Author's Note: A shorter chapter than usual, but the end point was perfect and I couldn't really extend it without needlessly adding filler. Besides, you had a longer than normal chapter last time.
Chapter 10: Retribution for the Fallen
The sharp, sulfuric stench of the fires of hell seared her nose as the flames roared furiously against her barrier of water. Her upraised hand, completely concealed by countless runic glyphs, glowed as brilliantly as the sun as she poured as much of her demonic energy as she could spare into the barrier. Her other hand was extended to the side, glowing with a different set of sigils.
Sona slowly closed her extended hand, feeling the resistance to her actions as if she was squeezing the object with our own fingers instead of guiding an enormous serpent of water. The acrid flames suddenly died off with a sharp yelp of pain. Through the smoke and haze left behind by the fire Sona could see her water serpent wound about the Cerberus like a python, squeezing ever tight as Sona clenched her outstretched hand. The jaws of the serpent, far sharped and stronger than its watery makeup suggested, had bit deeply into the center head, killing it. For a demon of fire, water was one of its elemental weaknesses. It thrashed desperately as it tried to escape but there would be none.
There would be no mercy for these dogs of hell that would side with the Fallen that killed her Tatsumi.
With fire stream of fire gone, Sona was able to redirect more of her demonic energy towards the water serpent. The power surged through down her arm and into the sigils. There was a sharp yowl as bones snapped and flesh tore. The fur shredded as the water serpent dug past the skin and into the soft flesh beneath.
"It's over, for you," Sona said icily. With a loud squelch her serpent tore the demon dog to pieces. It felt rather satisfying to tear one of Kokabiel's little pets apart.
The air behind her heated up. "Kaichou watch out!" Ruruko called out.
"It's fine," Sona said, she had faith in her peerage.
A moment later her Rook, Yura, kicked the second Cerberus in the face, clamping its jaw shut just as it was about to breath fire all over Sona. Instead of spewing it out it erupted inside his mouth. Tsubaki dove from the sky and skewered her naginata into it's mouth and carried the center head to the ground where she pinned it into the dirt. The eyes of the center head went wide as cracks appeared in its face. Tsubaki leapt away just as it detonated, sending bloody chunks of burning flesh scattered in every direction. The other two heads tried to snap at Tsubaki only for Tomoe to appear. Her katana cut a dozen paths through the air in a second. The left head split into twenty pieces. The sudden loss of weight caused Cerberus to topple to the side.
Yura returned and plowed through Cerberus' exposed stomach with both hands, tearing through its body before she erupted out its back. She ignored the gore that covered her and turned her attention on another Cerberus.
That was two down on their side. Hanakai and Kusaka were keeping a third one chained to the ground with magic while Saji was using his Sacred Gear, Vritra, to drain its strength and keep it too weak to break free.
Ruruko was their lookout, keeping an eye on the battle while the rest of them focused on taking down the Cerberus'.
Across the yard Rias and her team were having more difficulty than them. Her friend was Kokabiel's primary target. Four of the seven Cerberus' were wreaking havoc on their team. They were each forced to deal with a single one while doing what they could to protect Asia from danger so she could keep them alive. Akeno and Rias were doing well, but Rias' Rook, Koneko, and her Pawn, Issei, were having a difficult time. Koneko couldn't get the opening she needed and Issei didn't have time enough to boost his gear to be sufficiently useful.
That it was their friend and comrade, Yuuto Kiba suspended in the air and being tortured by an insane ex-clergyman and Kokabiel was probably sapping their will. Every second they wasted down here fighting the Cerberus was another second Kiba suffered.
It must be driving them crazy.
"Yura, Tomoe, help Saji finish off that Cerberus," Sona barked quickly. What mattered the most right now was freeing Kiba. Rias and her peerage couldn't fight at their best so long as he continued to suffer. She'd already lost Tatsumi today, she wasn't losing anyone else. "Tsubaki, you're with me."
"Got it, Kaichou, we'll kill it," Yura said as sped up. She'd already been headed towards it. She had anticipated Sona's order.
"We'll cut this bad doggie up in no time!" Tomoe shouted her agreement. She blazed across the battlefield and began cutting into the weakened Cerberus.
"Support Rias afterwards," Sona said as she took to the air. Tsubaki was quick to follow. Sona flew up towards the floating platform Kiba suffered on.
"Saving Kiba, I take it," Tsubaki said as she came up beside her.
"We can't destroy it, but Kokabiel can," Sona said quietly to her Queen. She kept an eye on Kokabiel, there was no way he would let them get there unimpeded. In fact, Sona counted on it.
Tsubaki adjusted her glasses and nodded. "I understand."
"Ah, ah ah, I can't have you interfering until I'm ready to start that game," Kokabiel called out from where he floated. He created several large spears of light above his head. He lazily dropped his arm and sent the light spears hurtling towards them.
"Not large enough," Tsubaki murmured.
Sona nodded, Tsubaki completely understood what she wanted. "I will handle this," Sona replied, she'd prepared spells in advance to stop lesser attacks. She stopped in midair and finished her spells. Two large magic circles erupted from either hand and two enormous water serpents, each the same size as the one that tore the Cerberus in half, snaked from the runic circles and intercepted the spears of light.
The air was filled with an enormous explosion of water and light. The entire barrage was stopped save for a single spear that had been thrown late. Tsubaki quickly appeared in front of her and raised her hands, creating a magical barrier. The spear crashed against it, momentarily blinding the two girls.
"Oh? It seems you're a little better than I thought." Kokabiel didn't seem the least bit phased by their survival. "I should have expected as much from the Leviathan's little sister."
