Is it that time again? I believe it is. ^^' sorry for taking so long to keep up this story but who knew changing the plot of an anime would take so much.. well, plotting. So since it took me so long this chapter will be supersized. on the upside, i've got a pretty (somewhat) well thought out route that this story will take so we're back onboard and full steam ahead!
I own nothing!
Kumonji, Irina, and Xenovia stepped through his front door at nearly 2 in the morning, thoroughly exhausted and on edge from their narrow escape. Teiya and Erisu had long since gone to bed so they moved as quietly as they could to avoid waking them.
"You two will be safer here than anywhere else in the city. For the time being, you can stay in my room and I'll stay down here on the couch. Let me just grab one of the spare blankets and make sure my room is decent while you two take a moment to chill." The young women nodded their assent as he turns and points to the bathroom. "If you need to shower or anything there should be fresh towels and stuff. As awkward as it is Irina if you need something to wear besides that cloak you can take whatever of mine. The same goes for you Xenovia, though I didn't see any significant tears in your wardrobe.." He pales as she gives him the stare of death. "Er.. anyway, you two get comfortable and I'll go check out my room now."
The rook stepped up each stair on the balls of his feet, taking two and three at a time as he turned left at the top step and opened his bedroom door.
"There you are you naughty little boy"
"..Fuck." He knew that voice behind him all too well. The bundled up roll of blanket in his hands dropped to the floor as he turned around and found a very distraught looking Rias. "Rias, I can explain."
"There's no need for that.. Issei and Koneko already told me everything. And your sister filled Sona in as well."
"Teiya did? And she told Tsubaki, who told Sona, who told you. Of course." He couldn't facepalm any harder if he tried. 'I retract my previous praise of having a sadistic little sister.'
"It seems she followed you three into town and was keeping tabs on you all in case you got into trouble. Honestly, you kids worry me too much. You especially."
To her surprise, the Rook knelt before her, bowing deeply. "I understand that my actions have consequences, and that by disobeying your orders I reflect negatively upon you as a master and myself as a devil. I also understand that inaction in a moment of crisis is equally tantamount to defeat. I hope you can forgive my transgressions, but I won't apologize for acting. It's not in my nature to put myself first, but for once that's proven to be a good thing. Kiba was fine, running off on his own but his recklessness could get him killed. I know it goes without saying that the church is a devil's worst enemy, but we fought together and they saved my life. What's more, I saved theirs and more than that we discovered that Kokabiel is in the area. He won't attack if things are looking dicey, and with two holy swords nearby as well as half a legion of devils.."
"You brought the church here?" Rias bit her nails into her arm giving off still more of that deadly aura aimed directly at him. He could tell her patience was being tested right now. He would have to tread lightly.
"...downstairs. They'd be safer and better off in a house full of combat-trained devils with more next door than they would out on their own. Despite our two sides being at war I can't turn a blind eye to someone, anyone, in danger. Besides, Kokabiel and Freed were trying desperately to get their hands on as many holy swords as they could, which leads me to believe that they're really trying to make a move for power. If that happens, I think we can rely on Irina and Xenovia to step up and at least fight for their swords."
"I suppose you have a point. How is Kiba doing?" Her voice lost some of the bite it had a moment ago, and Kumonji hoped it was in acquiescence of the situation as it was.
"Vanished, as usual. And thickheaded as well. Lost him as soon as Valper took off. He didn't even want to go along with my plan until we reasoned with him though, so he's developing a cooler head. But for now I'm guessing that you'll be punishing me. Go ahead, it was my stupid plan and I dragged Saji and Issei along. Please, let me take their share of punishment as well. And Koneko too! 4000 spankings is a lot, but it's all my fault to begin with."
"Very well, you'll be receiving 1000 spankings." Rias raised her magic-imbued palm.
"Only 1000? Not that I'm complaining but why so few?" Still, a thousand spankings from Rias was no laughing matter. Last time he was forced to take that kind of punishment he couldn't sit for two whole days. In anticipation of this he clenched his cheeks hard.
"You stood up for what you believed in, not to mention finding and bringing the fight to the enemy. You all worked well as a team, and prevented any more holy swords from falling into the wrong hands. Most importantly, for once nobody got hurt. You still went against your orders, but at least you didn't get in over your head. So, I'll be lenient this time. Just try not to make a habit of disobeying me anymore would you?"
"I promise president. Next time, we all go together. And uh.. could you please not tell Akeno about this? I get the feeling if she knew I rushed into a fight she'd think I'm trying to act stupid to get her attention."
Rias' arms crossed under her hefty chest again, leaning forward with a raised eyebrow to read him. "Aren't you though?"
"No! ..Maybe. Gah I don't even know if I'm doing it on purpose anymore or what.. As far as I know I'll never earn her trust back anyway, so maybe I should just try to be-"
"Not another word." Rias' voice took on a darker note. The aura around her grew heavy and frightening, enough to shut him up on the spot. "Believe it or not she's waiting on you to make up your mind. You can say all you want but the only way to get through to her is with actions. You can't run away from what happened, and you can't sweep it under the rug either. You two need to sit down and discuss whatever it is that's keeping you apart."
"..will she accept me even though I'm an outcast, not meant to exist? I'm.. an abomination wreaking havoc on this world."
"You're her friend. And judging by last night, a pretty damn good one." She hugged her servant, smiling softly. "Nobody asked you to be tough all the time. It's okay to be vulnerable."
Her words were like a dagger, but there was no way to deny that she was absolutely right. At the very least, the two of them would finally have closure. "Thanks Rias-senpai." He hugged her back, then let go as she stood.
"Now that that's out of the way, I'll need you to bend over."
"Heh? ... oh. fuck."
Teiya and Erisu had already been forewarned by Rias that this might happen, and had dampening spells cast over the walls so that the sound of his yelping in pain didn't keep them up. Still, a little part of Teiya giggled in triumph as the muffled cries of her older brother permeated through the wall adjoining their bedroom. Who knew blackmail could be so fun?
~.~
The next day Kumonji woke face down in bed with no bedsheets covering him. As it was, he had to gingerly dress himself and shower under cooler water just to numb the sting. Being a rook was great for his strength and defense, but against a King like Rias Gremory his ass may as well have been tissue standing against a hurricane. As he made his way upstairs to his own bedroom he winced, hoping today would start normally and there would be no issues. As he tapped his knuckles to the door he heard no motion so he ventured to open the door with a hand over his eyes. "Everyone decent?" Irina gave a nod and "Mhmm" while Xenovia gave a curt but decisive "Yes" so Kumonji lowered his hand from his eyes.
The sight he beheld was truly amazing, Irina after her shower had borrowed one of his flannel pajama bottoms and a tee shirt that stretched around her generous bust. It was fairly evident that she wasn't wearing a bra but he looked away before she could track his gaze. Xenovia, despite her glaring the night before had gone through his clothes as well and found a button-up shirt that was half done up and open at the cuffs. She too was not wearing a bra, but the way those shorts looked on her.. wait.. "Are you.. wearing my underwear?" Indeed, around her waist was his favorite pair of teal undershorts with black stripes up the sides, flowing like perfect silk over her curved hips.
"Are these not bicycle shorts? Men have worn these on the road in public, I have seen it." Xenovia tugged at the elastic above her butt.
"Not.. exactly. They look very similar, but the ones for bike riders are usually thicker and more.. padded." It took every ounce of restraint to keep his eyes above her navel but somehow the rook looked away and faced the door. "In any case you guys are welcome to stay here as long as you like. You're safe here, or if you want to hide out in the ORC club room during school hours you can do that too great thanks bye!" He left the room as fast as he could. It was decided, he had definitely spent too much time around Issei.
In school try though he may Kumonji couldn't sit in any halfway comfortable position without wincing, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by Issei.
"Yo," Whispered Issei "When did you get back?"
