I do not own Highschool DxD nor do I own Diablo. All rights respectively go to Ichiei Ishibumi, the series' creator, and Blizzard Entertainment, the company who made Diablo.

The afternoon rays shine through Aidan's bedroom. Waking up with groggy eyes, he was lying on his back, waking up in his bedroom of all places as he saw that familiar ceiling. He tries to sit up, only for his head to hurt for some odd reason. Cringing in pain, he sits back down on his back and looks around with his eyes.

Yet his body felt something was off as he looks under his sheets to see what was wrong.

"What…is this?" Aidan asked as he scooted himself to the front of the bed to sit up. He looks down at his arm to see it bandaged, along with his chest and his legs. He also discovers that he was naked once again. A question of how this had happened to him was answered immediately as his mind flashes back to yesterday.

Aidan's eyes widen as the memories start to come back to him. He remembered battling both Raynare and the new Fallen Angel named Mittelt. He also remembered Asia being taken away by the latter. He also remembers that poisonous kiss Raynare gave him after he was stabbed and left for dead.

Asia's smiling image shined bright in Aidan's mind, a calm yellow light shining behind her before it dissipated. Aidan leans forward as a tear forms in his right eye.

"Asia…" He whispered to himself, remembering how he failed to protect her. He looks at his right hand and tightens it into a fist, cursing at his powerlessness to save her, and his hand filled with revenge.

"Mmm?" A sudden voice grabbed Aidan's attention as he looks to his left, a voice he knew all too well. Once again, Rias slept with him naked and she was beginning to wake up. Sitting up while rubbing her eyes, the redhead gets a clear view of Aidan.

"A-Aidan?" She asked in a trembling voice.

"Rias…?"

The two sit there with their lower halves under the cover, staring at one another like time had stopped. Neither of them spoke another word. Then Rias lowers her head in shame, hiding her eyes behind her frontal bangs. Aidan was confused at the remark, wondering what was wrong.

*SLAP*

Aidan suddenly feels a sting on his right cheek as his head turns to the left. A stunned and shocked Aidan felt a pink red mark on his left cheek. He brings his right hand up slowly to feel the sting of the impact. Slowly, he turns frontwards to see a shaky Rias, with her left hand still in the air that slapped Aidan and shaking.

"YOU IDIOT! What the hell were you thinking?!" Rias screamed angrily at Aidan, shocked even further.

Aidan was speechless, left without any words to say. Even if he did try to speak, only stuttering was present.

"I told you not to fight them on your own!" Rias continued to vent her anger as she hits Raiden with her fists despite not being that hard on impact. "I warned you about keeping that girl with us. Now look at what happened to you! You were bleeding all over and you were poisoned by the Fallen Angel. And you were comatose for a full day! You… you… you…"

As her anger vents away, so too does her body tremble and her tears begin to fall. Her fists give way to her normal hands and Aidan looks to see her devastating face. He could not help but a gasp a little at the sight, seeing at how sorrowful and heartbreaking it was.

And it was something he did not want to see again.

Rias suddenly throws her whole body onto Aidan and begins to cry loudly, her sniffling heard and her tears falling onto Aidan's lap as he gently grabs hold of her shoulders.

"Rias, what are you-"

"It's all my fault!" Rias exclaimed, her voice muffled as Aidan was left visually more stunned. "I am so sorry for leaving you alone all the time! You keep getting hurt because I keep leaving you alone. First was when Dohanseek attacked you, then Kalwarner, then that Hellion, then the Stray Exorcist. And now…"

Rias then placed a hand on Aidan's bandaged chest, feeling the fresh wound. It had taken a lot of her own demonic power just to heal Aidan and remove the poison. But the latter was the most difficult part considering the poison was of an unknown substance. One thing was clear though; the poison was not of Fallen Angel magic or of any light-based weaponry.

As Rias continues to sob into Aidan's chest, he gently hugs her trembling form out of instinct and care until he too begins to shake a bit. Rias notices his trembling arms and looks up.

"Aidan?" Rias asked, only to see the face of guilt on him, his eyes closed and his head downward.

"No, Rias," Aidan spoke up, surprising Rias. "The fault is mine. All I wanted to do was to protect the people close to me. And yet, I once again failed to contact you for help and fought alone. Only this time, I lost, and Asia was taken from me. I have failed both as your pawn and as your most favored servant."

"Aidan…" Rias was stunned and saddened by his words. She could not begin to know how he had felt yet Aidan could not feel how she felt either. To lose a life that was taken from him and he ended up nearly dying. All she could do was hold him in her arms and hold him tightly.

After a few minutes, the sobbing stops, at least for Aidan. Soon his face of guilt turns into one of vengeance.

"But no more," Aidan said as Rias looks up at him, fear slowly taking hold of her as she saw his face.

"Aidan?" asked Rias.

"No more running. No more hiding," Aidan said as he lets go of Rias and hangs his feet off the side of the bed. "Now is not the time to mourn."

Aidan soon gets up and slips into his underwear and pants. But as he does so, Rias realized what he was planning.

She gets up from bed and halts Aidan's hand as he was about to get his shirt. A look of anger appeared on her face despite her head down. And her grip on Aidan was surprisingly tight.

Aidan knew what Rias was stopping her, or at least attempting to.

"Let…go," Aidan said.

"I will not," Rias replied. "Do you even understand what you are about to do?"

"I do," Aidan said immediately. "And you must not stop me."

"Have you lost your mind, Aidan?" Rias suddenly retorted indigently, standing up in front of him. "You barely survived the last time you fought them. You had to recover for a full 24 hours by my magic alone. What makes you think you can beat them now?"

"I don't," Aidan replied calmly, surprising Rias. "At least not in the state that I am in now. Which is why I am planning it."

"You cannot be this reckless, can you? Going alone is suicide. Like it or not Aidan, you are a Devil of the Gremory peerage and I will not allow you to act on your own!"

Aidan then asked one question, looking at Rias directly in the eye. "Do you fear my death, Rias?"

That made her stopped in her tracks. "I-…yes. Of course I do! I almost lost you a fourth time. And now I may lose you again for the fifth and I cannot bear that anymore."

"Rias…" Aidan said. "During the fight, one of the Fallen Angels, Raynare, said something about my Sacred Gear. She said it was ancient, from a time when there was only good and evil in the universe. If what I have thought is true, then that means that whatever she is planning will mean a disaster and could severely impact not just your territory, but also extend to that of the Devils as a whole."

"That doesn't mean you have to go after them!" Rias said, keeping true to her intention. "As your master, I am ordering you to stay away from the Fallen Angels. It's too dangerous!"

"All the more reason why I must go," Aidan said. "If I just stay behind and do nothing and let the guilt of my failure take me completely, how can I atone for a life lost?"

"Stay with me!" Rias cried. Aidan turned his attention to her to see new tears forming in her eyes as she squeezes his hand. "Please… stay with me. I don't want to let go of you. I cannot relax without you by my side. Nor can I sleep without you with me. Let this be an atonement of your mistake. So please…"

Aidan looked into her eyes and saw the pleading that it held. She didn't want to let him go. She didn't want to lose him again. She could not bear the thought of her losing him again time after time. It was a feeling she never wanted to experience ever again.

And Aidan knew that she was right. So, he had no other choice but to give in.

"…Alright. You win," Aidan said dejectedly. His heart had hurt so much just by giving in to Rias' demands. And yet, going now will only break her heart even further. Aidan had already made the cracks and he certainly did not want to make the final one that shatters it to pieces.

Silence was all that followed as Aidan returns to bed with Rias. He lies on his back as Rias cuddles with him on his left side, her head on his chest and his arm trapped in her hug.

"…I'm so sorry," Rias broke the silence. "For slapping you like that."

Aidan did not know what to say, other than feel Rias tremble a bit as she tightens herself around Aidan's body. A part of her was still blaming herself for Aidan for leaving him alone. Hence why her increased tightness, at least to Aidan, was because she didn't want to let him go again.

To comfort her at least, Aidan brings his arm around Rias and brings her close to him to the point their heads are near one another's face. She snuggled into his neck, feeling his warmth and strong muscles of comfort, with sleep overtaking her eyes as the night falls.

But as Aidan sleeps with Rias at his side, he once again cannot help but feel troubled. Even though he could feel the warmth of a beautiful vixen girl next to him, his body, mind, and heart still felt cold.

THE NEXT DAY, AT THE ORC CLUBROOM…

The next day, Rias announced everyone to gather around the evening dusk to discuss the most recent events. With Asia kidnapped by the Fallen Angels and having nearly killed one of her own servants, the Gremory heiress was getting serious. Aidan however was not present at the appropriate time so Rias dispatched Kiba to go pick him up, wherever in the school he was.

But that was a while ago and they were both late.

"He's ten minutes late," Akeno said, looking at the clock. "What could be taking him so long?"

"I don't know," Rias said as she sat at her desk, her expression serious to her peerage. Akeno was by her side on her left while Koneko sat on the sofa eating her sweets. Kiba was missing but was sent by Rias earlier to go pickup Aidan.

"You seem concerned, Rias," Akeno noted, looking at her best friend and addressing her informally. Rias maintains her composure and reflects last night's argument with Aidan.

"How could I not, Akeno? Aidan's mind is now bent on revenge against the Fallen Angels for not only kidnapping Asia, but also of humiliating and defeating him," She said. "It took a lot of my powers just to heal him and a lot of convincing to halt his suicide mission."

"And now Aidan is looking for a way to strike back in any way possible," Akeno said. "You think it is his Sacred Gear driving him?"

"Possibly. Sacred Gears are driven by desire. And it also determines the power for it as well. Aidan has a strong will to not give up, but I fear because of his Sacred Gear's nature and supposed name, it's not only gaining power, but also influencing him."

"He may think he feels ashamed for the rank he has, given of how overpowered he was against them," Koneko mentioned.

"Which is why, once Aidan gets here, I must tell him about one special ability of his rank of Pawn: the Promotion."

The Promotion was an ability that pawns in any peerage can use to promote themselves to any rank asides King. If Aidan promoted to Knight, he could have speed. For a Rook, it would be strength. And for Queen, it would be power.