Sona just ignored him and continued on up towards the platform. Tsubaki followed, placing herself between Sona and Kokabiel. They shot up past the rim and got a good look at the platform from up close. The entire thing was covered in countless glow runes. Streams of golden light wove around Kiba, scorching and healing him at the same time. The three Excalibur fragments made a triangle around him. Their own holy power adding to the scorching agony that was assaulting Kiba's mind and body. He was in so much pain he probably didn't even know where he was.
And for some reason Kokabiel didn't make any further attacks. He just floated there with that twisted grin on his face as if he was waiting for something.
"Stop Tsubaki!" Sona ordered before she could dive for Kiba. Her Queen pulled up short and gave her a confused look.
Sona pulled the broken hilt of Tatsumi's Murasame from her pocket and threw it at Valper Galilei. It was an utterly useless and futile attack, but that wasn't what Sona was aiming for. Not ten feet away from Sona it confirmed her suspicion when it passed through some sort of barrier. "He placed a holy barrier around the platform. We can't get to Kiba without dying." If it was her sister, that'd be a different story. Her sister could just overwhelm that amount of holy energy with her own demonic. Sona had no such capability. She had a long way to go until she could match her sister.
"Then how do we save him?"
"You don't!" Kokabiel shouted loudly. He let out a loud, full-body laugh. "All you can do is watch as Kiba is transformed into a demonic holy creature! An abomination in the eyes of all creation!" Kokabiel's laughter ebbed. "If stealing the Excalibur fragments isn't enough, murder Tatsumi. If he isn't enough to start the war, kill Rias Gremory. If Lucifer's sister isn't enough, kill Sona Sitri. If the Leviathan's sister isn't enough, pervert the very natural balance of the world! Only a fool only hinges his goal on a single plan!"
"This is what this is all about?" Sona snapped at Kokabiel, "all this pain and suffering, just to start the Great War again? You're insane!"
"The ones that are insane is Azazel and Shemhazi. We'd have won if the war had kept going but no! They were too cowardly! Too unwilling to make that final, ultimate sacrifice to obtain true and ever lasting victory!"
"No one would even follow you to war, no one wants it!"
"That's where you're wrong," Kokabiel said. The humor was gone now and in its place was the regal face of he who had once been one of the greatest Angels of Heaven. A man that had stood so far above his peers he had once stood beside God himself long ago. The face of the man that stood amongst the greatest of the Fallen. "There are a great number of individuals on every side that feel the war shouldn't have ended. Devils, Fallen and yes, even Angels. There's a certain Great Seraph that wishes very much he had an excuse to force Michael to reignite the war." Kokabiel's smile was heart stoppingly beautiful. "You can't even begin to imagine the number of eyes watching us here today. Those that wish for the War to begin again, and those hoping a miracle to arise to prevent it." Kokabiel pointed at Kiba. "But once he turns there will be no chance of a miracle! It doesn't matter what happens after that, it's my victory! It's OUR victory!"
Sona wanted to tell him he was wrong, that no one would follow him, but the words died in her throat before she could even begin to voice them. She knew that there were those amongst the devils that wanted to restart the Great War, those that hated the Evil Pieces systems. Those still loyal to the old ways. Kokabiel was proof that there were Fallen Angels that felt the same. It didn't matter if he was right about either Uriel or Raphael desiring to restart the war, that alone would be enough.
"Mind if we provide that miracle?"
A lithe form shot up from the opposite side of the platform, her black clad form held aloft by a pair of gossamer blue wings, the same blue gossamer wings Tatsumi had used in his battle against Esdeath. Irina Shidou, the holy sword user and wielded of Excalibur Mimic. She twisted in midair and dove back down, her long brown hair streaming behind her in the wind.
"N-NO!" Valper Galilei shouted as Irina crashed into him knees first, bouncing the fat man painfully off the metallic platform. Instead of stabbing him with Excalibur Mimic, she whipped her arm up into the air.
That was when Sona noticed that the blade was missing, and instead what extended from the hilt was a long strand of metal. The other Holy Sword user, Xenovia, came shooting up over the side as well, one hand on the metal strand that was Excalibur Mimic. In the other was not Excalibur Destruction.
"Durandal!" Sona gasped in shock. Xenovia was the wielder of Durandal a sword that was Excalibur's equal when it was whole!? She felt a sliver of elation as she watched Xenovia cut through Excalibur Rapidly with Durandal, shattering the blade. The entire ritual wobbled and writhed as it began to unravel.
"I won't let you!" Kokabiel roared angrily as he bore witness to what was the beginning of his plans crumbling around him. He reached up and summoned an enormous spear of light. It expanded over and over until it was easily the size of Kuoh Academy. A dozen concentric rings of pure golden energy encircled it, giving it a beautiful and deadly appearance. Even at this distance Sona could feel the power behind it. "Die you worthless insects! I won't be denied my war by a bunch of humans!"
"Tsubaki!" Sona barked quickly. If that thing hit the platform or the ground, Kuoh Academy would disappear from the face of the earth.
The order wasn't needed, Tsubaki was already moving the moment Kokabiel hurled the enormous spear of light. She placed herself directly in its path "Mirror Alice!" A large delicate mirror ringed with ornate silver designs appeared between Tsubaki and the blazing spear of divine light.
To anyone that didn't know what Tsubaki could do, it would seem like an utterly futile and laughable defense. But Mirror Alice was special. It didn't block the attack, it didn't divert it, or even bounced it back.
It absorbed it, all of it.
Then amplified it.
An attack twice as powerful as the one Kokabiel had thrown was hurled back into the face of the Fallen Angel. The look of utter shock and disbelief on his face as he was hit by his own attack was priceless. For a brief, singular interest all sound disappeared, consumed by the thunderous explosion of light and energy. It filled the entire upper half of the enclosure, and for a good few moments everyone froze, even the few Cerberus' that were still alive.