"Last night. Late late last night. I could barely even sleep laying face down." The rook thought for a moment, then surreptitiously checked his phone. No calls from Kiba at all. Nor from Koneko, whom he assumed would have been off following him if she were able to take the school day off. "Has he called you yet? I wasn't able to keep up with him. I just hope You-Know-who didn't find him and catch him off guard."
"He'll be fine. You saw how he was yesterday, Kiba's finally getting his head on straight." Issei gave him a thumbs up, but even he only half believed his words. At that moment Matsuda and Motohama showed up, Kumonji's cue to tune out. He looked out to the sky, hoping that Phaes would be at the club room when he gets there, along with Kiba. This morning had been weird, but considering all the things he's seen as a devil this was starting to become normal. 'Or at least as normal as two hot chicks dressed in my clothes can be.' The thought of how Xenovia looked in his clothes hung up in his mind, he couldn't get over how attractive she looked to him like that. But quickly his thoughts had shifted, and instead he found himself daydreaming of Akeno in that getup, holding him, kissing him..
"Oh Kumonji, just like that you naughty naughty boy!"
-Whap-ap-ap!-
"NOBODY ASKED YOU!" The rook screamed out after pimpslapping all three perverts huddled around the front of his desk. Issei having said it had taken the brunt of the hit and was sprawled out over the floor alongside Matsuda and Motohama with his broken glasses. The redhead walked away and went to the belltower today. For some reason the idea of sitting under his usual cherry tree didn't appeal to him, almost like a gut instinct that he needed to go this way.
As fate would have it, he was right. The moment he was out of the line of sight for everyone below Phaes' summoning matrix appeared on the ground and she apparated in her human form by his side.
"Big bro, are you still worried about your friend?" She had grown slightly taller but side by side it was silly to compare them. Kumonji chuckled at the thought that two Phaes' put together would only just be taller than he was.
"Kiba? Yeah I suppose I am a little bit. I can't do anything to find him without leaving the school, but I still wanna make sure he's okay and that we get to him first if that's possible." As he looked over at the old school building where the club room was he noticed several streaks of light vanish into the bright afternoon air, unnoticed by anyone below. "..Phaes my dear serpentine familiar, would you be willing to take a few looks around for me? Just go around town as you are and see if you can find Kiba." He reached into the back pocket of his pants and produced a small notebook with a pencil. He quickly sketched a drawing of Kiba's face and description. "He was last seen in the woods away from town near that old run down building. Try not to use any magic or look out of place if you can help it. Just.. Act like you're a cosplayer or something."
She got a good long look at his sketch and nodded, tucking it away in her shirt. "Okay, but after that I wanna be able to nap all day. And herring! The good kind, not some cheap market crap!" She stuck her forked tongue out at him and reverse-summoned herself away.
"Hahahaha.. Well she's got spunk and a mind of her own, there's no doubt about that. Oh well, guess it's back to class."
Later, in the club room, everyone was assembled as the familiars all went about looking for Kiba. Normally Kiba on his own wouldn't warrant any need for concern, but considering that not only Freed but Kokabiel as well were out on the hunt for any target they could find Rias, Akeno, Kumonji, Issei, Asia, and especially Koneko were rightfully nervous. It had been well into the afternoon and looking like it would get dark soon when Rias was contacted by her bat familiar that Kiba had been sighted along a dirt path on the other side of the city, thankfully in one piece and walking under his own power. At once the entire ORC got up and ported themselves to his location. Kiba was sat on a wooden fence with Bat-chan beside him. As the group approached she reverted to her animal form and flew to Rias' shoulder while Kiba stood.
"Unfortunately they got away. I tried to keep up as best as I could but even so Valper out ran me. I tried finding them after I lost them but I have no idea where they went." Kiba shook his head in defeat and sighed, finding Koneko around his waist in a big hug shortly after. It was cute, until she charliehorsed his leg.
"That's what you get for making me worry about you again." And of course after a few hops on one foot while swearing Kiba settled down and they hugged again.
"Awww how touching." A mocking clap could be heard from the treeline behind them as Freed stepped out into the open.
"Suddenly it wreaks of hipocrisy.. Oh look, if it isn't the Catholic church. And what's this? No little Timmy glued to your crotch.. progress!" Kumonji had to thank YouTube for that one-liner; this life or the last, that would always be pretty damn funny.
"Now what have we here? If it isn't the 'We-All-Fell-For-the-Trap' club." He chuckled and turned this way and that, holding a sheathed sword in both hands. Rias and Akeno both charged up their attacks, but Freed oddly enough raised a hand. "Hey hey, don't fry the messenger Red. After all, there's someone here who would like to talk to you.. MY BOSS!"
Above them all, a fallen angel with 10 black feathered wings hovered, menacing down with those damned eyes. Even his smile was sadistic by nature. It could only be the same figure that Kumonji had encountered the other night. On instinct, the rook reached into his pocket and hit the speed dial for his sister, turning the speakers on his side down.
"Kokabiel." Rias muttered under her breath, her marquis fading from her outstretched hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, sister of the devil king." The one known as Kokabiel called down. "I have no doubt you're aware of who I am."
"The pleasure is all mine, and please call me Rias. So you're the leader of the dark angels, I presume."
"Your crimson hair is quite breathtaking, just as lovely as your dear Brother's. And what's this, do I detect another of the family Gremory standing behind you?" Kokabiel leered at Kumonji, who only glared back. "Even the facial expressions you make remind me so much of the scarlet haired devil king. How utterly nauseating."
"I doubt you came all this way and made such a fuss to discuss appearances. Why don't you just skip to the part where you tell us your agenda. Not that I'm rushing you, it's actually so rare an occurrence to see a leader class so close up on the battlefield." Rias spat back.
"Very well, if you want to know I plan on doing a bit of damage while I'm here. Perhaps I'll start with that school of yours and radiate outward to the town until there's nothing left." Kokabiel retorted, biting back a venomous chuckle as the devils below him flinched.
"Why would you want to harm our school?" Rias was genuinely curious. Of all the places to start Kuoh academy was highly unorthodox to say the least.
"I figure if I do so, Sir Zechs himself will have to emerge in order to bail out his darling little sister. What do you think?"
"If you do that, you'll be starting the war between God, the Devil and Fallen angels all over again."
"Better than what I got for stealing the Holy Sword Excalibur fragments, that's for sure. I could have sworn Michael would have come after me for that, but only to be disappointed. All I got instead were a handful of amateur exorcists and two pathetic Holy Sword users. What a joke"
"So that was your goal, you actually plan to start a war? The War?" Akeno seemed terrified by this. For her to be afraid, Rias must be feeling it too. This was no laughing matter, a fact which didn't escape any of them.
"Freaking warmonger.." Kumonji muttered aloud.
"Yes.. Yeeeeesss.." The hiss of pleasure as Kokabiel closed his eyes for a moment sent a shiver up the many devils' collective spines. "After the first Three Way War ended I was so bored with nothing to do. Azazel and Shemhazai were so passive about when the next one would start."
"Wait a sec, I know those names.." Issei said quietly. Kumonji looked over to see if he had pieced it together yet, though Kumonji was now getting the feeling that his evening with Azazel might have had darker intentions than at first he realized. Azazel could have been sizing up the Kuoh forces, determining if the time was right to strike.. 'Damn him.' "Raynare! She made mention of them before.." A pang hit Issei's chest at the thought of his betrayer, but he shook his head and focused on the enemy at hand.
"Azazel is the Governor-General of all Fallen Angels." Rias said in a sidelong manner, keeping her eyes fixed on Kokabiel.
"That Azazel, not only is he acting passively about the upcoming war and distracting himself, he's taken it upon himself to fixate on collecting those stupid toys he calls Sacred Gears. He's always so immersed in his collection." Kokabiel waved his hand dismissively, as if the very idea of Sacred Gears were bugs before him.
