Chapter 3 – Clash

"Haaa… Haaa… Damn, that girl is crazy…"

Short gasps of breath escaped Takeshi's mouth as he leaned his back on the trunk of a tree, his head peeking out as he surveyed his surroundings with a wary gaze. He was currently in the small forest surrounding the Occult Research Club, facing what was perhaps one of the greatest crises in his life so far.

"Where are you, Ryuugamine-kun? Come out, come out wherever you are~."

The one approaching his hiding spot with slow steps was Akeno, thunder crackling around her hands and a wide smile on her face that would send chills running down the backs of most people. Behind her, several trees had been turned to cinders, their remains smoking. If it wasn't for the anti-detection barrier, Takeshi was certain someone would have rushed here by now.

Keeping Akeno in his sights, Takeshi considered his options. Her firepower was far superior to his, so there was no point in keeping his distance, especially since he didn't have any long-range techniques of his own. Trying to ambush her hadn't worked so well before. As such…

"No other choice but to charge!"

Takeshi jumped out of the tree, his fists raised, and headed straight for Akeno.

"There you are." Akeno's smile became wider. "That's some nice resolve, but will it work out?"

Several thunderbolts were shot from Akeno's right hand and headed straight for Takeshi. Raising his concentration to the max, Takeshi drew out as much power as he could from his Sacred Gear, dodging the bolts and charging at Akeno. If he could bring this to close-quarters combat, he was certain he could take her down this time. As the distance between them shrank, a triumphant smile appeared on Takeshi's face.

Got her!

Certain of his victory, Takeshi prepared to drive his fist into Akeno's abdomen. However—

"Ara, ara, you really should mind your surroundings a bit more, Ryuugamine-kun."

Suddenly, Takeshi felt as if his whole body was being barbecued, a sensation he had unfortunately become very familiar with over the past few days. Letting out a cry of pain, he fell on the ground convulsing.

"That's enough." Rias's voice was heard coming from the side. "The match is over. It's Akeno's victory for the fifth time in a row."

"Damn it…" Takeshi cursed as he stood up with some difficulty, his hands twitching. "It's not…over yet, Gremory-senpai! I can still fight!"

"Ara, ara, while I do like a man who can withstand pain, continuing this isn't in your best interests." Akeno said. "The output might be low, but taking too many of my attacks head-on won't be good for your health."

"Akeno is right." Rias said as she walked towards the two, Yuuto and Koneko by her side. "Your Sacred Gear might be increasing your physical capabilities, but you're still a human in the end, Ryuugamine-kun. Taking it too far might result in permanent damage, and that would defeat the purpose of those practice sessions."

Takeshi couldn't help but agree with this reasoning. Over the past week, he had been training with the Gremory peerage whenever there was free time upon his request, and he could tell the fatigue and injuries were slowly piling up. Pushing it was not advisable.

"Alright…but we're having a rematch soon, Himejima-senpai." Takeshi pointed at Akeno. "I'll definitely find a way to beat you one of these days, I swear. Speaking of which, what the Hell happened back there? I was sure I dodged all the thunderbolts."

"…You were paying too much attention to Akeno-senpai's right hand." Koneko explained. "She used her left to form a magic circle behind you, and one of her bolts ricocheted off it and straight on you."

"The difference in combat experience, eh?" Takeshi remarked with a bitter smile. "Something to keep in mind for next time."

"You'll keep coming back for more?" Akeno licked her lips with a suggestive look. "That means our fun time together won't be over any time soon, ufufu~."

"Now that's a sadistic expression if I've ever seen one…"

Takeshi sighed. The image of the prim and proper lady Akeno presented herself as had long since shattered into pieces for him. Over these few practice sessions, he had realized the hard way that the raven-haired girl had quite the sadistic streak.

"I have to admit I was surprised when you came to us and asked for training, Ryuugamine-kun." Yuuto said as he passed a towel to Takeshi. "What brought this on?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Takeshi said while wiping the sweat from his brow. "While there's no way I'll be able to fight on even ground with these Strays yet, I want to be able to hold my own and defend myself as much as possible. Plus, this is much better that staying at home and worrying about what will happen next."

"Also, this could help us figure out if Ryuugamine-kun's Sacred Gear has any hidden abilities." Rias added. "Although that doesn't seem to be the case so far…"

"Well, I'm sorry for my disappointing Sacred Gear…"

"No, no, I'm not looking down on you, Ryuugamine-kun." Rias assured him. "At the end of the day, it's the mettle and skills of the user that define a Sacred Gear's true power. A seemingly weak Sacred Gear can be deadly at the hands of a skilled possessor, while a powerful Sacred Gear can turn out to be useless if the user is incompetent. Remember that."

"I will." Takeshi said. "So, what's the plan for today, Gremory-senpai?"

"If our assumptions are correct and the Strays are observing us, then by now, they should be convinced that you're our ally." Rias said. "Therefore, I think it's about time we set our trap for them."

Takeshi tensed at those words. He knew this day was coming soon, but he didn't feel the least bit ready for this. However, bringing this case to a close was something that had to be done sooner rather than later. Two more victims had been reported so far and, despite their best efforts, the Gremory group hadn't been able to catch them in the act. Takeshi could tell Rias was getting more impatient and furious as the days went by, so a part of him expected they would implement their plan any day now. Still…

"Are you certain that the Strays were observing us?" Takeshi asked. "I mean, Kiba-kun didn't spot anyone suspicious tailing us during the times I went out with Koneko-chan over the past few days, so they might not take the bait."

"While it's possible, I find it unlikely that you've escaped their attention." Rias said. "Apart from Yuuto, I've also had Akeno scan the area for traces of remote scrying magic."

"Let me guess, you got a hit?" Takeshi said. "No, to begin with, such magic actually leaves traces?"

"If the user isn't skilled enough, then yes." Rias said. "Because of that, we know that our Cluster was definitely keeping an eye on you. As such, we'll move to the next step."

"So, what am I supposed to do?" Takeshi said. "Parade around town with a banner that says 'here I am, Strays, come and get me'?"

"I was thinking something a little more lowkey than that." Rias said. "Kuoh Town's park is spacious enough for us to go wild without attracting too much attention, especially if we take the proper precautions beforehand. Tomorrow is also Saturday, so it's perfect."

"But will it be alright?" Takeshi asked. "The park is usually crowded in weekends up until late at night. Ordinary people might get dragged in the fight. Also, won't it be suspicious if I just start hanging around there by my lonesome?"

"Who said anything about you being alone?" Rias let out a sly smirk. "This time, you'll be working together with Akeno…wait, why are you hiding, Ryuugamine-kun?"

