"" - Talking
'' - Thought
{} - Sparda
[] - Ddraig
...
"Rias-sempai. We have covered the school with a large barrier. With this, unless something disastrous happens, there will be no damage outside." Saji reported the current situation to Rias, both the Gremory and Sitri groups had gathered in the park that was right in front of Kuou Academy. Kiba still hadn't showed up and Irina was being looked after by Keiko.
Saji was explaining about the barrier to Rias and was standing unnaturally from the spanking he had gotten earlier. According to his story, Souna had gathered everyone from the student council and put a big barrier on the school after she heard the situation from Rias as a measure to keep the things occurring inside from leaking outside. There opponent was one of the leaders of the fallen-angels who appeared in the bible and books, Kokabiel.
"This is to keep it to the minimum. To tell you the truth, if Kokabiel were to fight seriously, not only this academy, but the whole region would be annihilated. Adding to that, he has already gotten ready for that. My servant has seen him releasing his power at the school grounds." Souna spoke, Yukio trying to stay calm despite the fallen was trying to destroy everything he knew as she continued to explain.
"My servants and I will continue to place the barrier to reduce the damages. I want to minimise the damages as much as possible… It's hard to prevent having our school getting damaged. But it looks like we have to since it's the leader of the fallen-angels who is moving."
Souna's sharp eyes looked in the direction of the school; they were filled with hatred towards Kokabiel.
"Thank you, Sona. We will do the rest from here."
"Rias. Our enemy is a monster with strength above ours. It's still not too late. We should get your Oni-sama…" Rias shook her head in response as she retorted
"You also didn't call your Onee-sama."
"My Onee-sama is… Your Oni-sama loves you. Sirzechs-sama will definitely move. So…"
"I have already informed Sirzechs-sama." Akeno said over Rias and Souna's words.
"Akeno!" Rias criticised but Akeno had an angry expression.
"Rias. I know that you don't want to cause problems for Sirzechs-sama. It happened in your territory. In your base. And it happened after the family problem. But it's a different story if the leader of the enemy appears. It is a problem that surpasses the level that you can solve. Let's borrow the strength of a Maou."
Akeno took a deep breath after she'd finished telling Rias off before nodded and putting on her usual smiley face after she saw her.
"Thank you for understanding the situation, Buchou. Sona-sama. Sirzechs-sama's reinforcement will be here in one hour."
"One hour… I understand. In that time, we, the student council, will vow to continue to place the barriers in the name of Sitri."
Rias seemed like she had made her decision as well after hearing Souna's decision.
"…So one hour. Now my servants. We will be on the offensive. We will go inside the barrier and draw Kokabiel's attention. Unlike the battle against Phenex, this is a battle of life and death! Even so, I will not forgive you if you die! We will survive and continue to attend that school!"
[Yes!] The Gremory group replied with energetic voices.
"Yu! I will leave the rest to you." Saji spoke with a smile
"Right…I'm not about to let him destroy everything…" Yukio replied with a serious nod as Saji asked
"So Kiba isn't here yet?"
"Yeah. I believe that he is safe."
"Yeah. I also believe in him as well." Saji added as he and Yukio put there fist together and prayed for there missions.
'This is a decisive battle and if it became serious, then I would also…' Yukio thought to himself as Ddraig spoke up
[Leave it to me, partner. Our opponent is Kokabiel. He's not an insufficient opponent. Let's show him.]
'Right, Ddraig. We will show him our power' Yukio thought back as Sparda added
{Allowing that to happen would be a last resort…}
…
The Gremory group went in straight from the main gate. Yukio promoting to "Queen" the moment he entered even though it was still weak compared to Akeno.
In the middle of the school field, there were four swords that were releasing extreme lights while floating. Having the swords at the center, there was a suspicious looking magic circle spread in the whole school field. There was an old-man located in the middle of the magic circle which Yukio knew to be Balba Galilei was doing something weird as Yukio asked
"What is this…?"
"I'm going to make the four Excaliburs into one." Balba said amused
"Balba. How much longer will it take for the Excaliburs to merge?" A voice asked from above, the club members looking up to see Kokabiel was sitting on a chair with the moon behind him.