"Freaking Psychopath, it's not bad enough he has to gather the Excaliburs, but now the Fallen Angels are planning on taking Sacred Gears too?" Kumonji clenched his fist tighter, Issei already had his Red Dragon on and at the ready.
"Don't be a fool, I have little interest in your trinkets at the moment, although I do confess to thinking how it may serve me well to take them and weaponize them. I'll leave that to Azazel for now." Kokabiel eyed the Red Dragon and looked to Kumonji, who hadn't summoned his yet.
"As if I'd allow the likes of you to so much as touch our weapons." Issei spat.
The Fallen Angel grinned maliciously and continued his rambling. "Fallen Angels, God, and Devils; how they all hang in a state of equilibrium at the moment, dangling from a spider's thread until the next stone falls. Which means, I can start the next Great War with my own two hands."
"You're a complete maniac." Rias shouted up to him.
"Obviously! Why else would I use the Devils this time? I've got you, Rias Gremory, sister of the devil king, and at your institution this very moment sits Sona Sitri, little sister of Leviathan. If I head there now I have no doubt the abundance of power will make the perfect warzone. The only question is if it'll be enough chaos to end this boring armistace." Kokabiel's killing intent and smug grin both grew, having probed far enough now.
"That's insane!" Kiba just barely kept his volume in check.
"Yeah but I think he's dead serious. That's totally messed up." Koneko said, frowning more than usual.
From the ground under his ally, Freed laughed maniacally. Kumonji swore to himself that this time would be the one that ended Freed for good.
"Don't you just love how crazy he gets? It's getting me all excited just thinking about it. And look.. I BROUGHT TOYS!" The priest opened his jacket, but Kumonji shielded his eyes. "Bad Touch, Bad Touch!" When he opened them he found that Freed was carrying not one but three Excaliburs, one that appeared to have a guard that spiraled over the hands and up around the blade, while the other seemed to be clunky and rounded with a straight blade and a grip for two hands.
"Damn, he has two more Excaliburs to use and knowing him that could mean danger." Issei got tense, things just got really bad really fast.
"The best part, you damned pest, is that they're all in hyper state and ready to use at the drop of a hat.. Who's your daddy?" The psycho priest added with a dark chuckle. "If only I were able to score that Excalibur Mimic from the slut in pigtails. Oh well, nothing says I can't kill her later and take it!"
"So little sister of Sir Zechs, what do you think? Is today not a beautiful day.. for WAR?" With that he charged his attack, unloading a barrage of energy beams that seemed to twist as they rained down, impacting the dirt as everyone scattered under Rias' direction. As Rias and Akeno raised a shield to help guard their retreat, several explosions kicked up dust, covering the Fallen Angel and Priest's hasty retreat.
"Dammit, which way did they run off to?" Issei shouted, biting back his anger.
Koneko, from high in a tree pointed off in the distance at the direction of Kuoh. "I saw him take off that way. He's headed to the school!"
Kumonji pulled his phone from his pocket, catching his breath. "Got that Teiya? Warn Sona immediately, and if Irina and Xenovia are home with you, tell them to either stay there or come help. We're gonna need every helping hand we can get."
"On it bro! Be careful out there." With that his younger sister hung up on him and began dialing furiously. 'He'd better live, or I'm gonna kill him..'
"Guys, he said he was going to start at Kuoh.. We gotta stop him before he lays waste to the whole town!" Issei looked concerned at everyone. They all exchanged glances at one another, sharing the same thought.
"Time to nut up or shut up." Sen no Buki materialized over Kumonji's body, thicker now than before.
"Right, we're headed for Kuoh Academy," Rias declared, turning on heel to prepare a large jump circle back to the club room. Everyone followed with a unified cry of determination.
An idea struck Kumonji, and he stopped. "You all go on ahead, I need to do something first."
"There's no time!" Rias shouted.
"Trust me." Kumonji turned his back, allowing his wings to sprout and kicking off into the air. Akeno had that concerned look on her face, and Rias while not happy still believed in what he said the night before. While flying toward Kuoh as the dusk approached Kumonji flipped through his contacts and called Matsu, hoping she was in front of a computer screen as usual.
"..Hello?"
"Matsu! Please tell me you're in front of your computer at the moment?"
"Yeah, but why?"
"I need you to do me a favor and after that I'll owe you anything you want. I'm about to fight a really bad dude with some anti-devil arsenal and I need to know exactly what I'm up against. From what I could tell the guys I'm about to beat the crap out of had holy sword fragments, which made up the original Excalibur. If you can, I need you to hack into the Vatican database and see if you can find any information, there are supposed to be seven fragments in total."
On the other end he could hear her knuckles cracking, followed by her fingers clacking feverishly away on the keyboard while murmuring her progress. "Quick search: Vatican.. there's the network.. locate main database.. bypass the firewall and security programs.. pfft, amateurs, who puts 12345 as a password? Oh, Okay got it! Looks like you were right, there are 7 scattered across different nations and churches. Which ones are you looking for?"
"Whichever are most likely to be weaponizable. In descending order of likelihood in your opinion." Kumonji flapped his wings. He was already halfway to the school, he would need to think fast.
"Okay, first one that comes to mind is Excalibur of Destruction, then Excalibur Mimic.."
"Both of those are on our side, I hope.." Irina and Xenovia had still made no attempt to contact him, which made him worry. What if they took the opportunity to wipe out all the devils and take back the holy swords from Freed after he was worn down?
"Excalibur Rapidly?" Matsu ventured, clicking on the data specs for all of them and eliminating the choices as they went through them all.
"He has that one for sure. Already saw it in action, that's one mean mother sword.."
"Right, after that would be Excalibur Divine Intervention." She brought up an image of it on screen.
"What does it look like?" Kumonji had only caught a glimpse of the two other swords up the priest's coat but they were pretty unique.
"Very.. Spiral-y. Like it's got swirls over everything, even the blade itself." With a few clicks she sent a copy of the image to his phone, which he looked at and nodded.
"That's one of them. The other was really plain, kinda like an old gladiator blade with bevels in it." Kumonji watched her flip through the schematics and brought up the one he mentioned.
"Oh no, it's Excalibur Transparency. This is bad, if he can use this that means he can go fully invisible without being detected. And if you said he has Rapidly he can also move around at superhuman speeds. Divine Intervention has a guard over the blade at all times because it's used defensively, casting an aura of light around the user to make them impervious to just about anything." Matsu skimmed quickly through all of their specs and tried to find any weaknesses that may be listed. "Frankly speaking you had better hope he can't dual-wield."
"Yeah, no shit. I had a hard enough time against you when you just had one weapon and plenty of training. I could be going up against a fast, invisible.. tank." Kumonji arrived over the fence of Kuoh and descended in awe. From way up high he could see the light of a grand circle with many tentacle-like arms extended outward ending in smaller circles of light magic. Whatever this was, it didn't look good at all. They all spiraled around one another, as if every smaller rotation amplified the next one above it until they all pooled at the center. Standing there within that center, none other than Valper himself. Beside him stood Freed, and jammed into the ground were the three Excaliburs they had collected, glowing with light.
At that exact moment, Irina showed up beside Kumonji. "What are they doing?"
Her eyes widened in realization. "They're.. They're going to fuse them all into one very powerful Holy Sword!" She drew Excalibur Mimic from her arm and lashed it out, trying to catch one of them, any of them and reel them back out. "Wait, Irina NO!" However, the moment she was able to wrap Mimic around the handle of Transparency the light from the circle erupted into a bright column.
The four Holy swords were consumed and spun madly toward each other, with the band of Mimic's cable binding them all. Xenovia landed beside them both and made a move to lash out but Kumonji grabbed her shoulder. "Don't! If they add a fifth sword to that we won't stand a chance."