Unfortunately, since Aidan is still a fresh member given that it has not been long since he was in the peerage, it will be impossible to promote to Queen. But he could still be promoted to a Knight or a Rook; it only depends on what the power in his heart says, for it will then change his ability.

"Right now though, the situation we are in is serious. Even though the Fallen Angels in possession of Asia, that is not my only concern.'

"What do you mean?" asked Akeno.

"Aidan told me that the Fallen Angels know something about his Sacred Gear, saying that it is as ancient when good and evil were the only things in the universe. I don't know what he means exactly, but I have a hunch."

"Devil mythology?" asked Akeno as Koneko moves onto her brownies.

"Yes," Rias said as she pulls out another book she borrowed from Sona a few days ago. This book was called The Eternal Conflict. When Rias opens the book, a page shows of a battle between beings of light and forces of darkness. They battled on some barren wasteland yet behind them in the background at the top lied a red crystal that, according to the book, was what the war was centered on.

"According to this book, the only two forces in the universe in the beginning were the High Heavens, which represent the light and composed of the angels, and the Burning Hells, representing the darkness and made up of demons. They fought over an object called the Worldstone, which can be used to create worlds in their image and likeness."

"Is it trying to represent the Great War in a more fairy tale-like fashion?" asked Akeno.

"That's what I thought at first," Rias said. "But after that encounter with that Hellion creature, it had me thinking so much about Aidan. Of why he was so interested in our mythology. Perhaps he knows something we do not know and that he is hiding it for some ulterior purpose."

"You don't think he trusts us, Buchou?" Koneko asked as she ate her cookie.

"I don't think this is a matter of trust, Koneko dear," Rias said. "But he knows of something we clearly do not know. We've picked up only breadcrumbs yet have still not gotten closer to the source of it all. And all we have to go on based on our findings is our mythology. The more I think about it though, the more I start to understand, if not believe, in him and what he believes."

"It sounds like you are starting to believe the stories, Rias," Sona suddenly appeared from the door, alongside Tsubaki.

Rias chuckled. "Maybe a little, Sona. What brings you here?"

"About Professor Kain," Sona said. "When you told me during school that he wielded magic, I did some research on finding any humans gifted with such magic powers. And surprisingly, in the modern world, there are."

"What did you find?" asked Rias. Sona then brought an atlas map that showcased all of Asia.

"There is a hidden island within the Yellow Sea of China that is a nation of its own, home to many magic-users sent to become Wizards." Sona points to a red circle where the supposed island is located. "The island is called Xiansai and has been around since the days of the Great War. And as far as I know, they are the only group of humans who can wield magic."

"What can you describe of these Wizards?" asked Rias.

"Their bodies are used as vessels for high-level magic called arcane energy, forsaking the more careful path of merely harnessing power. Because of this use, wizards rarely find themselves without the power of magic. They can nearly always afford to cast their weaker spells thanks to their swiftly-regenerating arcane power, and they invoke certain powers more easily as their experience grows. They are only in danger of depleting their stores of energy when attempting a number of invocations at once. However, Arcane Power can ravage wizards' bodies if its use is not carefully paced."

"You think the professor studied magic there?" Akeno asked. "Found a way to wield magic?"

"That's what I think," Sona said. "I never asked him personally, hence why I was hoping to ask your pawn but it seems he is not here."

Suddenly, the doors to the clubroom opened up violently and came Kiba, who seemed like he ran a marathon as he was panting and getting his bearings.

"Kiba?" asked a worried Rias.

"Buchou!" Kiba came in, but his face was disturbed. "Aidan is gone."

"What!?" Everyone in the room shouted. Rias stood up from her seat in panic, thinking her most favored servant had now gone astray.

She knew then that he was headed straight for the Fallen Angels.

JOHANNUS CRUSADE SWORD COMPANY…

Aidan was speed walking towards the Johannus Crusade Sword Company. He had received a call from Johanna that his sword that he made with her some time ago was now ready. He had to get there fast, for if he was going to save Asia, he will need more power and better weapons than what his Sacred Gear could provide.

Now one may ask why Aidan never came to Rias about all of this. But to Aidan, he could not bare getting into another argument with Rias. He could not accept that she cannot do anything despite the circumstances. But to Aidan, he knew time was running out and if Rias could not do anything, then he will do so himself. He may end up as a Stray, but fate be damned to him.

This was about Asia, and she needed to be rescued before the Fallen Angels have a chance to do whatever it is they are doing. Aidan could not protect her from before; he will not make that same mistake again. It was time for him to ignore the rules of the peerage and go on his own. One may call it foolish and suicidal, but Aidan did not care as he turned his thoughts towards vengeance.

The Fallen Angels, especially Raynare, will pay in their own blood.

As Aidan arrives at the blacksmith, he notices smoke coming off of the lonely store. As he gets closer, he sees that the door has been busted open and was destroyed. The inside of the shop was in tatters, like a battle had been fought. Scratch marks decorated the walls, windows shattered, blacksmith tools and weapons scattered all over the place.

And off to Aidan's right was Johanna, hunched as she was on the floor and right next to a wall. She was still wearing her blacksmith outfit, but something still seemed wrong.

Aidan comes over to check up on her.

"What happened?" asked Aidan to Johanna. The female blacksmith sits up to show a burning scar on her right cheek.

"Stray Exorcist," Johanna said. "He got away before I could skewer him."

Aidan figured out that Freed Selzan had attacked Johanna. For what purpose or reason, he was not certain but given of his insane mind, it was most likely because he figured out Johanna made a contract with Aidan earlier.

"Was he an insane one?" asked Aidan in confirmation.

"Yeah," Johanna confirmed. "And he isn't working alone. He has two Fallen Angel compatriots with him. And they've taken the young nun to a church on the far outskirts of town."

"Then I need the—" Aidan stops himself before he looks at Johanna. "Wait… how do you know of the Fallen Angels' existence?"

"Son, I have been aware of them ever since they came into being in the first place," Johanna said.

This made Aidan silent as he peers into Johanna, looking straight at her.

"Who are you, Johanna?" asked Aidan. "Who are you really?"

Johanna answered as she reflects on her memories, "I am someone from a world that has long past. I've lived from a time when my religion was tainted and have carried on an eternal battle to purge the corruption. For my efforts, I was blessed with immortality, along with some other friends of mine, to safeguard and watch over the world, purging whatever threats would come to endanger humanity. I have seen the world drown in fire and be remade by God himself. I have also seen the rise and fall of man from beginning to end. I have also witnessed and participated in the Great War between all Three Factions, whether I was helping them or fighting against them."

"You fought in the Great War?" asked Aidan.

"I did," Johanna said. "I was there when it began and when it ended. I have fought against Angels, Devils, and Fallen Angels and I know how their magic and tactics work. I was even aware of the Fallen Angels that came here at Kuoh and of their most recent activities."

"You didn't take action?"

"I had hoped that the Gremory heiress' peerage would be able to deal with them but considering how she cannot move without jeopardizing the stability of the Underworld, it looks like I have to clean up the mess. Plus they are holding a young and innocent nun maiden due to her Sacred Gear. And retribution must be called for it." Johanna then chuckles afterwards, to Aidan's confusion. "It's funny though. It reminds me of something that happened to me when I was very young."

Johanna soon gets flashbacks of her younger self with six other people battling what appeared to be demons. It flashes back even further to when she was just a small girl.

"At twelve, I swore the oath, leaving home and family. At sixteen, I saw my master die. I took up her shield and her name, and on that day, I became a crusader; armored by faith, driven by duty, bound to kill the enemies of Zakarum. Sworn to live as a crusader, and to die as one. Now, corruption returns to the hearts of men. I see it in the eyes of the mad, hear it in the howling of the damned. The crusade calls me, so I go."

As her flashbacks end, Johanna then looks at Aidan, "But you didn't come all this way to listen to a tale of some old blacksmith. If you need help, then I am more than willing to offer you my life and be your shield in this endeavor."

"You mean…" asked Aidan before he was interrupted.

"You came here for something did you not?" asked Johanna with a small smile. "If you are going to go after the Fallen Angels, then you are going to need all the help you can get."

Aidan snaps out of his stupor, remembering why he came.

"Where's the sword?" asked Aidan. "I cannot end this without it."

Johanna stands up and opens up a locked chest with a key. Once she does she pulls out the completed sword, the same one Aidan made with her, that was sheathed away in its scabbard.

Johanna turns towards Aidan with the sword in her right hand.

"Its name is Dawnbreaker," Johanna said. Aidan attempts to grab it but Johanna keeps it away for a moment to finish her sentence. "For every living being you cut, a new beginning rises from the east."

Both Aidan and Johanna look at each other eye to eye. Both the Devil and the blacksmith, but it is clear to both of them who is the strongest. If Johanna knows about the Three Factions more so than Aidan and held her own off against Freed, then she is clearly more powerful than one may think.

"You're going to have to trust me on this," Aidan said. But Johanna needed more convincing.

"And why is that?" The blacksmith asked.

Aidan did not take long to have his answer. "Raynare may have humiliated me… but she has not taken away my humanity yet."

Johanna could see the look of fierce determination in Aidan's eyes. He may have been wounded, bleeding, and poisoned from before but that did not mean he was dead yet. Johanna could see her younger self in Aidan. Man would he make a fine apprentice to her if he was not a Devil of Rias Gremory's peerage.

Johanna, in a rare amusement, chuckled.

"Any man who has the courage to sell his soul for love has the power to change the world."

Johanna soon hands Dawnbreaker over to Aidan. He takes the handle, only for the sword to be held back by the blacksmith as she had more to say.

"You don't do this for greed," She said. "You are doing this for the right reason despite the consequences. Perhaps that puts God on your side for all I know. To Him and all other beings, that alone makes you dangerous. Makes you unpredictable. But that's the best damn thing you can be right now."

With that said, Johanna lets go of Dawnbreaker as Aidan takes it. Taking out the sword from its scabbard, Aidan brings the sword pointing upwards to get a good look at it and tightens his right grip on it. The moment he did, he felt an instant connection, like the sword was a part of him now. And he felt something within it; an echo of power filling him up.

