"talk"
'thought'
Flashback
Demon
Chapter 23
Zion smirked as adrenaline filled his body at the chance to kill some Devils. Though he never partook in the great war, he hated Devils like the rest.
They took whatever they wanted and believed themselves to be the superior race, where in actuality the Fallen's where the true superiors. They had the better fighters, strategists, and weapons. Weapons they would turn on their Old Satan allies once they capture Azazel and win the war.
Speaking of Azazel, Kokabiel's plan to lure him and the other leaders to the Underworld to try stopping their invasion seemed risky. That would increase the defense on Lilith. But it made killing the Gremory girl a lot easier. They had no Cadres or false Satan's to help them. They were doomed.
Zion drew his light Imbedded battle axe from his belt and prepared to take part in the slaughter that would commenced, only to have his way blocked by Kokabiel outstretched arm.
Confusion filled the Fallen as he looked at the Governor General.
Why was he holding him back!? He wanted to kill Devils!
"In chess," Kokabiel said with a wicked smirk, while watching the weaker Fallen rush the enemy, "you let the Pawns go first."
Quick as a flash, Asumoto drew his first arrow, took aim, and fired. The first shot fired from the battle zoomed through the air and hitting its mark, which just so happened to be right between the eyes of an Exorcist. Drawings another, he fired again, sending another Exorcists to the ground with an arrow to the throat.
Akeno, Rias, and Raynare also returned fire. Thunder, Light Spears, and Destruction, smashed into charging Exorcists and Fallen who were too arrogant or slow to dodge the attacks.
It was obvious to Rias that Kokabiel was using his suicide tactic to weaken them. But so far it wasn't having effect. Not one solider from Grigori reached them.
What was Kokabiel´s end game? Was he merely testing them or hoping they exhaust their magic reserves? The latter was hardly possible since she didn't feel depleted of magic. The others however…
She spared a quick glance at them. Raynare and Asumoto continued their bombardment of spears and arrows into the Fallen, while Akeno rained thunder down upon the Exorcists.
So far none of them looked winded nor felt low on magic. Was Kokabiel using is troops as test subjects to determine their strengths? If that was the case, then their chances of surviving dropped a lot.
"Gremory."
"Yeah?" The heiress asked the Fallen as she blasted two Exorcists into extinction.
"Your Queen is beating me."
"Beating you?"
"I'm on three. He's on four."
"Five."
"What? Your only doing better cuz your hitting your targets!"
"Then trying aiming before chucking your spears."
Rias sighed, Asumoto and Raynare where having a competition while their very lives were at stake?
"Ara. Ara. Your both falling behind. I have eight."
"No, you don't!"
"Can we focus!" Rias yelled in a commanding tone. They had a battle to win, not argue about kill counts.
"Fine. You can partake in our game," Raynare said with a shrug as she chucked another spear of light at an Exorcist. "Ha! Four!"
"Six!" Asumoto replied.
He turned his attention to the Fallen, ready to shoot them out of the sky. Until a blast of thunder came crashing into the one he was aiming at.
"Hey! That was mine!" he shouted to the priestess.
"Ara. Ara. Gotta be quicker Asu-kun! Ufufuf!"
"When are we gonna take part in the fighting?"
Asumoto spared a quick look to Xenovia. She was tapping her foot impatiently. The Exorcist, like the others, were standing behind watching their seniors cut down the enemy. The way she asked was like if it would be their turn to play with a toy. Guess this girl liked to fight.
"You'll help us when we need it, Xenovia."
At the opposite end of the battlefield, Valper watched their forces charge the Devils, their overwhelming numbers no match for the magic of the Gremory heir and Priestess of Thunder. Truly they were a force to be reckoned with. Kokabiel's suicidal charges weren't working. If they kept this up they'd have no troops left, not that Kokabiel cared since everyone was cannon fodder to him. The former archbishop's gaze slowly passed over the gathered defenders.
Quit a mixed bunch, he thought. There was a Nekomata, their species though to have gone extinct. The Church trio, the blue and chestnut hair girls possessing the swords he needs, the wielder of Twilight Healing, a young Fallen Angel and Red Dragon Emperor, the samurai, and...
He focused on the blonde male who was glaring at him when he could. Why did he look so familiar?
Kokabiel looked down upon the battlefield, amusement filling him at the slaughter taking place. He knew these youngsters were strong but didn't expect them to be this strong.
"Go around!" He heard Zion shout to the task force, but even as they tried their flanking maneuvers where halted by the daughter of Baraqiel.
He gave a hand signal to Zion, to which the officer responded by grabbing a horn from his belt and blowing it loudly. This noise was loud and long and when it reached the ears of his subordinates, they ceased their assault on the Devils. Kokabiel quickly surveyed the damage done to his men. He counted about twenty-seven dead so far, which mostly were of Exorcists. Not a bad number to start with.
"Very impressive," he complimented with an amused tone. "You are worthy of the title Crimson Ruin Princess, sister of Lucifer."