Behind them, Rias and everyone else appeared. Above, Sona and everyone in the Sitri peerage were chanting and raising a dome around Kuoh. Kumonji peeked up and caught a glimpse of Teiya. She nodded at him before the barrier covered her from sight. 'Don't worry sis, I'm getting outta here in one piece.' The barrier erected quickly and glimmered as it set, resembling a diamond with the hollow inside full of activity. This was it, Devils vs the potential end of the world. "..No pressure."
"The barrier will hold as long as we maintain our focus, nothing will get in or out so if you have to do anything drastic don't worry about the collateral." Sona declared to Rias via Magic Earpiece communication. "This only remains true as long as the conditions out here are unchanged."
"Understood, thank you Sona." Rias replied, walking up to the edge of the hill where Kumonji, Irina and Xenovia were. "There you are. Exactly where did you have to run off to like that?"
Kumonji turned and waved at Rias. "Gathering Intel. According to Matsu the four fragments bound in that sword are Rapidly, Divine Intervention, Transparency, and Mimic. Basically they just forged the ultimate devil hunting device, and we just threw ourselves into the cage to tame it."
"Rias.." Sona's voice came through once again, loud enough now that everyone could hear her. "It's not too late, you can still call your brother for help."
"Right after you call your sister, Sona." Rias said with a smirk. There was no reply.
"And you guys think I have sibling issues.."
"I heard that Kumonji!" Teiya screamed. It was hard to tell whether she used a spell or simply shouted, but either way it was like a cannon going off.
"Rias, it's okay. I've already called Sir Zechs for help." Akeno stepped forward, putting her hand on Rias' shoulder. "I understand that you don't want to be a burden to your brother, but this is a Leader-Class Fallen Angel. This isn't going to be an easy fight, he's no pushover. We're going to need his help."
"An exception to every rule, right Prez?" Issei pumped his fist to himself.
Rias glanced at her best friend, seeing her smile lightly. Even Akeno could be sweet and thoughtful. Seeing that there would be no winning, Rias faked a huff and smiled as well. "Fiiiiine~ There really is no winning against you is there?"
"Don't say that, I like to think we're almost always on the same side." Akeno grinned. "Sir Zechs' forces should be arriving within the hour."
"Right, in that case, let's try to have this mess cleaned up before they show." Kumonji stated with a righteous fury burning behind his determined smile. Together they all walked through the school grounds, taking note of any traps that may have been left behind. Thankfully the hastily done retreat had left the two priests and Kokabiel pressed for time, so the entire school was thankfully free of any surprises.
"Issei, I want you on support this time. Use your powers to transfer extra strength to the rest of us." Rias commanded as they walked through the main building.
"Right!"
"The rest of us will just have to stall for time until Issei can give us all a leg up." The king addressed to everyone else. "Make no mistake, our fight this time is for our lives. Unlike our fight with Riser, there are no do-overs and no time outs. But we will win my dear servants, count on that!"
A chorus of cheers was heard from all.
"Our best bet is to keep on the offensive, we have the number advantage 3 to 1 guys. Assuming we can keep them from getting too far into the school, we ought to have them on their heels." Kumonji turned to Kiba and tapped on his shoulder. "As a team, all together now." With that he spun over his shoulder to regard Irina and Xenovia.
Kiba looked at him in a moment of awe, then nodded and braced himself. His friends had his back, that was all he ever really needed.
"Right, Promotion to Queen." Issei became embossed by a spectral Queen piece, feeling his power surge once more.
Getting to the wide open field behind the school took no time once everyone redoubled their efforts. It still seemed so far away, and yet there it was the pillar of light gathering in size still. The many blades had melded and were as of yet amorphous but beginning to take some type of shape.
"It would seem that the four Excaliburs were made into one. How interesting. So will dear older brother be showing up, or perhaps Serafall?"
"I'm hurt Kokabiel, aren't we enough for you?" Kumonji quipped. "Personally I thought you'd be ecstatic to warm up a little before the main event."
"Mind your tongue boy, it will warrant the end of you." The fallen angel shot back with a foul smirk. "Pray tell, I never caught your name. Are you a Gremory as well?"
"Tokumatsu Kumonji, at your service." The rook stared up at the dark-winged man riding his throne in the sky. For a moment it looked as though the fallen angel douchenozzle faltered or flinched.
"Impossible," Then came that dirty little grin again. "Very well, I shall put you and your name to the test." With the snap of his fingers he summoned a spear of light into the palm of his hand, launching it at the gym. The first time Kumonji saw the gym blown to bits he had to stifle a sob at seeing a monument to fitness go up in smoke. This time however, there was no trace such a place ever existed. The explosion kicked everyone to one side, while Kokabiel merely laughed and shook his head.
For a moment Kumonji witnessed Issei and Ddraig talking quietly, then turned his attention back to the area where the Excaliburs were being fused. "Right, Rias: Kiba Xenovia and I will try to take out that Holy Sword weapon while you guys stall him. Irina, stay back. We'll try to get that holy sword into your hands but for now take cover." The rook, knight, and two church members vanished toward the battleground that held their greatest enemies. "Don't worry, the only ones to die today are them."
Rias let her servants go, staring back up at the leader alongside Akeno, Asia, and Issei. There was a flash of lightning as Kokabiel summoned his 'pets,' as he called them.
Off in the distance was the grandest circle of light. Kumonji turned and found the column was building in strength by the second, sending a very unsettling churn through his stomach. Turning back to the field of battle at hand Cerberus crawled from the pit from which he was summoned and looked very pissed.
"Living at the gates of Hell it's the Watchdog of Hades.." Koneko said, the hair on her head bristling much like a cat's hackles.
"To bring Cerberus here is forbidden, let's send it back. Akeno, Koneko, do your stuff." Rias gave the order with absolute authority, this battle with a Leader class Fallen Angel would certainly be no light spar.
"Right!" they replied in unison. Akeno transformed her outfit to her priestess attire in a flash, gathering up a boundless reserve of power as she focused her energies into a very fine point. Koneko strapped on her gloves extra tightly, all three girls pushing up off the ground with spread wings to take the aerial advantage.
"Issei," called Rias "Begin boosting our power with your sacred gear!"
"You got it. Boosted.. GEAR! -Boost!- Get back Asia, those three can handle this puppy." Issei gestured for Asia, Kumonji, Irina, Kiba, and Xenovia to all take a few steps back. Looking off in the distance Kiba, Kumonji and Xenovia all exchanged glances knowing what must be done. Koneko unleashed a barrage of high powered kicks between the three faces of one beast, Akeno froze the feet of another only to call down a massive thunderbolt, and Rias sent spell after spell at all three causing several explosions of pure destructive energy. From behind, Irina screamed as a yet unseen fourth one lept to pounce while spewing fire. Jumping in to save her Xenovia pushed them both out of the way, rolling to the side.
"Irina, get out of there and find someplace safe to hide!" Kumonji shouted, taking the fight to the dog.
"But-"
"No buts! You don't have your Excalibur anymore so unless you can fight hand to hand you'll only put yourself in danger." He held the center mouth open in front of his face, standing his ground as he pushed back. The two other heads nipped at him but Kiba and Xenovia stabbed through the soft tissue underneath and set it reeling backward in a bloody mess. "If you get hurt you'll just be in the way."
It stung, but she knew he was right. She couldn't do much without her weapon she wouldn't be able to help. With tears in her eyes she fell back toward the school.
"She could have used one of my swords." Kiba pointed out, standing over the defeated Cerberus as he sunk the length of his sword into its head.
"A holy sword wielder using a devil's weapon? Such a thing is blasphemous, not to mention the light inside her would reject the dark." Xenovia retorted.
"It's possible, she could have fought. But last time even with her Holy Sword against Freed and Kokabiel combined you and I had to defend her Xenovia. As much of a dick as it makes me look to her I would rather hurt her feelings than see her killed. We were friends once, that counts for something." The rook looked between the two, then over at the field where the holy pillar was coming to a conclusion. "No time to yell at me now, we've got work to do. Issei, power up as high as you can. I've got absolute faith in you."
