Welcome to Part I of the Season/Arc 2 Finale! We're finally here. The last 24 hours of Issei's life. Will he live? Will he die? What? You want to read... okay.
I do not own Highschool DxD. Highschool DxD is owned by Fujimi Shobo, Fujimi Fantasia Bunko, Funimation, and Ichie Ishibumi. Please support the official release.
[Ddraig talking]
[Ddraig thinking]
{Albion talking}
{Albion thinking}
|Tiamat talking|
|Tiamat thinking|
Mental Communication
"Regular Dialogue"
Attacks/Spells
Kuoh Academy, February 24, 2020, 1:35 AM, Current Time: 1 minute and 10 seconds til Midnight
Kuoh. The town was a normal sleepy Japanese town. Not much happened if one only looked at the surface. Beneath the surface of this sleepy small town lived the supernatural. Gods, Devils, Angels, and other supernatural beings made their homes alongside the humans of this town. If things were different, Kuoh would have been an example of the mystical and the mundane living in complete harmony with each other. A utopia for the rest of the world to follow where man and god lived together once more but sadly, that is just wishful thinking.
For today, this innocent little town will be rocked alongside the rest of the world. Today, this innocent little town will be where everything will begin.
And it will all begin with the classic tale told in Genesis 4:1-16.
A sibling killing a sibling, or in this case, an older sister killing her younger brother.
The sound of a siren blasted across the entire town, ripping apart the silence that had fallen upon it. Lights went on one by one across the entire town as its confused populace walked out of their homes.
"Do you know what's going on?" one person said.
"I don't know," the other one answered.
"Kaa-chan, I'm scared," a little girl said. The mother merely responded by picking her daughter.
The sirens kept continuing but a voice could be heard from the speakers.
"Citizens of Kuoh! This is your Mayor Ama Yozora speaking. Evacuate immediately to the shelters. We have been alerted by the JSDF that an unknown number of unidentified aircraft have been sighted within Japanese Airspace and are on their way to Kuoh. All attempts at contact have been moot and we have been advised to evacuate the town in the event of an air raid. Please evacuate to the designated shelters. Once more, unidentified aircraft has been detected. Please evacuate to the shelters."
Panic began to settle in as people began to pack their things in a hurry. Cars drove down the streets causing heavy congestion on the roads. Others opted to walk to the shelters and were being led by members of Kuoh's city hall workers.
"Please remain calm and in a single file line," one of the workers called out.
On the rooftops, Rias watched the evacuation proceedings. She created a CC and initiated a call.
"Mikaboshi-sama, the evacuation is going as planned," Rias said.
"Good. But keep a lookout. Demon sightings have been growing in number over the past hour," Amatsu-Mikaboshi said. Rias nodded and cut the link.
"Rias-sama."
Rias turned and saw Akeno and Yuuto behind her.
"We need to get patrol this quadrant while the others handle the evacuation," Rias said.
The two nodded and spread their wings, flying high into the air to keep out of sight of the humans below them.
"Issei," Rias looked to the mountains where the line was headed. "I hope you're alright."
Issei stood in line with a backpack on his back and holding Lily's hand. In front of him, his parents, Mitsuki, his cousin, aunt and uncle were standing quietly as the shelter came into view.
"What do you think this is?" Issei's aunt asked.
"Terrorists probably," Gorou answered.
"But why Japan?" Miki asked.
"That we don't know," Issei's uncle answered.
"Big Brother?"
Issei looked down and saw Lily's frightened eyes. Lily could feel it just like he did. She was here. That oppressive miasma signature just outside of the town. Its pressure had slammed down on Issei when he sensed it. Mitsuki could feel it as well if her stiff stance was anything to go by.
"Mii-chan."
Mitsuki turned and faced her brother. Issei grabbed her hand and gave it a light squeeze. She calmed down considerably and leaned her head on her brother's shoulder.
"Will they be okay, Aniki?" Mitsuki asked.
"Yeah, they will," Issei said as he looked back towards the town.
"It sucks that we can't go," Mitsuki said.
"You said so yourself. I need to keep away from the field to prevent from being caught," Issei said. Mitsuki looked down and nodded.
"Issei?" the two turned and saw Motohama and Matsuda. Next to them were Kiryuu, Katase, and Murayama alongside Ichika and Houki.
"Guys, you're alright," Issei said, relieved.
"Yeah, I'm glad you're here," Mitsuki added.
"We were going to ask the same thing," Matsuda said.
"An air raid huh," Motohama said.
"Seems strange to me," Katase said. "Shouldn't we have heard aircraft by now?"
"Yeah, my cousin is in the JSDF and I called him just now. He said that there was no aircraft over Japanese Airspace other than commercial airlines," Kiryuu said. Ichika, Murayama, and Houki remained silent.
"Do you think that there's some secret government conspi-!"
BOOOOMMMM!
Everyone screamed as they turned. A massive cloud of smoke could be seen in the distance.
"Was that a…?"
"MOVE IT PEOPLE!" one of the workers said. Everyone began shuffling along to the shelter as more and more explosions went off. The sky became dark as a cloud passed over the moon.
