"Talking"

'Thinking'

("Oblethe")

(Mysterious Voice)

Chapter 9 - To The Rescue! A Fight With The Fallen Angels! Part 1

"A stray exorcist?!" Issei exclaimed while Akeno was wrapping him up in bandages. "Is that really a thing?"

"Essentially a ton of them were kicked from the church. Most of them would end up serving the fallen angels?"

"So what you're saying Asia is working with that dick?!" Issei was getting aggravated with every word he heard.

"Issei." Rias said as she stepped out of the shower. "No one is saying anything about Asia but you are a devil and she's working with them. There's no denying that, Issei."

"I get it...but..." Issei's words trailed off as le looked down in the ground.

Cassius walks into the room yawning. "H-hey everyone. How's it hanging?" he said rubbing his eyes as he looked at Issei. "Jeez, Issei ya look like shit." he then turned to Rias as she was standing there in a towel and turned to Cassius eyeing her up and down.

"Something wrong, Cassius?"

He paused before blatantly saying.

"Any particular reason ya standing out here in a towel while everyone is clothed?"

"I just got out of the shower."

"There's a shower?! Is this a mansion or something?!" Cassius was surprised.

"Oh right. Akeno walked in saying you wanted to see me about something when I woke up?" Cassius was scratching his head.

"Oh right. I need to talk to you in private. Here wait for me I'll be back momentarily. Akeno can you come with me." she asked as she walked off with Akeno in tow.

"Yes ma'am." Cassius saluted jokingly as he twisted lying down full body on the couch. He yawned as he got comfortable. A little too comfortable. His eyes drifted off as he fell asleep quickly. He was now drifting in that familiar void he knew all too well.

"Ah. I'm back here now. Hello, void. Been a while. Hope you're swell. Hey! Chikara? Oblethe? You there?"

Upon being called, both Chikara and Oblethe revealed themselves to Cassius.

"I see you now have the sphere." Chikara pointed out the sphere that magically appeared in Cassius's hands.

"Yeah, some exorcist dude had it. He seemed to know what it was for but never got the details from him. Apparently though I doomed the Gremory peerage and I'm cursed so that's something."

"Indeed. That is what befalls upon all wielders of The Hollow Dragon. " Chikara nodded as he reached out. The sphere floating towards his palm.

"This sphere contains past memories of other Hollow Dragon Emperors. This device is something that is to be integrated with your Sacred Gear. However, due to your lack of experience, we can't do anything with the sphere yet. You must use the Sacred Gear to find a way to elevate yourself to new heights. Where your power can rival that of Gods and Satans alike. You must achieve Balance Breaker."

"I assume this is a technique I need to learn?" Cassius inquired.

("Indeed, Cassius. Within this sphere holds many different techniques that past Hollow Dragon emperors utilized with their rivals. With Balance Breaker, we can utilize these techniques in the case we need to fight.")

"Alright then we know our next goal don't we?" Cassius slammed his fists together excited. Can't wait to find out what this Balance Breaker is all about!"

"Before you part, Cassius. A word of caution is in order." Chikara said signaling his halt as the two stared at each other.

Back to the real world we see Cassius snoring down on the couch. Lucile walked into the room with a cup of tea for herself and some coffee for Cassius. She was surprised to see him sleeping on the couch but that was typical Cassius and she adored it. She giggled as she sat down. "Oh Cassius, sleeping like usual. I swear you're like a cat sometimes." she said to herself as she sat next to the prone sleeping body.

Rias and Akeno returned, Rias fully clothed, and Rias annoyed. "Asleep already?! I swear he's like a cat sometimes!"

"I was just thinking the same thing." Akeno giggled.

"As was I. I heard he wasn't sleeping well lately so I figured some coffee would help wake him a bit."

"As thoughtful as ever. I still wonder why you two aren't dating?"

W-Well t-that's something I think...ehh anyway." she chuckled nervously as Cassius stirred about slowly getting back up.