They exchanged a glance of determination, then the three set off.
"Where are you three going?!" Rias called, dodging simultaneous attacks from three heads of the same beast.
"You all handle things here, we've got a Holy Weapon and two knob gobblers to stop."Kumonji shouted as he ran backwards. "Don't worry, things won't get out of hand. We'll fall back if there's any trouble." Kiba called to her. "Take him down, we'll meet up with you shortly." Xenovia sped off as fast as she could after the two devils.
The three arrived in a rush, skidding to a halt as a blinding flash of light signalled the end of the ritual.
"It is complete!" Valper exclaimed with a satisfied chuckle."With this the very ground you stand on will be naught but a pile of ash and rubble within 20 minutes. I'd flee if I were you, not that it would do much to save you pitiful creatures."
"I'm pretty sick of your face already Valper Galilei. I'm a survivor of the Holy Sword Project, or rather the slaughter of innocent children you tried to justify and sweep under the rug. Thanks to Rias I was able to survive by reincarnating as a devil, and at that moment I refused to die until the day I could avenge my comrades. You've plagued this Earth far too long." Kiba traded his light sword for a medium sized one with two edges. "You won't leave here alive."
"Let's not rush in this time Kiba. We separate we die, end of story." The rook put his hand on his friend's shoulder to help calm him.
"He's right. Don't be foolish." Xenovia flourished her blade. "We end him, but without killing ourselves in the process."
"That's enough from you all. Freed, you know what to do. Leave no survivors, and please try not to make too much of a mess." Valper began to walk away as the psycho priest picked up the newly forged weapon.
"Sure thing boss. So, who will it be? Anyone volunteer to be on the pointy end of my stabby-stick first?" That stupid smirk of his was growing irksome. He raised the weapon high and glanced between the three. "How about.. you!" He vanished in a blur of speed that left Xenovia almost no room for error. She brought her own sword up to catch his and found that Kiba was at her side with his sword also blocking for her. She looked over at him and he smiled back, brow furrowed. "Together," Kiba said.
"You shouldn't let your enemies get behind you, Freed." The priest froze in shock, hearing the rook's voice so close behind him. "For all the shit you've put me through, I condemn you.." Turning around he saw that Kumonji was crouched low, middle and index fingers clasped together and pointed straight out covered in adamantium. Freed had no time to react as the four fingered attack jabbed him full force right between the back pockets, sending him skyrocketing 20 feet in the air with a pained yelp. "1000 YEARS OF DEATH!"
"..So vulgar." Xenovia cringed and shook her head. Kiba merely facepalmed.
"He killed me and my sister, I'd say he deserved it. YA HEAR THAT FREED YOU COCKSUCKER, I TOLD YOU MY FIST WOULD GO UP YOUR ASS SOMEDAY!" The rook laughed in triumph. Outside the barrier Teiya was watching, blanching at her older brother's bizarre tactics.
"I'm not related to him. I swear we're adopted." She said to Saji, who merely shrugged.
Having cooled his head a little, Kumonji started tramping his way over to where Freed had fallen, only to get jerked back by the collar as a heavy golden blade passed before his eyes. The swing was so quick his Sen no Buki couldn't cover his eyes fast enough, sending out a glint of sparks as it caught the very tip of the blade.
"You'll pay for that Devil scum." The priest looked downright pissed now. Over his shoulder Valper took one look and started running off.
"Kiba, don't let Galilei get away! Xenovia and I will handle this ass clown." Getting back to his feet he deployed an exoskeleton over his torso and biceps only. 'It'll be enough of a pain trying to keep up with him bare, but I need some kind of armor if I plan on staying in one piece.' Kiba dashed off after Valper, little more than a blur.
"Come back, you!" Freed turned to chase him but was blocked by the bluenette and her Holy Sword.
"You go no further, disgraceful excuse for a man of God!" She put her full weight behind the swing, prepared to end it. To her surprise the sword of destruction was stopped by the aura surrounding Freed, no doubt part of Divine Intervention at work. "What?!"
"Surprise!" the nutjob shouted, counterattacking with both hands. The moment his sword moved the guard of Divine Intervention shattered. At once both she and Kumonji had the same thought: 'He's only impervious when he's not attacking!'
Kumonji redirected his armor to the palm of his hand. This hypothesis would need testing, but if the armor has weak spots and loopholes there may yet be hope. He gripped tightly onto the false rapier in his hand. Freed stood at the ready, brandishing the almagamate. The priest made the first move, striking madly with wide swings and jabs that were easy to avoid as long as he paid attention. Once an opportunity presented itself, Kumonji sidestepped a thrust and got a glancing blow on the rosary hanging from his neck. The rook smirked and twirled his blade to cut the thing loose. Now enraged, Freed began another bout of attacks, much faster this time, causing Kumonji to only be able to put up a full shield and repel the barrage the only way he knew how. 'Dammit, he's sloppy but still so fast.. I wish I were as fast as Kiba for once..' He opened his defense and gained some ground as Freed forced him back, skidding along the dirt.
"Had enough yet? I'm rather liking this turn of events." He let his tongue loll out of his mouth..
"You should keep your mouth shut." His amorphous blob of a shield re-shaped the thin long blade he held a moment ago. "Or I'll cut that damned tongue from your head." Kumonji stepped nimbly in, careful to keep his guard up. He would press the attack, he would dictate the cadance of the fight. The redhead locked his eyes on his enemy, keeping his sword moving and causing him to always guess where the next attack would be. This would end it, right now.
one: Kumonji stepped in, keeping his weight low and Jette! Freed batted it to one side, watching his sword instead of Kumonji's eyes. Foolish mistake.
two: A low swing toward his shins. The priest stumbled back a half step but Kumonji was right there on top of him. Freed raised his Excalibur to counterattack. Just as planned.
three: Parry his reckless swing in a wide arc, opening his stance and waiting for the moment when his perfect defense was down and the target was open. There it is!
four: The redhead brough his parry full circle and slapped the flat of his blade against Freed's forearm. For good measure, twist the blade and drag the edge over his arm to cut any tendons and render the threat helpless. Freed winced as the stinging slap was followed by a gash that sent a spatter of blood across his clothes.
'Five: Finish him, bring the pointed end of my sword right between his GOD DAMNED EYES!' The adamantium point stabbed exactly where he wanted, this was it, he had done it.
In an instant, that idea was sunk. Somehow, Freed had managed to keep his grip on Excalibur, long enough to allow his holy aura to protect him from the otherwise fatal blow. To make matters worse, The blade had mashed against his skull and only drew a single droplet of blood, then was sent backward like an exploded banana.
"Seems we all like swords. Well how about we play a game of hide and go die? I'll be it first. Ready?" At that the air around Freed wavered and his body became nothing more than a translucent image. In the blink of an eye he was gone entirely, vanished from sight. The two stood back to back, preparing for the worst. This was bad, he was fast and invisible now. Look around all they like neither of them could see so much as a hint as to where he was. No air ripples, not a whisper of breath.
"Eyes up, chin down. He can't lay in hiding for too long." Kumonji stood listening for a second. Not a sound.
"-gasp- Kiba!" Xenovia suddenly followed the direction she saw Kiba going, thinking Freed was going to go after him first.
"Xenovia wait!" If Kumonji knew him better, he knew that Freed would pick her off when she left. He reached out for her, trying to warn her that she was about to be killed. The sound of his chortle sounded so very loud as the sound of metal sliced through the air and contacted flesh.
The blood sprayed everywhere. His eyes widened. There was no way he could have been prepared for that.
Standing right beside him, Freed had snuck so close that Kumonji could smell his nasty breath. The madman had cleaved off Kumonji's right arm just above the elbow, sending it flying high into the air.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHH!"
"KUMONJI!" Teiya screamed in horror, having to watch as her brother screamed and writhed.