"Stick close to me," Issei said to Lily as he held her hand. He lifted his left hand and discreetly summoned Gore Magala.
"Magala, stick with Lily," Issei said as the dragoness morphed into a bird and perched herself on Lily's head.
"Issei, let's go!" he heard his father yell. Issei picked up Lily and Magala and ran, avoiding the stampede of people around him. As soon as he got to the door, Issei stopped when he heard screeching behind him. The screams of a woman could be heard before it was abruptly cut off. Silence permeated the air before everyone began to scream.
"What is that!?"
Issei turned and saw a demon holding the corpse of a woman. Issei put Lily down.
"Lily, go to Oyaji now!" Issei said as he made eye-contact with the demon.
"Lamb of Judah," the demon said. As the demon moved towards Issei, a green energy spear pierced through its skull, killing it. Issei turned and saw one of the workers, who now sported white wings.
"Go kid! GO!" the worker said as he unleashed a hail of light spears into the sky, impaling all incoming demons.
Issei nodded and ran inside the shelter alongside everyone else.
Hyoudou Manor, 5 minutes earlier
Sirzechs stood on the roof of the Hyoudou Manor next to Azazel and Grayfia, watching the night sky. Grayfia gripped her husband's hand tightly in anticipation of what was to come. Millicas had been left back at Lucifer Castle during the meeting to keep him safe.
"Sirzechs be ready for anything," Azazel said.
"When do you think they'll get here?" Sirzechs asked.
"Probably- What the-!?" a flash of white light forced Sirzechs and Grayfia to close their eyes as a shockwave exploded outward, shattering every window within a fifty block radius.
Once the light died down, Azazel was gone, save for a few black feathers.
"AZAZEL!" Sirzechs said. An explosion a few thousand feet east of their location garnered their attention as Bael appeared on the roof next to him.
"An Archangel Banishing Spell," Bael said. "It was used to temporarily send Archangels away. Azrael is gone too."
"This is bad," Grayfia said as she powered up. Without warning, Grayfia formed a silver magic circle and unleashed a volley of ice at several airborne humanoids, killing them instantly.
"They're here," Bael said, drawing his blade.
"Attack," Sirzechs commanded as fallen, angel, devil, and whoever else signed up took up arms and began to fire at the demons in the air.
Sirzechs snapped his fingers, and a large black and red sphere appeared engulfing all the demons in the air, killing them instantly.
"Looks like they took the bait," Bael said as he killed another demon.
"Yeah, looks like it," Grayfia said.
"Rias, Vali, how are things on your end," Sirzechs said over the CC as he dodged the attack of a demon. Sirzechs brought his fist up, punching right through the demon's chest.
"We're fine Onii-sama. Had a bit of trouble with some demons they called Spectra since they possessed some of the evacuees but a good exorcism did them in," Rias said.
"We're fine on our end as well. Nothing major except for a couple of large hellhounds," Vali said.
"We're doing good so far," Sirzechs said.
"Don't jinx it," Bael said. "These are just cannon fodder," he said as he smote one of them. "The real leader has yet to show her face on the battlefield."
Sirzechs nodded and took to the skies, killing demons left and right with ease. Grayfia slammed her palm down on the ground, making a red magic circle appear. Massive ice spikes burst forth from the asphalt, impaling every demon within a 3000-foot radius of Hyoudou Manor.
A pulsating noise alerted Grayfia as she answered her CC.
"Grayfia!"
"Azazel!" she said as she decapitated a demon.
"Lilith used an Archangel Banishing Spell that was amped by our sister. We are currently incapable of entering Kuoh. You guys are on your own until the effects wear off," Azazel said.
"...," Grayfia gritted her teeth at the news. So much for the assistance. Lilith got rid of that instantly.
"On your six!" Bael said as he impaled a demon that was about to attack Grayfia.
"Thank you, Bael-sama!" she said as she cut the link. Grayfia unfurled her wings and flew up to assist her husband as the two danced a deadly dance that caused the skies to rain blood.
"The last time we fought together like this was the Civil War," Grayfia said as she stabbed a demon that was about to sucker punch her husband.
"Good times," Sirzechs said as he fired off a few PoD spheres.
Rias fired a massive beam of red energy, killing all demons in her path. Next to her, Akeno zoomed past her, all eight wings released as she made quick work of the demons around her, blasting them into oblivion with her holy lightning. With the training she received from her father, Akeno was able to unlock her fourth pair of wings and thus looked more and more like a Cadre.
"Everyone doing alright?" Rias asked as she killed another demon.
"Never better," Rossweisse said behind her as she unleashed a torrent of flames incinerating a hellhound.
"Kinda ironic," Yuuto said as he stabbed another demon with his [Enochian Release: Gram]. "Killing a hellhound by setting it on fire."
"You're telling me," Gasper said as he ripped apart two demons that headed his way.
"Focus!" Ingvild said as she flipped over Xenovia's Ex-Durandal which bisected and disintegrated a group of demons. Ingvild's eyes turned red as she held her hands out and froze several demons in mid-air.
Ingvild snapped her fingers and several spikes made of water impaled all of the demons in her grip. She swiped her hand, wringing all the blood from their corpses and rained it down as a hail of needles killing several dozen more.