"Sorry about that." Takeshi said as he emerged from the foliage. "For some reason, my fight-or-flight response was triggered… Then, just like with Koneko-chan, I have to spend some time with Himejima-senpai until the park is empty enough for the Strays to decide to attack?"

"Essentially, yes." Rias said. "Akeno will separate from you after some time has passed, leaving you seemingly vulnerable. Once they show their faces, we'll surround them and crush them with our full power. Simple, right?"

"It would be nice if things go that smoothly…" Takeshi muttered before turning to Akeno and bowing to her. "Looks like I will be in your care tomorrow, Himejima-senpai. Please treat me well."

"Ara, ara, that's my line, Ryuugamine-kun." Akeno smiled. "I'm sure we'll have a lovely time tomorrow."

"I don't think our definitions of lovely match, but I'll refrain from saying anything else on the small chance I'm off…" Takeshi murmured. "Tomorrow it is then. How about we meet at seven thirty in front of the fountain?"

"Sounds great." Akeno said. "What do you think, President?"

"Yes, this should give us ample time to prepare beforehand as well." Rias said. "Try and get some rest today, Ryuugamine-kun. Things are probably going to get quite hectic tomorrow."

"Got it."

After bidding his farewells to the members of the Occult Research Club, Takeshi made his way home. Unbeknownst to him, however, an odd-looking crow was flying above him, its four eyes focused on him.

"Stupid Devils…" Arnett said while observing the situation through the eyes of the familiar she had created within the Cluster's hideout. "So busy setting traps…they never stop to think…that we might be setting one as well…"

"They're too used dealing with dumb Stray Devils who act like brutes that only kill for pleasure and are easily taken down." A tall young man with short black hair, elongated nails and teeth, and a tail growing from his rear said so while grinning. "That works just fine for us though, so I won't complain."

"You said it, Enishi." A creature resembling a Gargoyle with copper-colored skin and a pair of bat-like wings growing from his back that only wore a loincloth nodded. "Looking down on us so much will prove to be their undoing. I can't wait to see their faces full of despair once we make a bloodbath out of them."

"You and me both, Talon." Denas said with a savage smile on his face. "But first, I want to have some fun with the girls. Experiencing a virgin Devil princess or two should be a treat. Oh, the things I will do to them once I have them in my grasp…"

"Carnal delusions aside, we should plan our assault well." Valdes said. "If this fails, we won't get a second chance. Not to mention, we're dealing with two Peerages here, so we're at a disadvantage if this turns into an all-out brawl."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that." Nell said as she walked in, a pleased expression on her face. "It appears our sponsors have graced us with some reliable backup. This should make things a bit easier for us."

Everyone turned to the cavern's entrance, only to see several figures concealed in the shadows. Once she took a closer look at them, Arnett let out a sinister smirk.

"Oh, I see… This will definitely…even the odds…"

"With this manpower, it might be better to implement a divide-and-conquer strategy here." Valdes tapped the top of his helmet with his right hand as he said so. "I believe it's more efficient that way. We should lure one of the Peerages here first while keeping the other one occupied in our second hideout."

"You leave that to me." Nell said with a sly smirk. "Since they went to the trouble of setting a trap for us, it would be rude not to show up."

"If you're going out, then I'm coming as well." Denes said. "It's the first serious action I've had in a while! I ain't missing this for nothing in the world!"

"In that case, I'll be tagging along as well." Valdes said. "Someone needs to curb your hot-headed attitude lest you get yourself into trouble like that time you almost got caught."

"Yeah, attacking a Devil peerage on your own of all things just because one of the female servants was your 'ideal type of woman' was pretty stupid."

Enishi said while snickering.

"You people aren't going to let me live this down, will you? I knew I shouldn't have said anything about it…"

Denes growled with a dissatisfied expression, but refrained from saying anything else.

"If you three are going out…I'll be placing defensive spells on you…that will limit the effectiveness of demonic power…" Arnett said. "Give you…some extra protection…"

"Then, it's decided." Nell said. "Soon, everything will be over one way or another."

"I say that this calls for a celebration." Enishi said as he pulled out a bottle of wine and several glasses. "I found this little treasure in the house of our latest prey, so I figured we could let loose a bit for today. Raise morale and all that."

"An excellent idea." Talon nodded in approval. "It's been some time since we've had something this delicious."

"A toast then." Nell raised her glass while saying so. "To the painful and gruesome deaths of these detestable Devils that took everything from us. And to our freedom."

[To our freedom!]

All six Strays downed their glasses in one go, matching sinister smiles on their faces and killing intent radiating from their bodies.

The next day…

Half an hour before the appointed meeting time, Takeshi could be seen standing in front of Kuoh Park's large fountain, his gaze wandering around as he waited for Akeno.

Despite Rias's assurances that they had planned everything, Takeshi couldn't help but feel anxious. Several times, he caught himself almost falling back into past ticks like biting his nails or tapping his foot on the ground. With great effort, he suppressed his urges and tried to distract himself by playing scenes from several tokusatsu programs in his head.

"Ryuugamine-kun!"

The one who had called Takeshi out was, of course, Akeno, who made her way to him while smiling. Instead of her student uniform, she was dressed in a stylish one-piece, which gave her an even more youthful and lively appearance that usual, and was holding a basket.

"Sorry for the wait, Ryuugamine-kun." Akeno apologized. "Our preparations took a bit longer than expected."

"No problem." Takeshi made a dismissive gesture. "I just got here not too long ago after all. Also, this dress looks very good on you, Himejima-senpai. Really brings out your charm and beauty."

"Ara, ara, thank you very much for your kind words." Akeno said with a pleased smile while checking out Takeshi's outfit. "You look dashing as well, Ryuugamine-kun."

"Well, I'm escorting one of the school's most beautiful girls, so I must look the part." Takeshi said. "Plus, if I'm heading straight to an early grave, I'll at least do so in a fashionable manner."

"We'll all make sure it won't come to that, both for you and for the rest of this town's residents." Akeno said. "Now then, since there's still some time left until everything starts, how about I have Ryuugamine-kun be my escort until then? Consider this my apology for all the pain I've put you through over these past few days."

"Escort?" Takeshi raised an eyebrow. "Do you have something specific in mind, Himejima-senpai? Because I came completely unprepared for a date scenario."

"Ufufu, I thought as much." Akeno giggled. "But don't you worry. Your kind Senpai has taken care of everything. Just follow me."

Akeno wrapped her arm around Takeshi's own and began pulling him along, the sensation of her supple breasts on his arm causing a faint blush to appear on Takeshi's face. He fervently hoped that no-one from Kuoh Academy was around to take notice of the two of them. Otherwise, he was certain the entire male student body with the Perverted Trio at their helm would lynch him before he could say 'it's a misunderstanding'.