As the light and energy died away Kokabiel came back into sight. That look of smug satisfaction he'd had on his face since the start nowhere to be seen. His robe was gone, completely burnt away. His one remaining hand was blackened and charred.
"For a supposed leader of the Fallen Angels, you sure don't do very much research on your opponents," Sona said as she smirked at Kokabiel. Even if it hadn't been herself, it was so satisfying to see that smug smirk wiped off his face. "Who was it who said he knew everything there was about us?"
"He does seem fairly incompetent for a Fallen Angel leader," Xenovia agreed as she raced about the platform. She hadn't been still during the counter-attack. "This is the last!" She swung Durandal a third time and shattered Excalibur Nightmare. The entire ritual flickered violently before it shattered with a sound akin to breaking glass. The chains that held Kiba suspended sputtered and disappeared, dropping him.
"I'm coming Kiba! UOOOOAAHH!" Sona's head whipped down below and she could only stare as Issei was sent hurtling up to the platform courtesy of Koneko. Somehow Issei managed to catch Kiba before he hit the platform. The two of them rolled dangerously close to the edge before Xenovia knocked them back towards the center. "I got him buchou! Koneko-chan! He's still breathing!"
The looks of relief on the faces of Rias and her peerage were visible even at this distance.
Sensing the tide of battle rapidly turning against them Valper Galilei tried to run for the edge of the platform. Whatever it was he planned to do was quickly brought to a halt as Irina Shidou caught up and slammed his face into the platform. "Sorry, you're not getting away," Irina said as she slid Excalibur Mimic into his skull. He twitched twice before he went still. "Lady Gabriel asked me to kill you specifically."
No hesitation, Sona noted. Either she'd been trained to kill since a young age or that blinding devotion in her eyes made her so assured of her actions that she felt absolutely no guilt from it. Both made her dangerous.
"It seems your plans are falling apart little by little," Sona said, feeling a sense of satisfaction well up inside her. "What was it you said earlier? Something about having multiple plans?" A part of her had suspected that Xenovia and Irina might make an appearance. They were here for the Holy Swords, so wherever the Excalibur fragments showed up they would eventually be.
Their timing was almost too perfect though.
Kokabiel's scream of primal rage echoed off the school buildings and the boundary he had set up. His face warped and twisted into a grotesque mockery of its former beauty. "I don't need hands to slaughter the whole lot of you!" Kokabiel roared. Another spear of light appeared above his head. This one grew and grew until it dwarfed even the attack that Tsubaki had sent back. "I'll just obliterate this entire academy in a single strike!" The lance expanded on final time, dwarfing everything. "Sona Sitri, Rias Gremory… DIE!"
This was it, their attempt to buy time was about to end—
The golden barrier around Kuoh Academy suddenly shattered into pieces. Everyone froze as the entire area became awash with two monstrously colossal powers, one filled with frigid demonic energy and the other overwhelming divine warmth. Sona began to tremble under the enormous pressure, her skin crawled and her mind screamed at her to run. To be anywhere but here. Two overwhelming and conflicting natures flooded her mind with pain and pleasure, threatening to drive her mad.
Sona turned to look, almost certain of what she would see. Something she had hoped to avoid and at the same time hoped for more than anything. Her sister was marching towards her, stepping along a winding river of frozen ice, one of dozens that whipped about her glacial demonic form.
"Onee-sama…" Her voice trailed off into a whisper. That wasn't her sister. That was the Leviathan. One of four ultimate expression of Devil power and authority.
And beside her blazing with all the power of Heaven was none other than her eternal rival, the one labeled as the strongest woman in heaven, the Great Seraph, Gabriel. Her twelve wings shining with a light so pure Sona couldn't even look at them. Clad head to toe in golden armor capable of withstanding even the strongest of attacks and above her head a golden crown blazed brightly, matching the golden light shining from the beautiful circlet she wore on her forehead. Her very existence was enough to purify the air about them. The stench rising up from the dead and dying Cerberus' wiped out and replaced with the scent of freshly cut grass. The trees in forest all around Kuoh Academy rustled peacefully and bent towards her, the grass stood up straight and animals knelt for her.
It was an utterly inconceivable pairing. Whenever the two of them were together it was to compete, to show the other who was better. To see the two of them together was a something so impossible it couldn't be called anything other than a miracle.
Kokabiel grinned widely, believing his goal to be achieved. "Serafall and Gabriel. What do I owe the honor of this—"
The sky froze.
All the particles in the sky above Kuoh Academy became a solid sheet of blue ice. The enormous spear of light that Kokabiel had summoned forth was frozen in an instant, becoming little more than a useless hunk of frozen energy. Each and every particle completely frozen as if time itself had been stopped.
Gabriel tilted her head upwards and swung. That single strike was all it took to shatter the sky. A shockwave of pure force rippled across the night sky, tearing the Leviathan's ice to tiny, infinitesimal fragments that rained down upon Kuoh Academy and all those that stood in awe. Kokabiel's spear of light suffered the same fate as it broke apart with everything else.
"You wished for a Great War?" Gabriel asked softly. Her beautiful musical voice as painful to Sona's ears as it was soothing. "If its war you want, its war you will have… if you think the Fallen Angels can survive a concerted, allied assault from the Angels, Devils, and all the allies that would come at our call." Kokabiel wasn't smiling anymore. "What's wrong, Kokabiel, was this not what you wanted? To bring two bitter enemies together to send a common foe screaming into annals of history?"
"Sona… that's your onee-sama… isn't it?" Rias whispered to her in a hushed tone. Neither of them had ever seen Serafall like this before. They'd heard stories of course but hearing about it and seeing it were two completely different things.