"So I think that's thirty-six which means I'm winning," Ingvild said.
"Since when we're we keeping count?" Yuuto asked as he released an energy wave from his sword, vaporizing several demons. "34 by the way."
"Since they got here," Rias said, creating a massive pillar of red light. "47."
"No fair, not all of us have AoE attacks!" Gasper said as he released a mist and began to rapidly slaughter demons. The mist faded, revealing Gasper who was drenched in blood.
"Nevermind, 46."
"Still not fair, I only have 35," Akeno said as she formed a lightning javelin and threw it, shishkebabing five demons at once. "Oh, 40."
"Damnit. I only have 41," Xenovia said as she killed another demon by stabbing its skull.
"Well, we can stop counting when- DUCK!" Rias yelled as a beam of violet energy shot past them. A thunderous explosion rocked the entire town as the group erected a barrier to protect themselves from the shockwave. Ice spikes erupted from the ground, forcing them all to take to the skies.
"Astaroth," Rossweisse said as she saw the familiar blue hair of the Ice Demoness.
"Hello again," Astaroth said as she walked into view. Her blue eyes were shining with excitement and anticipation as she eyed all of them. She grinned and they tensed.
"Turn back or we'll be forced to retaliate," Rias said, putting on a brave face.
"Yes, yes, please do. I've been itching for a good fight," Astaroth said as her miasma flared, creating a black and blue aura around her.
The group tensed, flaring their power as they prepared to fight Lilith's most loyal subject.
"Nii-sama," Rias said as she formed a CC.
"Yes?"
"Astaroth is here by the house!" Rias said as she dodged an ice spike. She felt blood run down her cheek and rolled out of the way as Astaroth slammed her food down on the roof, leveling the house next to Hyoudou Manor.
Akeno appeared behind Astaroth and fired a massive bolt of lightning.
Astaroth held her hand out and the lightning bolt froze in mid-air before condensing into a ball.
"Are you screwing with me?" Astaroth muttered as she held the ball in her hands. She closed her fist, crushing it and flared her Miasma, shaking Kuoh. "DON'T SCREW WITH ME! FIGHT LIKE YOU MEAN IT!"
Astaroth shot towards Akeno with her sword drawn. Akeno readied another lightning spell when Astaroth was kicked to the side, sending her crashing through the street. Sirzechs appeared in front of Akeno.
"Are you alright?" Sirzechs asked.
"Yeah," Akeno said, breathing heavily.
"Go join the others at the house. I'll take care of this," he said.
Akeno nodded and flew back to Hyoudou Manor.
"FINALLY!" Astaroth appeared in front of Sirzechs with a massive grin plastered across her face.
"I take it you're Astaroth?" Sirzechs said as he stared at her. Astaroth's breathing became heavy as a blush appeared on her face.
"You're the Crimson Satan… hehe, hehehe! AHAHAHA!" her miasma reacted violently, sending Sirzechs staggering back a few inches as his eyes narrowed. "You can entertain me right!~" Astaroth licked her lips as she sensed his power.
Sirzechs remained silent as he raised his arms and blocked a kick from Astaroth. Her grin grew wider as she pushed on his arm.
Sirzechs pushed back and grabbed her leg. He spun her around and threw her to the ground, sending dust and debris everywhere.
Astaroth dusted herself off as she stood and shivered in pleasure. "I think I'm falling in love~," she said, touching her red cheeks. She disappeared in a burst of speed and uppercut Sirzechs sending him soaring into the air.
She reappeared above him and planted her foot into his spine, sending him crashing back into Kuoh.
"Hehehe," Astaroth giggled as she hovered over Sirzechs' crash site. Several red spheres caught her off guard as her arm was destroyed. She dodged the rest and kicked one back at Sirzechs.
"Tch," Astaroth glanced down at her arm which had smoke pouring out of it. The smoke solidified into bone, then muscle and vein, then skin forming her arm once more.
"Shall we continue?" her eyes widened when Sirzechs slammed his fist into her face, breaking her nose. Astaroth crashed through several houses before catching herself. She waved her hand and sent a volley of icicles at Sirzechs to which he returned with his own volley of Power of Destruction Spheres.
"Focus," Astaroth said as she appeared behind Sirzechs.
Shit!
Astaroth thrust her sword at Sirzechs' unprotected back. Her eyes widened when Sirzechs kicked her blade upward, sending it off-course. She jumped back as a bullet sized PoD sphere shot past her.
Her eyes narrowed and she threw her hands forward, halting a slew of bullet sized spheres in mid-air. She grinned but felt pain in her side and fell to her knee. Astaroth glared at Sirzechs who was now standing above her. Her side was disintegrating faster than she could heal.
"It's over," Sirzechs said as he readied another sphere.
"No, it's not," Astaroth muttered. Sirzechs's eyes widened when he felt something pierce his leg. Astaroth's side stopped disintegrating as the sphere dissipated and she flew into the air, her side slowly healing.
"No one's pushed me this far before~," Astaroth said as she looked at Sirzechs with an obsessed gaze.