"It won't even take 5 minutes, Kokabiel." Balba answered, Kokabiel smirking as he spoke
"Is that so. I will leave it to you."
Kokabiel's eyes moved over to Rias as he asked "Is Sirzechs coming? Or is it Serafall?"
"In the places of Oni-sama and Leviathan-sama, we…" Rias started only for an explosion echoing throughout the area, coming from the gym. The gym had been completely destroyed as Kokabiel spoke
"Boring. Well that's okay. It will be entertaining."
There was a big pillar made of light where the gym was located, Yukio wondering if that was the fallen's version of a spear of light as Sparda asked
{Are you scared?}
'Yeah…' Yukio replied having seen what he was capable of doing as Ddraig spoke
[Yeah. It's on a different level. He is so strong that his name has been recorded in the bible since ancient times. He is the one who survived the battle against God and the past Maou.]
'Can we win? Can I beat him?' Yukio asked
[If it becomes serious, I will beat him even if I have to turn most of your body into a dragon. Even if you can't beat him, I will give him damage that will freeze him for an hour. You can leave the rest to the Maou.]
{Your Hollow working with that would most likely easily kill him but you'd probably die as well from it} Sparda added
'We'll just have to avoid that' Yukio thought as he took a deep calming breath.
"Now. I will have you all fight my pet that I brought from hell." Kokabiel spoke as he clicked his fingers, the ground starting to rumble as it came out from the depths of the darkness. It looked to be about ten meters tall with a large body. It had four thick legs with sharps claws as its red eyes glittered from the darkness. The three heads of the giant dog had dangerous looking fangs and white breath pouring out before it roared.
Its howl was so loud it felt like it shook the ground, all three heads howling at the same time.
"…Cerberus!" Rias said it with a voice filled with disgust.
"Cerberus?" Yukio asked surprised
"Yes. It's a famous creature that has the nickname of Guard-dog of Hell. It lives in the gate to Hell, no to the Underworld. But to bring it to the humans' world!" Rias explained
"We will blow it away, Yukio!"
Ooou, Buchou. She's pumped up! Then I will have to be pumped as well!
"Yes Buchou! Let's do this!"
[Boost!]
Yukio summoned both his Sacred Gears about to slip into a fighting stance before Rias put her hand on his shoulder as she spoke "Yukio. This time, we will back you up."
"You want me to use transfer?" Rias nodded her head at Yukio's question as she explained.
"Yes. You will be transferring your boosted power to us. Boosted Gear is a Sacred Gear that powers you up and also increases the power of your comrades in a team battle."
"By the way, Yukio, including your power up, how many times can you transfer your powers?" Rias asked, Yukio pondering it for a moment before answering
"Right now with my current stamina, I can only transfer it 5 times with the maximum boost. Any more and I would collapse myself"
"I see. So we can't waste it." Rias replied with a thoughtful look before calling
"Akeno!"
Rias got her wings out from her back and flew up into the sky with Akeno, Cerberus jumped after making a growl. One of the heads looked towards Rias who was flying and breathed out fire.
"Too naïve…" Akeno spoke as she stood in front of Rias and froze the fire instantly.
"Take this!" Rias jumped from behind Akeno and released an enormous black block of demonic-power, of her power of destruction.
The other head of the monstrous dog shot out a ball of fire to counterattack, the two powers clashing with each other violently before another head shot out a fireball which assisted with the first one.
The two fireballs joined together and started to push against Rias' destruction ball, the Cerberus tried to shoot another one in an attempt to overpower the attack.
"I have found an opening in you." Koneko spoke as she jumped from beside Yukio and landed a heavy blow onto Cerberus's head.
"Here's another blow." Akeno spoke, pointing her fingers up as she created lightning in the sky before directing it to the Cereberus.
After a single flash, Cerberus was surrounded by violent lightning from Akeno, Rias' blow also added to it but the Cereberus' bosy didn't get terminated and only struck the side of its stomach, black blood coming from out of the stomach.
Another dangerous howl caused Yukio to turn, his eyes widening as he spoke "There's another one!?"
Another Cerberus appeared from the darkness, Yukio moving in front of Asia as he started to build his Reiatsu. It made a howl and it came towards Yukio and Asia as Rias called "Yukio! Just use the boost to increase your powers!"