"I've heard the rumors in passing before, but I didn't believe it until now." Akeno's words snapped Takeshi out of his ruminations. "Everyone seems to be avoiding you."

Taking a look around, Takeshi noticed that the people around them were indeed giving them a wide berth.

"Just more of the same." Takeshi shrugged. "It's annoying, but I've more or less got used to it after all this time. Come to think of it though…you don't think it could be some sort of curse, do you? I mean, magic is real, so curses should be real as well, right?"

"They are, and it's true that there seems to be something that's a little…unusual about you." Akeno said. "When all is said and done, would you like me to try some purification rituals? It'll be on the house."

"Purification?" Takeshi raised an eyebrow. "Devils, the creatures of sin and darkness, can perform such rituals?"

"Normally, no." Akeno said. "But in my case…my mother was a shrine priestess. When I was younger, she…she taught me some of their practices…"

"I see." Takeshi's expression became somber. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Eh?" Akeno seemed surprised. "How did you know my mother is dead?"

"Apart from you confirming it just now?" Takeshi said. "You said she was a shrine priestess, emphasis on was. Plus, your expression fell when you mentioned her, so I assumed that was the most likely scenario. Again, you have my condolences, and I'm sorry if I brought up some painful memories, Himejima-senpai."

"There's nothing for you to apologize, Ryuugamine-kun." Akeno said. "Also, thank you. But enough about these depressing matters. Things are already gloomy enough without adding to the pile. With that said, let's turn those frowns upside down and try to enjoy ourselves a bit, yes?"

"Easier said than done…"

After a couple of minutes, Takeshi and Akeno arrived at the base of a large tree. Separating herself from Takeshi, Akeno opened the basket she was holding and took a sheet out, spreading it on the grass. After sitting down, she motioned for Takeshi to do the same.

"We're having a picnic then?" Takeshi said. "You actually went to the trouble of cooking for me?"

"It was no trouble at all. Consider it an expression of my gratitude for helping us and part of my apology for the rough way I've been treating you during training."

Akeno said with a smile. Takeshi was forced to reevaluate his opinion of his Senpai a bit. Even though she had a sadistic streak on her, she seemed to be kind and considerate as well. After the two of them sat down, Akeno opened the basket once again, taking out two lunch boxes and giving one to Takeshi. After taking a few bites from an onigiri, Takeshi's expression lit up.

"This is…really good! One of the best I've had so far in fact!"

"Is that so?" Akeno said. "I'm glad you're enjoying it so much, ufufu~."

"Senpai is both beautiful and a good cook." Takeshi said as he kept eating. "Eccentricities aside, I'm sure that, one day, you'll make a fine wife for some lucky bastard."

"Hmmm, I can't tell if you're praising me or making fun of me." Akeno said while placing her finger near her mouth. "Perhaps both?"

"I just call things how I see them." Takeshi said. "If you're confused though, I was praising you, Himejima-senpai."

"In that case, I'll gratefully accept your praise." Akeno smiled. "There's more if you want, so there's no need to hold yourself back."

"As good as this is, I don't know if I'll be able to eat much more." Takeshi said. "There's a battle coming up after all, one that I cannot help but feel that I'm completely unprepared for."

"There's no need to worry, Ryuugamine-kun." Akeno reassured him. "Chances are you won't be involved in this fight at all. Plus, if things get too dangerous, the other Peerage that's based on Kuoh will lend us their assistance."

"Other Peerage?" Takeshi raised an eyebrow. "There are more Devils stationed in Kuoh apart from you guys?"

"That's right, Rias didn't mention it, did she?" Akeno said. "The Devils that do business in the neighboring area also attend Kuoh Academy like us. They've also been helping us with tracking down the Cluster, though, much like us, they haven't had much luck locating them until now."

"Who are they?" Takeshi asked. "Do I know them?"

"Unless you've been living under a rock, you should be quite familiar with them." Akeno smirked. "The other Devil Peerage is comprised of the Student Council's members."

"The Student…Council?" Takeshi frowned. "Then, that means…the recently elected Student Council President, Shitori-senpai, is a Devil as well?"

"That's right." Akeno said. "Her true name is Sona Sitri, a noble Devil like Rias and the heiress of the Sitri clan, one of the remaining seventy-two Pillars. She's also a friend of mine and Rias."

"That detestable woman is a Devil…" Takeshi growled as he made a fist. "It makes perfect sense somehow."

"Ara, do you have a grudge against Sona or something?" Akeno remarked with a curious expression. "Is there some sort of juicy history between the two of you, Ryuugamine-kun? Please tell me that's the case."

"Nothing remarkable for her, I'm sure." Takeshi said with a serious expression. "But for me, that woman is an enemy, someone I must take down with my own hands and make her taste defeat like I have so many times before. But enough about that. Are they any other Devils I should know about that have taken residence here?"

"Kuoh Academy does have several people with supernatural backgrounds attending it, but the Occult Research Club and the Student Council members are the only Devils in this area." Akeno said. "The other Devil Peerages in Japan are situated in areas farther away from here."

"It's strange though that the heiresses of two prominent noble families would both set up shop here." Takeshi noted. "Is there something special in this area that requires two Devil Peerages to handle?"

"As far as I'm aware of, no." Akeno said. "The true reason is actually more mundane than you think. Rias loves Japan and always wanted to do business in this country. So, when she was offered the position, she jumped at the opportunity to come here. After that, it seems Sona was captivated by Kuoh Academy when Rias gave her a tour of the place and submitted an application to be assigned to the neighboring area."

"Shitori…no, Sitri-senpai was interested in our school?" Takeshi asked. "Why?"

"I'm not really sure." Akeno said. "I think it has something to do with her future plans and goal. Rias should know more, so if you're curious, you should ask her."

"No, I don't care that much about her business." Takeshi said. "Still, the Student Council is currently comprised of six members, right? With the additional manpower, no wonder Gremory-senpai feels confident."

"That's why there's no need to be concerned." Akeno said. "We have the numerical advantage here. As long as we can draw the Strays out and face them in open combat, we should have no problem taking them down."

"Let's hope so…" Takeshi said with a frown. "These Strays mean business from the looks of it. I'm curious though what exactly led them to run away from their masters and do all this."

"I'm not going to sugarcoat things, Ryuugamine-kun." Akeno said with a serious expression. "The Underworld can be a harsh and cruel place for Reincarnated Devils. Many noble Devils treat them as disposable pieces to use at their leisure. It's possible that those Strays were mistreated and abused by their masters."

"Koneko-chan said something similar before." Takeshi said. "But in that case, shouldn't there be…I don't know, laws or something to prevent that sort of thing?"

