assassinate Michael, Azazel, and Lucifer, right? Then your job as an observer is already done. Come on, let's go home."
Vali pointed at Adrien, "He figured it out and attacked me so I was forced to fight him back."
"Who's that?" Bikou said looking at his partner.
"Adrien Agares, keep your eyes on him, he can move from place to place instantaneously"
"Huh!? what an interesting technique" he said pointing his staff at the three of them.
"Who are you?!" Issei demanded.
"That's Bikou, a descendant of the Victorious Fighting Buddha. A monkey spirit who inherited Sun Wukong's power. Still, I didn't expect someone like him to side with the Khaos Brigade. The Vanishing Dragon and Sun Wukong's heir working together… yeah, that's one nasty pair."
"S-S-Sun Wukooooong?!"
"A monkey?" Adrien answered as he calmly looked at Bikou. "Can you do tricks? or do you need a banana first?"
Bikou narrowed his eyes. He spun his staff above his head a few times before stabbing it into the ground, ignoring Adrien's taunt.
"Let's go, Vali," he said, his gaze still locked on the three of them.
He understood their situation clearly. They couldn't win this fight right now. Azazel was a twelve-winged Fallen Angel, Bikou couldn't sense Adrien's power at all, and the Red Dragon Emperor was standing with them too.
"Who said we're going to let you leave—" Issei tried to shout but was interrupted.
"You can go," Adrien said with a smile.
Azazel glanced at him, "why would we let them leave?"
"He's more valuable alive than dead, just let him leave for now." Adrien answered. Then he stared at Vali again, "next time I see I'm gonna steal your bitch."
Vali gave a confused expression then a magic circle formed underneath both of them and they disappeared.
--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>
By the time they returned to the school grounds, the armies of the three factions had already passed through the barrier. They were handling the aftermath of the battle, removing the dead magicians and repairing the damage across the campus.
In the center of the schoolyard, Sirzechs, Serafall Leviathan, and Michael were each giving orders to their subordinates.
When Sirzechs saw the three of them return, he raised a hand in greeting.
Celia ran straight toward Adrien and threw her arms around him. Mahiru followed right behind her.
"Hey, give me some space...!" Adrien complained, though he didn't push either of them away.
Michael stared at Azazel for a moment, his expression heavy. "Did the White Dragon Emperor truly betray you?"
Azazel looked away, his usual carefree smile nowhere to be found. "Vali was always chasing power. Looking back, maybe it was obvious he would end up this way. Still, that doesn't change anything. I was the one who took him in. I should've stopped him before it got this far."
Michael sighed. "I should return to Heaven. We need to prepare countermeasures against the Khaos Brigade."
Sirzechs turned to him with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry things ended this way, Michael. We were responsible for hosting these talks, and yet…"
Michael shook his head gently. "You don't need to carry that blame, Sirzechs. What matters is that our three factions have finally taken their first step toward peace. If this agreement can lessen even a few of the pointless conflicts between our people, then it was worth it."
Azazel let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah, though we're definitely going to lose a few idiots who can't accept the new order."
Michael's expression softened, but his voice remained serious. "That was always unavoidable. Our people have hated each other for far too many years. Change will not happen overnight. But from this point on, we will begin moving forward, even if it is slowly. And now, our next great obstacle appears to be the Khaos Brigade."
"E-er, Michael!" Issei called out.
Michael turned to him. "What is it, Red Dragon Emperor?"
"There's something I wanted to ask you."
"Very well. We are short on time, so please be quick."
Issei hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "It's because of God's system that Asia gets hurt when she prays, right?"
"Yes. When a devil or a fallen angel prays to the Lord, the system releases light energy to discourage them from doing so. Why do you ask?"
Issei clenched his fist slightly. "Can you change it so Asia doesn't get hurt when she prays?"
Michael fell silent, for a moment, surprise crossed his face. He clearly hadn't expected that request.
"Hm. Not a bad idea," Adrien said as he walked over to them. "Add Xenovia and Mary to that list too."
The three girls, who had been listening to the conversation, seemed just as startled by the request.
Michael, however, gave them a gentle smile and nodded.
"I understand. For three people, we may be able to arrange something. You are already demons, and I doubt any of you intend to return to the Church after everything that has happened. I will see what I can do."
Then his expression softened with curiosity.
"However, I have a question of my own. Asia, Xenovia, Mary… you are all aware that the Lord is no longer with us. And yet, you still wish to pray to Him?"
Asia nodded without hesitation. "Yes. Even if He is no longer there, I still want to pray to Him."
Xenovia lowered her gaze for a moment, then answered firmly. "I feel the same. I still want to give thanks to the Lord." She looked back at Michael. "And to you as well, Michael."
Mary quietly nodded beside them. "I agree. My faith has not disappeared just because the truth was painful."
Very well. I will handle it as soon as I return to Heaven. This may become quite an interesting development."
"Issei!" Asia cried, throwing her arms around him. "Thank you!"
Issei froze for a second, clearly flustered. "A-ah, it's nothing, Asia. I just didn't want you getting hurt over something like praying."
Xenovia and Mary both turned to Adrien and bowed.
"Thank you, Adrien," Xenovia said, her ears turning slightly red.
Mary bowed beside her. "Yes. Thank you for thinking of us."
Adrien gave them a lazy wave with a smile.
Watching the exchange, Azazel suddenly turned to Michael. "I'll leave the explanation to the Valhalla guys to you. Odin probably won't be thrilled if I'm the one who contacts him. And while you're at it, let Mount Meru know too."
Michael nodded calmly. "Yes, I suppose the message would not be very convincing if it came from the Governor of the Fallen Angels, or one of the Demon Kings. I will deliver the news. I am used to giving reports to the Lord, so this should not feel too different."
With his business finished, Michael spread his wings and rose into the sky, his forces following him back toward Heaven.
The school grounds, which had been crowded with devils, angels, and fallen angels only moments ago, gradually emptied.
Azazel, the only fallen angel still with them, let out a deep sigh and turned toward the school gate. "I'll leave the rest to you, Sirzechs. I'm heading home. I'm dead tired."
With that, the three great powers finally reached an agreement.
Michael, the archangel representing Heaven; Azazel, the Governor of the Fallen Angels and leader of Grigori; and Sirzechs Lucifer, the Demon King representing the Underworld, each signed their names to the peace accord.
From that moment on, open conflict between the three factions was forbidden, and a new framework for cooperation was established.
The agreement took the name of the school where it had been signed. It became known as the Kuoh Treaty.
--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>
"I'll be advising the Occult Research Club starting today," Azazel announced. "You can call me Mr. Azazel. Or maybe Governor sounds better?"
The fallen angel stood in the clubroom, dressed in a worn-out suit that looked like it had seen better days.
"…Why are you here?" Rias asked, looking completely perplexed as she pressed one hand to her forehead.
"Ha! Serafall's little sister gave me the job. And really, who can blame her? A super-smart, super-handsome guy like me is perfect for the role."
"That does not answer my question. Why would Sona allow this?"
Azazel grinned and shrugged. "Well, at first, Sirzechs wanted to give the position to Adrien."
Rias blinked.
"But apparently, the moment he heard about it, he refused and vanished. So I asked Sirzechs about it, and he told me to take it up with Serafall's little sister. And now here I am! The only condition for me staying is that I have to help Rias Gremory's peerage properly develop their Sacred Gears." He grinned. "Guess having a healthy obsession with Sacred Gears finally paid off, huh?"