"It is, yes I—"
"Sona Sitri, Rias Gremory," Serafall's voice crashed upon them with all the force of an avalanche. "You will take your peerages and leave Kuoh Academy immediately."
"Shidou Irina, Quarta Xenovia, gather the Excalibur cores and do the same." Gabriel added as well in a voice as loud and clear as a crystal bell. "You know where to go."
"Yes, Lady Gabriel," Xenovia and Irina said together. They didn't even hesitate. The two quickly grabbed the Excalibur cores and bolted, Irina carrying Xenovia with the wings of the Shroud of Longinus.
"Sona, we should do the same," Rias whispered hurriedly.
Right, they really did need to leave. That wasn't onee-sama over there right now. That was one of the four great leaders of devil society, the Leviathan. Their word was absolute. To disobey was treason.
Sona quickly dropped to the ground where the rest of her peerage was gathered. Tsubaki came down beside her. In the corner of her eye she saw Rias herding her own peerage away. "You heard the Leviathan! Everyone we're leaving!"
It was time to get out and let powers far greater than them sort things out.
~o~
No one could ever really call Vali Lucifer, the current holder of the Divine Dividing Sacred Gear and current host of one of the two Heavenly Dragons, Albion, a coward. He thrived on battle, loved the challenge. He had thrown himself without hesitation into countless battles and conflicts that would give some of the most powerful beings in existence a moment's pause. Each battle fought and won was a testament to his strength, and had allowed him to grow even further until he reached the level he was currently at. He could access the complete, full power of Albion, something that few pervious holders could claim.
He would have gladly have faced God himself had the bastard not up and got himself killed before he was born.
What was happening before him was something completely different. Vali liked challenges, thrived on them even, but he wasn't suicidal. There was nothing anyone could say to him that could convince him right then to take a single step towards Kuoh Academy.
Azazel had given him orders to retrieve Kokabiel.
He was now calling him to tell him that wasn't happening. Not when the Celestial Gabriel and the Leviathan were staring at Kokabiel like they wanted to break him in ways that would make the original Satans cringe in horror.
Azazel picked up on the first ring, his voice had a note of worry to it. "What is it Vali, you got Kokabiel?"
"Deals off," Vali said as he watched the Leviathan's little sister flee from the school with her peerage in toe. They looked as if they had all the hosts of Hell chasing after them. In a way, they had something worse.
Rias and her peerage were not that far behind. Rias led the way followed closely by her Queen, Akeno. Vali couldn't stop his eyes from briefly trailing down to her ass before he managed to pull them away. Ddrag's current host, Issei Hyoudou was pumping his arms wildly as he tried to keep up with his King. Normally Vali would think less of Ddrag's host for running like that, but not here. Not with this situation. Rias' Rook, Koneko, brought up the rear, carrying the sword birth user, Kiba, over her shoulder.
He didn't think any less of them for running. He probably would have done the same.
Well, he would have sauntered away nonchalantly, he had an image to uphold of course, but he still would have left.
"What, why? We can't let Kokabiel kill Rias Gremory—"
"Gabriel and Serafall have arrived. Together."
"… … … Uhh."
Vali couldn't help but smile. That had been a real tremble of fear he'd heard in Azazel's voice. He didn't blame the man. That was sort of how he felt when he felt the two of them rushing here and just saying those words had sent a chill running down his spine. "Yes, so, if you wish to retrieve Kokabiel, you're going to have to do it yourself."
"Are you insane?! Either one of them is bad enough but both? Together? I think even God himself might have run from that combination!"
He may very well have. Vali certainly didn't want to get between them and Kokabiel right now. Their arrival had been the very reason he hadn't intervened at the last moment to stop Kokabiel from wiping Sona and Rias off the face of existence.
"If you want to watch you'd better hurry. I don't think this battle is going to last long," Vali said.
The connection was abruptly cut off.
A flash of light lit up the night sky and a wave of holy energy washed over the area. Countless spears of light, more than Vali could count easily, leapt from Kokabiel's position and screamed towards the two powerful women. Each spear hummed with enough power to utterly annihilate a high-class devil with ease.
Gabriel didn't seem to even care as she took a single step forward and swung her fist. She didn't hit anything. She didn't need to. Her fist slammed into the air with a thunderous roar that deafened the night. A ripple in reality ripped past him, wobbling his vision for the briefest of moments.
The shockwave ended Kokabiel's assault in an instant. All of the spears of light detonated with a brilliant, holy light that matched the stars in the sky. Kokabiel had all of a fraction of a second to realize he had failed to do anything meaningful before he was hammered by the shockwave in a peel of thunder that shook the tree Vali was crouched upon even as a wave of heat from the exploding spears washed over him.
There was a bright flash of blue light and the entirety of Kuoh Academy froze in an instant, including the surrounding buildings and forest. Even the air itself was affected, turning the place into a veritable blizzard. The fire and ash that had hung in the sky from Kokabiel's failed assault became frozen monuments to his failure.
It was almost enough to freeze Kokabiel himself, but the man was quick if when serious if nothing else. Another loud boom reverberated for miles as Kokabiel incinerated everything around him in what he no doubt felt was far too small an area based on the surprised look on his face.
"Goodbye, Kokabiel, it was nice knowing you," Azazel said. Vali threw his current employer an amused look. Azazel tried to hide how out of breath he was behind his hand. He must have broken nearly every rule in the book getting here as quickly as he had. "Not that it was ever really nice knowing you."
"You got here fast," Vali said quietly. He didn't want to be overheard by those two ladies in the distance.