Aidan could only wonder what that power was but not was not the time. He had to get to Asia fast before Hell breaks loose.

Once Aidan puts the sword back into its scabbard and straps it on his back, strapped in its sheath and all, Johanna comes out with a set of armor, both leather and light steel armor, along with some chainmail.

"You will need this," Johanna said. "Let's fit you right into it."

Aidan nods his head in agreement. If he was going to fight the Fallen Angels again, and possibly some demons, then he will need all the protection he can get.

Once Aidan puts on the armor, except for the helmet, it showcased him with black leather and silver steel greaves, chest armor, pauldrons, and vambraces. The pauldrons were painted black and between the vambraces, chest, and shoulder armor was the chainmail. Hanging off of Aidan's waist were four blue cloths. On Aidan's stomach and thighs was the leather armor.

Aidan takes a moment to check out his new armor set.

"Not bad," Aidan said before he saw Johanna with her black plate mail armor on, the same one hanging off of the wall. Her shield and flail were hanging off of her back like Aidan's sword was. She held her helmet with her left hand as she looks at Aidan.

"The church the Fallen Angels are at is 500 miles from here," Johanna revealed. "And we won't make it on foot. So, I have an alternative."

"We?" asked Aidan in confusion. But Johanna ignored it and said,

"Go around the back. I will be right out."

As Aidan walks around the back and waits outside, he looks over the horizon and wonders how long Asia will last before the Fallen Angels kill her. He had to think of what Raynare had told him regarding his Sacred Gear. But if what Johanna had told him was true, then Raynare and her Fallen Angel cadre could have switched sides from the Grigori and served a much higher power.

And if it was whom Aidan thinks it was, then bringing the rest of the peerage would not be a good idea. They would not be ready for the horrors Aidan will soon encounter. He hates having to fight alone but what choice does he have in order to keep Rias and the others in the dark about the truth.

It was the only way, much to his bitterness.

Just then, Aidan hears a noise, like that of a horse, as he turns to see Johanna bring out a black horse that was pulled by the reins gently. It was adorned in blue and grey armor from head to toe, like it was a horse from the Crusades.

"Her name is Luna," Johanna revealed. "She's an Arabian horse that excels endurance and long distances." Luna gets a good sniff at Aidan before it nuzzles him. Aidan was admittedly a bit intimidated by the horse until he figures out that she was just checking him out.

Johanna chuckles a bit. "Hoho. I think she likes you instantly."

"If you say so," Aidan said. "But this is just one horse."

Johanna only smirked though as she looks out to the distance of the forest.

Bringing her two fingers on her right hand into her mouth, she gives a loud whistle. And from the smoke, a figure approaches before it gives a neighing sound. Aidan sees it as another brown horse with just an ordinary saddle and reins on it.

The horse soon stops by Johanna as she pets its head.

"His name is Courageous. He's been my ride for a long time. And he's got one last ride left in him for me," Johanna said as she straddles onto her horse. As she puts her plate helm on, a light shines forth from her crest, showcasing the Zakarum symbol.

Aidan knew that symbol, along with who Johanna really was.

"Johanna, the last Zakarum Crusader," Aidan said as Johanna nods in confirmation.

The Crusaders of the Zakarum faith were an order of religious warriors who, as their name suggests, went on a Crusade to the West to purify their faith that was corrupted eons ago by Mephisto, Lord of Hatred. Though the demon lord was slain before, its effects on the religion were still fresh. These warriors burned with pure light and zealotry, their mission clear before them and never falling to the temptations of corruption. They swore their lives that the Crusade will not end so long as corruption remains.

Their most prominent role was the Crusades of the 9thth to the 13th century. While history states of it to be a series of religious wars meant to purge heresy and corruption and regain the Holy Land from the Muslims, the Crusaders' true mission was to actually fight against the demonic corruption that plagued the European lands. They kept their true mission hidden and slaughtered those affiliated with the Burning Hells. Though a lot of Crusaders died in the conflict, each and every one of them had an apprentice to carry on their mantle and name.

Many of the Crusaders over the eons disappeared one by one once the Crusades ended, either killed in battle or simply vanishing into the unknown.

And now there was only one left, at least according to history.

Aidan then had one question to ask. "Think you can keep up?"

To prove her point, her horse Courageous shines a bit bright as the light consumes it. And before one could know it, it was dressed and adorned for war, covered in black armor from head to toe with the Zakarum symbol on its chest. Its eye sockets on the helmet glowed yellow like the color of the sun. Courageous neighs as it readies itself for the five-hundred-mile journey.

Aidan, now ready for perhaps the biggest battle in his life, brings himself onto Luna, adjusting himself to the saddle. The young mare gets comfortable with Aidan riding onto her and begins to emit a glowing light. Like Courageous, Luna was adorned in magic that made her much stronger and durable than the average horse. And thankfully for Aidan, he knew how to ride a horse.

Smirking, Aidan proclaimed, "Let's ride!"

He puts his helmet on and both the Crusader and the Pawn take off into the night, with the very last of sun rays just barely shining over the horizon. Courageous' hooves leave a golden horseshoe footprint every time it galloped that would soon dissipate. Luna had the same but hers left a silver glittering shine that also dissipated into thin air.

And the two rode into the night. With the other church five hundred miles away, it was going to take a while to get there. Luckily for them, they had all night to reach it. And their horses galloped faster than any other horse in the world, leaving a glittering light that would only disappear.

As they ride to the church beyond the borders of Kuoh, Johanna briefly looks at Aidan, a bit surprised that he is keeping up with her on Luna. Smiling underneath her helmet, she increases her speed, hoping Aidan can catch up.

What would have taken them days will only be hours for them since their horses were blessed with magic.

After a few hours of nonstop horseback riding all the way to the church beyond Kuoh Town's borders, Johanna and Aidan ease off their horses as they stop to see the church right in front of them. It was still about half a mile away, but they were far enough to not be detected by the remaining two Fallen Angels inside.

"There it is," Johanna said. "Once it was used as a cloister for the nuns, but after they moved it fell into decay and ruin. What better place for Fallen Angels to lurk than here?"

"What do they even plan to do to Asia?" asked Aidan.

"They hope to extract her Sacred Gear and use it for their own nefarious purposes," Johanna speculates. "Since her Twilight Healing is useful to heal any injury, they would want that power for themselves."

"So what's your plan?" asked Aidan.

"Go around the back and look for the nun. Raynare will most likely be there. I'll take the front, see if I can draw the other Fallen Angel and her Stray Exorcist pet away so you could sneak in."

"And our horses?" asked Aidan.

"Luna can be summoned at your side at a moment's notice. You just need to wish for her to be gone for a moment before you can summon her back. Same thing with Courageous."

Aidan nods as he ushers Luna over to the left and begins to gallop his way quietly around the back of the church. But before he could go, Johanna stopped him.

"And one other thing…" Johanna calls out to Aidan. "Vengeance is indeed a noble goal, but do not mix it in with hatred, lest it consume your soul."

With that said, Aidan takes off and heads around while Johanna meanwhile makes down for the front entrance, riding Courageous all the way down.

Once Johanna reaches to the front entrance of the church, she steps off of Courageous as her horse disappears in golden light pixels, waiting to be summoned by her master once more. Johanna then takes out her flail and her shield, ready to tackle whatever danger lurks inside the church. It has been a long time since the Zakarum Crusader had to fight with someone or something before but as always, a crusade must march on and continue. And Johanna must continue it, no matter the cost.

Checking her materials before disembarking, Johanna makes her way to the front door of the church.

"Akarat give me strength…" Johanna whispers to herself before, with her flail, she destroys the front door, taking it off its hinges.

As Johanna enters through, she found that there was no one inside. There was only an altar and long chairs, like any ordinary church. Candles and interior lights lit up the room, giving Johanna a clear view.

Up front at the altar was a crucifix cross with the image of Christ on it, only His head was missing from it.

Johanna then heard some slow clapping echoes as an all too familiar deranged priest walks out from behind a pillar.

"The deranged priest," Johanna said. "I am not surprised to see you run back here."

"Wonderful. Wonderful, Wonderful!" Freed Selzan exclaimed, giving off that insane smile as always. "To think you came here just to die. And what is with that ridiculous armor of yours? You think that can help you against me? HAHAHAHA! Don't make me laugh!" Freed swings his arms as if he was dancing while Johanna remained undeterred. "It's funny, once I see Devils, I cut them up on the spot! I then kiss their corpse and say goodbye! That's how I live!"

"I sometimes wonder if the Church must be in a sorry state for bringing in an idiot like you," Johanna complimented, but Freed did not like that insult.

"Watch your tongue, human! You had interfered with my work one too many times. That's why~! That's why you piss me off so much that I am gonna gut you and hang your organs all over this church!"

Freed, with a new silver hand after it was chopped off by Aidan, takes out his light saber-like sword and a new gun.

"If you are here to rescue Asia, hahaha! You are too late! Devils are big hearted coming to rescue a bitch like that who would heal even Devils! You will never—"

Johanna had enough blabbering and charges in with her shield at a speed Freed did not see coming. She bashes her shield against the mad priest, sending him to a wall dazed. Johanna then approaches him and grabs him by the neck before slamming him to the wall and choking him.

"Where is Asia?" asked Johanna vehemently.

Freed only snickers though. "Well, there is a hidden stairs underneath that altar," Freed points out to the altar at the front. "From there you can go to the place where they are doing the ritual."

Johanna can sense Aidan outside the church in the back, hoping he had heard what the madman had said. The fact that Freed spilled the beans on the location of his allies while grinning made it clear that Freed served no one but himself, not even the Fallen Angels.

But while she was distracted by her own thoughts, she heard a click from Freed and saw his gun pointing at her. Instinctively, Johanna backs off and raises her shield, blocking bullets as Freed fires.

Freed stops firing to charge in with his beam sword, but Johanna blocks it easily with her shield. Johanna shrugs off the weak blow and goes in with her flail, making Freed fearfully dodge from the spiky ball. He raises his own sword to block a swing to his left but was consequently throws to the side from the sheer force of the impact.