"Teiya! That's enough." Tsubaki cut her off from the other side of the barrier. "You need to keep your focus, no matter what." Even as she said the words, her hands shook as well. She could see the whole battle from where she was. The other side wasn't going any smoother.
"Poor little devil scum. Too bad you've just been.. DISARMED. WAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Freed turned his back and traipsed around, swinging the remnants of blood from his Excalibur. On the ground, Kumonji was in shock and agony. He called his Sacred Gear, but it could only meekly cover the stump of his arm as he clutched it.
Is that it?
That voice again.. His sacred gear.
Is that really all you've got? Come on, I know there's more potential in you than that. Don't you dare quit on me now!
Yes Ma'am! I'll do it if you help me. SERAS!
He stood, seeing the rat bastard standing on his arm with his boot. "My my, you can still stand. I'm impressed. I would have thought the light would be burning you from inside by n-" Kumonji moved at a blinding speed, bodychecking Freed with a left hand to the gut for good measure. Freed was knocked backward and winded as Kumonji bent down and picked up his severed limb.
I can't reattach it for you, but I can at least do this. The rook put the cut end against the cold metal where his wound was. To his surprise his sacred gear coated the limb in a thin layer of the dull silver. He tried to wiggle his fingers and found that he was able to control everything perfectly. I've stopped the bleeding for now, but this fight will need to end soon. You need medical treatment or you'll lose it for good. I'd say maybe 5 minutes at best.
"5 minutes, huh? That's enough time to finish this guy, get fixed, and kill that cocksucker Kokabiel too." The rook punctuated his statement with a crack of his mortal knuckles. "Motherfuckers should have worn their brown pants."
Oh, and about your language..
"Tell me about it after the fight is over. Besides, I'm a teenage devil." Freed stood, then waved his sword warily and turned invisible again.
Close your eyes. Really take in the battlefield. Kumonji did as she instructed, allowing his other senses to really take over. Imagine a third eye in the middle of your forehead, perceive the world through all 5 senses at once. He could hear the rustling of leaves, the smell of dust being kicked up. The feel of someone's eyes on the back of his head.
He wheeled around and without thinking raised his right hand to fire a vacuum bullet at Freed. To his surprise, the adamantium sparked against itself and spewed a large stream of bright cherry red flames that expanded and scorched everything they touched before dying.
"Hot! Hot! Fucking Hot!" Freed's voice could be heard, and a few flames danced in mid air until the psychopath dispelled his invisibility and threw off his flaming overcoat trying to stamp it out.
"Always knew you were a flamer." The rook ran at him, ready to take him down for good. Excalibur raised, poised to stab through him. Kumonji waited until he was close, then brought his knuckles of his right hand to the inside of Freed's elbow and made him bring the blade around, only to stab himself in the foot as Kumonji pushed the blade through his foot.
"Gaaah! What the HELL?!" He tried beating at the young man but Kumonji pushed back and pointed his forefingers again. "W-what the hell are you doing?"
This time, however, Kumonji's fingers stabbed forcefully into his torso, shoulders, arms, legs, and head. With each strike he grew faster and more focused, grunting and biting harder into his enemy's core. Freed felt every single impact, but this was too precise and delicate to be an attack. Or so he thought, until Kumonji struck one last time in the sternum. He couldn't move, every part of his body froze as the redhead stepped back. "What did you do to me you devil scum?" Freed could only watch as the rook reached for his front pocket and produced a folding knife.
"This was on me the day you shot me in that alley. I've kept it every day for personal defense. I've never used it." He flipped the blade open. It was three inches long, serrated at the bottom and sharpened to a fine point. The dull metal looked exactly like his armor. "I could easily kill you. Stab you in the jugular and walk away as you slowly bleed out.. Slit your throat. Maybe carve out your eyes and cut out your tongue. Fuck, I could even cut off your balls. But I'm not like you. You're beaten by a devil, and one you wounded no less. Live with that." He closed the blade on itself and punched Freed in the neck as hard as he could. Whether or not he ruptured anything he didn't care, but from the amount of blood he was spitting up he wouldn't last. Freed rocked to his hands and knees, standing and pulling Excalibur from his foot.
"I will kill you. I WILL KILL ALL OF YOU!" The madman proclaimed, swinging at Kumonji's head to cleave it in two. The rook ducked to the side and avoided the Holy Sword, then grasped Freed's face in his metal hand.
"You're done." Freed growled lowly, only to be silenced as a wet crunch emanated from his forehead. Kumonji pushed his body backward into the dust, sliding him off the spike he produced from the center of his palm. The spike dripped with Freed's blood as it retracted and Kumonji left him there a broken man with an abomination weapon.
You have only 3 minutes left. I'd hurry.
"Sure thing Seras. And thank you. If I don't keep my arm and die from blood loss, I'm glad to have fought by your side all this time."
Inside his head the vampire blushed and smiled. Let's just get you back in one piece, shall we?
He rejoined with Kiba and Xenovia, who stood over a small crater. Kiba seemed different somehow, tears had fallen from his eyes and he held a new sword, a mix of light and dark metal with inscriptions up the center. Alongside him standing over what could only be what was left of Valper was Xenovia, who also had a new weapon in hand.
"Looks like I've missed a lot." Kumonji said, gesturing for them to follow.
"You could say that. Freed?" Kiba asked, looking over where Kumonji came.
"Dead, at a cost. Valper?"
"Same." Replied Xenovia. "But with something gained as well."
As they made the short trip back they found everyone had stopped fighting and were staring up at Kokabiel in shock and awe.
"What did you just say?" Asked Akeno, her arms covering her torn shirt.
"I really am trying to start a war aren't I? Oh well, no point in hiding it now. In the last three way war, God and the Three Great Devil Kings were all killed. Of course you wouldn't hear the truth, since Michael and the remaining Devil King wanted to stifle any sort of panic. How sad to know that all you've been fighting for, the factions you cling to so desperately have been lost all along and you didn't even know." Kokabiel grinned malevolently.
"You BASTARD!" Rias charged another of her black flames to fire at Kokabiel and let it fly, firing off several others to follow. Akeno raised one arm to keep herself modest and attempted to catch him off guard from above.
Kiba, still catching his breath, went rather red in the face seeing that Koneko had lost part of her skirt and half of her shirt, facing away with her backside showing her heart-covered panties. In fact, they all looked pretty worse for wear with scuffs and torn clothes. Asia was the first to notice that the three had returned, but regarded the torn sleeve of Kumonji's shirt and saw that there was blood on the end, ignoring of course that his entire arm was encased in metal.
"Issei," Kumonji said with labored breath. "How fast can you boost Asia's power?"
"Whoa, Monji, what happened? You look like shit dude." Issei wheeled seeing that his friend was pretty bad off.
"Feel like shit too. I need Asia's help, high powered healing asap. Can you make it happen?" The redhead had only a minute left, there was no time to stall.
"I'll try man, but I've gifted everyone and I still need time-"
"If you do this for me right now I swear to fuck I will never beat you again for being a pervert and take the next 5 appointments you have with Milton!"
BOOST!BOOST!BOOST!BOOST!BOOST!TRANSFER!
"You got yourself a deal!" Issei said.
"Asia, this is gonna hurt like a mother, but no matter what don't let up. Okay Seras, let's reattach this bad boy!" On command Seras dropped the coating on his arm. The severed limb began to fall, shocking everyone who saw. Still in midair, a cable of the dull metal shot from the bone inside him and grabbed the end of his humerus in the dismembered end, pulling it back together and reeling it into proper place. Asia, feeling Issei's power flow through her, gasped as her Twilight Healing glowed with an intense green flash.