"I'm not the only one," Azazel said. He nudged Vali to look up. A part of the heavens was split open and what looked like an eye was staring down. "Michael using the Right Eye of God. Good thing humans can't actually see it. And over there." Azazel guided his gaze to another figure floating in the distance. That flaming red hair proclaimed him even if Vali couldn't make out the face. Sirzechs, the current Lucifer.
"Why didn't he show up earlier?"
"Sirzechs would never let Rias live in the human world if he didn't have some method of getting to her in an instant. He has too many old enemies that would love to use her to settle their grudges," Azazel said as he eyed Sirzechs. "He likes to push his sister though, so unless she's on the absolute verge of death, he won't interfere."
Ah, so that had been why Rias' Queen had mentioned an hour for Sirzechs and his reinforcements to get here. In reality he had basically been pushing Rias to see how long she could last against a Fallen Angel of Kokabiel's calibre. Devils could be truly cruel sometimes.
"So, what did Kokabiel do that pissed off Gabriel and the Leviathan to such an extent they'd willingly work together?"
"A game changer, it appears," Azazel said, his eyes shining brightly. He knew exactly what it was that had set off both women, but was keeping that card close to his chest. Interesting.
The air around Gabriel shattered as she went hypersonic. Vali lost sight of her for an instant as she reached speeds he couldn't process, and that instant was enough for Gabriel to plow Kokabiel into the ground with enough force to split the earth. The entire city rocked as earthquake level forces altered the very geographic landscape of the Academy grounds. Buildings rose and fell as everything shifted downwards towards the epicenter of the impact. The now upraised and tilted buildings blocked Vali's view of what was happening on the ground.
It turned out he didn't need to know. Vali paled slightly as a pillar of fire and magma erupted high into the sky above Kuoh Academy. The super cooled air above Kuoh Academy quickly transformed that pillar of fire and magma into a breathtakingly beautiful display of art that could make even the greatest sculptures weep with envy.
"Did she just punch Kokabiel into the center of the Earth?"
"Yes, Gabriel likes to do that. She's always had a bit of hands-on approach to doing things."
That was an understatement.
In the midst of the blizzard that consumed Kuoh Academy a warm, and overwhelming powerful golden light rose with an air almost too serene and peaceful. Several long moments later a second form erupted from the ground, blasting his way through the fountain of lava that was gushing out of the center of Kuoh Academy. His clothes were a ragged mess now and his skin was burned and melted in places.
Before Kokabiel could orientate himself the blizzard stopped and then began coalesce together into an innumerable number of jagged, spears of ice sharp enough to pierce the world and reinforced beyond the limit of common sense. They came at Kokabiel from every direction, each one seeking to inflict as much pain as possible upon the Fallen Angel. Kokabiel reacted by unleashing a storm of golden light, spears powerful enough to outright obliterate most high-class devils.
It wasn't enough.
The air was filled with countless explosions of ice and light. Every icy lance required two, three, or more spears of light to destroy and with the inexorable and unstoppable advance of a glacier, the Leviathan's assault grew ever closer, overwhelming Kokabiel.
That was when Gabriel struck once more. It was a monstrous, horrific blow that was felt around the world. It didn't matter where they were or what they were doing, but every man alive and dead crossed their legs as a strange phantom pain struck them between their legs all at once. Even Vali found himself protecting a certain part of himself as he watched Kokabiel double over, his face etched with unimaginable agony, as Gabriel's metal clad fist, blazing brighter than the sun itself, tore a warpath through his most sensitive place. Vali could actually hear them shattering into an infinite number of irreparable pieces.
"Oh damn, I can actually feel that," Azazel hissed painfully. "The Breaker of Dreams. The strike that brought even the mighty Lucifer to his knees weeping in pain. I had hoped, prayed even, that I'd never have to ever see it again."
Vali arched an eyebrow. "Prayed?" Odd to hear that from a Fallen Angel, and one of the leaders no less.
"Many a good and honest Fallen Angels fell to their knees and repented. God even took some back." Azazel shuddered as if remembering a horrible memory. "We almost lost the war that day and we weren't even on the receiving end of it!"
A thunder clap snapped their attentions back to Kuoh Academy. The entire place looked frozen in time. Even the magma and fire that had been erupting from the core of the earth had frozen solid. Only Gabriel herself remained free, and even she had placed some distance between herself and the epicenter of that frozen nightmarish landscape. Being at the epicenter, Kokabiel hadn't been quite so fortunate. Then the Leviathan pulled her hands apart and reality itself seemed to split in half. The crack stretched straight down into the ground and high into the air, disappearing into the stratosphere. It split open, tearing the frozen Kokabiel in half and revealing a line of darkness so deep it devoured all light.
A second thunder clap deafened all sound in the area. Gabriel was blazing with an enormous amount of divine power on the far side of the Academy, opposite of the Leviathan. She had her own hands pressed together, one atop the other. Vali couldn't even look at them the light was so intense. Then the hands parted and the universe split a second time, perpendicular to the first. Only this rift in reality blazed with a holy light so bright it could never go out. The two rifts in the world came together at the very core of Kokabiel's being.
The two diametrically opposed forces raged against one another, spiraling inwards as the darkness sought to devour the light and the light sought to illuminate the darkness. In the midst of it all was Kokabiel, caught between the two most primal forces of creation. His body was sucked into that spiral of annihilation and shredded into oblivion.
His soul didn't fare any better.
As one the Leviathan and Gabriel clapped their hands together. The rifts slammed shut with a mind-numbing howl that drove Vali to his knees. When he got his feet back under him it was all over. The ice was dissolving away, the Leviathan was returning to her normal form and Gabriel's glow dimmed until it was no longer visible.
Azazel whistled softly, "well, I don't think there's a much more spectacular way to go than that. I'll nominate Kokabiel for the flashiest death of all time."
