A.N. - Alright, the second chapter of the week. I was actually had an interesting thought when writing this chapter. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy typing this.

Drednaught - Thanks for the review. I had to admit, I do think that the chapter could do much more, but I had no idea how to do it without making the chapter going haywire. Nonetheless, do enjoy the fanfic.

P.S. I do not own both MSLN and HS DxD

It was the day after the attack on Sona, and as Issei and the others went to school, he noticed someone was watching him. He glanced casually at the direction of the gaze and saw a young woman, presumably his age, was drinking a cup of coffee. She had light silver hair and hazel eyes. Her hairstyle was fashioned in a long ponytail and had a blue ribbon fastened the hair. She was also wearing a bluish-silver blouse and a dark blue skirt.

|[Aibou, I felt Albion in her. I think she's the Hakuryuukou.]|

|Well, whatever it is, I think she's not here for a fight.|

After the brief chat with Ddraig, he told the girls to go ahead before went near the girl.

"Hello there. I noticed that you've been glancing at me for a while. I wonder, do you know me?" Issei asked as he watched her face closely.

"Umm, no actually. I was just surprised that you've got two girls with you. Anyway, I was just got here a few days ago, and was wondering if by chance I will find someone who I've been looking for," she said as she sipped her coffee.

"Anyway, is there something you want to talk about, miss...?" Issei asked.

"Valia. Valia Lucille. And I might have something that I want to warn you, perhaps, mister..."

"Issei. Takamachi Issei. And what would that be?"

"There will be a huge storm coming to this quiet little town. I wish that you will not be swept away by it," she said as she put the bill for the payment and left.

"Huh... That's interesting. I wonder what she's here for?" Issei said to himself.

By lunch time, Issei went to the student council room and met with Sona, who was now looked better than yesterday.

"Got plenty of rest yesterday?" Issei asked.

"Yes, thank you for worrying about my well-being, Issei-san," Sona asked as she put down a report.

"So, I'm guessing your peerage was quite frightened when you told them about yesterday?"

"Plenty. They told me that I was a bit reckless for not resting enough and now, I had to teleport to school to reduce some of their tension. I'm glad that I'm the only one that was attacked by that mad Stray Exorcist," Sona said as she frowned at what happened yesterday.

"I think that something big is going on, and we're out of the loop. It's giving me quite a headache just thinking about it."

"Just rest for now, Sona-san. I think we should tell Rias-san about this after school."

"Actually, we had a meeting with two representatives of the Vatican today after school. They said they have something to tell us. I know that you're not involved with the Three Factions, but I think you have the right to be there, as this concerns Kuoh," Sona said as she remembered the call from this morning.

"...I see. Perhaps I will join you with Vivio and Asia-san as well. I think I know who those two are actually," Issei agreed as he remembered his reunion with his childhood friend.

When he arrived home yesterday, he was surprised that Irina came back, but what more surprising was that he felt two holy sword signatures similar to what Freed was using. He then saw that she was wearing a cloak over what seemed to be a black skintight suit that emits holy energy. He also saw what seemed to be a large weapon being covered by a cloth beside the blue-haired girl who Nanoha told him later was Xenovia. Thinking that the Angels don't want to have any business in any devil territory before, Issei thought that something was causing them to move.

"You do? I guess that makes it easier for me to think things through. Anyway, please come to the Occult Research Club room at the end of school hour," Sona said before Issei left the room.

After school, Issei, Vivio and Asia went to the ORC room and knocked the door with Kosuke, looking lethargic due to the holy energy from the swords opened the door. When they came in, Irina was shocked to see Issei as he nodded at Rias and Sona who were sitting at a sofa across the two church agents.

"Issei, how come you're here?" she asked as her partner, Xenovia frowned at their appearance.

"As the matter might have to do with Kuoh city, I was invited by Rias-buchou and Sona-kaichou to this meeting. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you yesterday, but me and my family are mages, so I know that they are devils, but I come here as a neutral party that had concerns with the city," Issei shrugged as he sat at a sofa to Sona's right with Vivio follow suit and Asia just stood behind them, nervously.