"GWAAAH~!" Freed cries as he crashes into the wooden seats of the church. Freed attempts to fire at Johanna after getting up but Johanna charges in with her shield to block the incoming shots that did not even dent her shield. She comes downward with her flail, making Freed move to his right as the ball slams to the ground.

"What—What in the fucking hell are you!?" Freed asks as he continues firing.

"I am Crusader Johanna of the Zakarum. And you will feel the fury of Akarat!" Johanna said as her armor shines like iron, giving her a tough build. The bullets promptly bounce off of her. "Time to get serious now."

Johanna soon disappears in a flash of yellow light. Freed was confused for a second but it was not long afterwards that Johanna appeared again from above and slammed at Freed's position.

The ground explodes as Johanna lands, knocking Freed backwards and hitting a wall.

"BLEEGGHH!" Blood sprouts from his mouth from the impact to the wall. Freed had lost his gun and only had his sword left. He tries to get up and attack Johanna, but the Crusader disarms him easily with her flail before shield bashing him and swinging her flail from below at the deranged priest, sending him flying upwards.

Freed is sent up into the air before Johanna grabs his foot and throws him to the other side of the church, making him hit another wall and collapse to the floor.

As Johanna approaches him, Freed, seeing his gun and scared shitless for his life, grabs it and fires at Johanna. He was bleeding from top to bottom due to that flail, and he absolutely hated this Crusader. His face was disfigured from that shield that kept bashing him, his ribs were cracked, his frontal body was mortally wounded.

Pure madness took a hold of the priest's mind, deranged that a so-called Crusader like Johanna managed to beat him easily.

"Don't fuck with me!" The mad priest exclaimed as he fired at Johanna who effortlessly keeps walking with that iron skin of hers. "Don't fuck with me! Don't fuck with me! Don't fuck with me! Don't fuck with me! WHY WON'T YOU DIE!? I'll kill you. I'll kill you! I'll cut you up into pieces!"

When Johanna approaches Freed, she kicks his gun away, disarming him before implanting her foot into his chest. Fear takes hold of Freed, now powerless as this Crusader raised up her flail.

"Make your peace quickly."

But as Johanna swings her flail down, her instincts told her to stop as she was suddenly hit from the side. Raising her shield to her left just in time to block it, she was pushed back from the unknown force as she struggles to gain her footing.

Looking up from her position while kneeling was the next mistake as Johanna caught sight of a light spear aiming for her head. She attempts to dodge but the light spear made contact with her helmet and took it clean off of her head, skewering it to the wall.

Johanna's vision was blurred when her head was turned sideways but after a bit of a shake, she looks in front of her to see that it was Mittelt, with another light spear at the ready.

"I'll assume this Crusader I have heard so much about is you?" asked Mittelt.

Johanna smirks as she stands up. "Yes, me. You know will judge you if you can't keep up, Fallen Angel. You're simply outclassed."

"We will see about that, human!" Mittelt cried as she charges in with her light spear and clashes with Johanna's flail and shield. Their clash was so violent that it took them outside the church to battle.

Freed takes this chance to escape.

"Well, this is a bit of a pickle," Freed said to himself. "To think it ended like this… GRRAAAGGHHH!" Freed scratches his head with maddening and frustrating eyes. "They will pay for this. They will all pay!"

Taking something out of his bloody pocket, Freed smashes it to the floor and the flash of light makes him disappear. He was gone for now but he will be back for revenge.

Having heard Freed say about hidden stairs underneath the altar, Aidan sneaks inside the church from the back and heads directly to the altar. Removing the large marble altar, Aidan finds out that Freed was right: there was a hidden staircase leading below the church. With a torch in his hand, Aidan moves carefully yet quickly down the staircase before reaching a single passage.

Behind that door was Raynare…and Asia.

But as Aidan moves closer, he hears other voices, like a group of people who were chanting. As Aidan opens the door slightly, he could see who it was.

'More Fallen Angels and Stray Exorcists? Seems like Raynare had more allies than I thought.'

With no time to waste, Aidan kicks down the door, breaking it as it flies off and enters through, drawing the eyes and attention of everyone in the room. He was met with a sight of a large underground chamber, filled with priests in black robes with their hoods up, as they chanted to a high stone platform at the end of the room. Looking up at the platform, he saw Raynare with her back towards them, facing a large green cross on top of the platform.

And on that cross was Asia, chained to it.

"Welcome, Aidan," Raynare said as she turned her head and smirked at him. "We are so fortunate to have you here. Kill him!"

All the priests take out their own daggers, ready to cut down this lone would-be hero with arrogant smiles on their faces. But Aidan would not be fooled, deterred, nor stopped by their sheer numbers as his quiet mind is filled with vengeance.

Taking out his sword Dawnbreaker and deploying his Al'Diabolos Terror Claw only on his left arm, Aidan moves in swiftly and cuts down all the robed men in the room. Screams of terror were heard as all the men were cut down, some of their heads were decapitated and blood spilled forth. These men, despite their worship and chanting, were slow and hardly knew how to even swing a knife.

It was almost too easy to kill them all.

Aidan cut through them one by one with both his sword and claws just to reach Asia. Blood spilled all over the chamber, decorating the floor and the walls. The hooded men were filled with fear and a few tried to escape, only to be skewered alive by Aidan. As Aidan keeps cutting, his Sacred Gear and his sword glow red with a fiery demonic aura, as if they were feeding on the slaughter itself, empowering Aidan. For every foe, Aidan slew, his power in his weaponry only grew.

Once the slaughter was finished, Aidan looked to see all the corpses surrounding him before he turns his attention upwards.

"Asia!" cried Aidan.

The weakened blonde hears his voice and lifts her head slightly. "…Aidan? You really came?"

"As soon as I was able," Aidan said.

"And yet once again, you are too late," Raynare said above Aidan. "The ritual is nearly complete. I will have my pets keep you company."

Aidan hears familiar growls as he looks to see Hellion emerge from the shadows. But they were not alone.

Along with them were human cultists adorned in what appears to be demonic clothing. Their skins were pale, and they kept their faces hidden behind veils. Each and every member had a dagger on hand, as well as a demonic right arm from which to summon spells. These Dark Cultists were meant for open thing only: to worship demons and kill all who disobey such worship.

Behind them were large brutes whose size was like that of a bodybuilder. Like the cultists, their skin was pale, and they wore armor only on their head, waist, and left arm. They carried with them a large maul that they can swing effortlessly with one hand. These were the Dark Berserkers: considered weak by the standards of demons but their strength is greater than that of an average human.

Aidan was soon surrounded by all manner of creatures. And he knew that all three groups were minions of the Burning Hells.

"Do keep him occupied while I finish the ritual," Raynare commanded. "My ascension is not yet complete."

Raynare soon disappears in a purple aura that dissipates her form in seconds.

Aidan is surrounded by countless demons and cultists. There was probably around 30 of them in total, which makes it around ten of each group of minions. Aidan takes out his sword Dawnbreaker and deploys his Sacred Gear only on his left arm, the spikes protruding off of the gear and the three claws piercing out as well.

The battle begins as Aidan uses his magic in his left arm to slam to the ground, as an aura of red lightning spreads out from underneath and zaps away at the targets. Charging in Aidan focuses more on the Hellions since they were his main concern, slicing and dicing away each and every single one of them.

When it came to cultists, they casted their dark magic and threw fireballs at Aidan, but Aidan dodges two of them and deflects one away, killing a few cultists in the process. He charges at them, easily cutting them down with slashes from his claws and decapitating their heads easily with his sword.

Aidan slips underneath a Dark Berserker from its maul that slammed at him before he slices its leg off and pierces its heart with his claws. He turns to another one before he disarms it and chops its head off. He then throws his sword to another demon's head and pick up a fallen maul, giving it a good swing with two hands and mauling down those that charged after him.

Aidan then threw the heavy maul aside at another Dark Berserker before he warps in a flash of blue light over to his sword. He takes it out and throws it, only to warp at the sword's target and cut it down to size. He kept at this several times, mainly to the Hellions.

One by one whether it be Dark Berserkers, Dark Cultists, or Hellions, Aidan cuts through them, slicing and dicing with his sword and his claws, and on occasion using whatever magic he had against them, mostly in the form of lightning.

As Aidan takes out his sword from the corpse of a Hellion, a Dark Berserker comes in with its maul and tries to slam it on Aidan, only for him to block it with Dawnbreaker. As he does so though, he does not notice an incoming punch from that same demon.

With no way of blocking it in time, Aidan had to take the full punch as he feels his helmet crunch from the blow and his body slamming far into a wall from the force of it. Shaking off from the blow as he stands upright, Aidan is suddenly ambushed by a couple of Hellions who try to tear at his armor, but he impales one of them and cuts the other in half.

Jumping upwards to dodge from one of the cultist's spells, Aidan lands a blow on the same cultist and keeps chopping down every last one of them with his claws and sword. Suddenly, a Dark Berserk swings his maul, aiming at Aidan's head. He barely manages to dodge it by ducking under it, only to be met from the side by another Dark Berserker's maul.

It strikes him on the helmet and staggers him, taking it clean off. It was now wrecked beyond repair and Aidan is met with a combined cultist and Hellion attack as the latter charge and ram into him.

"AGGHH!"

Aidan is then met with not one or two, but three dark fireball spells from the cultists, all three hitting him. Then to add more insult to injury, one of the Dark Berserkers slams its maul into Aidan's chest, plummeting him back towards a wall.

"GAAH!"

Aidan's armor was now wrecked. It certainly did provide him some protection but sooner or later, he knew he was going to get injured badly. He had just hoped it would not be this bad as last time. His head was already bleeding and his chest hurt a lot, like one of his ribs was cracked.

He coughs a bit to spit out some from his mouth.

'Crap. Rias is going to be on my ass on this after this is over.'

As Aidan sits up, he takes out a Healing Potion and drinks it, restoring only his chest while his head wound remains. He didn't mind the blood on his head just so that it did not block his vision.

As Aidan gets a grasp of the situation, he can see he has only killed about half of the thirty creatures standing between him and Asia. There were still fifteen left. And speaking of Asia, Aidan looks to see that he was already running out of time.

Asia's body soon started to glow green, as she lets out a scream of pain and agony.