"Asia get back" Yukio spoke, lifting Amonusen into the air as he started to channel his red Reiatsu into it, Asia taking a few steps back as she didn't want to get in the way.
"Gestuga…!" Yukio started only for his eyes to widen as one of the heads of the Cerberus that had charged at him and Asia went into the sky, noticing Xenovia had appeared as the cut head of the Cerberus had turned to dust.
"I have come to back you up." Xenovia spoke before going to slash at the Cereberus' torso, who howled in pain from its injuires as Yukio shouted
"Getsuga Tensho!"The red-crescent moon slash roared towards the Cereberus, Xenovia jumping out of the way as it hit the Cerberus, its' torso split in half after receiving the attack. The Cerberus started to vaporise from all the damage it had taken from the attacks it had taken.
"The strike of the holy-sword. It gives critical damage to creatures." Xenovia spoke as she thrust her sword deep into the Cerberus' chest to finish it off. The rest of Cerberus' body turned into dust and disappeared.
Yukio turned his gaze to his Boosted Gear to see that it was starting to flash as Ddraig explained
[It's telling you that it has reached the stage where the Cerberus can be defeated if you transfer it to Rias Gremory or Himejima Akeno.]
'That's useful…' Yukio thought as Ddraid continued
[It means that both you and the Sacred Gear are evolving day by day. It has made possible what you desired. As you can't tell the power difference between you and the opponent, you didn't know how many boosts you needed. It has started to tell you now.]
"Buchou! Akeno-san! I have got enough power to take down Cerberus!" Yukio shouted towards Rias and Akeno who were flying up the sky both looking to each other and nodding before coming down towards him. Yukio attaching Amonusen to his back as the clothe formed a sash to hold it on his back.
"Yukio! You increased the strength of the cross and holy water in the battle against Raiser, right?"
"Yeah I certainly did." Yukio asked
"So it's possible to increase both of us at the same time then! Please transfer the power to Akeno and I!
[If it's just two at the same time then it's possible. Except that I can only transfer 70 to 80 percent of the boosted power.]
Yukio explained what Ddraig had said to Rias and Akeno as they both spoke in agreement
"I think that would be enough."
"Yes. We can do it."
[PLEASE!]
Rias and Akeno replied at the same time, Yukio putting a hand on both of there shoulders and activated his Boosted Gear.
"Let's do it, Boosted Gear!"
[Transfer!]
Yukio felt the enormous amount of power went into Rias and Akeno from his body, there demonic power growing by an enormous amount. Both of them were shocked at the amount of power that was overflowing from them.
"…We can do this." Akeno nodded to Rias' daring smile.
"Akeno!"
"Yes! Thunder! Resound!" Akeno pointed her fingers to the sky and started to control the thunder before aiming her fingers towards the Cerberus. The Cerberus tried to run from the spot as if it predicted the upcoming thunder before countless swords pierced through its' limbs
"I won't let you escape." Yuuto spoke as he appeared moments before the thunder went down at Cerberus after it lost its movement due to the demonic-swords. The lightning was so big that it couldn't be compared to the one before, it covering more then half of the school grounds.
The howl of the Cerberus was overshadowed by the sound, and its body turned to nothingness from the lightning which used up major amounts of demonic energy. Even if it was Rias and Akeno, continuous shots would have been hard for them as well. The moment the big dog disappeared, Rias pointed her hand towards Kokabiel.
"Take this! Kokabiel!"
Rias shot a gigantic mass of demonic-power from her hand. It was more than 10 times bigger than the usual shot Rias would fire and it was speeding its way towards Kokabiel who just stretched one of his hands in front of him to block it.
Kokabiel faced his palm towards the sky, the shot changed its direction and went up to the sky and disappeared. Kokabiel showed his malicious smile after seeing the smoke coming out of his hand.
"I see. Rias Gremory's power would grow this much because of the power of Sekiryutei. Interesting. This is very interesting indeed. Kukuku." Kokabiel started to laugh by himself.
"…It's complete." Balba's voice called out.
The four Excaliburs that were placed on the center of the school field started giving out incredible amounts of light as Kokabiel started applauding "The four Excaliburs are going to become one."