"Err... sorry, Rias. Fell asleep." he slurred as he started smelling the coffee. "Do I smell coffee?"

"Right here." Lucille smiled. Handing him the coffee. Cassius's eyes lit up seeing the coffee as he blurted out something he didn't realize.

"Oh my yes. Lucille,I love you! he said excitedly as he chugged down the hot coffee. "Owowow! Hot! Hot! Hot!" he cursed at himself as he looked at Lucille whose face was a deep crimson. The deepest of blush. Rias and Akeno looked onward surprised as Cassius still hasn't realized what he said. She hid her face in embarrassment as he finally realized as he took the pillow from the couch and screamed into it. The muffled screams driving Rias and Akeno into laughter.

"I'm tired okay?! Shut up!" he shouted and demanded as his face was hot pink.

As the laughter has calmed down they returned to normal conversation.

"So anyway, Rias. Now that I'm awake. What did you want to talk about?"

Rias and Akeno both nodded. "Lucille." she simply said her name prompting Lucille to reveal to Cassius her new pair of devil wings.

"Whoa shit! You're a part of the team now?! That's awesome! But...what about your exorcist gig?"

"I did think about that. But...I think I'm starting to realize something. I wanted to be stronger so I could not only protect others, but rescue you, Cassius, from that terrible cult. The things I heard of what they did to you. It was reprehensible. Absolutely disgusting. I don't think I'll be stronger as an exorcist in order to protect someone I care about. I know tire will be consequences to this decision, but as long as I get to be with you, my dear friend. I feel like now, I can protect you. No one will harm you."

Cassius hugged her tightly."I promise you, I won't let anyone hurt you, either. We'll get stronger together."

"I'd love that." Lucille smiled happily.

"Let's welcome our newest member, Lucille, the new rook."

The celebration was short but sweet as the four shared smiles. More numbers to their ranks was a good thing. Now that Lucille was a part of it it helped Cassius feel a little more comfortable around the group. Though it was strange how the last time she was offered she declined it outright. Cassius couldn't stop thinking about it thinking what caused her to change her mind.

Later that day

"It's a relief that you're there now. To this day I still feel awkward being in that place."

"Oh Cassius I'm sure there nice people! No need to be nervous. We'll all get along." Lucille bumped him with his shoulder.

"I guess but still-" Cassius was going to retort when he saw Issei and that priest at the fountain yesterday. "Oh hey. It's Issei. Come on. Let's go see what's up." he nods to Lucille as they both catch up to Issei. "Issei! How goes it?"

Issei turns around to see the two. "Oh hey, Cassius. Hey, Lucille! How's it going?"

"Pretty tired. But get this, Lucille is-" he stopped once again sensing something.

"Lucille's what."

Cassius held up his hand to Issei signaling him to be quiet as he flipped over his mask and his hood. "Someone's here. Get ready."

"Well well well you seem perceptive." A familiar voice appeared behind the four as they turned to see the fallen angel that Cassius crossed paths with before.

"Yuuma!" Issei gasped.

"Lady Raynare!" Asia also gasped.

"Um. That bitch who tried to kill me...ok fuck it. What the fuck do you want?"

he angel took a moment before recognizing Cassius. "Well it's irritating that you're associating with the loser over there but isn't this so adorable. The pathetic little human grew his little devil wings and found some friends. Could've sworn I killed you but oh well. We can finish what we started right now...but...this new face...you look interesting..." she said subtly looking at Lucille. Cassius noticed that and stood in her way. His golden eyes piercing at her with ferocity. It deterred the angel a bit but she readied a light spear.

"You all have something that belongs to me. Hand over the priest and I won't kill you all."

"Sacred gear!" Issei shouted readying himself standing in front of Asia. "Don't worry I'll protect you!"

"Please with that stupid looking thing. It only doubles your power temporarily. As far as I'm concerned you won't touch me. "Don't be an idiot!"