"Unfortunately, no." Akeno said. "A King doesn't have to answer to anyone about how they treat their servants unless that somehow has ramifications on the Underworld as a whole. The others and I are lucky to be serving under Rias, who treats us like family. Other Reincarnated Devils aren't so lucky."

"That's…really messed up." Takeshi grimaced. "You're telling me no-one is against this kind of thing?"

"There is a progressive faction within the Underworld's higher-ups that's struggling to make changes." Akeno said. "However, most of the noble Devils oppose radical reforms due to their old-fashioned ideals and traditions."

"Most likely because they would lose face and influence if they were upstaged by Reincarnated Devils, eh?" Takeshi snorted. "Sounds like the Devils' world has quite a few issues. But that means that we're hunting down people who were potentially victimized?"

"Make no mistake, Ryuugamine-kun." Akeno said. "Whatever their circumstances may be, those Strays chose to murder innocent civilians, people who hadn't wronged them in any way. They deserve everything that's coming to them."

"But what about those who only killed their abusive masters?" Takeshi asked. "Or those who simply ran away from the Underworld and hid without harming anyone? What happens to them?"

"Imprisonment at best, execution at worst." Akeno said with a somber expression. "I'm not going to lie and say it's fair, because it's not. But it's not something we can change."

Takeshi said nothing in response to that, opting to look around instead. After a while, he spoke again.

"How strong are these Strays we're hunting exactly?"

"We can't be sure, but if they're like that Lamia, their strength shouldn't be higher than Low-class."

"Low-class?"

"It's how the Three Factions classify individuals in terms of power level." Akeno explained. "Low-class is the lowest level of power. After that, it's Middle-class, High-class and Ultimate-class, with Leader-classes like Seraph, Devil King and Cadre being the highest in the ranking."

"That means they're pretty much at the bottom of the ladder then." Takeshi said. "But what about you guys?"

"All servants in both peerages are also Low-class." Akeno said. "However, Rias and Sona are High-class Devils, both due to their noble heritage and the amount of demonic power they were born with."

"The luck of the draw, eh?" Takeshi smirked. "Looks like you guys have one more reason to be confident."

"True, but we still can't afford to be overconfident." Akeno said. "We could be in for a nasty surprise if we misjudge our enemy's strength."

"The crowd is really starting to thin out." Takeshi noted at that moment. "Is this also part of your preparations?"

"Right now, we're sending subtle mental suggestions to everyone's minds to clear the area." Akeno explained. "In a few more minutes, the place should be deserted enough for the Strays to make their appearance."

"Won't they sense they're being led into a trap?" Takeshi whispered to Akeno. "If I was in their place, I'd find this suspicious."

"Perhaps, but we believe they'll take the risk and jump at the opportunity to take down one of us, especially if they've been ordered to as we assume." Akeno said. "With that said, I'll be taking my leave for a bit."

"Bored already, Himejima-senpai?" Takeshi said with a faux hurt expression. "And here I thought I was pleasant company."

"Ara, ara, if you show me such an expression, I can't help but want to tease you, Ryuugamine-kun." Akeno giggled. "Don't worry, I'm only stepping out for a bit. Like Rias said, if they think you're alone…"

"It'll give them incentive to strike." Takeshi said while taking a deep breath. "I suppose I'll have to do my best not to die until you guys arrive."

"Trust me, the moment they show their faces, it's game over for them." Akeno said as she stood up. "See you soon, Ryuugamine-kun."

Takeshi watched Akeno disappearing into the woods before turning his attention to the two box lunches next to him.

"I'm sure she won't mind if I have some of hers as well…"

Takeshi started wolfing down both box lunches, preferring to focus on the food rather than the fact that his life might come to an end soon if the plan went south. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that more and more people were starting to leave, leaving only a few individuals standing in the distance.

Suddenly, Takeshi felt a chill go down his spine. Standing up with an alarmed expression, he noticed that he was surrounded by fog, with the people further ahead of him looking like vague shadows before disappearing completely. Summoning his Sacred Gear, he took a fighting stance, hoping that his trembling wasn't showing too much.

"I know you're there, Strays!" Takeshi shouted. "Show yourselves!"

No sound other than Takeshi's rough breathing could be heard for a few seconds. Then, a small giggle echoed across the area.

"You're acting all brave even though I can see you're shaking from here. How cute."

Following those words, three individuals emerged from the fog. One was a silver-haired woman with a tail growing from her back dressed in a provocative outfit, the other was an armored knight that lacked a head, holding it in his hands instead, and the third was a Centaur, a savage grin on his face as he unsheathed a large broadsword.

"You must be the infamous Stray Devils, yes?" Takeshi asked. "Let me guess, you're not here for a picnic."

"An astute observation." Valdes said. "I'm afraid we don't have time for chitchat though. My apologies, but since you're an associate of the Devils, we will take your life now."

"You aren't taking anyone's life today, or ever again for that matter."

A sphere of black energy was shot from behind Takeshi, with the three Stray Devils rushing to get out of the way. Glancing behind him, Takeshi saw Rias and the rest of her Peerage emerging from the fog.

"Excellent work, Ryuugamine-kun." Rias said. "We'll take care of the rest, so step back."

"You don't have to tell me twice…"

Once Takeshi had taken cover, Rias turned to the three Strays with a severe expression on her face.

"This is our first time meeting face-to-face. As you're no doubt aware of, I am Rias Gremory, the heiress of the House of Gremory and the one in charge of this area. Your companion wasn't very willing to talk, but perhaps things will be different with you? Tell me, why have you been attacking our clients? Are you working for someone, and if you do, who is it?"

"Sorry, but you won't find us willing to talk either." Nell said with a sly smile. "Besides, our affiliation is about to be the least of your concerns!"

Nell snapped her fingers, with Valdes and Denas charging with their weapons drawn. In response, Yuuto and Koneko also jumped forward, sword and fist clashing against their opponents' blades. Rias and Akeno unleashed a barrage of black demonic power and lightning respectively, but their attacks simply went through Nell's body as if it was made of smoke. The silver-haired girl smirked as her outline flickered and vanished.

"An illusion…" Rias clicked her tongue. "Keep your guard up, Akeno. She could come out from anywhere."

"Right."

"Does that anywhere include right behind you!?"

Rias felt a premonition of danger, moving out of the way and barely avoiding Nell's elongated nails. Akeno tried to strike her with another thunderbolt, only for Nell to retreat inside the fog once again while laughing. The two girls stood back-to-back, magic circles forming in their hands as they struggled to grasp Nell's position, who was appearing and disappearing inside the fog.

"You have some good skills, young Knight!"

"I could say the same about you, Dullahan! What about your horse though!?"

"It was killed a while back! But I can still take you down even like this!"