"Well, I'm full of surprises," the Maou replied as he pulled out the ice spike.
"That just makes me want you more," Astaroth said, shivering.
Sirzechs looked unnerved. He was married for Satan's sake. And no hot demoness was going to tear him away from his hot wife. But… he dodged as Astaroth raised an ice spike from the ground underneath.
"I need to finish this and get back to the others," Sirzechs said as he began to compress his Power of Destruction into himself.
"Oh?" Astaroth quirked an eyebrow in interest as Sirzechs' power shot past hers. His power now eclipsed her own as she looked on with growing arousal and anticipation. A shockwave of power exploded from Sirzechs as Astaroth shielded herself. She felt her arm burning and saw that her arm was being corroded. She narrowed her eyes as she noticed Sirzechs looked different. The very matter around him was being destroyed with each step he took.
Sirzechs appeared as he normally did. Except his hair was now black and red and resembled flames. His eyes leaked black and red energy and his wings which now numbered twelve were made of the Power of Destruction. His eyes were now blood red as he looked up at her.
"Let's continue shall we?" Sirzechs said.
Astaroth didn't even get to respond as Sirzechs appeared behind her. Her eyes widened when she looked down and saw that her lower half was missing.
"Hehehe," Astaroth laughed as she fell to the ground. "This is going to be fun…," she muttered as her lower half began to grow back.
Vali lazily dodged as he stabbed a demon in the chest, killing it. Cao Cao seemed as bored as he was as they easily defended their portion of Kuoh from demons.
"Seriously, this is the invasion force we feared?" Cao Cao asked as he sent several demons flying with a single swing. Orange light could be seen trickling through the horizon. The sun was rising.
"I know," Heracles said as he crushed a demoness's skull.
"Something's not right," Vali said. Kuroka landed next to him, her kukri soaked in blood.
"Rias just said that Astaroth is here," Kuroka said.
"No, I mean, where are the others? Samael, Gremory, Abaddon, Sitri, Phenex?" Vali said as he killed another demon.
"Who knows? I mean, shouldn't we be glad that she didn't send them?" Bikou asked.
"But from what we've heard that doesn't sound like her," Arthur said.
"I gue- what?" Vali said as he answered a CC.
His eyes widened as he looked at the sky. A loud screech shattered the sounds of battle as a massive flaming pterodactyl dove down from the clouds and flapped its wings. A massive thunderclap accompanied the massive blast wave ripped through the town, destroying a large portion of it.
"Shit," Vali said as Le Fay erected a barrier around them.
"Ziz," Kuroka said as she looked at the beast.
"That's not all," Vali said as he glared at the figure next to it. "Look," he said, pointing Silver Empress at the figure.
"Hello kids," Samael said as he hovered above them.
"Samael," Arthur said as he looked at the silver-haired fallen.
"Guys stand back," Vali said as a white magic circle appeared in his right hand.
"Vali, what are you doing?" Cao Cao said as he barely dodged a light spear.
"You think Hyoudou was the only one who learned how to do this?" Vali asked as he slammed his palm down onto the ground. A massive magic circle that was intricately decorated with runes that encircled the image of a white dragon appeared.
"Summoning: Albion!"
Samael, who was currently holding off both Kuroka and Bikou, turned when he saw a massive white tail slam into him, throwing him past the barrier and into the road. Samael skidded before flipping and landing on his feet.
"Albion," Samael said as he eyed Vali, who was in his {Diabolos Dragon Lucifer} form. "And Fake Lucifer's descendant."
{Samael} Albion growled as he narrowed his blue eyes at the Fallen. {Vali. Be careful. He still has access to his poison.}
"Got it," Vali said as he spread his wings. Samael appeared in front of Vali and aimed a punch to take the young devil's head off only to be blocked by Albion.
{Divide} {Divide} {Divide} {Divide} {Divide} {Divide} {Divide} {Divide} {Divide} {Divide} {Divide} {Divide} {Divide} {Divide} {Divide} {Divide} {Divide} {Divide}
Samael's eyes widened when he felt his power being cut in half. He roared, letting out a telekinetic pulse that slammed into Vali and Albion launching them backwards.
"You'll pay for that," Samael said as he rose into the air. He raised his hands and multiple violet spears manifested behind him.
"Take this!" Samael turned and held his hands out as he was engulfed in a dark violet sphere that curved upwards into the air. Vali and Albion looked and saw that Kuroka was in her Bijuu Form. The sphere traveled high into the stratosphere before detonating. A massive bright red sphere could be seen in the sky as its shockwave traveled downwards cracking the glass windows and setting off abandoned cars.
"It's not over yet," Vali said as he landed next to Arthur, Bikou, and Kuroka. Samael's foul energy signature was still active.
"Le Fay, check in with the others," Cao Cao said as he threw True Longinus at Samael. The Seraph dodged and returned fire with a barrage of light spears, one of which nearly impaled Georg in the shoulder.
"Yes! Hello? Anyone!?" Le Fay called through the CC as she shielded herself.
"Is this North Squadron?" Artemis called.
"Yes, yes it is!" Le Fay said. "Lady Artemis! It's so good to hear your voice!"