The first to mend was the bone, which creaked and protested until it fused. The rook began to sweat because he could feel a dull throb growing at the point of fusion. Muscles reconnected and tightened over under and around each other as nerves and nerve endings squirmed back into place. "NNNNNNNG! F-FAAAAAAAAAAACK!" Try though he might he could no longer hold it in; Kumonji had to bite his own lip and grimace as the dull ache burst into a burning stinging that persisted. He could feel his fingertips again, watched them wiggle as his exposed tendons and ligaments were pulled as his muscles flexed and relaxed. The only thing worse than having your arm cut off is reliving it in reverse he decided. Every thing from skin to blood vessels worked themselves into place as Asia cried out and focused all of her power there. Finally her light faded and they both fell back, Asia into Issei's arms and Kumonji into the arms of Xenovia. He was covered in a sheen of his sweat and pale as could be, but he looked up into her eyes and smiled weakly. "That wasn't so bad," was the last words he could eek out before finding himself laying down staring up at the fight.
"Enough," Kokabiel had been toying with them all before but now he grew bored. He shattered all of the spells being sent his way and looked down with a grimace. The rook was on his back, the blonde on her feet, Issei glaring up at him and everyone prepared to fight to the death if they must. Koneko stood beside Kiba and interlaced her fingers with his, eyes up but prepared for the worst. Irina came out of her place of hiding and was now standing with Xenovia, clutching her crucifix.
'How do I tell her?' The bluenette thought to herself.
"Send forward anyone you wish. You there, Red Dragon Emperor prepare yourself." Kokabiel waved with a smug grin. "Make this interesting for me."
Rias took Issei's hand, fingers entwined and nodded at him. Together they walked forward, Issei's boosted gear calling out every burst of power as they bravely marched into the mouth of the lion.
Kumonji, barely able to stand, staggered and stumbled after them.
"Kumonji, what are you doing?" cried Akeno. Seeing him keep walking, she ran after him, then grasped the hem of his shirt. "You'll die."
"Then I'll die trying." He took her by the undamaged part of her maiden's gown and pulled her into his lips. If he was gonna die then dammit he wouldn't waste this opportunity. His lips met hers, and she kissed him back. This wasn't a kiss goodbye, no this was finally understanding each other and letting the world fall away. After a long searing moment the kiss ended and they locked eyes.
Transfer!
Ddraig called out as Rias let her full power blossom along with this boost. Every second that passed her power rolled off in waves, each more powerful than the last.
"Finally, you've reached a power on par with that of your brother little girl! How exciting, how truly exquisite!" This was no fallen angel, the look upon his face was that of sheer madness.
Rias summoned two circles and from them produced spheres of power so dense they resonated and crackled with energy, a force truly worthy of the Rias' name. "In that case, BE GONE!" What came from her could only be described as a black serpent of pure raw magic energy, screaming and tearing through the sky as it impacted Kokabiel's aura, redirecting as several smaller attacks that clashed with his own power in a grand fireworks display. Frustrated, Rias unleashed more and more, blotting out his very presence as a black dot in the sky.
Despite the sheer size and number of the attacks Kokabiel absorbed or tanked enough that Rias was sent crashing backwards with the recoil, right into Issei's waiting arms. "Akeno, Now!"
"Right! Come, Thunder!" Akeno took to the sky and directed two massive lightning bolts at the fallen angel. As the thunder around her clapped and the energy surged she focused only on a single point as his wings closed in a protective coccoon.
"You would try to oppose me, daughter of Barkiel?"
"How dare you speak his name to me." Whether or not she intended it to happen, Kumonji noticed her attack became far more direct and fierce at the mention of Barkiel. "I am nothing like that creature!"
"What's a Barkiel?" Issei murmured to himself.
"Another very powerful Fallen Angel, and one who possess the power of thunder and lightning as well. He just called her 'Barkiel's Daughter,' but obviously that's a more complex story." Xenovia stated. Kumonji looked up to the sky, understanding for the first time that Akeno may have been through things many times worse than he had. Compared to that, how trivial his internal struggle must seem. His train of thought cut off when she ran out of power and gasped for breath.
"Oh say it isn't so, how far you've fallen sinking to Devil scum. What an amusing house you have Rias. The Red Dragon Emperor failure, a Holy Sword reject, an excommunicated nun, and Barkiel's daughter. A propensity for taking inferior materials and moulding them must run in the family." The fallen angel dick spouted with a shake of his head in mock-pity.
"Your insulting comments to my brother will not be tolerated, and I will not allow you to stand there and disgrace my servants so. For this you will pay the ultimate price and die!" Rias proclaimed.
"By all means try me. You do realize you're up against the archenemy of devils, right? Come on Crimson Ruin Princess" Kokabiel descended to the ground and folded his many wings into his body. "Take a shot at me, you may never get another chance."
"Hey, Fallen Angel Douchenozzle! If you say one more negative thing I'll personally come over there and beat the living shit out of you." Issei shouted. "Don't test me you birdman freak!"
"You must be completely stupid."
"I am what I am asshole. Now bring it!" Boost!
Kiba and Xenovia nodded to each other, each taking a side and running at the fallen angel with swords held on high. "We've got your back Issei!" "We can buy you some time." The two swung with all their might, each taking the swords of light he summoned out of the equation. They had him defending from both sides, sparks flying from their blades grinding over each other.
"Interesting. What could be better than Holy Sword and Holy Devil Swords together at the same time?"
From above, Koneko flipped head over heels like a cannon ball. Kumonji jumped as high as he could and caught her. "Rook Catapult!" With his hands on her backside the redhead spiked Koneko directly at Kokabiel, a silver missile flying at high speed and turning over at the last second to plant her foot at the back of his head. Once she hit, his whole body jerked a little, but the malicious grin never left.
His wings fanned out and he lashed in all directions, scattering the three from him and standing without a scratch as he retracted them all back into his body.
Outside the dome, the devils of Sona's house were tiring and running out of energy fast. Sona and Tsubaki were fine, looking around they noted that everyone else was sweating and short on breath from the long energy output. Tsubaki turned and noted that Teiya was doing surprisingly well, keeping her eyes down on the fight and barely struggling. 'She's still doing this well after so long?' Tsubaki turned back to Sona and nodded. It was all up to the devils inside to finish this quickly.
Inside everyone was exhausted as well. Koneko and Kiba were holding onto each other as Kiba covered his silver neko with his shirt, having lost hers in a flurry of sword and feather. Xenovia found Irina by her side as she got up, kneeling and catching her breath. Akeno, Asia and Rias had spent all of their magic and had almost no energy to spare. It was down to two.
"Hey, Issei. Looks like it's you and me. You up for a game of Follow me up?" Kumonji grinned halfheartedly.
"At this point, I'm lucky to still be standing up." Boost!
"Meh, sack up. What chance do you have with chicks if you wear out after just a couple rounds?" The rook cracked his knuckles yet again.
"HeheheahahahaHAHAHAHA! Women, is that all you want? King of a Harem is all that the Red Dragon Emperor desires? You should join me, you'd be Harem King in no time. Pretty women falling at your feet, an endless supply of women at your beck and call. All you have to do is betray your friends."
'Ohshitohshitohshit..' He looked over to Issei, his best friend. Surely he wouldn't be tempted by such promises..
"I.. Won't fall for your sweet sweet words.." Even as he said that everyone around could tell he was hesitating.
"Issei!"
"Y-Yes Rias!" He stiffened, knowing that tone of her voice.
"If it's women you want then.. when we get back.. I'll let you do whatever you want to me." the magic words rang in his ears several times over.
"...oh fuck." Kumonji stepped back and got out of the way.
"You mean not just groping but. I could.. suck on dem tiddies?"
"If that's what it takes, it's a small price to pay." Rias said, arms under her chest.
Issei's Dragon Gauntlet exploded with a brilliant green light. The Sacred Gear finally aligned with its master's wishes, and from that a new power was born: the power of Issei's balance breaker.
"This is the end for you Kokabiel, if it means I can motorboat the president's funbags there's no way I'm letting you win. I feel like I could take on God himself if he weren't already toast." Explosion!