"AAAAGGGHHH!"

"Asia!"

Aidan runs towards her, but the cultists and demons kept on coming. Nevertheless, Aidan pressed onwards, cutting down each and every one of them with his sword and claw as their blood decorates his armor and sword.

Aidan cuts down one cultist before cutting the head off of a Dark Berserker from behind him, who was ready to swing its maul at him. Aidan soon uses his magical powers to conjure up lightning to blast away at the Hellions, all of them either fried to a crisp or exploding.

A cultist tries to stab Aidan with a knife but Aidan chops his arm off, making him scream as blood gushes everywhere, before he kicks him away. A Hellion soon gets on top of him trying to bite him off. Aidan struggles a bit before he uses his lightning from the palm of his hand to blast him off.

A Dark Berserker suddenly slammed its maul at Aidan, which makes him move backwards from the impact. The maul was stuck as the demon was having a hard time taking it out but Aidan took this opportunity to stab the berserker with his claws and throw him away to a group of priests charging at him to his right.

"Hold on, Asia!"

Not wasting any time, Aidan rushes towards the stairs leading to the top of the platform. Those that got in his way whether it was cultists, Hellions, or Dark Berserkers, were promptly cut down or blasted away by lightning.

But stalled as he was, Asia's screams of torment grew louder.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHhhhh…"

The screaming soon stops, to Aidan's horror, as he looks up to see a large, green light extracting out of Asia's heart, exiting out of her chest and being levitated into the air, falling into the arms of Raynare.

"At last!" Raynare exclaimed. "The power that I had craved for so long: The Twilight Healing! With this, I will take my rightful place as a lord of the Burning Hells!"

Aidan was shocked. Everything had now come full circle. Raynare had betrayed her Fallen Angel kin and became aligned with the Burning Hells, hence how she gathered followers and was able to summon demons.

Raynare hugs the light to herself, enveloping it into her body, making her throw her head back and moan erotically. As she does, the green light that emanated from the Twilight Healing turned to crimson red, like the color of Hell itself, whatever that was.

The Fallen Angel begins to laugh maniacally. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I finally have it! The supreme power! With this, the Three Factions will fall and so will the High Heavens! With this power, the demons will never die on the battlefield. I will become the most powerful demon to succeed even the Seven Evils! None will oppose me! All will be consumed by hatred, by terror, and they will all fall to destruction! ALL WILL SERVE ME, AS A LORD OF HELL!"

Raynare soon disappears in a flash of purple light. Aidan regains his composure and grits his teeth. He sprints up the stairs to get to Asia and beholds himself the young nun bound to the green cross that no longer glows.

The shackles that bound Asia released her from the cross, allowing her to fall forward. Aidan catches her in time, kneeling down as he does and holding up her motionless body.

"Asia? Asia!" Aidan called out but there was no response from her. "No…"

Aidan did not want to believe it but he knew reality was starting to settle in. From what Aidan was told by Rias, once a possessors' Sacred Gear is taken away from their body, so too is their life essence. In other words, the Sacred Gear is tied to the person's life and removing it by force is like tearing the soul out of a living being.

Taking a better look at Asia, he could see the many bruises and cuts on her arms and legs from when they tortured her. The white dress she wore had a shoulder strap fall from her, exposing one of her breasts that Aidan did not bother to see. Asia looked pale and sickly, struggling to breathe normally.

"Aidan…" She weakly called out.

"I'm here, Asia," Aidan said. Asia opens her eyes halfway to surprisingly see Aidan in armor but without the helmet that was knocked off of him. Asia lifts up her hand as Aidan grasps it gently with his own shaky one.

"…Aidan… I know it wasn't a long time, but… I am happy to have met a friend like you…" Asia spoke with a small smile, hurting him more than he could imagine.

"Don't talk, Asia," Aidan gently said. "Once this is over, I'll take you home. And this time, I won't let go. You said you would accompany me on whatever journey I take."

"…If things were different… I'd be going to school with you…"

Aidan did not know what else to say as his eyes began to water. He turned his head away in shame but then feels Asia's cold had cup his cheek, making him turn to face her.

"…You're crying for me… even though I never wanted you to…"

She only had a few seconds of life left for some final words as her eyes began to close and her hand slipping away.

"…Thank you… for everything…"

Asia's hand soon falls and hangs from her body. She lies in Aidan's arms motionless with a bright smile still showing.

Aidan knew then that Asia, the innocent nun he had befriended as a Devil, was now dead.

Lowering his head and letting his tears fall, Aidan whispers, "Be at peace, Asia Argento."

Lying her on the ground and finding a ragged blue cape from one of the dead cultists, Aidan sorrowfully drapes it over Asia's corpse. He closes his eyes and bows his head as he kneels, like he was praying.

Aidan soon opens his eyes with a look full of fury and vengeance. He kept it contained to himself yet did not bother to show it as he turns around and walks up the stairs with his sword in hand. His thoughts and actions were now driven by pure vengeance for the death of Asia. The Sacred Gear was now feeding him such negativity that his armor glowed red and black, like he was possessed by some outside force. He looks behind him to see the stairs leading back to the Church where Raynare was most likely at.

Aidan walks right back up the stairs into the church in time to see Raynare lower herself from the shadows of the roof beam to show herself, only…

She looked different.

For starters, her head sprouted two horns from her forehead and her hair turned hellish orange, with flames erupting from it despite not burning the strands. The spikes on her right pauldron grew larger and were darker in color. Scales appeared on most of her body and she bore sharp fangs. She also wore a outfit that covered more of her bosom and had demonic skulls on each one. Her hands became claws, yet she wore the Twilight Healing rings that, instead of glowing green, they glowed red in color. Her eyes were also not purple but orange and demonic.

When Raynare showed herself to Aidan, the black-haired pawn realized that Raynare was no longer a Fallen Angel.

She had become a demon of the Burning Hells and was wielding demonic magic. Despite appearances in that she retained most of her Fallen Angel garment, she served a new allegiance, one that is much worst.

Aidan knew that her power has now grown and with the Twilight Healing in hand and corrupted, this was not going to be an easy fight.

Raynare and Aidan came face to face as Aidan implanted his sword Dawnbreaker into the ground to come face to face with Asia's murderer. But what surprised Aidan as he widens his eyes was that Raynare held someone in her hand via chains.

Showing it to him was Issei Hyoudou, battered, bleeding, and bruised. On his left hand was a red gauntlet with a green jewel. Turns out that Issei had a Sacred Gear but Aidan did not know whether Issei was captured at some point or came to battle Raynare, only to be beaten by her easily.

Raynare however, despite attaining new power, had a face of pity as she looked at Issei.

"He mistook me for…someone else," Raynare showed as she held an unconscious Issei via demonic chains. Issei, by the looks of it, had put up quite a fight but his injuries were so brutal and Raynare barely had a scratch on him.

"He loved her," Raynare continued before she looked at Issei. "And I believe that she loved him… long ago, before all this…"

While to the naked eye the sentences might have sound confusing, Aidan knew whom Raynare was talking about. From what he had gathered personally, Raynare posed as a girl named Yuuma Amano and became Issei's girlfriend before revealing her true form and killing him on the night Aidan fought Dohnaseek. But Aidan wondered why she spoke such words in a third person structure without referring to herself.

Perhaps it was because Raynare showed her demonic corruption after tapping into the darker powers of creation that sundered her mind a little to the point where she served only Hell. It would make sense though. Any devotee who summons demons and wields demonic magic under the influence of the Burning Hells would swear their loyalty to them.

And yet, Aidan was unmoved and did not feign the slightest pit of pity for neither Issei nor Raynare. It was all a deception after all, and he did not blame Issei for not knowing.

"Foolishly, he chose love above all, and died for it," Raynare proclaimed. "Will you do the same?"

Aidan merely looks on with his cold gaze of vengeance. Though Raynare was unmoved, she decided to turn his own thoughts against with an offer.

"Heaven hunts you... Hell hates you," Raynare said to Aidan, with the latter's sword implanted to the ground as he holds it. "All of creation cares not whether you live or die. Join me, Aidan. Like a great sword, I will raise you up, and our enemies will shatter against us. The spoils of a thousand victories will be yours."

Aidan continued to think as Raynare continued her statement of offer. "Or, serve as a pawn to someone like the Gremory bitch. A Devil who in the end abandons her most faithful. I offer you this choice, Aidan. Would you serve in the Underworld, or rule in the Burning Hells?"

To Raynare, it did not seem like a difficult decision to make. Any other mortal would take such an offer if they wanted power and prestige. Like Satan was to the Christ on his third offer, all Aidan had to do was bow down and accept the offer.

Yet Aidan contemplates in silence for only a moment. Should he just allow Raynare to get away with all of this? Would she, with her newfound power, be able to elevate Raiden above godhood? He certainly was looking for more power as a means to protect the people he cares for. But Asia was also dead, slain by Raynare's hand whom she deemed a worthy sacrifice.

He grips the sword in his hand as he looks at Raynare and back at the dead form of Asia. Memories of his time at the ORC, his uncle, and Rias emerged in his time. No, he will not abandon them. He already has enough of what he needs to defeat this servant of Hell.

Finally, after much thinking, Aidan made his choice.

"I choose what once, a coward did not," Aidan said as he takes the sword out of the ground and holds it. He soon activates his Sacred Gear as the claws on his left knuckle emerge.

Raynare was displeased, seeing that Aidan will not listen to reason. She tosses Issei aside, making him plummet back down the stairs and to the chamber where Asia was, as she lands on the ground and creates a mini demonic portal to her right to pull out a long, katana-like nodachi light-based sword that she can swing with one hand. The hellish Fallen Angel gives a demon roar and engages with Aidan in battle.

Aidan charges at Raynare with his sword, who parries right away with her nodachi blade that she swings easily with one hand. She swings the sword at Aidan's head which makes him duck under and cut underneath her arm, giving her a small slash.

But with the Twilight Healing at hand, Raynare's wound heals easily and she goes back to slashing, making Aidan counter. Their blades keep in contact with one another as sparks fly.

Soon the two were in a blade lock, up close and personal.

"You should've taken up on that offer, Aidan," Raynare exclaimed.