"And most absolute." There was no coming back from that absolute annihilation. That wasn't just death, that was extinction. Kokabiel's very soul had been torn to shreds.
"So what'll it be, Azazel?" Vali looked up and saw Gabriel floating over to them. Serafall was alongside her. He shouldn't be surprised that the two of them had sensed Azazel, but he was. Neither of them looked particularly pleased at the moment. "Will there be war?"
"Sona Sitri is more important to me than your entire race," Serafall added in a voice as cold as death itself.
Azazel floated up into the air with his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "Ladies, ladies, Kokabiel was acting entirely on his own. I assure you the Fallen Angels don't want a war." He threw a look down at him drawing their attention his way, much to Vali's annoyance. "I had sent Vali here to stop Kokabiel but then you two fine ladies showed up and he wasn't needed."
Serafall crossed her arms beneath her chest. "The wielder of the Divine Dividing, the host of Albion, the White Dragon Emperor." There was nothing but icy death in those violet eyes of hers. She wasn't satisfied with the violence she had done to Kokabiel and was just looking for an excuse to do more.
Vali just knew his next words would determine if he lived to see the sunrise.
"I was about to stop him when I felt you two coming." Vali said carefully as he took to the air. "Considering my association with Azazel, I feared being taken as Kokabiel's ally so stayed hidden. You have my apologies for not intervening sooner."
That seemed to satisfy them enough not to flay the skin from his bones right then and there. The both of them turned their attention back to Azazel.
Gabriel pointed at the leader of the Fallen Angels. "Azazel, the Fallen Angels may be against Kokabiel's actions, he's still one of your own, your responsibility."
"I am truly sorry for what Kokabiel has done here," Azazel was quick to assure them.
"If you truly feel that way, then repair Kuoh Academy by morning," Gabriel commanded.
Serafall nodded her quickly. "Yes, if you are truly sorry for what your Fallen Angel companion has done, you will fix the damage he did."
Vali felt it was unwise to mention the fact that they had done most of the damage. Azazel felt the same as he didn't say anything to refute their claims. He just swallowed hard and threw a look his way. "Vali, do you have a shovel and a hammer?"
"No, why would I?"
"I suggest you go get a shovel and a hammer. Some nails too and some friends, if you have any."
Why was he being roped into this? Vali gave Serafall and Gabriel one look and instantly came to the conclusion that perhaps Azazel was on to something. "I'll find something."
Anything was better than being on the receiving end of those looks.
~o~
Tatsumi hissed in pain as Bennia helped ease him onto the edge of the bed. His chest burned painfully with every movement. Even breathing send sharp slivers of pain shooting through his body. That hole Kokabiel had punched through his chest was still there, albeit no longer bleeding. The cauterization caused by the heat from Kokabiel's final strike had stopped him from bleeding out instantly like Issei had, and that strange poultice Bennia had applied did the rest.
He peeled off the white robe Bennia had given him, the outside looked as pristine as ever even if the inside was stained with his blood, and let it drop to the floor. "I'm a wreck…" He wasn't in any danger of dying within the immediate future, but he wasn't going to be doing much of anything. Accompanying the hole in his chest were burns all across his body. The back of everything was covered in scabby, pink flesh that stretched uncomfortably whenever he flexed his muscles. Again, the poultice had done amazing things to heal the worst of the damage, but unless he got surgery or some sort of serious magical healing, he was going to make Frankenstein look pretty for the rest of his life.
((At least you're alive)) Bennia said. The relief in her voice was palpable. ((I don't know what I would do if I lost you.))
"Heh… those are my words." He lifted his hands above his head and stared at the ruined flesh on the back of them. "I still don't know how I lived. By all rights I should be dead." Just like that time with Esdeath. This was twice now he had survived something that should have killed him. There was something wrong with him. It was like he had Incursio's regeneration without actually having Incursio. "Why do I live when everyone else is forced to die?"
((Don't think like that!)) Bennia chastised him.
It was hard not to. He, the target of Kokabiel's rage, lived while countless innocents were now dead, and more homeless or missing family members. Thousands dead, and tens of thousands more affected by this. It hurt.
They even called him a hero.
If ever there was a word that didn't apply to him, that was it. The coward that he was though, he hadn't corrected them. He couldn't say he was responsible for that devastation. That Kokabiel had come there to kill him and that countless innocents had gotten caught up in the battle and killed as a result.
All they saw was his exhausted, injured form picking through the rubble, carrying the injured to that safe zone. They believed he had created that zone, and that it was by some divine providence that he had been able to pick out those still alive amongst the destruction and save them. Both of those achievements had been the work of others. Bennia guided his steps, and Tatsumi was certain now that it had been Gabriel that had created the zone, although he didn't recall ever seeing her arrive.
Bennia had said the robe and poultice had come from her as well.
It had been all that praise and attention that had eventually chased him away. He couldn't take it, all the cameras on him, the flashes of light, the cheers each time he found someone still alive… When it had all become too much he had left, citing exhaustion.
"And now we're here…" Tatsumi murmured. His home was gone. All his possessions destroyed… his parents dead. All he had left was Bennia. If he lost her he was done. He'd follow her into death no matter how he had to achieve it. "The Great Hero of Kuoh City, Nakimori Tatsumi… reduced to a pauper with no clothes, no family and forced to take up residence within a hotel room."
It was a nice hotel room, eighth floor was a good view of downtown Kuoh City, but that was all it was. Just a place to lick his wounds.
((We're not exactly a pauper)) Bennia corrected him. She pulled out a tablet and phone from somewhere. ((I still have a copy of all your identification and cards and I can access all of our online assets with these.)) She dropped the phone and tablet onto the bed beside him. ((We're actually fairly wealthy. Azazel paid us in full for our efforts against Esdeath. Unless you think a hundred million yen is insufficient to live off.))