"I see that you're not what I think you are when we first met yesterday, but to think you have some connections with the devils here," Xenovia said as she shook her head dejectedly.

"Maybe because they're the first supernatural entity that we met here when we arrived, followed by fallen angels, due to some incident. Nevertheless, I think you have something to say to the devil heiresses here?" Issei asked as he looked on at the two parties.

"Very well, then. Three Excalibur fragments were stolen from various church factions," Xenovia said after looking at Issei warily, who was surprised with what she said.

"What do you mean, fragments? Are you saying that the Excalibur was broken?" Issei asked in doubt, as what he knew from Earth's legend, Excalibur was unbreakable and was given back to The Lady of The Lake.

"The Excalibur was broken in war, long time ago," Irina responded as she still can't made up her mind that Issei was talking about the supernatural world. "It was then forged with alchemy to make seven new blades with the same name, though have different properties."

"Blades like this," Xenovia said as she removed the cloth from her weapon, revealing it to them all. It was long and thick, its end parted three ways, and had an axe head instead of a hand guards at the hilt.

When the sword was revealed, while every devil inside the club room tensed or reacted badly, Kiba's eyes went dark with cold hunger, which Issei saw and noted to himself that he better keep an eye on him before looking back at the sword.

"Interesting," he murmured.

"This is Excalibur Destruction, from the Catholic Church. True to its name, its offensive power is high and can destroy pretty much anything that it was set against," Xenovia explained stoically before rewrapping it in cloth with a smug-like action.

Irina then put her hand onto a hairpin that she had on, which Issei noted must be another Excalibur fragment and raised an eyebrow as the hairpin changed and distorted into a katana, before she said in pride, "And this is Excalibur Mimic. It can change shape into anything that I want, and it's very easy to be carried. This one is from the Protestant Church."

Issei then glanced at Kiba. He noticed that Rias' Knight was glaring darkly at the swords and their wielders. Issei then looked at Vivio, who noticed the subtle glance at Kiba as she nodded in understanding and while casually went to the pantry, she then stood near Kiba to make sure he won't do anything rash or stupid at the two church agents.

Rias, not noticing the slight movements, continued with the conversation and asked, "So what does the theft of the fragments had to do with our territory?" as Sona thought about something.

"The thieves went into Japan, more specifically, arrived here at Kuoh," Xenovia stated, which caused Rias and Sona to be surprised before sighed.

"So, who was the one stole the fragments?" Sona asked as she thought that she knew who did it as Irina responded more seriously than before.

"It was the Grigory. More specifically, by the Fallen Angel Kokabiel's group."

"Hold up for a second," Issei said as everyone looked at him. "Are you trying to blame the Grigori for the theft? Last time I heard from my contact, Kokabiel had gone AWOL with his group. I don't think Azazel would want anything to do with the swords anyway."

"How do you know about this, Takamachi-san?" Xenovia asked as she narrowed her eyes.

"One of Azazel's little helper is currently in my family's protection and she's been in contact with her boss. According to her, an agent of Grigori was also sent to find said traitor right of this moment," Issei stated as he watched the other's reaction.

As the devils knew that Issei had a fallen angel under his care, they nodded in understanding, wheareas the two church agents just stared at him like he was an abomination.

"Not only you had some ties with the devils, you also had one with the fallen?" Xenovia stated coolly which Issei just nodded.

"Anyway, we devils had no interest in the holy swords, so we couldn't have stolen it. And Kokabiel... he's quite a formidable opponent," Rias said as she grimaced at the trouble her territory was facing.

"We already sent numerous priests and exorcists to search for the swords, but they were kept being annihilated by the enemy," Xenovia stated.