Some distance away from Akeno and Rias, Valdes and Yuuto exchanged such words, their swords clashing against one another. Pushing each other away, the two swordsmen charged once again for another exchange. While Yuuto was fast enough to evade Valdes's blows, his blade was unable to pierce through the Dullahan's robust armor. Furthermore, each clash of their blades sent a shockwave through Yuuto's hands due to the Dullahan's greater strength. Yuuto was certain that if things kept going like that…

"You can't win." Valdes's words mirrored Yuuto's thoughts. "Your speed is higher than mine, but you can't match me in defense or physical strength. I was a former Rook after all. The way things are going, you'll soon run out of stamina. When that happens, your neck is mine."

"As much as it pains me to admit it, that's true." Yuuto smiled. "In that case, I'll play my trump card!"

Yuuto's sword suddenly vanished, with two new blades appearing in each hand, one red and the other pure white. Yuuto thrust his white blade into the ground, much to Valdes's confusion.

"What do you think you're doing, young Knight?"

"Immobilizing you."

Before he could question that statement, Valdes felt a cold sensation coming from his legs. Looking down, he was shocked to see that his legs were frozen, a trail of ice connecting them to Yuuto's blade.

"This is!"

"There's more where that came from!"

Yuuto swung his red blade, releasing a wave of fire that struck Valdes head-on. The Dullahan grunted from the heat blast, its armor smocking. At the same time, the ice started reforming around his legs.

"A Sacred Gear user, huh?" Valdes said. "Interesting! However!"

Valdes's eyes shone as pitch-black aura erupted from his body, shattering the ice binding him and sending Yuuto skidding backwards. Swinging his blade, the Dullahan released a wave of demonic power. Yuuto avoided it, but the slash curved in mid-air and aimed for his back. Summoning a large broadsword-shaped Demonic Sword, Yuuto threw it at the incoming wave, resulting in a massive explosion.

Before he had time to regain his bearings, Valdes was upon him, his blade aimed at his abdomen. Conjuring a Demonic Sword below his foot, Yuuto used it to propel himself up, barely avoiding the Dullahan's thrust. He landed a few steps away, his blade pointed at the Stray Devil.

"You aren't half-bad, young Knight." Valdes praised his opponent. "So young, and yet so skilled. I dread to think what you would become in the future. It's a shame that your life must end here!"

"My apologies, but I won't let your blade end my life, Dullahan." Yuuto declared, brandishing his sword. "I still have things I must accomplish after all!"

The two swordsmen clashed once again, the shockwaves from their blades causing the leaves from the nearby trees to fly away.

"You're quite nimble, little brat!"

Denas laughed like a madman as he swung his broadsword at Koneko. Unlike his compatriot's refined swordplay, Denas's style was wild and unfocused, slashing empty air more often than not. However, the power behind his slashes was the real deal, opening deep gashes on the ground and felling nearby trees with a single stroke. His instinct-driven style also made it difficult for Koneko to predict his attacks, resulting in her receiving several shallow cuts. If it wasn't for her Rook defense, she was certain she would have taken a lot of damage by now.

Dodging yet another slash, Koneko planted her feet on the ground and tried to punch Denas. However, the Centaur easily avoided the blow with his superior speed. His forelegs kicked Koneko, sending her crashing on a nearby tree. Still somewhat dazed, she wasn't fast enough to fully avoid Denas's next slash, which opened a gash on her arm.

"Come on, is that all you've got, pipsqueak!?" Denas shouted. "Show me more of your strength! There's no enjoyment to be found in slaughtering weaklings!"

"…Don't…call me pipsqueak."

Koneko glared at Denas as she stood up. Digging her fingers inside the tree behind her, she pulled it out with a heave and started swinging it at the Centaur like a club.

"That's more like it!" Denas laughed in a delighted manner as he dodged her blows. "You're finally starting to make things exciting! This is what makes a massacre worthwhile!"

"…Shut up."

Koneko kept trying to strike the Centaur with her makeshift club, but all her attacks kept hitting air. Denas was proving himself to be quite agile, each of his slashes slowly chipping away at the tree she was wielding. Seeing that this was getting her nowhere, Koneko threw the tree at Denas.

"Naïve!"

Denas split the tree in half with a single slash. Koneko took this chance to charge at the Centaur, punching his abdomen with all her strength and sending him skidding backwards. She followed up with a kick, but Denas caught it with the flat of his blade and pushed Koneko back.

"You little shit…" Denas growled as he spat out some blood. "Don't get too cocky!"

Increasing his speed to the point where he almost seemed like a blur, Denas charged at Koneko. Although she evaded his blade, she was unable to escape from the back hand strike that sent her flying and crashing on the ground once again. Before she had the chance to get up, one of Denas's legs stomped her own, a cry of pain escaping from her lips. Although it wasn't broken, the bruised limb could no longer support her weight. A cruel smile was formed on Denas's lips as he raised his blade.

"Good game, but I'm afraid it's over." Denas said. "You're a little too young for my tastes, so I'll have you be the first kill!"

"Hands off Koneko-chan, you four-legged creep!"

Just as Denas was about to swing his sword down—a large rock suddenly struck the side of his head, sending him stumbling sideways. Much to Koneko's surprise, the one who had thrown it at the Centaur was Takeshi, who was currently running towards her side.

"Are you alright, Koneko-chan?" Takeshi asked as he examined her leg. "Can you stand…no, you probably can't with that injury. Here, let me help you."

"Takeshi-senpai…" Koneko muttered. "Why did you come?"

"What, no 'thanks for the rescue' or something to that effect?" Takeshi grinned as he put his hand around her shoulder, helping her stand. "People these days are so ungrateful. As for your question, since when does a friend stand by and watch when another friend is in danger?"

Koneko was about to say something when an outraged howl was heard.

"Oi, what's the big idea, you damn brat!?" Denas shouted as he approached the two youths, blood dripping from the side of his head. "You gave you permission to butt in the middle of a match, eh!? Got a death wish or something!? If so, then just stand still!"

"No, that's far enough."

A black mass of aura was shot at Denas, with the Centaur barely evading it.

"Everyone, clear the area!" Rias, whose entire body was surrounded by a black aura, called out to Takeshi and her Peerage. "I'm putting an end to this right now!"

"…President looks really pissed off. Hang on tight, Takeshi-senpai."

A pair of bat wings extended from Koneko's back as she took off while carrying Takeshi, with Akeno and Yuuto following suit. Before the Strays could react, the aura surrounding Rias intensified and burst out in the form of a wave that enveloped the area, wiping out all traces of the mist along with the surrounding trees and ground.

"Holy shit…" Takeshi muttered with an awed expression. "This is Gremory-senpai's power?"

