Chapter 14
Disclaimer: I do not own High school DxD or Fairy Tail they are property of Ichiei Ishibumi and Hiro Masima respectively.
Wendy, Koneko and Saji caught up with Issei before he got too far. When they called out to him he waited for them to catch up to him.
"If you are here to stop me don't. I will help Kiba with this problem" Issei declared.
"We aren't going to stop you Issei, Rias asked us to go with you to ensure you don't do anything reckless without thinking it through" Wendy said.
Hearing that he had Rias' blessings to help Kiba Issei was very happy. He saw Saji standing behind the girls.
"Are you here to help as well?" Issei asked the boy.
"I don't even know what is going on I'm only here because Sona asked me to come here" Saji replied.
Issei gave him a quick rundown of Kiba's past hoping he would be willing to help. Saji was a bit adamant at first but after some persuading from Koneko and Issei he was roped into their plan.
As the group walked around to try and find Kiba or Xenovia and Irina. They reasoned that if they got the two girls help they would have an easier time tracking down Kiba. They soon found Xenovia and Irina standing in front of a diner.
"How could you have forgotten our money?" Xenovia asked in a sad tone.
"I already said I thought you had it" Irina replied.
"Well there goes our lunch" Xenovia sighed.
"How about we treat you to lunch and you listen to what we have to say?" Wendy proposed startling them with her sudden appearance.
"What are you doing here?" Irina asked.
"Better question is that monster around" Xenovia said with fear in her voice while frantically looking around.
"We are here to ask you guys something" Wendy replied to Irina's question.
"If you buy us food I guess we can hear you out" Irina said when she heard her stomach growl.
"I'm not going anywhere near that monster quick Irina let's get out of here" Xenovia said to her friend and started dragging her away.
"Hey they were going to give us food" Irina whined.
"Don't worry Xenovia Natsu isn't here and as long as you don't cause trouble he is a pretty nice guy" Koneko said not wanting them to leave as she also wants to help Kiba.
"If you're lying to me I will… I will… you know what let's just go inside" Xenovia tried to threaten Koneko but the memory of Natsu's malice filled draconic eyes was burned into her mind and she admitted defeat and accepted their proposal.
They ordered food and everyone waited patiently until they finished their meal.
"Thanks for the food" Irina happily thanked them.
"Now we will keep our part of the bargain" Xenovia said not wanting to break their agreement fearing the consequences.
"We want to join forces with you against the Holy Swords" Wendy said.
"And why would you want to do that?" Xenovia asked only curious with no ill intent towards the devils.
"Our friend Kiba has a past with the swords. We will help you retrieve them if you allow him to destroy them" Issei said.
"Well we were going to destroy them anyway so I don't see a problem with it. How about you Xenovia?" Irina said turning to Xenovia.
"Kiba was the one I faced in our battle right?" Xenovia asked.
"Yes" the short reply came from Koneko.
"He really despises the Holy Swords doesn't he? I could see the rage in his eyes during our battle" Xenovia said quietly.
"Ok we will accept your help" Xenovia replied louder.
"Great thank you" Wendy said smiling brightly.
While the group was talking about what they knew of the whereabouts of the swords and strategizing Natsu, who had been listening to their conversation previously, moved to where he smelled Kiba.
"Have you thought about what I said of accepting help?" Natsu asked Kiba as he came up behind him.
"Huh who's there" Kiba shouted drawing a sword and spinning around to face Natsu.
"Should I wear a bell or something?" Natsu commented getting frustrated with everyone always getting surprised when he appears. It was definitely not because he would appear out of nowhere, no sir.
"Sorry Natsu I was lost in thought" Kiba replied with a little bit of guilt in his voice.
"Ah it's fine, now back to my question. Have you thought about what I said of accepting help?" Natsu asked again.
"I don't know I don't think they will offer their help just for my selfish revenge" Kiba answered downtrodden.
"You really don't know what they would do for you do you?" Natsu asked rhetorically.
"What do you mean?" Kiba asked.
"Issei, Wendy and Koneko are currently conversing with those girls from the church so that they can help with finding the swords that was stolen and allowing you to destroy them" Natsu replied.
Kiba was stunned silent. A single tear ran down his cheek.
"Don't you think you might want to go over to them and accept their help?" Natsu asked with a kind smile.