Issei deployed his second level Sacred Gear, cocking back his fist and punching the sky in triumph.
"Oh dear. This is gonna suck for you Kokabiel. When it comes to Issei and boobs, you don't wanna stand between them." Kumonji facepalmed, then looked up to see the light spear that had been hurled at him and covered his hands in armor, catching the end of it in his palm and struggling to keep it from impacting and exploding. Even through the dense metal encasing him he could feel the intense heat and power pushing back into him. "crap.. this is too much!"
Don't give up. You have the power within you to beat him!
With a grunt of effort Kumonji shattered the spear in his hand. "You're right. It'll take more than a pain in the ass like him to kill me, as long as my friends are counting on me. Speaking of which, I think it's time we end this." The two remaining devils walked with determination toward Kokabiel. They bumped fists and Kumonji took point. Mere feet from Kokabiel, he glared.
"What are you gonna do? Stare me to death?"
"Not Quite." The redhead's face glimmered, a silver mask covering his face as he drew his head back and headbutted Kokabiel as hard as he could. The fallen angel gasped and held his head, stumbling a few steps back. Kokabiel opened his eyes to find two hands clasped together hammering his head downward, and a metal knee catching his chest making it hard to breathe. "Issei, care to do the honors?"
"With pleasure." His dragon fist drew back and he bashed Kokabiel under the chin, hard as any rook.
"Hey cockrocket, I wouldn't stand there if I were you. Phaes likes her personal space." Kumonji merely crossed his arms as if he already won.
"What the fuck is a Phaes?" Kokabiel looked down to see he was standing on an X drawn in the dirt. Beneath him a summoning circle for familiars was glowing and from the center of the X popped Phaes in her serpent form, curled around his body and baring her fangs. As quickly as she appeared she struck, biting his neck with full concentrated venom.
"Good girl Phaes." She came back away from him, slithering around Kumonji's shoulders. Grasping at his neck Kokabiel swore and sputtered in agony. Behind him stood Issei ready to deck him one last time.
"It seems you lost. How very disappointing." From above the dome came a voice nobody recognized. From the top down the dome shattered, revealing a silhouette in the moonlight with gems of blue all over it.
"What the hell is that?" "Why do I feel so uneasy?" "That form, it almost looks like."
So, the White Dragon finally shows himself. Ddraig spoke up from Issei's gauntlet.
"The white dragon? Are you freaking kidding me? Oh Shit dude.."
In a haze of speed the white dragon swooped down and stood over Kokabiel's broken body, his wings and feathers strewn about leaving only 3 left on him. "Disgusting. Your wings are absolutely foul; one who has fallen below the ground doesn't need such things."
"You bastard.." Kokabiel stood shakily, raising both hands at once, creating a spear of light that grew exponentially until it was several times the size of his own body and still getting larger.
Divide! The white dragon raised his hand, shrinking the giant weapon until it destabilized and collapsed on itself.
"This is my power. His name is Albion, and once I've come into contact with any power I may divide it by half and sustain my own by absorbing it into myself. That is my Divine Dividing."
"I get it. The Red Dragon doubles the power and gives it, while the white dragon halves it and takes it away." Rias stated in awe. "The legends are true."
"Azazel asked me to bring you back, even if it took every bit of my power. A shame I got here too late, I really could have used the fun." The white dragon dashed forward once again, wings flared and fists outstretched. The two streaked through the night sky, crashing back to earth with the lifeless sack of fallen angel trash hanging under the white dragon's arm. He turned to see Issei glaring and sweating. "You there, Red one.. We shall meet again someday soon. We are destined to fight, it is inevitable. Until such time, grow stronger, seek more power. Make this fight one worthy of legends." Turning to Kumonji, he added. "And you, I appreciate the trouble you took to eliminate the stray priest but I had hoped to keep him alive. Such is life I suppose." With that a brilliant white light filled the area and he disappeared, the bodies of Kokabiel and Freed in hand.
"Jeez, that fucking sucked." Kumonji said, about to fall over from exhaustion. From behind he felt a pair of arms hugging him tightly and touched the hands clasped at his side. It was Teiya he found as he turned and saw that she was crying.
"Big stupid jerk, you could have been killed! What were you thinking?" She held him with tears in his eyes. 'There she goes, making me feel all guilty again.' He could do nothing but pat her head and smile sheepishly.
"Ah Sona." Rias proclaimed seeing that the Student Council team had arrived. "Thank you so much for all your hard work."
"I'd say you all handled the hard part." Sona replied, pointing out the massive damage and multiple craters left over. "I wonder, to what end did the White Dragon suddenly burst in like that?"
"I wonder if he realizes he just saved this town." Rias said with a flourish of her hand.
"I doubt it, but in any case we should get this school rebuilt as if nothing happened. We'll take care of the damage here."
"Then we'll help as well."
"No no, it's the job of the Student Council to take care of the school. Besides, after a battle like this you all have earned a rest."
"It's over.. No, there were men who took over Valper's research. My fight isn't yet over." Kiba grasped his Holy Devil Sword firmly. To his surprise, Koneko standing by him lightly slapped his arm.
"You've done enough. You got justice for the evil things he did and were able to avenge your comrades and put their souls to rest. Not to mention a badass new sword that combines light and dark powers into one. Just be happy for once. Please, I don't want you to leave." She grasped tightly to him, holding his shirt over her shoulders and hugging his toned core as if it might be the last time. He sighed and acquiesced.
"Koneko's right." Issei said, laying a hand on Kiba's shoulder. "You honor them now by living on, fighting with their memories."
"Kiba, for you to have found peace and to have activated your balance breaker you have no idea how proud I am as your master. What you've done is truly commendable. So next time before you go running off on your own, please try not to waste everyone else's feelings." Rias said, standing before her knight. Everyone from the ORC was gathered around him with big smiles.
"President, I vow once more that I will as a knight of the House of Gremory protect you and your comrades with every blade and every breath." Kiba raised his blade and stuck it into the ground, a pledge of his loyalty.
"I'm glad. Now, since I didn't get around to it yet, I'll need you to bend over." Rias said with a smirk, magic circle glowing on her hand.
"Wait, What?!" Kumonji trapped him by the shoulder as Kiba flinched. Try though he might to get away, he wouldn't escape.
Standing off by herself was Xenovia, watching them all interact while Irina rushed off to gather the Holy Swords scattered over the battlefield. Such a tenderness from devils, such discipline and above all, passion from every member. Xenovia was, dare she say, inspired by them all. Devils weren't so very different after all..
And Done! oh wow you guys have no idea how much effort it took to piece together this one trying to keep it all concise across several episodes with all the plot adjustments and the multiverse union thing.
Secondly i know i'm going to catch crap for changing excalibur nightmare to excalibur divine intervention but here's my reasoning: 1 if it's a HOLY sword why would it have a name like nightmare which is obviously very dark and negative? 2 there's no point in making illusions. If excalibur rapidly can cause someone to move as fast as a knight the illusions would be pointless as you wouldn't be able to see them or stop them anyway. if you can turn invisible and you make illusions the illusions would also be invisible anyway and if they aren't then you wouldn't need to be invisible in the first place. and 3rd and most importantly, Kumonji being a rook meant that even moving rapidly Freed could have taken a lucky stray hit and been wiped out in one go. I decided to give Freed a defense equal to that of Kumonji's rook defense so there would be no one-in-a-million hail mary hits. This was a design decision that made the fighters think and formulate a strategy on the fly against a superior opponent.
Yes he will keep the scar from the fight, but maybe get a tattoo over it. there will be a distinguishing mark in any case.
Lastly, yes Kumonji's sacred gear is powered by the soul of Seras Victoria from Hellsing (Ultimate, because that one is in my opinion FAR better than the other). I have a weakness for busty chicks with a badass side, what can i say? ..I really have spent too much time with Issei. Anyway that's all for now. later taters! Peace and hair grease! *passes out*