Aidan remains silent to Raynare's taunts as he stealthily prepares a lightning strike from his palm underneath to hit Raynare on the hip. Unfortunately, the half-demon half-Fallen Angel takes notice and backs away, dodging the lightning.

She stays in the air with her wings unfolded. With her nodachi sword, she swings it in the air, unleashing a horizontal energy beam at Aidan. Aidan attempts to block the shot and stand his ground with his sword and his Sacred Gear together, but the blast implodes and forces him back into a wall, making a crater.

Aidan gets up in time, only to see Raynare charge at her and grab him. "Time for some fresh air. Let's see if you can keep up!"

Raynare soon flies up in the air outside the church with Aidan in her left hand. She swings her body 360 degrees in midair before letting go, sending him flying towards a stained-glass window. But before Aidan met contact with it, he throws Dawnbreaker at Raynare and warps to it, warp-striking her and cutting her chest.

"GAAH!"

Raynare was caught off-guard, not thinking Aidan could do that. She looks at her hand to see blood spill from her chest as she turns around in anger to see Aidan high in the air with his Devil wings open.

"Don't screw with me!" cried Raynare as she charges upwards and meets her blade with Aidan's. She does a downward slash that Aidan blocks before she brings it back to slash him horizontally, but Aidan reacts quickly and launches his fist forward into her stomach.

Then he unlocks his wolverine blades from the Al'diabolos Terror Claws

*STAB*

The sound of flesh pierced is heard as all three blades go through Raynare's stomach.

"AGH!"

Kicking her off of him to get some distance, Aidan slashes at her diagonally, but she was able to focus enough to block it and have the corrupted Twilight Healing heal her. Regaining her composure, the Fallen Angel conjures up a light spear and throws it at Aidan.

Aidan moves to the side to let the light spear pass by him before he throws Dawnbreaker and warp-strikes to Raynare. Raynare barely manages to block it and before long, the two of them flew into the night sky and keep clashing with each other's blades for a while.

After a few minutes of constant blocking and attacking, a frustrated Raynare attacks Aidan with a downward slash that Aidan blocks easily. She then forms a light spear in her other arm to stab Aidan, but he counters it with his left Terror Claw. Raynare brings her sword back over her left shoulder and bends backwards, but Aidan dodges the horizontal slash aimed for his neck.

Both fly high into the air, with Raynare flying higher, before she turns around and divebombs at Aidan, her sword and light spear in hand.

Thinking quickly, Aidan warps away and ambushes the unsuspecting Raynare on her right, loosening her grip on her light spear as it falls. Flying to it, Aidan catches the light spear with his left, which for some reason does not affect him one bit and throws the spear right back at her.

"SLICE*

The light spear hits Raynare's right shoulder, cutting off a small chunk of her flesh. Raynare looks at her right shoulder to see the injury, and fury decorates her face despite the Twilight Healing restoring her form. The pain, both physically and mentally, hurt like hell.

"YOU BASTARD!" Raynare yelled.

Conjuring many light spears all around her, Raynare throws them all wildly and a storm of light spears showers down on Aidan. Without any way to move past all of them, Aidan stands his ground and tries to deflect as many as he could.

Unfortunately, not only does he block many, but many more pass through him and give cuts and scrapes on his body, piercing through his armor. Two of them manage to stab him in both thighs, ruining his concentration.

But just as Aidan cuts the embedded light spears in his thighs, Raynare gets up close and personal and conjures up a powerful demonic magic attack that leaves Aidan out in the open.

"NOW DIE!" cried Raynare as she fires. Aidan was clear in her sights and defenseless.

The attack was one long beam of pure demonic energy, meant to incinerate anything in its path and leave only ashes. The beam screeched across the night sky before it died down.

Raynare looks around to see that she was alone. A small smirk emerged on her lips, believing she had won and that her opponent that she respected earlier was now dead.

Or was he?

Raynare hears the sound of devil flapping wings behind her and looks to see, to her shock, Aidan…alive. He did indeed take the hit of the attack and his armor was mostly incinerated yet still in working condition. It was steaming a bit and Aidan panted a little.

Turns out that Aidan threw his sword far enough to warp away but the beam came so quickly that it reduced him to a tired state due to prolonging it.

Raynare grits her teeth in anger as she charges in with her blade. Aidan does the same yet as the two meet in the middle, Aidan warps out of Raynare's slash. He appears behind her for a downward strike, but Raynare instinctively turns around and blocks it.

However, Aidan wanted her to block that as that strike was not intentional and only meant to lower her guard for a bit, enough that it lowers her right hand and leaves it in the open for Aidan to pull out his sneak attack.

Using his claws, Aidan gives an upward slash on Raynare's fingers on her exposed left hand, severing her fingers from one of the corrupted Twilight Healing rings.

"GAAAHH!" Raynare screams before she looks at her bloody fingers and then at Aidan. "Why you—"

Raynare charges again and is blade-locked with Aidan's, but Aidan turns her sword around where his sword was on top of hers. Coming forward and sliding his sword across her blade, Aidan slices the finger holding the other corrupted Twilight Healing ring.

"GAAAAAAAHHHH!" Raynare screams again in pain, seeing her bloody fingers with the Twilight Healing rings missing. Her source of power and invulnerability now cut off, she tries to flee and flies upwards in an attempt to escape. But Aidan was not going to let her get away that easily.

Conjuring up powerful red lightning in his hand, he carefully takes aim at the fleeing Raynare and fires, landing it straight on her back.

*SSHBOOM*

"AAAGGGHH!"

A direct hit was made, enough for Raynare to feel such immense pain that her wings gave up on her, making her fall fast back to the church.

Aidan follows her trajectory and lands before Raynare does, right back in the church. As he does land, he sees Johanna fighting off more demons with her flail, mainly the Dark Berserkers who were summoned by a few cultists that managed to escape from Aidan and confront her outside.

As Aidan lands on the floor of the church, he watches just in time to see Raynare fall through the wooden floor platform of where the altar was, leading right back to the ritual chamber. He was a mere five feet apart from where she had landed as a small ball of fire.

Jumping down through the large hole, he sees Raynare on one knee with her sword in her right hand. Once Aidan lands and pulls out Dawnbreaker, Raynare stands up and twirls her sword a bit before coming face to face with her adversary. Thankfully, Raynare did not land near Asia as she was well protected and covered from their fight. But without the Twilight Healing in her possession, Raynare's injuries were permanent.

But she has a way to compensate for that. Using her new demonic powers, she grows new fingers that became more demon-like, dark and sharp in their appearance.

"Come then, mortal," The demonic Raynare proclaimed. "Show me your worth!'

Empowering her sword, she slashes the air and unleashes three demonic beams at Aidan, which makes him move quickly to the right and slide underneath a bit of rubble before it was destroyed by the third beam.

Aidan rushes in for a stab move, only for Raynare to dodge by flying up into the air. She then tries to stab Aidan downwards, but he warps backwards to move away before warp striking at Raynare that she blocks, along with his two slashes.

"You could have ruled at my side," Raynare said. But Aidan gives no respond. She does an empowered slash that makes Aidan move out of the way.

One slash and block after another, both combatants looked evenly matched in terms of swordsmanship.

"Your kind cannot be suffered to live!" Raynare exclaimed. Again, Aidan was undeterred.

Soon, the two strike at one another but were blown away by each other's force blows. Quickly regaining foothold, they go at it again. Raynare slashes from the left as does Aidan, their blades meeting in the middle. They kept at this for another three slashes, going from left to right and right to left.

Then the two were blade-locked and gritted their teeth as sparks flew. Using their strength to push against each other was rough but Aidan barely managed to triumph over her and pinned her sword down with his sword. Using his claw, Aidan slashes at Raynare's face, giving her a nasty mark on her face.

Flying upwards and away from Aidan, Raynare telepathically lifts up the rubble in the chamber and throws it at Aidan, making him dodge out of the way. She throws another which Aidan destroys with his lightning from his hand.

Raynare soon teleports away and ambushes Aidan from behind, but he catches her trick and jumps, flipping backwards before he fires another lightning shot at her back, in the same place she was zapped at before. Soon the two went back to sword combat.

As the battle rages on, Issei wakes up to see Aidan and Raynare fight. Last thing he remembered was that he was ambushed and kidnapped by Raynare to be tortured just to bring misery to Sona's peerage. Issei cursed at himself for not being powerful enough but there was nothing he could do. All he could do was sit and watch.

Raynare comes in to a stab, but Aidan jumps and deflects it with his Terror Claw, before grabbing Raynare with his right hand and slamming her to the ground. He then picks her up and throws her away behind him. Raynare skids and lands on her knees as she stands up with her sword.

The two charge once again, their swords clashing again before it came to a blade-lock.

Raynare was thinking to herself of how Aidan has persisted so far. At this point, her mind was confused and furious regarding Aidan's perseverance.

"What the hell is this?! He cannot be this powerful. Since the fight started, his power level has been growing. Is this the result of his sword or even his Sacred Gear? No, it's only a fraction of it. This aura of power that I am feeling… Is that a Middle-class… no, that of a High-class devil. But that's impossible unless…'

Her eye soon dawned on her as she sees the Sacred Gear…and its true name and nature.

'The Al'Diabolos Terror Claws… That means he is…Oh no no no no NO!'

Raynare tries to press her attack but Aidan's power aura around himself grows as does his Sacred Gear. Pushing her away from the blade lock, Aidan backs away, ready for one final strike.

"It's absurd!" Raynare in hysteria said. "Lies! It's all lies! You cannot be chosen by Terror! I was chosen first by the demon lords! I am the Fallen Angel that has attained the ultimate healing power! I turned into the superior Fallen Angel by obtaining this Twilight Healing! I was suppose to be in favor with the Burning Hells! Why would you, of all people, be chosen as their champion?! I would not lose to any low-life like you!"

With a light spear in hand, Raynare thrusts it, only for Aidan deflect it away with his left-handed Sacred Gear and hit the side of the wall, destroying it. Raynare, seeing at how empowered he was, turns pale and tries to flee, opening her wings.