Well, maybe the lack of possessions wasn't a big deal in the long run. "I guess… but my mother… my father…" He was trying hard not to dwell on the fact that he'd never get to see their smiling faces again. He could feel that pain lurking just beneath the surface. He wouldn't let it out.
He wasn't sure he'd ever stop crying if he did.
((Mmm)) Bennia sounded sad. ((I'm sorry Tatsumi… I took them to heaven. At least they're with Mira now.))
"They are, aren't they?" Tatsumi said as he flopped back onto the bed. "Gah!" Tatsumi coughed and choked as pain wracked his body. That had been a bad idea! "What… happened?" He managed to choke out once the pain had settled to a manageable level. He was afraid to ask but he wanted to know if they blamed him.
((I don't think your mother ever noticed me)) Bennia admitted. ((She was so busy hugging and cuddling Mira that I doubt she noticed anything.))
"And father?"
Bennia looked away but before she did Tatsumi could have sworn he saw tears in her eyes. ((He thanked me… thanked me for keeping Misako together long enough to be reunited with Mira. He said… he said it almost felt like having a second daughter.))
So his father didn't hate Bennia for what she did. He really had known all along and was thankful of it. Had come to view Bennia as his own daughter. It was a relief to hear that, it had always worried Tatsumi. Bennia had carried that guilt on her shoulders for years. Tatsumi could only imagine her relief to hear those words.
"At least my mistakes won't hurt them ever again," Tatsumi whispered. He was a horrible person to think that.
He didn't have very many people left he was capable of hurting. Life was slowly taking away from him everyone he cared about.
There was a polite knock on the door.
Tatsumi and Bennia shared confused looks before Bennia carefully made her way to the door and peered out through the peephole.
((It's Sensei.))
Tatsumi really wasn't in the mood to see anyone today, but this was Gabriel. "Let her in, she'll probably just let herself in if we don't."
Bennia nodded and unlocked the door. Tatsumi slowly eased himself back into a sitting position as Gabriel entered the apartment. She wore the same dress she had yesterday, that long, beautiful flowing white dress that hugged her form just right. Beautiful truly was the only word that could accurately describe her, and even that fell far short of reaching the mark.
That beauty was marred slightly by the sorrow and regret Tatsumi could see in her eyes.
"Sensei," Tatsumi tilted his head slightly in greeting. "I failed."
"Forget that," she said as she made her way to his side. "You're injured."
"I'll just go to the Hospital and—"
"Nonsense," she cut him off abruptly. Sensei sat on the bed next to him and gently placed her hands on him, one on his chest and the other his back. "I promised I'd heal you if you got hurt and I'm here to keep that promise. Don't make a liar out of me, Tatsumi."
She didn't even wait for him to respond. A soft glow began to emanate from her hands as warmth spread throughout his body. His body started to heal and repair itself before his very eyes. "Thank you… no naked embrace this time?" Tatsumi asked, not really feeling the humor he tried to create.
"There are several methods of healing. The situation dictates the most efficient means," Gabriel explained patiently. The hole in his chest closed up completely and for the first time in what seemed like forever he could breathe without difficulty. "This is hardly the time for such a method. It wouldn't work as efficiently."
That made a certain sort of sense Tatsumi could accept. He wasn't sure he was really in the mood to enjoy having his head nestled between Gabriel's naked bosom. It was hard to really be in the mood for anything. Too many had died today because of him.
Tatsumi lifted his hand and watched as the burnt flesh eased and smoothed out, restoring it like new, albeit without any of the hair. "What happened to Kokabiel?" He hadn't seen or heard from the Fallen Angel since he left Tatsumi for dead. If he was still out there he'd come for Tatsumi if he knew he was still alive.
"Dead," Gabriel said tersely. She obviously didn't want to remember that incident. She pulled back and stood again. Tatsumi felt about his body and noted that everything was perfectly restored. At least there wouldn't be any physical complications because of that battle.
"So Rias managed to kill him…" that was surprising. He hadn't thought she was that powerful. Kokabiel was on a completely different level.
"No, Rias did not," Gabriel shook her head. "I killed him, with some help from Serafall."
Tatsumi looked up at her sharply. "Japan's still here though!"
He saw Gabriel's eye twitch violently. "We did our best to keep it all contained to Kuoh Academy. The Fallen Angels are repairing the damage caused by our battle even as we speak. A small penance for allowing one of their own to step so far out of line."
Tatsumi stared down at his feet. He didn't know what to say. "I see. You got involved and risked another Great War because I failed."
"You didn't fail, the mistake was on my end," Gabriel said. She raised her hand and brought forth the Shroud of Longinus. "You did make the attempt, regardless of everything else, so this is yours. I saw that Kokabiel was missing an arm and sensed the lingering traces of death clinging to it."
Tatsumi accepted the shroud and rolled the fabric between his fingers. With this he could fly… but did he even need it anymore? He had definitely flown when he fought Kokabiel. That whole battle was hazy though so he couldn't remember exactly how he had managed it. The shroud was probably useful in the meantime until he figured it out.
Something about her words sounded off though. He set the shroud aside and gave her a searching look. "What do you mean it was your mistake?"
((Her mistake was that it was impossible for you to ever kill Kokabiel)) Bennia piped up. The little Grim Reaper made her way to his side and wrapped her arms around his chest. ((That shroud of death that clings to you can be detected by Senjutsu users, Grim Reapers, and mystical entities of sufficient strength.))
"Beings like Kokabiel," Tatsumi whispered. That was how he had been able to track him down so easily, how he had known just where Tatsumi's parents had lived.