The divine light spread throughout the school field, forcing them to cover there faces with there hands when the light faded Yukio saw that the four Excaliburs were put on top of each other as the started to become one. When the bright lights were gone, there was one holy-sword at the center of the field giving out a blue-white aura.
"Because of the light created by the Excalibur when it turned into one, the spell on the ground is also complete. This town will collapse within 20 minutes. The only way to dispel it is by beating Kokabiel." Balba said casually, Yukio speechless as he realised that they didn't have long as the magic circle spread around the whole school field and it started glowing and gathering power.
"Freed!" Kokabiel called out, the priest appearing from the darkness as he asked
"What's up, Boss?"
"Use the Excalibur in the circle. It shall be the last entertainment. Fight while using the Excalibur that has turned into one from the four Excaliburs."
"Yeah yeah. Geez. My Boss sure uses people recklessly. But but! It's like I'm so honored to use the Excalibur-chan that has become super wonderful! Something like that? Uhehehe! I will just chop some devils now!" Freed put on a crazy smile while holding the Excalibur as Xenovia then spoke to Yuuto and Yukio.
"Rias Gremory's "Knight", "Pawn". If the cooperation is still valid, let us destroy that Excalibur together."
Yukio nodded as Yuuto asked "Is it okay?"
Xenovia laughed fearlessly as she spoke "At worst, it won't be a problem if I collect the "fragment" of the Excalibur that is acting as the core of it. Since Freed is wielding it, that is a holy-sword but it isn't a holy-sword. Even if it's a holy-sword, it's the same as any other weapon. It changes depending on the person using it. That is a sword of heresy."
"Kukuku…" Balba laughed upon hearing Xenovia.
"Balba Galilei. I am a survivor of the "Holy-sword Project". No. I am the one who was killed by you to be more precise. I have continued living by being reincarnated into a devil." Yuuto said calmly to Balba, his eyes filled with hatred as he awaited Balba's reply
"Hou. The survivor of that project. This is such a misfortune. To meet you in a far east country like this. I feel fate. Fufufu… You see. I like holy-swords. I like them so much that they come out in my dreams. Possibly because my heart was fascinated by the legend of Excalibur since I was a child. That's why when I found out that I can't use Excalibur I went into despair." Balba started, Yukio wondering why he was starting to tell his life story as the old man continued
"I held admiration for those who can wield it because I couldn't. That feeling became so powerful that I started an experiment to create those who can use them. Then it was complete. It's thanks to you and the others."
"What? Complete? You disposed of us after finding us to be a failure." Yuuto asked in disbelief and doubt as Balba shook his head
"I realised that there was an essential factor needed to wield holy-swords. So I used the numerical value of the "factors" to investigate its capability. Most of the test subjects had the "elements" but they didn't have the numerical value needed to wield the Excalibur. Then I reached a conclusion. Is there a way to take out the elements and gather them?"
"I see. I understand now. The thing that is put inside the holy-sword wielders when they received a blessing is…" Xenovia spoke, understanding the truth and gritted her teeth hatefully as Balba continued to talk
"That's right holy-sword wielder girl. We take out the holy-elements from those who have them and crystallise them. Just like this." Balba took out an orb that was giving out light that had the so-called holy aura in it.
"With this, the research on holy-sword wielders improved. Even so, those fools from the Church banished me for heresy and took away my reports on the research. By looking at you, I see that the project was succeeded by someone. That Michael. He made me look like a criminal and this is the result? Well it's that angel we are talking about. Even if he takes the elements out from the test subjects, he wouldn't go as far as to kill them. That part only would make him more human than me. Kukukuku." Balba laughed pleasantly.
"…You killed my comrades and took out the elements needed to wield the holy-swords?" Yuuto asked Balba with his voice filled with killing intent.
"That's right. This orb is from back then. I have used three of them on Freed though. This is the last one."
"Hyahahahaha! Other guys besides me died because their bodies couldn't synchronise with the elements! Hmmmmm. If I think like that, that makes me special." Freed said, Yukio realising that the other ones who had stole the Excalibur had died, a small part of him thinking it would've been better if Freed had suffered the same thing.
"You thought that guys like me would end up being tough, didn't you Yukio-kun? No, no. I won't die easily like that."