But Aidan warp-strikes to her with Dawnbreaker, now empowered by his Sacred Gear and filled with demonic energy, as a red and black aura of power surrounds Aidan. Slashing upwards at Raynare, he cuts her clean through, sending her plummeting to the ground face first. Aidan soon lands shortly afterwards.

A bloody and exhausted Raynare crawls on the ground and tries to escape but feels a foot pressed onto her back and keeping her still. Fear decorates her face as she turns her head to see a vengeful Aidan with his Sacred Gear at hand, without the claws showing, and his sword brandished away for now.

"You have taught me something, Raynare," Aidan commented. "Sometimes duty must be cast aside, to do what must be done."

Aidan then grabs a hold of Raynare's wings as he coldly continues saying, "But it is not for duty that I kill you now."

And with that, Aidan pulls hard on the wings. Raynare yelps in pain, helpless against her opponent as she can feel the wings breaking. After only ten seconds of being pulled, the wings came straight off, leaving only blood and bone on the Fallen Angel.

"AAAAAAGGGGHHHHH!" Raynare screams like no other, feeling like her whole body is paralyzed. Blood squirts out of her shoulders from where her wings once stood, like a fountain of blood. Tears stream down her face as she comes face to face with the pawn.

She is forcibly turned around by Aidan as he takes out his sword after throwing away her torn wings. Her back hurts so much just by lying on it due to her severed and bloody wings. This was her end, her doom. But she did not want this. She didn't want to die and a cowardly expression of fear showed itself. Aidan takes out his sword Dawnbreaker, ready to land the final blow.

Just as he does so though, Issei, awake and alive, arrives to see Raynare on the floor with Aidan's foot on top of her and his sword drawn out. He knew what was going to happen next. He should be relieved that his fake girlfriend will die but for some reason, he only feels pain ache in his heart.

Raynare, in desperation, reaches out with her right hand, with a pink ribbon attached to the wrist for some odd reason.

"Issei… Issei, please…"

Issei turns away as he could not bear to watch.

"Aidan, if you would please…" He requested, closing his eyes. Aidan complies.

*STAB*

"AAHHH!"

The sound of blood, flesh, and Raynare's screams of death echoed as Aidan impales his sword deep into her chest. Vengefully, he turns the blade so as to confirm the kill as Raynare's eyes rolled backwards and her hand slumps to the floor. Her blood pours out in a pool surrounding her.

At long last, Raynare was dead. The battle was won, but the cost was not worth it.

Johanna arrives to see the dead body of Raynare, stabbed by Aidan. She was covered from head to toe in blood and her helmet was missing but she did not bother as she saw the outcome of the last battle.

"Johanna…" Aidan calls out, still looking at the dead Raynare. "Take Issei back using this." Aidan tosses a Town Portal scroll to Johanna who catches it. And luckily for Johanna, she knows how to use it.

"Will do. Come on, Issei," Johanna complies as she gestures Issei to come to her. Issei does as so yet remains quiet. Once Johanna opens up the blue portal, both she and Issei step through it and the portal dissipates.

As Aidan looks at the corpse of Raynare, his mind and body are filled with sweet revenge, but it did not last long. For the next feeling that came was of fear, sorrow, and betrayal. Once again, he had betrayed Rias and fought alone. It was likely that he will be most severely punished for this act of treason, either labeled as a Stray Devil and hunted down by his former peerage members or incarcerated in some unknown dungeon within the Underworld and stripped of his own powers.

But Aidan did not care. He went to the church on his own accord with Johanna to avenge Asia and hopefully save her. But he was too late. He could only accomplish half of his objective. Vengeance did taste sweet, but it later gave way to emptiness. To nothingness.

As Aidan takes out Dawnbreaker from Raynare's corpse, the Fallen Angel's body turns red like fire before it dissipates into ash and charcoal, leaving only feathers of her torn wings.

Two glowing green objects soon approach Aidan as he holds his left arm out to catch what was coming towards him. Falling to his hands gently were the rings of the Twilight Healing. They were still corrupted as per their color but Aidan did not care, for they were no longer in the hands of servants of the Burning Hells. And he knew where to return this Sacred Gear.

Strapping his sword back to its scabbard and onto his back, Aidan walks over to the front of the chamber and bends down to unfold the blanket off of the dead Asia. She remained as she was, sleeping peacefully. Aidan then inserted on her fingers the corrupted Twilight Healing rings. With their power drained despite their corruptive state, they did not a harm to Asia's dead body as the rings slipped perfectly onto her fingers.

Aidan then scoots both of his arms underneath Asia and picks her up bridal style. Slowly, he turns around to head back up the staircase, walking slowly and looking at the sleeping Asia.

(Author's note: Insert soundtrack: World of Warcraft – Wrath of the Lich King - Invincible)

Back up top, a large red magic circle with a familiar Gremory symbol appeared on the floor in the middle of the church. Instantly, Rias and her peerage arrived with weapons at the ready, but as they saw the state of the church, they only saw destruction.

"Ara, ara. Are we…too late to the party?" asked Akeno.

"It would seem so," Rias said. "I don't sense the presence of the Fallen Angels." Rias then walked over to the destroyed wooden benches. "Either they fled, or they are dead."

"I would guess it is the latter, Buchou," Kiba said as he gestured Rias to look out the window. Outside the church was a big battlefield with craters and trees destroyed from what seemed like an epic battle. On one of the trees though was a Fallen Angel's feathers and blood around them.

"Well I guess the Fallen Angels are dead," Rias said. "But who could have done this?"

The sound of footsteps was then heard, echoing around the church.

"Buchou… someone's coming," Koneko said. "From those stairs."

Everyone turns and readies themselves for the intruder. The footsteps were loud like that of a metal, like a knight in armor. But as the figure showed itself in the light, they were all surprised to see who it was.

"Aidan?" asked Rias. But Aidan ignored his master as the light shined on whom he carried in his arms. "Asia?"

Aidan continues ignoring the group once he gets to the church's level and walks around to the platform where the altar was. Hoisted upright and looking like an ordinary table, Aidan gently lays Asia on top of the altar, her fingers interlocked with the Twilight Healing rings.

After laying her on the altar where the moon shined onto her body, Aidan kept his right hand on her fingers. Despair soon took hold of him as his body shakes with sorrow and fear. A million things ran through his mind and body before his body gives way and he falls to his knees in grief.

His tears finally began to fall and his hand that was on Asia slips away. His head was down briefly as tears fell before, he raises it up and looks at the bright sky, pure despair and sorrow finally overtaking him.

"…GaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHH!"

Everyone then realized what had happened to Asia. Rias' face was so distressed, and tears formed from her eyes. She brought her hand to her mouth, covering it as she takes in what had happened. Not only was Asia dead, but her most favored servant, bloody and bruised as he was, let out a cry of sorrowful despair that touched her heart.

Akeno stood still but her hair bangs covered her front eyes. Tears quickly poured down her face as she sees the dead Asia and Aidan's despair in front of her. It was a sorrowful sight that ached her heart with grief and pity. The temptation to just run and hug him in comfort ran through her like wildfire but she was hesitant to do so for some reason.

Kiba looks away with his eyes closed in frustration and sympathy. No tears were shed but he can relate to the despair and pain Aidan felt. He too has lost precious comrades and friends in the past. Kiba gritted his hands into fists, realizing that the Fallen Angels had killed Asia before Aidan had killed them.

Koneko did not know what to say. Her usual expressionless face gave way to pity and sorrow. She did not know Asia on a personal basis, but she can feel Aidan's pain of losing a good friend.

Rias, walking over to a crying Aidan, kneels down, and gently hugs him. Aidan could feel and sense Rias' presence, those familiar arms wrapping around him like they did every night they slept together. He rests his body next to her as she hugs him, his head on her bosom as he chokes on his tears.

Rias knew what Aidan was thinking. She knew he was thinking that he failed and that he was useless. That for all of his power and fighting, he had failed to save Asia. She did warn him that going after them was suicide after his last battle and that she was afraid of him dying. But could she have foreseen his emotions of despair when he had failed? That she did not know.

"…I'm sorry," Aidan muttered sadly to Rias with his head down. "I'm so sorry. I disobeyed you once again and went on my own. But I failed… again. Asia is dead."

"It's not your fault, Aidan," Rias comforted even though her tears were also falling. "You did everything in your power in your mission to save her. You took an initiative while I took caution. You succeeded where I had failed."

"And yet, she is still dead," Aidan's body was now in a slump, tired that he was, but also that despair drained him of the last bits of energy left in him. "I failed her. Once again, I failed her. And now…I'm useless. I'm a failure to the peerage."

Rias lifted Aidan's chin so that they could look at each other face to face.

"You're not useless, Aidan. And you are not a failure. Not to me. Not to anyone in this group. You only did what you thought was right. You're brave, kind, courageous, and you never give up. That drive you have is what makes you keep moving forward. When I learned that you went after the Fallen Angels, I did everything I could to find you so that I may help you. Don't take all the blame to yourself just because I was not there to aid you. Let me have my share so that we may work together to create a better future."

Aidan however was still in doubt as he turns his head downwards in shame. "But…a future without Asia…is a future I cannot imagine having. Without her…there is no hope."

All was soon silent for just a brief second before…

"Have courage," A voice suddenly echoed throughout the church. "There is always hope."

Suddenly, a blinding light from the night sky shines upon the church and focuses on Asia's body. It was bright, much more brighter than even Heaven's light. But oddly enough, it was akin to moonlight, which had a more gentle glow to it. Aidan and Rias immediately stood up and backed away from the light, fearing that such power could harm them if they were drawn into it.

From the top of the light though, a ball of light emerged as it descended before slowing down at the halfway mark. Everyone could see it but also covered their eyes from the strong light.

The figure showed itself as some sort of female angel, but her wings were blue and not made of feathers. Rather strands of light illuminating off of her back that flowed individually, yet also came together to form her wings. She wore a hood, but her face was featureless, as if it was now shown. She wore a set of golden and blue armor and chainmail, but what was also noteworthy were two chords of cloth around her arms that flowed out from her hood. It pulsed with glowing runes from end to end, the long serpentine ribbon flowing gently out like water.