"I don't know what to say but thank you Natsu" Kiba replied with a smile.
"I didn't do anything" Natsu said.
"You made me open my eyes to the support of my friends though" Kiba said.
"They are at the diner down the road" Natsu said pointing towards where the diner was.
"Thank you" Kiba thanked Natsu before heading to the diner.
When Kiba arrived at the diner Issei and the rest just finished talking.
"Hey Kiba where have you been?" Issei yelled out a greeting.
"Hey Issei sorry I was just walking around and thinking" Kiba replied.
"Now I know you don't want our help or anything but we are here to help you…" Issei was cut off by Kiba.
"I heard about what you are doing and I can't thank you enough" Kiba said gratefully.
"Where did you hear what we were planning? Never mind that so you will accept our help?" Issei asked happy he will be able to help his friend.
The three other devils had a pretty good idea where Kiba heard about their plan to help but decided not to say because if Xenovia was made aware that Natsu was nearby she might not want to help anymore.
"Yes Issei I will gladly accept your help" Kiba answered.
The group quickly filled him in on what the plan was they came up with and made arrangements to meet up later that day to set it in motion.
The temporary team started their operation at nightfall. They quickly discovered that someone in possession of a stolen Excalibur was hiding out in an abandoned warehouse. When they arrived at the warehouse the devils realised it was the same warehouse where Issei faced his first stray devil.
Arriving at the large warehouse the group decided to split up to cover more ground faster. Wendy and Saji volunteered to go with Xenovia and Irina while Kiba, Koneko and Issei formed a group. Irina gave Koneko a device saying it is a communicator so that if one group encounters the thief they can signal the other group.
Issei's group soon found the thief. Kiba recognised Freed from his previous fight while Issei recognised him form when he was at Issei's potential client's home.
"You again? Let me fight him one-on-one please I have to teach this guy a lesson" Kiba requested.
"Ok but if something goes wrong we will jump in and there is nothing you can say to stop us from helping you" Issei stated leaving no option for questioning.
"I'll defeat him don't worry and thanks guys" Kiba said before charging at the man.
The clash of a Holy Sword and a demonic sword echoed through the building. Kiba kept his composure and managed to keep Freed on his toes. When the fight drew out for longer that the group was comfortable with Issei and Koneko stepped in to finish of Freed.
Freed was backed into a corner and they thought they had only to be interrupted by an unknown voice from above.
"I see you still have some trouble using Rapidly Freed" the voice said to Freed.
The group turned to the source of the voice. The man was a short, bespectacled elder man with grey hair, a moustache, black eyes a round middle and was wearing a priest outfit.
"This sword must be faulty it doesn't increase any of my power" Freed replied.
"Have you tried pouring some of your magic into the blade?" the man suggested.
Freed stood still for a moment then his eyes snapped open.
"Wow I can feel it now" Freed said with a psychotic grin on his face.
The group saw him standing still when they heard a scream in pain turning around seeing that Freed had slashed Issei's right arm.
"An afterimage?" Koneko said in shock.
"The speed of the user of Rapidly get increased to such a degree that they can create an afterimage" the priest explained with a smug look on his face.
"Valper Galilei I will kill you" Kiba roared in rage before dashing to the priest.
Freed however appeared in front of Kiba knocking him back. With his enhanced speed Freed was able to push the four devils back attacking them from all sides without them being able to keep track of him.
Suddenly Freed was launched into a wall by a powerful gust of wind. Wendy, Saji, Xenovia and Irina showed up with Xenovia having her Holy Sword drawn and Irina now brandishing her own Holy Sword, Excalibur Mimic. Their arrival turned the tables once again on Freed.
We should probably retreat for now Freed" Valper said before turning around and disappearing into the night quickly followed by Freed leaving a flash bomb behind to blind the devils and swordswomen.
Kiba roared in pure rage and rushed out quickly followed by Xenovia and Irina. Before the rest of the group could do anything Rias, Akeno, Sona and Tsubaki arrived at the scene.
"I told you not to let him do anything stupid" Rias yelled out in disappointment.
"You should not act out on your own. You should have contacted us before doing anything" Sona added.
"But we were doing it to help Kiba" Issei plead his case.
"And where is he now?" Rias asked rhetorically before going to her peerage members and insuring they were safe.