Hearing that many priests and exorcists had been dying in Kuoh, he telepathically called Nanoha and Hayate.

|Nanoha-kaasan, Hayate-san. I think there is trouble in Kuoh.|

|Oh, what's the matter, Ise?| Nanoha asked as Hayate just hearing them.

|Three holy swords were stolen by someone and they are residing in Kuoh. The church had sent some people to reclaim it but they were all dead. Do you have any leads that might be a clue?|

|Hmm... Ise-kun, for now, just act normally and we and Fate will look for the dead agents. But I guess that you and the others had to be on you guard at all times then. Who knows if they knew about your and Vivio's status,| Hayate said as Issei mentally nodded at her statement.

|Got it. I will keep an eye on things on my end,| he said as he ended the link before hearing something that caused him to curse for their stupidity.

"We're here to tell you devils to not get involve. This is a matter between the church and the fallen angels. The devils at Kuoh won't get in between the battle between us and them," Xenovia said as she glared at the devils, which they glared back at her.

Rias clenched her jaws before saying, "You think that we will ally with the fallen in this case?"

"Well, getting rid of the Excalibur fragments would be a good thing for you, isn't it?" Irina said as she shrugged.

"Very well. I will swear in the name of the Sitri family that me and my peerage won't ally ourselves with the fallen angels," Sona said after taking a few seconds to calm herself.

"I too, will swear on the name of the Gremory family that we will not interfere with this case unless deemed necessary," Rias said after begrudgingly stop glaring at them.

Irina and Xenovia looked at both Sona and Rias for a few seconds before the latter nodded as Xenovia said, "Good enough."

Issei then leaned forward and asked, "So, who else would be assisting you two on this mission?"

"There is one more person wielding the last Excalibur on reserve. He will be ready if Irina and I fall in battle," Xenovia said stoically, caused not only Issei but the others as well to gasp in shock.

"So it's just you two against one of the ex-leader of the fallen angel and his merry crew... Are you trying to get a deathwish?" Issei almost shouted his question at the two as he knew the chance of survival in this scenario was close to nil.

"I'd rather not but as the mission required me to do so, I'm ready to die if it's necessary," Irina said seriously before added by Xenovia, "Besides, our mission required us to take the Excaliburs from the Fallen's hands, even if it means to destroy them ourselves."

Things went quiet after that. Seeing that they had done their duty, both of them stood up and said, "We'll take our leave now," and started to go to the door but before they do so, they stopped and turned at Asia.

"I thought I was mistaken when I saw you previously. You're Asia Argento, the witch, aren't you?" Xenovia asked as she stared at Asia who was fidgeting.

Irina looked at Asia curiously before saying, "You're the witch? The former 'Saint'? I heard that you've disappeared. I didn't expect you to be friends with the devils."

Hearing this, not only Issei, but Vivio also getting riled up.

"I... uh... I..." Asia fidgeted nervously at Xenovia's gaze.

"To think the former Saint consorting with devils. You really did fall low as possible as you could. Do you even believe in God anymore?" Xenovia asked as both Issei's and Vivio's temper began to flare, unnoticed by everyone else.

"Xenovia, you know that she doesn't. If not, why would she consort with the devils?" Irina chided.

"I still believe. Even if I was cast aside by the church, I just can't set aside my belief in Him. I still pray to him, even now..." Asia said as she clasped her hands, trembling.

Couldn't take it anymore, Vivio went to Asia and held her in and embrace as Asia began to sob, Vivio glared at the two.

"You two are despicable," she said causing everyone, except Issei to be shocked. The normally docile and happy Vivio was angry at the exorcists.

"Even when she's no longer under your so-called church's protection, she still prayed to her God. Whenever I went near her room, I sometimes heard her sob, which made my heart ache in disgust at your doctrine. I hate everything about your teachings to cast aside one girl just because she healed a devil," Vivio spat at them, laced with venom.

"I call her a witch because that is what she is," Xenovia responded before continuing, "My people do nothing to her," which made Vivio snapped.

"DO NOTHING TO HER? YOU MEAN YOU ALL DID NOTHING FOR HER! YOU TOSSED HER ASIDE WHEN SHE WAS DEEMED INCONVENIENT AND BETRAYING HER, NOT EVEN FOLLOWING THEIR SAID TEACHINGS THEY CLAIM TO FOLLOW! TEACHINGS THAT SHE STILL FOLLOWS, EVEN NOW! I CONSIDER THOSE WHO DENY HER HANDS OF FRIENDSHIP AND COMFORT THE LOWEST OF THE LOW!" Vivio shouted at Xenovia, causing the girl to step back a step.