"…Balba Galilei. How many lives have you sacrificed for your greed and experiments…" Yuuto spoke as his hands shook, an intense aura of anger coming from his body.
"Hm. If you say that, then I will give this orb to you. My research has reached the stage where it is possible to mass produce them in the right environment. First of all, I will destroy this town with Kokabiel. Next I will gather the legendary holy-swords stored around the world. Then I will mass produce holy-sword wielders and start a war against Michael and the Vatican with the combined Excaliburs. I'm going to show the result of my research to those foolish angels and their followers who have convicted me."
Balba threw away the orb as if he had lost interest in it. It rolled on the ground and went to Yuuto's feet, the blonde knight leaning down silently and picked it up. He patted the orb sadly, lovingly, and dearly.
"…Everyone…"
There was a tear on Yuuto's cheek, his expression filled with sadness and anger and then something unexpected happened. The orb that Yuuto held started giving out shallow lights. The lights started to spread and it eventually covered the whole school field. From the ground there were lights coming out and it started to form a shape. Then it formed into a proper shape, the shape of people. There were boys and girls who were giving out blue-white lights and they were surrounding Yuuto
"The various powers that are present on this battlefield made the spirits within the orbs appear."
Akeno said as each of the spirits looked at Yuuto with a dear and sad expression.
"Everyone! I…I…I have always…always thought about it. Was it alright that I was the only one that survived… There were those who had more dreams than me. There were those who wanted to live more than me. Is it alright that I am the only one to have a peaceful life…"
Then one boy's spirit smiled and it seemed like he wanted to say something. He was moving his lips but Yukio couldn't understand what he was saying from not being able to read lips as Akeno read it for him "…[Don't worry about us anymore. You are alive at least]. That's what they are saying."
There were tears coming out from both of Yuuto's eyes because it their thoughts reached him. Then the spirits of boys and girls started to move their lips in a rhythm, like they were singing
"…The sacred song." Asia mumbled before Yuuto started to sing along while shedding tears.
The bodies of the spirits started to glow blue-white, growing brighter with Yuuto at the centre of them.
[We were no good alone.]
[We didn't have enough elements to wield the holy swords. But.]
[It will be okay if we are together.]
Yukio was surprised to hear the voices himself, part of him figured that due to all the different powers the sacred song wasn't damaging him but giving him a warm feeling inside at thinking about friends and comrades, tears starting to flow from his eyes as he watched on.
[You have to accept the holy-sword.]
[It's not scary.]
[Even if God is watching.]
[Our hearts are always…]
[ONE.]
Their spirits went up into the heaven and they turned into a big light that fell down to Yuuto.
[Yukio]
Ddraig spoke to him as Yukio mentally asked 'What's the matter?'
[That "Knight" has reached it.]
Yukio's eyes widened as Sparda explained
{Sacred Gears change and evolve while using the feelings of the possessors as a key. But there is a different territory to that. When the feelings and the wishes of the possessor does a dramatic change that it changes the flow of this world, the Sacred Gear reaches it. Yes. This is…}
Ddraig made a laugh of enjoyment as he added
[Balance Break.]
The light that split the abyss night looked as if it was giving blessings to Yuuto.
…
(Yuuto 1st person)
I just wanted to live. I escaped from the research laboratory by myself and that was the only thing I thought about while vomiting out blood and running. I got out of the forest and met a little girl, a high-class devil, while the light of my life was disappearing.
"What do you desire?"
The crimson haired girl asked while she held me, who was on the verge of death. I just mumbled one word while my vision was blurring. "Help". My life. My friends. My future. My friends. My power. My talent. My…
I just wished while having all of these thoughts. Those were my last words as a human.
"To live as a devil. That was the wish of my master, and also my wish. I thought that, it was fine. But… I couldn't forget my hatred towards the Excaliburs and my comrades' vengeance… No, I could have forgotten about it. I…"
I have the best comrades now. Yukio-kun and Koneko-chan. They helped me, who was driven by vengeance. I thought about it while searching for the holy-sword wielder. There are comrades who would help me. I thought that "Isn't this already enough for me?" But if my former comrades' spirits are wishing for their vengeance, I can't let go of my demonic-swords that carry their hatred. But my thoughts were just released.
[Don't worry about us. At least you live.]