"You will have to be punished Saji, one thousand spanking sounds like an appropriate amount" Sona said to Saji making him go pale.
"Have fun with that Saji" Issei teased his rival.
"And who said it would only be him receiving that punishment?" Rias asked Issei causing the colour to drain form his face as well.
One thousand spankings were given to Issei and Saji by their respective masters. Wendy and Koneko did not receive punishment with the reason being that they only came along to keep the boys out of trouble.
The next day Rias, Akeno and Koneko dispatched their familiars to search the city for signs of Kiba, Xenovia and Irina. Throughout this entire ordeal Natsu was nowhere to be seen. They soon come across an injured Irina outside the city's outskirts.
Wendy and Asia healed her to a stable condition before Sona told Tsubaki to take her to the Sitri residence for further treatment.
"They were to powerful please save Xenovia, they went in the direction of the school" a weak Irina requested the devils before being taken away.
The group rushed towards the school grounds. When they arrived they saw Freed once again facing Kiba and Xenovia.
"You can't defeat me. I have fused four Holy Swords including the one form you friend" Freed boasted.
They were prepared to take him on when a young man with black hair, red eyes and pointy ears came up behind Freed.
"This here is my boss Kokabiel" Freed introduced them.
"You are one of the Fallen Angel leaders what are you doing going around stealing Holy Swords?" Rias questioned the Fallen Angel.
Kokabiel revealed his five pairs of wings and started to fly up into the sky.
"Stealing the Holy Swords is not my end game little Gremory. No my end game is a whole lot more fun. When I kill the church's warriors and blame it on you Gremory before killing you myself the Great War between the Three Factions will be reignited. I am disappointed in Michael, he only sent cannon fodder exorcists to stop me. Luck must be on my side tough because it sent me the sisters of one of the Four Satans forcing their hand" Kokabiel said laughing at the end of his speech.
"You are despicable thinking you can just deceive the Three Factions like that. I will not allow you plan to succeed" Rias declared.
"Sona can you set up a barrier around the school please?" Rias asked.
"Sure, come one everyone I will need all your help" Sona said to her peerage before heading out to set up the barrier.
"Kiba, Koneko, Issei and Asia you three deal with Valper and Freed while Wendy, Akeno and myself will keep Kokabiel occupied until we can get some reinforcements" Rias ordered.
Kokabiel then summons several Cerberus hounds, massive three headed dogs encased in fire.
"You can try and stop me only after you played with my pets here" Kokabiel said calmly floating in the air.
Akeno and Rias joined forces to attack one of the hounds taking it out in one shot. Wendy was battling two of the beasts and after she defeated one with a tornado of razor sharp winds she saw Xenovia launching herself to the other dog. Wendy quickly cast an enchantment on Xenovia increasing her speed with which she easily dodged the blows for the hound.
The hounds were quickly disposed of. Rias and Akeno then attempted to take on Kokabiel himself but they were quickly overwhelmed by his massive amount of power forcing them to the ground.
While this was happening Kiba was battling Freed and Valper in a blind rage. Koneko and Asia was providing support. Kiba then heard voice in his mind.
"Calm yourself, take a breath and take back control of your body. You are in control not your rage. Harness the power of your emotions and overcome this obstacle" a familiar voice said to him.
"Thanks Natsu" Kiba said after taking a breath.
Kiba focused all his energy into his hand. A long black and white sword formed in his hand. The spirits of his fallen comrades combined with his demonic power to create this sword, the Sword of betrayer. This sword is a fusion between a Demon Sword and a Holy Sword. This was Kiba's Balance breaker.
Finally letting go of his rage he was able to unlock tis new power. Xenovia came up to him.
"Are you ready to destroy a fusion of Holy Swords?" Xenovia asked.
As if to answer her question Kiba launched himself at Freed. Xenovia followed up behind him. They both combined their next strike and managed to destroy the Fused Excalibur and kill Freed in the one combined strike. Kiba went to strike Valper down only to be beaten by Kokabiel.
"What a disappointment. Now I must deal with you myself" Kokabiel said looking at the dead body of Valper.
"You will be the first to fall Holy Sword wielder" Kokabiel declared throwing a massive and deadly attack at Xenovia.
And that ends Chapter 14. How will Xenovia be able to escape this attack or is this the end for her? See ya next time.