"Vivio-chan..." Asia whispered as she looked at Vivio.

Xenovia, irritated, then said, "A Saint doesn't need any friends. They only need to do was work for others. She only need God's love and that should be enough for her. It was only when she selfishly looked for more that she stopped being worthy of becoming a Saint."

That statement caused Issei to chuckle before laughed out loud, causing everyone to look at him.

"Selfish?" he said after finished laughing. "That's rich, considering that THE CHURCH SELFISHLY MADE HER INTO ONE, WHEN SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE CALLED A SAINT! Then, when she showed that her love for all living things were shown, they discarded her like a bloody trash. *Cynical laugh* No wonder I didn't follow Otou-san's footsteps and become a devotee," he said before calming down which also made Xenovia to calm down too.

"If his love didn't protect her then that means her belief in Him was fake or insufficient," she said before being snarled by Issei and a hateful glare from Vivio.

"That's like blaming the rape victim for being rape or a mug victim being mugged," Issei said before his eyes became dead serious and said, "Let me make myself very clear. If you and the so-called church made any hostile movements towards those that I care the most, I. Will. Make. You. Regret. It."

Xenovia's eyes sharpened as Irina just stared, with the others transfixed at Issei before saying, "You dare challenge the entire church? Sounds like you need to be taught a lesson."

Before Rias or Sona could calm the two down, Kiba stepped forward and said, "Sounds like a challenge. I would like to be your opponent."

"And who might you be?" Xenovia asked glancing at his way as he smirked.

"Technically, I am your 'senpai', but I was told I was a failure by them, apparently," Kiba said as countless demon swords appear on the floor.

After the confrontation at the club, Xenovia didn't mind testing their strength, especially one who claimed to be her senpai. As long as it wasn't life-threatening, it won't be reported to the Vatican. It was half an hour later that Xenovia and Irina stood across Kiba outside within a barrier made from Vivio, who said that the barrier would make sure the damage won't appear in the real world. As they wait for Issei, who was going to the infirmary to talk with Shamal, both Rias and Sona looked worriedly at Kiba. Rias also sighed at his recklessness to have his so-called revenge against Holy Swords.

"Sorry for the wait," Issei said as he arrived.

When the others looked at him, they were shocked as they looked at his outfit. It was similar to a simple cassock on top of clerical shirt. What's different was that there are shoulder plates and the lower half of the cassock was plated. Even the boots that he wore was plated. Xenovia and Irina was quite astonished at him.

"Are you a member of the Templars? I thought they were disbanded," Xenovia said as she readied her sword.

"Templars? Please, don't rub me with your version of the Saint Knights. Anyway, which of you will be my sparring partner?" Issei waved off the accusation as he set up another weapon of his at his right hand.

Everyone gasped at the sword, as it is a long sword, adorned with intricate design meant for royalty. The blade had a metallic sheen at it as it's spine had a red markings and at the pommel, lay a ruby shaped as a kite embedded on it.

"What sword is that? I've never seen anything like it before," Irina said as she looked at the sword.

"It's just a sword that someone gave me to use. It's one of my weapons aside from Boosted Gear," Issei replied nonchalantly.

"Very well then, Irina, you take on Takamachi-san while I take on our 'senpai'," Xenovia said as she shifted her focus to the Knight who was started laughing as he summon demon swords around him and it was a mirthless laugh.

"Why are you laughing?" Xenovia asked, confused.

"I'm laughing because I'm happy as the one thing that I want to destroy is right in front of me. I never believe that the chance to do so would be this soon," Kiba said as he wielded a sword that began burst into flames.

"That Sacred Gear, it's Sword Birth, isn't it?" Xenovia asked. "I've heard that there was a subject who avoided disposal from the Holy-Sword Project. It was you, wasn't it," she asked as Kiba glared and clenched his teeth.