My former-comrades weren't wishing for me to deliver their vengeance. They weren't wishing for it!
"But it's not like everything is solved."
Yes, it hasn't ended. If I don't take down the evil thing right in front of me, there will be a repetition of the incident that happened to us.
"Balba Galilei. As long as I don't kill you, there will be those who would suffer the same fate as us."
"Hmph. It's been said for a long time that research always comes with sacrifices. Haven't you realised that yet?"
You certainly are evil!
"Yuuto! Cut down both Freed and Excalibur!"
…Yukio-kun.
"You are the "Knight" of the Gremory group and my comrade! My friend! Fight Yuuto! Don't waste their feelings and spirit!"
"You have helped me. Even if you won't profit from it. Even if you might have received punishment from our master…"
"Yuuto! Do it! You have to finish this yourself! Surpass Excalibur! You are the servant of I, Rias Gremory! My "Knight" will not lose to a mere Excalibur!"
"Yuuto-kun! I believe in you!"
…Rias-buchou! Akeno-san!
"…Yuuto-senpai!"
Koneko-chan.
"Please do your best!"
Everyone.
"Hahaha! Why are you crying? You were singing with joy with the ghost-chan. It's really a nuisance. It's totally the worst. You know I hate that song. Just listening to it makes the hair on my skin crawl! I don't want to hear it anymore. I'm totally at my limit! I'm going to cut you into pieces and calm myself! With this ultimate Excalibur that has merged 4 of them!"
Freed Zelzan. My comrades' spirits reside within you. I can't allow you to do evil deeds with them any longer! These tears I have are tears of determination.
"…I will become a sword."
My comrades. My comrades who have merged with my spirit. Let us overcome it together. The feelings we couldn't say back then! The wishes we couldn't fulfill back then! Right now, right here!
"I shall become the sword of Buchou and my comrades! Please respond to my feelings now! Sword-Rebirth!"
My Sacred Gear and the spirits of my comrades mixed. It started to align and formed a shape. The demonic power and the holy power were combining.
Yes, this sensation. My Sacred Gear is…my comrade is telling me-that this is sublimation. It was giving out divine light and an ominous aura. What appeared in my hand was a single sword… It's completed, everyone.
"Balance-Breaker "Sword of the Betrayer". You shall receive the power of this sword that has both the power of light and demonic powers with your own body."
I ran towards Freed.
My trait as a "Knight" is speed! Freed tried to grasp my movement with his eyes, but I got out of his sight by doing a few feints.
Even so, Freed blocked my strike. Seriously. You are quite a skilled, exiled-exorcist. But the aura that was covering his Excalibur was being erased by my sword.
"! That sword surpasses the originator of holy-swords!?"
He said in a shocked voice.
"If that was the true Excalibur, then I could not have won against it. But that Excalibur cannot cut the feelings of me and my comrades!"
"Chi!"
Freed clicked his tongue, and stepped back after he pushed me back.
"Stretccccccch!"
His Excalibur started to twist as if it were alive! It moved randomly and came towards me with intense speed! The ability of "Excalibur Mimic"! I see. It has four of the abilities. Then his sword split into two at the tip of the blade, and started to come at me with god speed. This is the ability of "Excalibur Rapidly". If I remember, its trait was its velocity. It accurately tried to pierce me from every direction, but I blocked each strike. Your killing intent is easy to read. If I know which direction the killing intent is coming from, parrying it is very easy.
"Why!? Why isn't it hitting!? You are supposed to be the unrivaled holy-sword-sama, aren't you!? Weren't you supposed to have lots of legends of being the ultimate sword!?"
Freed shouted. I could see that his expression was filled with both enjoyment and impatience.
"Then! Then I have to add this as well!"
The tip of the holy-sword disappeared. Transparency pheromone? This is the power of "Excalibur Transparency". The ability to make the blade transparent. But if he doesn't change the direction of his killing intent, even if I can't see the blade…
The transparent sword and my sword made sparks. I was parrying all of his attacks.
"…!"
Freed narrowed his eyes and made a shocked face.
…
Author's Notes
As I'm putting up this along with the next chap I'll put all the Author's Notes in that although Yuuto's point of view is from the Baka-Tsuki scans because I felt it worked well without me going in there to mess with it.