"Send out an emergency signal. We need help at our location. She-!"
"Lady Artemis?" Le Fay called.
"A- Bba- Ddon!" the signal cut.
"Le Fay, this is Falbium. We're currently being pinned down. Several Behemoths have entered alongside Gremory, Sitri, and Phenex. Serafall is engaging the Behemoths with her own! Call Sirzechs to send reinforcements!" Falbium said.
"Lord Sirzechs is preoccupied. The demon, Astaroth, was sighted near Hyoudou Manor!" Le Fay said as she sent a flame blast at Samael.
"Shit… I'll call back. Asmodeus checked in. She said that she's diverting some of her forces in our direction. Any word from Kyoto? I got word before the invasion started that Yasaka would be coming here with an army," Falbium asked.
"Lady Mikaboshi hasn't said anything yet," Le Fay said, shaking her head.
"Damn… Be careful. Over and out," Falbium said.
Le Fay stood and pointed her Enochian Staff at Samael. Her eyes glowed a pale gold as she chanted.
"Burn my enemies! Flaming Pillars of Annihilation!"
Samael was engulfed in a pillar of flames as Le Fay focused the spell around him. Vali appeared in front of Samael and unleashed a volley of energy blasts into the Fallen Seraph.
"Keep fighting!" Vali said as he dodged a punch from Samael.
The shelter shook as families huddled together. The sounds of explosions could be heard off in the distance. Children whimpered as they clung to their parents and the parents themselves held their children in an attempt of futile comfort as they themselves sat in fear of what was currently happening and what was to come.
"I can't believe we're being attacked," one man said.
"Is it really terrorists?" a woman replied.
"No, when I ran in here, I saw one of the people get killed by this… thing. This monster!" a man dressed in a suit said.
"You're crazy," Issei's uncle said. "Monsters? Really?"
"He's not lying," an elderly man said. "A youkai. No, a demon."
"Aniki."
Issei turned and saw Mitsuki looking down at her palm. A flashing red circle could be seen. Issei nodded and got up and followed Mitsuki over to a corner away from everyone else.
"Yes?" Mitsuki said.
"Mitsuki, Issei," Azazel's voice came from the CC.
"Sensei," Issei said.
"Listen. Lilith cast a Banishing Spell that was coded to target me and Azrael. We can't enter Kuoh until its effects wear off so everyone else is holding them off," Azazel said.
"Is there any way we can help?" Mitsuki asked.
"No, stay there! Just… hope for the best," Azazel said. "Don't worry, Risa is with you in the shelter."
Issei and Mitsuki glanced up and saw the Youkai Angel nod at them. Mitsuki cut the link after saying goodbye to Azazel and the twins walked over to her and sat down next to her.
"Risa, I thought you would be out there fighting," Issei asked quietly.
"No, Mikaboshi-sama and Azrael-sama asked me to guard you. I accepted easily. I'm your guardian angel after all," Risa said, smiling softly at Issei.
Issei smiled back at her. "Thanks for looking out for me."
"No problem, kid," Risa said.
"Big Brother!" the three looked to see Lily running up to Issei and jumping on his lap.
Issei ruffled her hair as Lily smiled at him. His eyes looked down at her and then to his sister to which Mitsuki could see the sadness inside them.
"I'm sorry you two," Issei muttered as a tear slipped down his face.
[Partner, have hope. The day is halfway through] Ddraig said from inside.
|You have a chance to survive this whelp| Tiamat said.
Issei smiled a little then tensed when he heard banging on the door. Everyone inside the shelter huddle together while some of them went over to the door.
"Someone peek," one of them said. They argued over who was going to do it until one of them sighed and began to look for a crack to see through. After seeing that it was sealed tighter than a nun's bible, they gave up and began to talk through the door.
"Who is it!?" one of them answered. They were met with a demonic roar as the banging returned. The door began to strain against whatever was on the other side as they fell back and scrambled to the others.
"Get ready you two," Risa said as her hand began to glow. Issei and Mitsuki nodded and Issei sent a discreet glance to Ichika, Murayama, and Houki. The door burst down, revealing several pitch-black hounds whose bodies let off a dark mist.
Everyone screamed as the hounds bounded over to some of them, ripping them to shreds. Blood and flesh flew over the room as the hounds feasted on those unlucky enough to get caught in their jaws.
"Umbrae," Risa said. She jumped to her feet and threw her hand out.
"CLOSE YOUR EYES!" she yelled. Having no choice, everyone complied as Risa let loose a burst of intense white light. The Umbrae noticed her gathering energy and tried to get her but they were unsuccessful and vaporized into nothingness.
"Is it over?" Issei asked as he began gathering energy to summon Ascalon. His answer came in the form of a hellhound leaping from the broken door towards him. Issei rolled out of the way and summoned Ascalon.
The Hellhound turned and jumped at Issei once more but Issei ducked underneath and swung his sword above his head, bifurcating the hound.
"We need to seal the door," Risa said.
"Got it. Lily, can you use your ice to make a barrier?" Issei asked.
"No need for that," Risa said as she waved her hand. The door levitated off the ground and moved back into its place. Risa walked over and began carving runes into the metal.