"Takamachi Issei," Irina sound out, causing Issei's attention to her. "I was shocked when I heard your parents were killed. Then I was surprised that you're a magician and consorting with devils," Irina said as she clapped her hands together. "To think my childhood friend became my enemy. This must be a trial from God. But I will not falter with my belief!" she said as she readied her katana. "I'm ready to show the error of your ways."

Both Issei and Vivio was not amused at her rambling as Issei readied his sword like what Signum had taught him as he said, "We'll see..."

There was a clang of steel on steel as Kiba launched himself at Xenovia. Issei noted that his usual calm self wasn't there, only rage and hatred in his strike. Issei knew that with only that, he won't win his battle against the Excalibur.

"Pay attention, Iss- no, Ise-kun," Irina shouted as she launched herself at Issei. She was surprised as Issei blocked her blade, stopping it cold before he retaliate with ease. As they exchange strikes against each other, the more surprised Irina became.

"Ho-how come you're this strong?" Irina asked.

"I was trained by a Ritter and had been honing my skills since then and I was quite angry at you as you didn't use your Excalibur to its full potential," Issei berated her as his 'Instructor Mode' came out.

"What do you mean?" Irina asked, confused as the other two combatants also lowered their swords looking at Issei, confusion written at their face.

Issei sighed before putting his sword down and said, "Your Excalibur could change form at a moments notice, so if you swing your katana overhead and at the apex, you change it into a claymore or a bastard sword, adding the weight of the sword to the force of the swing, or when you thrust you sword, you can elongate or bend the sword to catch your opponent surprise. That was just two of the many ways to use your sword."

As Irina looked at her sword speculatively, everyone sweat-dropped while Vivio just sighed.

"I don't think you're supposed to help her, Issei-san," Sona said while sighing before Vivio replied, "It can't be helped, Sitri-senpai. Whenever he become like this, there's no way he will stop."

After Irina experimented with the sword, eyes glinting at the new way to fight, Kiba then charged at Xenovia again as he summoned another sword, this time emitting ice. Xenovia just dodged his attacks before bringing down Excalibur at the two swords, shattering them. Kiba just couldn't believe at what happened as he just gapped at his hands.

"As I said before, mine is Excalibur Destruction. There's nothing that I cannot destroy with my sword," Xenovia stated and to prove it, she thrust her sword at the ground, causing a deep noise as dust flew around her. Ats the dust settled, there was a crater with the sword's point as its epicenter.

Irina spat dirt form her mouth as she berated Xenovia, "Xenovia, why did you do that for? Now I'm covered in dirt."

Xenovia just shouldered her weapon as she watched Kiba as to what will he do next.

"Ugh, fine. It's time to end this," Irina sighed as she readied her katana and launched herself to Issei, determined to beat him, but Issei within one fluid motion, strike Irina at her stomach with the flat part of his sword, making her cough and fell on her knees in pain.

"You're still need more training, Irina. And looks like the other side also finished their match," Issei said as he looked at Kiba, who summoned a large demonic sword and clashed with Xenovia, which the Excalibur annihilated his sword before Xenovia hit him the same way Issei did.

As Xenovia helped Irina to stand, Issei suddenly remembered at one crucial item.

"Before you leave, can I ask you a question?" Issei asked as Xenovia turned to him.

"Does any of the Excaliburs can make the wielder invisible or became faster?" he continued which caused the two exorcists widen their eyes in surprise.

"Bingo. Looks like I was right."

"What do you mean? How do you know about Excalibur Invisible and Rapidly?" Xenovia asked as she brandished her sword.

"Actually, yesterday Sona-san and I was assaulted by a Stray Exorcist by the name of Freed Selzan. He was wielding the two holy swords to attack Sona-san as I intercepted him," Issei explained as realization hits the devils.

"That means as the Excaliburs were used against us, we, the devils have the right to be involved," Rias said as she glared at the exorcists.

Xenovia pondered for a minute before replying, "I will inform you of our decision tomorrow," and turned to leave the area as the barrier went down.