"Bennia is correct," Gabriel said, "I had grown so used to your presence, including its uniqueness, that it had slipped my mind. Despite my power, I am not perfect. I make mistakes and this is one mistake that cost you greatly."
"It's not your fault," Tatsumi said.
((But it is!))
Tatsumi gave Bennia a quick kiss on the lips before smiling. It was nice seeing her so protective of him. "No, it's not. Kokabiel told me why he attacked. It's entirely my fault. He had plans for Esdeath, wanted to use her to kill Souna. I chased her away and that made me a target." Everything revolved around his decision to accept that job for Azazel, which he had accepted entirely based on the fact that he wanted to meet this world's Mine. The blame was entirely his. Kokabiel targeted him because of a set of events Tatsumi set into motion because of his own personal desires. "He also stated that by killing me he'd upset both you," Tatsumi gave Gabriel a smile, "and Serafall enough to kick off that war. His attack on me, and on my parents, is my fault."
Gabriel crossed her arms beneath her ample bosom and shook her head. "No, it's not, Tatsumi. Kokabiel is to blame. You simply followed your own ideals and walked your own path. It is a freedom, no, a right, that all humans have. To stop walking forward is to stop being human. Kokabiel's actions are entirely his own. He attacked you, he murdered your family, and he killed all those innocents. You did not turn your blade against them. You were simply not strong enough to protect them."
"But—!" She stopped him with a finger on his lips.
"No but's, Tatsumi. I'm not letting you take the blame for the actions of a dead megalomaniac," Gabriel said firmly in a tone that broke no argument. "Even your lack of strength isn't to blame. Even with all my power there have been times I was unable to protect that which I care about." For a brief, singular instant indescribable pain was reflected in her eyes. She took a deep breath and the pain was gone. "It is the responsibility of those that stand above you to step in when the challenge is too great. God did that for us and I should have done that for you. I failed to recognize that this was one such challenge, that no amount of effort on your part would be enough." She bowed her head. "I apologize for that mistake."
"Please don't, it feels weird seeing you bow to me," Tatsumi begged. It just didn't seem right that so proud and noble a woman would bow to anyone.
"It just shows how sincere I am," Gabriel replied as she straightened. "I checked the rules at Kuoh Academy. You're allowed some time for bereavement so you're not required to go to school for the rest of the week. Take this time to come to terms with what happened."
Tatsumi shook his head, "I'll go." He had missed far too many classes recently. He stood a fair chance of being held back because of it. "I'm… used to losing those I care about."
She flicked his forehead painfully. "Tatsumi, that's something no one should ever get used to," Gabriel said gently. "Regardless there's no school tomorrow." A slightly guilty look came to her face. "It… will take at least a day for repairs to be complete. Serafall and I may have been a little too enthusiastic in our desire to see that Kokabiel was suitably punished."
"I guess that'll give me time to buy a new set of school clothes," Tatsumi mused. Maybe he could contact Souna in the morning. She'd been the one to provide that first set of clothes.
((And find a place to stay)) Bennia added. ((We have enough money to buy just about anything in this city, except that one two-story penthouse suite. How can they honestly charge that much for it? And who even needs an outdoor slide twenty stories up! That's like just asking to fall off.))
"Sounds like you know from experience," Tatsumi pointed out.
Bennia coughed guiltily and looked away.
"Take care, Tatsumi," Gabriel said as she made for the door, "I need to go and arrange things with Irina and Xenovia."
"They got the Excaliburs back?"
"The cores, at least," Gabriel confirmed, "they're going to return them back to the church where they'll be re-forged. I imagine you might see both of them again before long. I could use some help around my sanctuary," she gave him a long look, "and so could you."
"I see… Sensei…"
"Yes?"
Tatsumi wasn't quite sure how to bring this up, but he did say he'd at least mention it to her for Sayo. Now was as good a time as any. "How… willing are you to meet the faithful?"
She gave him an odd look. "I am not supposed to. That's usually the task of lesser Angels. Xenovia and Irina were made exceptions because of the seriousness of the situation. Why do you ask?"
"I may have let it slip to my friend that my sensei is Gabriel…" Tatsumi said apologetically. "She asked me if I could mention her to you. I promised I would but that's all." He couldn't make Gabriel see Sayo, but for her he'd at least mention it.
"I'm afraid not, Tatsumi. If there is a need, she and I will meet. However, I cannot meet with someone on a mere whim." And he, someone who wasn't even a follower, a faithful, had been approached. That meant he truly was a pawn in a scheme of hers. "I'm sorry Tatsumi, but some rules must be enforced. If you think about it long enough, you'll come to understand why."
She left after that, leaving Tatsumi alone with Bennia and his own thoughts.
Author's Note: And thus Kokabiel's Arc comes to a close! Leave a review and let me know what you think of it!
On the side, I'll be taking a break from writing for the next 3-4 weeks. Work is busy, taking a course next week, and with Atelier Firis, Mass Effect: Andromeda, and Persona 5 all out, or coming out in rapid succession, I just don't have time to do any writing. I want to be able to focus on those games without worrying about a word count quota or something.
Note on final battle with Kokabiel: Sorry if you were expecting some long drawn out battle with Kokabiel, but honestly, do you really think an injured and winded Kokabiel is going to be much of a challenge for the likes of the Leviathan and Gabriel combined?
Besides I didn't want to be like that one fanfiction I read where it took 15 pages for Shirou to unleash Excalibur… I was literally skipping entire pages of text because I just wanted to see Shirou smack Kokabiel down with an Excalibur blast.
I'll also admit I don't feel like I'm very good at long battles. Like I said last chapter, I can't do pages and pages of descriptions, internal monologues, achievements, and everything else under the sun just for padding. I give you what I feel is the juicy meat from start to finish.