"Now they can't get in," Risa said.
"What about us?" Mitsuki asked.
"We can still get in and out if we want to," Risa said as she walked back over.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?" the three turned and saw Katase pointing at them with a shaky finger. The other occupants of the shelter had moved away from them significantly and the parents were all holding their children close. Some of the men and women had picked up whatever they could if the three attacked.
"Huh? Oh, those were Hellhounds," Risa said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"H- Hellhounds?" one of the others asked.
"Long story short, she's an angel," Issei said, pointing his thumb at Risa. "And these are demons."
"D- Demons?" another one asked.
"Yes, they're invading Kuoh," Mitsuki said.
"Where do you fit in all this?" Gorou asked as he stood in front of his wife and his brother's family.
"Should we?" Issei turned to Mitsuki. She shook her head.
"Just know that we're the good guys," Mitsuki said as she turned back to the door. Issei looked at them one more time before returning his focus to the door.
"Feel anything?" Risa asked.
"Yeah, Abaddon, Astaroth, and Samael are in town. So are Gremory, Sitri, and Phenex," Issei said. Risa clenched her fist and punched a wall, shaking the entire shelter.
"Damnit!" she said.
"Wait," Mitsuki said as a CC appeared in front of them. She tapped it and Mikaboshi's voice could be heard from it. Her eyes lit up upon hearing her voice.
"Mikaboshi-sama," Mitsuki said, a smile finding its way to her face.
"Good news. Thor has arrived with Yasaka and brought reinforcements. The entirety of Kyoto's forces alongside Tsukuyomi and Kali are here. On another note, Vigne and Tyrael have arrived with Baraqiel and the some of the Grigori's forces," she said.
"That's good," Issei replied. "We can push back now."
"Don't jinx it. Lilith has yet to appear on the battlefield," Mikaboshi said.
Issei and Mitsuki froze. Lilith. She was still off the board. For now.
"I hope it stays that way," Issei said.
"We're not out of the woods yet," Mikaboshi said, ending the call.
"That's good. There's hope," Mitsuki said.
"Yeah," Issei said, smiling for the first time in hours.
"Hey, you smiled Aniki," Mitsuki remarked, smiling herself.
Artemis's back hit a wall. She slid down and clutched her side. Her vision was blurring in and out and she could make out a red liquid running from her hands. Artemis looked up and glared.
Abaddon stood over her lieutenant with a sick grin on her face.
"Tell me where the Lamb of Judah is Moon Goddess and I might spare your hunters. What's left of them anyway," Abaddon said as she closed her fist. Thalia screamed as a red light poured from her eyes and mouth.
"STOOOOPPP!" Artemis screamed, tears streaking down her face as she watched her hunter get tortured in front of her.
"Ah ah ah! No. You tell me where he is or-!" Abaddon didn't finish when a yellow bolt of lightning slammed into her and sent her crashing into one of the ruined buildings. Akeno landed next to Artemis alongside Asia who began healing her immediately. Irina and the others followed as they began helping the hunters and killing off the demons.
"Lady Artemis," Asia said. "Please be careful."
Artemis nodded as she shakily got to her feet. She held her hand out and her bow flew into it.
"Thank you," she said.
"Look alive," a voice called out from behind them. The three turned and saw Vigne with two fallen angels, one of which she recognized as the daughter of Azazel, Ambriel. The other looked like the male version of her. He was slightly taller than Vigne and Ambriel with a thin build. His hair was pitch black and his eyes were dark grey. He wore a pitch-black combat uniform. His eyes lit up upon seeing Akeno.
"Well, if it isn't Lil' Akeno!" he said.
Akeno turned red as her cheeks puffed up. Only one person dared to call her that insufferable nickname. Vigne's husband and her cousin. A cousin she discovered while training with her father. Well, more like remembered. She didn't remember much of her fallen cousins after… the whole Himejima incident.
"Tyrael-nii! I'm not little!" she screamed, stomping her foot.
"You should be used to this by now. Onii-chan has always been like this Akeno," Ambriel said, crossing her arms and looking at her brother.
"Still," Akeno said.
"Vigne-san," Rias said, running over.
"Get ready. Abaddon doesn't cave in easily," Vigne said as she drew her sword. Tyrael held out his hands and two swords manifested in each one. He spread his ten black wings.
Ambriel manifested Sanguine Twilight and eyed the rubble in which Abaddon was buried under.
A red pillar of light shot into the sky and pushed them all back. The rubble disintegrated, revealing a slightly singed Abaddon standing in the middle of a shallow crater.
"Vigne. Ooh, you brought your little boy toy with you. How exciting," Abaddon said as she grinned sadistically.
"Abaddon," Vigne said, clenching her jaw as a cyan aura appeared around her.
"Hehe, he!" Abaddon giggled as she summoned her sword and pointed it at Vigne.
"It'll just be like that time during the Civil War, won't it?" Abaddon said with an insane glint in her eyes.
"You bitch!" Vigne appeared in front of Abaddon and planted her boot in her jaw. Abaddon was sent rocketing into the air. Tyrael appeared behind her and swung his blades, slashing her back,
Abaddon howled in pain as she crashed into the ground. Tyrael raised his hand and several hundred light spears manifested and barraged Abaddon. Abaddon saw the light spears and erected a barrier, deflecting them.