"Looks like Ise-kun won't need me anymore, as he is stronger than me now," Irina said saddened before she returned back to her happy self the next moment and followed Xenovia.

As they left, Sona and Rias looked at Issei warily as Vivio gave him a towel to wipe of a few sweat.

"Thanks, Vivi-chan," Issei thanked Vivio as Sona walked towards Issei.

"Could you explain to me how are you affiliated with the church?" Sona asked before he shrugged.

"It's not that I'm affiliated with this church, it's more like I am affiliated with the Saint Church, a church that only had influence at the place where I lived. I was trained by one of the Knights stationed at the church and I was deemed worthy of a position inside the church. Vivio here also affiliated with them. Unlike here, the Saint Church worshipped Saint Kings, equivalent to Saints in the Catholic Church. The only thing that is different is that The Saint Church respect the Saint Kings, at the same time acknowledge their human flaws, so if they did a mistake in the past, they were forgiven. The last Saint King was around five centuries ago, if I remember correctly," Issei explained to everyone when he heard a slap from Kiba's direction.

When he looked, he saw Kiba waas slapped by Rias, who was angry at him for being reckless and told him don't do anything rash as he, still gloomy left the area.

"Kiba, I'm not done with you," Rias tried to stop him but was stopped by Issei.

"Let him cool of his head. I will take care of this," Issei said as he went after Kiba.

Later, after changed back to his school uniform, Issei looked for Kiba and found him at the top of a tower near the academy. When Kiba saw him, he just looked back at the horizon and sighed.

"Are you here to nag like Bushou?" he asked.

"Actually, no. I'm here because I'm worried about you. I lost my parents to a madman and like you, I felt hatred at the guy for taking away my happiness. If it wasn't because of Vivi-chan and Nanoha-kaasan, I think I will be like you right now," Issei said as Kiba looked at him in understanding.

"So, you're like me in a way. You probably should know about this, as Rias-buchou already know," Kiba said as he recalled his past.

How he was an orphan and was brought to a church facility with others like him. The adults say that they were there because they were chosen. How everyone was happy as they lived there content and tried their best to help the adults in their project. How they began to understand that something was wrong as more and more of their friends began to disappear. The only hope they got was from a young girl that was a descendant of a Saint. But when the time came, she didn't help. As he was at the bathroom at the time, he was shocked to see his friends dead in their bed as poison began to seep into his body. How he ran away from the institution and as he began to die, Rias appeared and reincarnated him into a devil.

"Ever since then, my hatred for holy swords grew. And until I have my revenge, I don't think my friends will rest in peace. So please don't stop me from doing this, Issei-san," Kiba finished as he stood up and began to go down.

"Like I said, I'm not here to sop you from that. It is fine for you not to forgive those who wronged you, but know this, you must not let revenge dominate your conscious," Issei said, stopping Kiba at his tracks before turning at him. "I saw what happened to those with only revenge on their minds," he said as he recounted a few faces before continuing, "and when I see in their eyes, I only see a hollow and blank eyes. They've turned into an empty husk of their former selves and even when they did have their revenge, they couldn't turn back. So I implore you, don't take your revenge to the extreme."

As Kiba digesting what he just said, Issei stood up and walked towards him before put his hand on Kiba's shoulder.

"Don't worry, Kiba-san. I've got a plan, and I want you to wait for just a while longer," Issei said with a grin before leaving the tower.

A.N. - Before you guys say anything, yes I used the Saint Church as in the main story, it never been fleshed out well, except that it has connections with TSAB. So I tried making use of it as good as it get in terms of respecting the Saint Kings. As Vivio was also called as 'My Lady' by some of the Church's people, especially Otto, Vivio could relate to Asia as she was forcibly called as a Saint before being discarded as something that was unnecessary to them. You could feel her anger in it too.

Anyway, there are plot reasons to Issei's Knight garment and that sword he's wielding. I can't tell you but it will be told in later chapters, I hope if I can that far. In the end, it's mostly concerned about Vivio.

Mystic Blade, signing out.