Nobody knew who this new figure was. Nobody except Aidan. He had seen a few drawings of this angel in his Uncle's writings.

'Auriel? The Archangel of Hope? Why now of all places?'

The faceless female archangel looks at her surroundings and sees the Devils before her. Normally if someone had a face their expression would be easy to see. But for a being like her, angels of the High Heavens are expressed by the movement of their wings. Yet her wings show nothing but grace and beauty, a light illuminating the dark confines of the church.

As Auriel looks, it was clear that she did not present a threat to the group before her. But when she looks at the dead body of Asia, she levitates down to it. Her wings lowered themselves, a sign of her pity and sympathy for everyone in the room.

"Hold onto hope, young ones, for it will not abandon you,"Auriel's voice soon spoke. It echoed with the harmony of hope, a gentle note that eased everyone's stature and relax, making them see her as clear as night. "Hope is never lost, only abandoned, even as the Eternal Conflict continues between the forces of good and evil."

Auriel, using her chords, which was called Al'Maiesh, the Chord of Hope, drapes them around the body of Asia, wrapping her gently as the runes glow. Her body is lifted in the air before Auriel as the archangel brings her hands together, with a ball of light shining forth from it as she separates them.

"Evil will triumph over those who give in to despair," Auriel said. "But despair cannot defeat the power of hope."

As she spreads out her arms upwards, the ball of light implodes, spreading forth its light. Strangely enough for Rias and her peerage, even after covering themselves, were all unaffected. Normally a Devil would burn in the face of such light or even be killed by something similar, like Holy Swords. But the light shining forth from Auriel was gentle and hearth-warming, like a fire burning in her heart. What once they were filled with sorrow and anguish was now replaced with courage and joy.

Asia's body glows as light from the High Heavens shines down on it, with Auriel overseeing it. Aidan could just be wondering, but he could have sworn he heard a choir, a voice it seemed, of angels singing from above.

"Hope is the voice that will never be silent," Auriel said as one of her chords around Asia's body glows brighter. "Hope is the stream that fills the wells of courage." The other chord's runes also grow brighter.

"Hope is the light in the darkness."

With that said, Auriel places one metallic finger on Asia's head as a blue angelic rune glows on her forehead. It shines bright as a long beam of light enters into Asia's forehead. Then light particles shine down and enter into the young deceased girl. Auriel glows gold as the light from Heaven shines down onto her before it dissipates.

Unfurling Al'Maiesh off of Asia, it only takes a few seconds until the young nun begins to open her eyes. Her vision was blurry at best, but she could have sworn that what she saw would only strengthen her faith in her religion.

"Asia?" asked Aidan, making the nun turn her head to the right to see Aidan.

"A…Aidan?" Asia's hand reaches out to Aidan as he hesitantly grabs it. It was warm and soft. His tears of sorrow were now filled with tears of happiness.

"Asia." Aidan grasps it with both hands as Asia smiles in joy, seeing Aidan again that filled her heart. She then sits up and hugs him.

Auriel sees the two rings of the Twilight Healing on Asia's fingers, still filled with corruption from Raynare's evil magic. But with her light of hope, corruption can be cleansed.

Telekinetically taking the rings off of Asia, to her surprise as she turns around to see them in the hands of the archangel, and suspending them in front of herself, Auriel channels a blue energy light into them, which purges the corruption within and gives that familiar green light.

"Take this Sacred Gear, young one, that for all those who are healed, you give them hope to live another day."

Auriel uses her power to empower the rings with her light as Asia approaches the archangel of hope, the latter gesturing her to hold out her hands. Asia does so hesitantly yet complies with her request. Auriel then places the rings on Asia's fingers.

When Asia felt the touch of Auriel, it was hard like armor, but the touch was so gentle and soft. Asia could not help but tear a little in joy at being touched so holy by a being of light.

"T-Thank you, oh holy one," Asia thanked as she prayed right in front of her. Auriel's wings fluttered in joy. If she had a face, then there would be a smile on it right now.

Rias soon approached the archangel of hope, wanting answers for this sudden intrusion.

"While I thank you for resurrecting her, I do have one question. Who are you and why have you done this?"

"I am Auriel, archangel of Hope. Member of the Angiris Council. And I have chosen this young mortal as a vessel for hope."

"For what purpose?" asked Rias.

"With my blessing, she can not only heal with her Sacred Gear but also wipe away what corruption and curse lingers within a person. Her Twilight Healing will stand as a testament that even the most mortal of injuries can be cured. For so long as she lives, hope is never lost. I would suggest that you take her into your peerage."

"Why should I?" asked Rias curiously.

"Her ability to heal the injured will prove vital in the days to come," Auriel explained. "A powerful healer like her will prove most useful, especially if you encounter such powerful foes beyond your ability to defeat."

Auriel soon turns towards Asia, still staring at her with wonder. She drapes Al'Maiesh briefly around the young nun.

"Go forth with my blessing, young Asia Argento. And spread the hope that has now been passed onto you."

"Will I see you again, oh holy one?" asked Asia, still with tears of joy running down her face. Auriel approaches Asia and gently wipes her tears away, as Asia stares face to face with the archangel, even though the archangel had no facial feature.

"Have faith and hold onto the hope that we meet again," Auriel said as she ascends. "For you are blessed by the light of the High Heavens."

With that, Auriel ascends upwards as a blue light shines onto her form before it dissipates, sending her back to the sky and beyond, back into the High Heavens. Asia was kneeling on her knees and prayed with her hands together, thanking the angel.

When the light had died down, there was only silence for about ten seconds before Kiba broke it.

"That was…amazing," Kiba said. "Like it was a light that even Devils would enjoy. A light that would not harm us."

"Pretty…" Koneko commented.

"Indeed," Akeno replied. "It was so…beautiful."

Rias could agree and once everything settled down, silence was all that was left in the air.

"You know, I just thought of this the other day," Rias suddenly said. Reaching into her pocket, she takes out something small and presents it to both Aidan and Asia. Aidan was surprised to see it was a bright crimson bishop chess piece.

"Rias, are you seriously considering?"

"Only if she wants to," Rias confirms with a smile. "I was going to ask her before if she wanted to join and become a Devil. It was originally to protect her from the Fallen Angels, but I will follow the archangel's advice. Besides, I think it might be fund having her around. However, it is her choice to make and I will not force it."

"I will do it." Asia confirmed, surprising everyone, even Aidan.

"Asia, are you sure?" Aidan asked. "This could change your whole life."

"I may be a believer of God, but I want to be with you and your uncle the most. Especially you Aidan. I have nowhere else to go, and I wish to stay with you for the rest of your life. I will follow the archangel Auriel's will and spread hope to those who need it most."

Aidan then had an idea. His face showed an expression that he could no longer hide the truth anymore.

"Rias, I'd like to make a deal regarding this."

Rias looked at Aidan in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"If you do this for Asia, then I will give you a full explanation for my actions at the library that day. About why I was looking into Devil Mythology."

Rias was surprised. Was Aidan finally going to be honest and tell everyone the truth of what he knew, display whatever knowledge he had to the answers that she sought? If Aidan was taking this deal seriously, then she would need to inform Sona and Tsubaki. They were the only witnesses to Aidan's meddling in the secret library.

But just to confirm her feelings, Rias asked, "What made you bring this up?"

Aidan did not waste time explaining. "I owe you a truth of my actions. And it is time you know everything. You and Sona both."

Rias smiles and nods, "Very well. Tomorrow after school at the clubroom." Aidan nods, then Rias turns her attention to Asia. "Let us begin your initiation."

Asia, standing in front of Rias while the others were at the side watching a few feet away, watched as her future master hands the bishop chess piece and steps back, allowing the former nun to stand. She was then directed to an opening in front of the altar so that they had more room.

"Now hold the piece close to your heart," Rias instructed as Asia obeys her master's new order. "The Bishop's role is to support the other members of the group, Asia. Your healing powers, blessed by the archangel of hope, will be most useful as a Bishop. Do you accept your new life with open arms?"

"I do," The blonde replied.

A crimson demonic power soon surrounds Rias while she holds her arms and hands up.

"In the name of Rias Gremory, heiress of the House of Gremory, I call to you; Asia Argento. Hear my command; I now resurrect you into my peerage as my servant. Let yourself be reborn as a Devil. Rejoice as you've been given a new life as my Bishop."

The crimson chess piece glows and enters Asia's body. Rias halts the incantation once it was complete. "It is done."

Asia looks around at herself in curiosity, but she doesn't feel any different from when she was resurrected.

Aidan smiles as he holds out a hand to her. Asia was puzzled at first before she eventually grabs it.

"Come, Asia," Aidan said gently. "Let us go home. Uncle Deckard is waiting."

Asia nods, "Yes."

Damn, 17k words just for this chapter alone (this author's note does not count). Of course it did comprise of combining two episodes into one and there may be another chapter like that in the far future, most likely at season 2.

So what do we know? Well, for one thing, Johanna is a Zakarum crusader that has been living for a pretty damn long time. She has seen a lot and done a lot. And yet, the crusade must carry on. Ghost Rider reference for her and Aidan, especially the one last ride scene.

Aidan also gets a new sword, Dawnbreaker. For those who cannot remember what it looks like, it is basically the Sword of the Father from FFXV. I often wonder why Final Fantasy always has cool weapon designs. The sword, like the Sacred Gear, will be Aidan's main weaponry since he won't have to rely on the claws so much and let's face it, claws are hard to master. And Aidan's warp-strikes are similar to the ones from FFXV.

Raynare a demon? Bet no one would see that coming. Then again, who is to say she would never fall prey to the offerings and whispers of demons and wielded demonic power? I mean, anyone would fall for that, Fallen Angels included.

And now let's talk about Auriel. For her to appear and resurrect Asia is something that not only breaks the laws of the High Heavens in terms of interference with the mortal world, but also something totally unlikely for her to do yet she does so anyway and gave Asia her blessing. She must be taking a liking to Asia a lot though. And she is not the first archangel of the Angiris Council to do something like this. *AHEM* Tyrael *AHEM*

EDIT: Added a few things and made some changes. I overlooked a few things which is a bad habit of mine. Sorry!

Stay tune for chapter 6 people!

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