"Ahahaha! Yes!" Abaddon said. "Keep fighting," she unleashed an omnidirectional telekinetic wave that blasted everything away from her.
"Damnit!" Vigne said as she caught herself in mid-air.
"You okay hun?" Tyrael said, floating next to her.
"More or less. How about the rest of you?" Vigne said, calling out to them.
"We're fine!" they called back.
Abaddon took a step towards them but stopped when she heard it. Her orange eyes looked to the sky where a squadron of fighter jets was seen over the town of Kuoh. Her grin grew wide, threatening to split her face in half upon seeing it.
"SHIT!" Vigne and Tyrael dashed towards her and diverted her attention as the two clashed blades with the demon. Abaddon swung her sword to try and get them off her but failed as Tyrael and Vigne kicked her in the jaw simultaneously, sending her crashing through multiple buildings.
"Now of all times," Vigne said as she watched the fighter jets enter attack formation. She formed a CC while Tyrael, Ambriel, Gremory Peerage, Eden Squad, and the Hunters kept Abaddon busy.
"Yasaka. Kali. Thor. Anyone listening! There are fighter jets from the JSDF! Keep them safe from the Ziz and the other demons!" she said, sending out a multi-channel broadcast.
"I got them," Thor answered. She looked to the skies and saw the Ziz Bird that was heading for the jets get struck down by lightning. She sighed in relief when Thor flew next to the jets.
Thor eyed one of the pilots and waved before swinging his hammer at a demon that was heading to the jets. He flew off as the jets broke formation and flew off.
"They're getting reinforcements I presume," Thor said over his CC.
"Let them… it's not like we can stop this anyway. We got video feed from those who didn't make it to the shelters spreading through social media like wildfire," Mikaboshi said.
"Not an ideal way for humans to reconnect with the supernatural," Kali said. Thor looked down and saw a horde of demons become engulfed in a white sphere of energy.
"We'll deal with this later. Right now, we have to beat them back," Mikaboshi said.
"Easier said than done," Thor said as he dived bombed and cleared out the demons around Tsukuyomi and Yasaka.
"Hey Hammer Head," Tsukuyomi said as she sliced a demon in half. "Come here often?"
"Yeah, you?" Thor said, crushing another demon's skull. He grabbed a hellhound that had attempted to pounce on him and threw him into the air. Yasaka's massive jaws bit down on the hellhound killing it. She moved her tails, positioning the tips just in front of her snout and blue and red energy began to form and collect together. She roared and fired it, decimating several Ziz and demons that were airborne. The explosion lit up the sky as a shockwave of nuclear proportions split apart the clouds. It was a miracle that Kuoh wasn't flattened yet.
"We're doing fine," Thor said as he swung Mjolnir killing another demon.
"Don't jinx us, Thor-dono," Yasaka said as she swiped her tail, creating a massive twister that swept up all the demons in its path.
The sound of helicopters caught their ears as the Gods, Angels, and Devils looked to the skies and saw that the fighter jets had returned with several military transport helicopters. Around them were news copters that were brave enough to follow them into the fray.
Mikaboshi looked out her window and motioned to one of the devils stationed inside her office.
"Turn on the TV," she said as her ruby red eyes gazed at the military. She looked at her watch.
2:00 PM
"We are here live with the JSDF after video footage of monsters in the town of Kuoh were spreading like wildfire over the internet. At first, the generals thought they were hoaxes until 6:59 AM. A massive explosion larger than any nuclear bomb ever tested. We- WHAT IS THAT!?"
Mikaboshi glanced at the TV as the cameraman caught a shot of a Ziz Bird heading for the news copter. Gunshots and explosions were heard as the jets let loose their 20mm guns on the supernatural beings below.
"They're firing on us, Mikaboshi-sama," the angel said. She closed her eyes and sighed.
"I know," she said.
"Mikaboshi!"
The Goddess opened her eyes and turned to see a projection of Sirzechs.
"The humans are firing on us. We need to make them see that we're on their side!"
"You know that the bullets can't kill you right?" she asked.
"I know but… nevermind that, we captured Astaroth," Sirzechs said.
"That's great!" Mikaboshi said. Finally, more good news, she thought.
"Good, I shall join you out there and speak with the general sent here," she said as she eyed the helicopter that landed on top of the Academy.
"Right!"
Sirzechs cut the link and Mikaboshi began to walk to the door.
"I'm heading out," she said. The angels and devils stationed nodded. Mikaboshi walked out of the building and floated into the air before disappearing in a burst of speed to Kuoh Academy.
Major General Hideki Kobayashi was never one to believe in the old stories of Gods nor did he practice Shintoism nor Buddhism, preferring to use logic and science to explain the world around him. He enlisted into the Japanese Self Defense Force and after his training, went back to university and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. So when he was given orders to go investigate a massive nuclear class explosion over Kuoh Town with no visible measurements of gamma radiation, he jumped upon it.