"…The Power of Destruction the President wields is that formidable." Koneko said. "She isn't known as Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess in the Underworld for nothing."

"Crimson-Haired…Ruin Princess…" Takeshi muttered as Koneko brought him down close to Rias, with Akeno and Yuuto landing next to them. "Impressive…but a little too conspicuous, don't you think? Every person in town must have witnessed that little display."

"Don't worry, Ryuugamine-kun." Akeno said. "We also erected an anti-detection barrier outside of the Stray Devils' fog barrier exactly for this scenario."

"Look sharp, everyone." Rias's voice caused everyone to tense. "It's not over yet."

True enough, a few meters away from them, the figures of Denas, Valdes and Nell could be seen there. Although smoke was coming from their bodies and several burn marks were prominent all over them, they seemed unharmed otherwise.

"Damned red-haired skank…" Nell cursed. "If it wasn't for Arnett's defensive magic, we would have been eliminated without a trace by that attack."

"High-class Devils are on a different level." Valdes remarked. "Remaining here any longer is unwise. If the Sitri Peerage outside joins the fight as well, we're finished."

"Oi, what the Hell are you two saying!?" Denas shouted. "We're running away at this point!? Don't joke with me! I still—!"

Denas's next words were cut off as Valdes punched him in his abdomen, knocking his breath out and silencing him.

"Just do as you are told, you moron." Valdes growled. "This is no time for childish temper tantrums."

"You think you can run away?" Rias called out to the three Stray Devils. "I'm afraid I cannot allow that. Your murder spree ends today. Akeno, Yuuto, we're taking them down right now!"

[Yes, President!]

Akeno and Yuuto charged at the battered Strays. However, Nell merely smiled as her eyes shone.

"The blond Knight over there, would you be a dear and attack your friend for me, please?"

"As you command, my beloved mistress…"

Yuuto's expression became vacant as he turned his blade on Akeno, with the raven-haired girl blocking the blade with a defensive magic circle.

"Yuuto-kun, what's the matter!?" Akeno cried out while Yuuto kept hammering the magic circle with his blade. "Why are you attacking me!?"

"Watch out!" Rias shouted. "That girl is probably a Succubus! She's charmed Yuuto!"

While Akeno was busy fending off Yuuto, the three Strays formed a teleportation magic circle. Rias launched several orbs of demonic power at them in an attempt to stop them, but was too late as they were engulfed by the light of teleportation and vanished. Shortly afterwards, Yuuto collapsed on the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.

"They escaped." Takeshi remarked. "Was this also part of the plan, Gremory-senpai?"

"No, but it was a possibility." Rias said. "That's why we took measures for that as well. Akeno, is your familiar tracking them?"

"Yes, it managed to enter their magic circle just in time." Akeno said while checking the unconscious Yuuto's condition. "The location…seems to be a cavern in the southwest outskirts of Kuoh. No wonder we couldn't find them. The entrance appears to be concealed with illusion magic."

"Since a Succubus is involved, this doesn't surprise me at all." Rias said. "While it would have been better to take them out here and now, discovering their hideout works just fine for us as well."

"Wait, it looks like they're splitting up." Akeno said. "One of them is about to use a second magic circle. Maybe they have another hideout."

"Have your familiar follow the straggler." Rias said. "I'll send mine to keep monitoring the cavern. We'll plan the next step once we've confirmed the potential second hideout and scouted both areas."

"Understood, President."

"We'll take care of things from this point on, Ryuugamine-kun." Rias said after turning to Takeshi. "There's no need for you to put yourself in danger any further. Once we've dealt with the Cluster, we'll discuss the matter of your reward."

"Trust me, this isn't an experience I'm looking forward to repeat, at least not until I can truly hold my own in a fight." Takeshi said. "However, will you manage in the state you're in? Kiba-kun is knocked out and Koneko-chan is injured. Even with the Student Council's help, it might be a bit difficult hitting two locations at the same time."

"Ah, Akeno already told you about Sona then." Rias said. "However, it'll be fine. We Devils have our own brand of healing magic, so Yuuto and Koneko should be all patched up by tomorrow. Even if they weren't, Akeno and I plus the Student Council are more that enough to handle three Strays. Sona's skill is comparable to mine after all."

"Looks like you've got things under control then." Takeshi said. "In that case, I can only wish you guys luck. We'll see each other on Monday?"

"Count on it." Rias smiled. "Also, you have my gratitude for helping Koneko. Looks like I have to add this to the debt I owe you."

"…Yes, thank you, Senpai." Koneko bowed. "If you hadn't distracted that Centaur, I might have been seriously injured or killed."

"Don't mention it." Takeshi made a dismissive gesture. "Like I said, I wasn't going to abandon a friend. Or perhaps…you don't consider us friends? Am I being presumptuous?"

The mix of sad puppy and confused expressions on Takeshi's face caused a small giggle to escape from Koneko's mouth, much to Rias's surprise.

"…Yes, we are friends. Take care, Senpai."

"Right. You take care as well, everyone."

After Takeshi had taken his leave, Rias turned to Akeno.

"How is it? Did your familiar find the location of the second hideout?"

"One moment please…" Akeno said. "Yes, it's an abandoned warehouse in the neighboring town. My familiar spotted the Centaur heading inside the building just now."

"In that case, our targets are clear." Rias said. "Once I've erased all traces of the battle, let's head back to the clubroom. After we've treated Yuuto and Koneko, we'll have a discussion with Sona and plan our attack."

[Right!]

Akeno and Koneko nodded at Rias's words.

At the Strays' hideout…

"Ouch!" Nell cried out. "Watch it, Arnett! My skin still feels like it's sizzling!"

"Sorry…" The blue-haired witch frowned as she pressed a towel on Nell's hand. "Looks like the Gremory heiress's power…was far greater than anticipated… All those defensive wards against demonic power…I spent so much time and power casting …wasted at once… Terrifiying…"

"Her peerage appears to be reasonably skilled for Low-class Devils." Valdes remarked. "If the Sitri heiress's power is as formidable, then it's a good thing that we didn't decide to fight them all head-on. I don't think we would have survived in that scenario."

"Where's Denas?" Talon asked while looking around for the absent member. "Did they get him?"

"No, he's just fine." Valdes said. "Only his ego is bruised. That human child got in the way of his kill, so he's pretty pissed right now."

"When isn't he pissed?" Enishi snorted. "Seriously, he's more of a liability than an asset to us right now."

"That's why I had him lure the Devils' familiars to the second hideout." Nell said. "What that hot-headed idiot does from that point on is none of our concern as long as he doesn't interfere with the plan."

"That means everything is set." Talon said. "Most likely, the Devil princesses will split their forces and hit both bases to ensure none of us escape. But once they do, they'll find some nasty surprises waiting for them instead."