Cassius's Sacred Gear revealed itself. Upon seeing that Raynare winced and realized this was the one she failed to kill. "Wait. You too?! So you're both part of that stupid household. That's it hand over the priest!" she launched quickly, surprising the four as she went for Lucille and she dodged the spear mostly but it scraped her as she fell to the ground. She screamed in pain as she held her stomach as she started bleeding.

Cassius looked in shock as he ran to her side. "Lucille! Are you okay?!"

"It hurts so much. Aghhhh!" Lucille screamed as tears rolled down her face. Her feet stomping the ground for she wasn't expecting the attack. Raynare was dealing with Issei as a light spear went into his stomach and he fell to his knees.

He was frozen in fear. The screams and sounds were growing silent as a ringing was in his head as he slowly started tensing up. A seething rage was building inside him. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. He held a death stare at the fallen angel as the anger continued to grow. She was focused on torturing Issei and was working on acquiring the priest.

A voice began crawling it's way back into his head. Not Oblethe's. One that was sinister and demonic in a way as he clawed his way into Cassius's head. His breathing was heavy. On the cusp of hyperventilation. His vision was blurry as his sacred gear began glowing, expanding up to his elbow.

(They're going to die because you're weak you know. You already broken your promise to your dear loving friend. Aren't you just so pathetic. I can help you know. Come on, Cassius. Let me inside .)the voice was working it's magic. as an eerie aura enveloped around Cassius.

(Hurt her. Hurt her like she's hurting them. Take from her what she is trying to take from you.)

He screamed a piercing wail as the pressure from the aura get Raynare's attention. Asia looked on as well. His eyes were empty. Hollow even as he launched at Raynare with incredible speed taking her by surprise. He tossed her around like a ragdoll the impacts splashing water around everywhere as Raynare was screaming from the pain. Cassius, enraged latched onto her back pulling at her wings trying to rip them off. The gauntlet's claws had a purple light envelop around them as they digged into the fallen angel's wings. She wailed trying to get Cassius off.

"Get off me! Stop it! Get off AGHHH!" she wailed once again as Cassius bit into the left wing with his bare jaw. All sense of reason was gone from him. He was enraged and pissed and seemingly under the influence of whatever was coercing him.

Cassius punched her in the face as the force caused her to stumble and fall in the water. She slowly got up but Cassius shot a ball of purple light and launching it at her. The explosion caused a cloud to enveloped her, unclear if it was a direct hit. He panted and growled like an angry beast as a small pain went through his knife like a small prod and he was seemingly back to normal. Cassius was confused but before he could refocus a light spear went into his gut. The pain brought him into a shock as he fell to his knees. He coughed and gagged as he looked to see Lucille being healed by the priest. Seemed while Cassius was on the offensive she utilized the distraction and healed her and Issei.

Raynare stumbled out of the clouds, wet and bruised and her wings damaged. She was in pain, catching her breath.

"Well... no wonder why they wanted me to keep an eye on you..." she grunted as she readied another light spear as Cassius before the priest stepped in.

"Please! Stop!" she pleaded with Raynare. "Don't hurt them anymore! I'll go with you."

Raynare said nothing as she withdrew the spear and grabbed her and looked down at Cassius as he spat out bits of angel feathers. She growled as she flew away. The fight has concluded and Cassius got a real first taste of combat.

"Cassius!" Lucille panicked running to him as Issei ran to the two. "Are you alright?! Please say something!"

"It...sucks. But I'm fine..." he muttered as he struggled to get up. His hands clutching his gut tightly. Every step was nothing but pain. "I'm going to kill...that bitch..." he angrily growled as he coughed up blood. Falling to his knees.

"Man, come on. Let's help you up." Issei said as he and Lucille helped Cassius up. "Let's get back to Rias and the others."

"Be strong, Cassius. We'll get there soon." Lucille said holding onto Cassius tightly.

Lucille looked back at the battlefield they took place in. It started and ended in a second. But something was bothering her. Cassius acted completely different. It was like it wasn't him at all.

'Back then...what was that just now?'