What he didn't expect was to enter this. Monsters. Demons. People who could shoot fire and lightning from their hands. Hell, a goddamn Kyuubi and a Nekomata fighting these… demons.
He sighed as his men set up base camp on the roof. Every media outlet in Japan had followed his entourage here.
"Sir!"
"What?" he said, turning to the soldier before him. She was pointing at something in the sky. He looked up and saw a woman floating in mid-air. She disappeared and he reached for his pistol while the soldier had her rifle aimed, ready to fire.
"Put that down," the two turned and saw the woman leaning on the post. She was inhumanly beautiful. Long silky raven black hair. Ruby Red Eyes. She wore a black kimono.
But what they did know was that she wasn't human.
"Hello there," she said.
"Who are you?" he said calmly.
"I am Amatsu-Mikaboshi, the Shinto Goddess of the Void and Stars," Mikaboshi said.
"Goddess?" the soldier said.
Mikaboshi sighed and waved her hand, producing several violet energy spheres before dispersing them.
"What do you want?" the general said.
"I need to ask you to stop firing on me and my forces. We are currently fighting- hold on a second," Mikaboshi waved her hand and a shadow was cast over the general and his guard. They looked above them and saw a massive demonic hound frozen in mid-air. She snapped her fingers and it exploded into ash.
"Demons, we're fighting demons," she said.
"D- Demons!?" Hideki said.
"Yes so if you please," Mikaboshi said, her voice radiating power. "I believe we can come to an agreement."
"What kind of agreement?" he said.
"We tell you everything we know and you pull back to the academy. There are people we evacuated to the bomb shelters that need help," Mikaboshi said.
"Evacuees?" Hideki said.
"Yes, so please, help them evacuate," Mikaboshi said.
Hideki looked down. When they got here, their bullets had no effect on the monsters that attacked their convoy. However, their convoy was saved by a man wielding a hammer and firing lightning and for that Hideki was grateful for the safety of his troops.
"Are there other gods here?" Hideki asked.
"Yes. Kali from the Hindu Pantheon. Our own Tsukuyomi, a Kyuubi, and Thor. The biblical pantheon also sent their forces to help alongside Artemis from the Greco-Roman Pantheon," Mikaboshi said.
"So God helped us?" the soldier asked.
"Gods. The Biblical God is... Well, that's complicated. I promise to explain everything to your leaders. Just please, get the citizens to safety," Mikaboshi said.
"A God saying please. Okay. Everyone, head for the shelters located in the mountains," Hideki said.
"We'll keep them off you," Mikaboshi said. "Look for a girl with black hair and twin tails. She is the Maou Serafall Leviathan. She will keep the demons off."
"A Maou killing demons?"
"We'll explai-!"
"Yeah, you'll explain later and frankly I don't care. Those people in the shelters are more important. We'll count on you to keep them off us. Oh and, not that you'll need it but good luck Mikaboshi-sama," Hideki said, bowing deeply.
Mikaboshi smiled and nodded. She floated into the sky and froze. Mikaboshi's eyes widened as she turned and looked off into the distance.
Issei froze. He began to hyperventilate, catching Mitsuki and Risa's attention.
"Issei, what's wrong?" Risa said.
"She's coming!" Issei said, his eyes wide in fear. Risa's eyes grew wide then narrowed.
"We need to get out of here," Mitsuki said.
Sirzechs, Grayfia, Bael, and Metatron stood guard around an unconscious Astaroth. Sirzechs had beaten her into unconsciousness and captured her as a prisoner. As they conversed, Bael and Metatron froze.
"GET DO-!"
A violet comet crashed into the roof of Hyoudou Manor, forcing the four beings to shield themselves from the shockwave.
"My, my, you all just love getting in my way don't you?" an all-too-familiar voice called out, sending chills down their spines.
"N- Nee-sama," Bael said as he looked at the figure in the dust.
A massive wave of power slammed into them, pinning them to their spots. It was felt by everyone in Kuoh, human and non-human. The terror that the power itself inspired. It felt like darkness itself had descended upon their town as a massive shadow was cast over the town, blocking out the sun.
"Tell me. Where is Issei-chan?" Lilith asked as her eyes glowed an ominous red color.
Review Replies:
18Andrew: Don't worry no one died... yet.
SkellZero: You're giving me ideas for the future. Ideas that I like.
leader. dbz: Well, after this, the Supernatural and Human worlds are now reconnected to each other so we'll see where that goes. I'm glad you're as excited about Armageddon as I am!
AnimeFan0216: Not yet... not yet. Soon. But not now.
DanVrse: Thank you! I'm always happy to see a new reader who likes the story. As for the Endgame twist at the end, you're gonna have to wait until the Final Arc of the story. Just know that I do have a twist planned that will be as great as Tony swiping the Infinity Stones and merging them with his armor.
Not much to say here other than, the invasion has started and so has the battle for Issei's life. As you know the last chapter, I mentioned two saboteurs. We'll see them next chappie. And yes, Sirzechs beat Astaroth. He did. Excitement. And he also... aroused her. Heheheh AHAHAHAHAHA! Okay, I'll stop. Anyway, remember to review and have a great day/night or not the choice is yours.