"Tomorrow will probably be the decisive battle." Nell said. "Once we've dealt with them…we can finally receive our reward from our patrons."

"A special device that blocks the signal given by the Evil Pieces within us and suppresses our Devil aura, huh?" Valdes said. "It almost sounds too good to be true. But if it is…"

"We can finally leave this miserable life of being hunted all the time behind us." Enishi said. "While it sounds suspicious…we have to bet on that possibility."

"It appears…we're being watched…" Arnett said with her gaze fixed on a magic circle on her palm. "One of the Devils' familiars…is observing the cavern's entrance…"

"Alright, everyone, this is the final act." Nell declared. "Get some rest, because we'll be fighting for our lives tomorrow."

Everyone present nodded and retreated to their own corner. As for Nell, she conjured a crystal ball. Projecting the interior of the second hideout, she wasn't surprised to find no trace of Denas there.

"That buffoon…" Nell muttered. "He'd better not do something stupid that screws things up for the rest of us."

The following afternoon…

"That should be everything… Can't believe I found them on sale. Must be my lucky day."

Takeshi said as he checked his list on his cellphone and put the groceries on the handle of his bike, mounting it and driving away. Once again, his parents would be home late, which was why his mother had asked him to do the shopping today and had sent him a list with the necessary items to buy.

"I wonder how everyone's doing…"

Although he was doing his best to keep his focus on the road, Takeshi's thoughts would keep turning to the Occult Research Club's members. Not too long ago, Rias had sent him a text message, informing him that they would begin their assault on the Stray Devils' hideout soon. Her Peerage would hit the cavern hideout, while the Student Council would take care of the warehouse.

Although he had witnessed everyone's strength first-hand and assumed that the Student Council was at about the same level, he couldn't help but worry. All sorts of things could go wrong in a battle after all.

"If only I was stronger…"

Takeshi grimaced. Feeling powerless was a new and terrible feeling for him. To know that there was a battle being fought for the sake of this town and its people while he was unable to do anything about it irritated him.

However, not once did he think of offering his help. He was well aware that he was a liability in his current state. With a basic Sacred Gear and minimal combat experience, he would most likely only end up dragging everyone down. Still, he couldn't suppress the feeling of frustration welling up inside him.

"I wonder if I can ask Senpai and the rest to continue training me after this mess is over." Takeshi said. "They're Devils though, so they might ask for compensation. Maybe if I made this part of my reward…?"

[Heads up, whelp. You've got company.]

Takeshi flinched. Before he had a chance to wonder where that voice came from or whether he was going crazy, he felt a powerful impact all of a sudden that sent him flying. Both he and his bike crashed in a nearby empty parking lot, with Takeshi grunting and tasting blood as he rolled on the ground.

"Urghh… What happened…?"

Takeshi groaned and tried to stand up, only to feel a sharp pain coming from his left side that caused him to cry out. Taking a tentative look, he was disturbed to see that his left arm was bent in an unnatural degree. The repulsive sight and excruciating agony almost made him vomit, but he forced himself not to.

"Hoh, so you weren't instantly killed? You're tougher than I gave you credit for, human brat."

The sound of hooves on the asphalt echoed across the area. Doing his best to ignore the pain, Takeshi focused on his assailant, the Stray Devil Denas.

"You…" Takeshi muttered as he got up in an unsteady manner while cradling his broken arm. "What are you doing here? You and the others…should be getting slaughtered by Gremory-senpai and the others right about now. Don't tell me…"

"That's right." Denas said with a cruel smile. "Those stupid Devils are heading straight into a trap. For all I know, they're already dead. Shows them for looking down on us."

"So then…why are you here?" Takeshi said, doing his best to contain his anxiety and fear. "They were your targets…weren't they? If Senpai and the others are dead…you shouldn't have any business with me."

"That's what the others said too." Denas spat out. "Said there's no reason to go after you once all's said and done since you're not a Devil. But you…you got in the way of my kill, and that is something unforgivable. I won't be able to settle down unless I kill you with my own hands."

Denas unsheathed his broadsword, pointing it at his opponent. Takeshi responded by summoning his Sacred Gear, feeling power flow into his body and the pain being dulled somewhat. While it was more likely than not that he would be killed, he wasn't going to go down without a fight.

"That's a nice look you've got there, brat." Denas smirked. "The look of someone who's resolved for death. Tell you what, if you prostrate yourself, lick my hooves and beg for mercy, I might consider sparing your miserable life."

Takeshi was silent for a few seconds, but then let out a lopsided smile while glaring at Denas and giving him the finger.

"Go to Hell, you piece of garbage."

"You first, brat!"

Brandishing his sword, Denas charged at Takeshi. Putting all the power he could in his legs, Takeshi jumped over his head and landed behind him. However, Denas was faster, kicking him with his rear legs and sending him crashing on the chain link fence. With the impact having knocked the breath out of him, Takeshi was too slow to react to Denas's next move. The Centaur aimed his blade at Takeshi's heart, running him through with it.

"Ah…"

A confused mutter was the only sound Takeshi was able to make before vomiting large amounts of blood from his mouth, his hands cupped around the blade that had pierced his chest. Denas grabbed Takeshi's head and withdrew the blade slowly, with Takeshi letting out a muffled scream. Tossing the bleeding youth on the ground like a ragdoll, Denas grinned as he wiped the blood off his blade.

"Ah, that felt really good. It's a shame though that it ended so quickly. Oh, well. Better make my way back. Maybe a girl or two will still be alive for me to have fun with."

Lying on the ground as the life bled out of him and his vision darkened, Takeshi could only watch as Denas was walking away. He tried to move, to speak, to do anything, but found himself unable to. His body wouldn't respond to his commands and everything seemed to become dimmer by the second. Death was about to claim him and there was nothing he could do about it.

…Not…like this. Takeshi thought. Not…by him… Dying because I was beaten by a small fry… I can't accept that!

[Then it's fortunate for you that I was the first to awaken.]

All of a sudden, Takeshi felt as if his body had caught on fire. His vision cleared and the pain seemed to fade away slowly. Before he realized it, he was back on his feet, the chrome-colored belt on his waist letting out an intense glow. Taking notice of the sudden brightness, Denas turned around, only to be shocked by the sight unfolding before his eyes.

"Impossible…" Denas muttered. "You should be dead! My sword tore right through your heart!"

Takeshi remained silent as the gaping wound on his chest started becoming smaller and smaller, muscles, bones and sinew knitting themselves together at an alarming speed. In a matter of seconds, the wound had vanished. At the same time, the broken bones in Takeshi's left hand snapped back into place, restoring it to perfect condition.

However, the surprises didn't stop there. Once the radiance surrounding his Sacred Gear died down, Denas noticed that its form had been altered. The belt was now colored gold and black, with a large number of arcane symbols engraved on it, an obsidian gem was embedded on its buckle and six smaller gold gems were surrounding it. The middle gem then changed its color into ash gray, releasing an aura wave that travelled down Takeshi's right hand and transformed into an ash grey ornate axe with a black gem embedded on the flat of the blade.

Tightening his grip on his new weapon, Takeshi pointed it as Denas, releasing a surge of killing intent that caused the Centaur to involuntarily take a couple of steps back.

"What's this…?" Denas muttered as he felt sweat forming on his forehead. "I'm…feeling fear? This me? Towards a human brat of all things…? As if! I don't know what trick you've used, but if you won't stay down, I'll keep cutting you until you do!"

Brandishing his blade, Denas let a resounding yell as he charged once again. Takeshi met his charge head-on, their weapons clashing against one another. Much to his astonishment however, Denas found himself unable to push his opponent back. What's more, the axe shattered his blade, opening a deep gash on his shoulder.

"Gah!" Denas yelled as he took several steps back, tossing aside his broken blade. "Damn human! Your Sacred Gear's true power was dormant all this time, huh!? However, don't get too cocky! You're still going down!"

Instead of answering, Takeshi pointed his axe at Denas once again. A wave of ash erupted from it, heading straight for the Centaur. Alarmed by this, Denas dashed all over the parking lot, desperately trying to avoid the ashes. However, they seemed to have a mind of their own, chasing after him.

"Don't underestimate me, maggot!"

Pulling out a second sword, Denas started swinging like a madman, dispersing the ashes. However, they reformed almost instantly and engulfed him, lifting him up. The Centaur screamed as the ashes took the shape of a myriad small blades, cutting and burning his body at the same time.

"Not…yet!"

Putting even more strength in his arms, Denas howled as he repeatedly swung his blade once again, scattering the ashes. Extending his Devil wings, he dove at his foe. Takeshi stood still as the ashes formed a makeshift shield in front of him, blocking Denas's blow. Swinging his axe once again, he forced the Centaur to retreat.

"Damn…it…" Denas heaved, blood flowing from several cuts on his body and prominent burn marks all over his skin. "Damn it! What the Hell is this power!? It wasn't supposed to be like this!"

Paying no heed to Denas's fit, Takeshi lifted his axe and dashed, aiming to split the Centaur in half. A magic circle formed on Denas's left hand, with a crossbow emerging from it. Grabbing it, he shot an arrow that buried itself in Takeshi's stomach. However, Takeshi paid no heed to the wound as he continued charging. Denas was forced to block Takeshi's blow with his second sword, which also shattered.

"Kuh! This brat!"

The Centaur took to the skies once again, releasing a volley of arrows from his crossbow, which reloaded on its own through a magic circle inscribed on it. While most of them missed their mark, one buried itself in Takeshi's left shoulder and another in his right foreleg. Frowning a bit, Takeshi aimed his axe at Denas. A wave of ash in the shape of a thin blade shot out of it like a bullet and shredded Denas's right wing, sending the Centaur crashing down.

Pulling out the arrows from his body, with his wounds closing almost immediately afterwards, Takeshi rushed at the dazed Centaur and swung his axe, severing his left hand. Before Denas had a chance to realize what had happened, Takeshi swung his axe once again, cutting off his forelegs and sending him tumbling to the ground.

Denas screamed in pain as blood flowed from his stumps. Takeshi kicked him in the abdomen, sending him flying backwards and smashing into a nearby garbage bin. Crumbling on the ground, Denas could only watch helplessly as Takeshi was approaching him, a cold expression on his face. Focusing on his belt and axe, which for some reason seemed familiar to him, Denas opened his eyes wide.

"I see… I know…what you are…" Denas chuckled, spitting out blood. "Looks like…I'll be going to Hell first after all… But don't you worry… I'll save you a good spot…for when you join me…"

Denas's laugh was cut short as Takeshi brought down his axe, splitting his head cleanly in the middle. As his lifeless body slid to the ground, Takeshi also fell on his knees, his breath ragged and feeling as if he had just run a cross-country marathon. The haze that seemed to cloud his mind so far also receded, leaving him confused and trembling.

"What…was that…?" Takeshi muttered as he used the axe as support to stand up while gazing at Denas's corpse, his hands shaking and his breath coming out in short gasps. "Did I do that…? I killed him…? It almost felt…like I was in a trance…"

Turning away from the Centaur's lifeless body, which was starting to make him feel queasy due to its mangled state, Takeshi started at the axe he was holding and the changed belt.

"This is my Sacred Gear's true form and power…" Takeshi remarked, and then frowned. "But what was that voice from before…? No, that's not important right now. Gremory-senpai and the others are in danger."

If what Denas had said was true, then he was running out of time. However, Takeshi wasn't certain if rushing to the Occult Research Club's aid was a good idea. Even though his Sacred Gear had apparently unleashed its true power, he still had no idea what its limits were or how he was supposed to control it. More likely than not, he would just become another corpse in the pile.

Furthermore, the Stray Devils seemed interested only in the Devils of Kuoh Academy. Judging from Denas's words, it was possible that, once the deed was done, they would leave this city and cease their killings. Their camaraderie didn't seem that strong, so Takeshi thought the chances of them coming after him for revenge were slim to none. As such, there was no need to throw himself into a battle where the chances of him dying were high. And yet…

"Ah, damn it!" Takeshi cursed, stomping his foot on the ground with a frustrated expression. "You're lucky that me abandoning you would leave a bitter taste in mouth! If we make it out of this, I'm going to ask them to double, no, triple my reward!"

Checking out his bike, Takeshi was pleased to see it was still in working condition despite being dented on several places.

"Come to think, since the belt changed…it might be possible now?"

Takeshi wondered. Striking a pose, he shouted.

"Transform!"

Remaining motionless in his pose for several seconds, Takeshi let out a dispirited sigh after nothing seemed to happen.

"No good, eh? Figures… Wait, this isn't the time to be depressed about this! Everyone is running out of time!"

Mounting his bike, Takeshi started it up and accelerated as much as he could, hoping that he would make it before it was too late.

That concludes Chapter 3. Like I said in the previous chapter, things are starting to pick up a bit here with the Gremory Peerage fighting the Strays, them being led into a trap and Denas targeting Takeshi, which didn't end that well for him. Takeshi's Sacred Gear is finally starting to show its capabilities, though the full details regarding it will be revealed in the next chapter, which will conclude the introduction arc.

Well, that's all for now. As always, please read, review, but most of all, enjoy!

See you all next time!