Hardly, thought Asumoto, his hand ready to grab another arrow from the quiver. 'She had the least kills.´ Okay, she had not taken part in their little "contest" though. `Either he's mocking her or wasn't paying full attention. And can he just call her Rias, that stupid title is getting annoying already.´
"Praises from a madman like you won't satisfy me, Kokabiel," retorted the red head angrily.
"Madman?" Kokabiel chuckled, "am I mad to purge the world of you Devil kind?"
"Your 'purge' will not only see us dead, but the Angels and other Factions as well!"
"But that's what happens in war. People die."
A long silence fell over the two sides before being broken by Valper.
"You," he said, pointing a finger at Kiba, "I have the strangest feeling we've met before…"
Kiba turned his glare to the elder man. Finally, he would exact his revenge!
"As a matter of fact, you have!" he spat while stepping forward, brandishing his Sacred Gear. "I was a part of your crude experiment! I survived and have waited for this very moment to kill you for what you did!"
Experiment… Valper's eyes lit up in realization of what the boy was talking about. Now he knew why he looked familiar.
"Well… it appears one test subject was left alive and has become the slave of Rias Gremory," he said while pushing his glasses into place. The light of the barrier reflecting off them.
"I'm going to kill you Valper. I'm going to get my revenge for what you did to my friends and destroy the Holy Swords."
Valper hummed with amusement at the boy's proclamation, before shifting his gaze to the Church girls. "I don't see that happening, child. As you can see, I already have three Excalibur's and those Exorcist with you are here to get them back. It appears the Church has only become stupider since they excommunicated me. Excommunicating the Twilight Healings possessor, sending only three Exorcist to retrieve their precious swords, and even bringing two more Holy Swords along they should be guarding."
Thought she didn't verbally say it, Rika agreed with the Holy Sword researcher.
Banishing Asia Argento and labeling her a witch for helping a Devil was a stupid decision by the Church. The former nun was taught to show love and compassion to everyone, which in her point of view, included other species.
And their response to the Excalibur fragments wasn't any better. Before she requested to go along with them, only Irina and Xenovia were sent to Kuoh. That was two - two, Exorcist, and they both were given an Excalibur fragment that should have been kept locked away in the Vatican.
"If the Pope thinks sending three children and two Holy Swords along with then is the best response, then he truly has failed as leader."
"Do not speak of his holiness in that way!" spat Xenovia, taking great insult at the traitor's words.
"What did you hope to achieve with that project of yours, Valper? Why sacrifice all those innocent people?" Rika asked. It may not sound like the best time to have a talk, but this may be the only time she, along with everyone else, would understand why Valper did what he did.
"I love holy-swords," he said with a hint of pleasure. "I love them so much that I always dream of them. I've been 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. 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."
"Complete?" Kiba yelled, his rage increasing every second. "You disposed of us like trash! How could we have helped you when you deemed us failures!?"
Valper shook his head. "I realized 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."
"What conclusion!?"
Valper's face contorted into a thinking expression before he chuckled: "No. I don't think I'll tell you."
"Tell me damnit! What is this conclusion you reached!? What did you do to my friends!?"
But Valper stopped listening to the boy's words. Instead turning his attention to Kokabiel. "Lord Kokabiel, I think I've kept you're war on hold long enough."
"You're absolutely right, Valper," replied the Cadre, before raising a hand. "Gremory. You've proven you can handle my regular troops. Well, what about these!?"
With a casual wave of his hand, a large portal opened in the earth with fire spewing out of it, followed by growls.
Asumoto griped his bow tighter. "Oh, hell no…"
Two very large dogs came marching out of the portal. Their 10 inches bodies where covered in brown fur with legs thick as tree trunks, each with a set of sharp claws, teeth filed to fangs, and six glowing red eyes.
Yes six. These eyes weren't all on one head however. Each pair was part of a separate head!
These three headed dogs weren't normal dogs. They were…
"Cerberus!" gasped Rias, feeling Gasper grip her skirt in fear at the sight of the monsters.
The three headed watch dogs of the Underworld where forbidden to be summoned to the human world by any Faction, even by Hades himself. To break such a strict rule truly showed how obsessed Kokabiel was to have war.
"What do we do now?" Asia asked from the back of the group.
She wasn't a fighter and had no place on the battlefield. However, since she was a healer, Asia was their most valuable member. So, keeping her out of harm's way was the most crucial point of this battle.
"I think our battle strategies will have to change," said Asumoto calmly. His mind already working out a plan to counteract Kokabiel's reinforcements. "Rias, Akeno, Kiba, focus on the Fallen. Xenovia, Irina, Rika, you get the Exorcists. Raynare, provide cover for us all. Issei, protect Gasper and Asia. Koneko, you're gonna help me put these dogs down."
He didn't care who was stronger than the other. This tactic would allow them to counter each of Kokabiel's forces. Human against human. Devil against Fallen. Dog against cat.
"W-why am—"
"You're the last time of defense, Issei. Remember that!" Asumoto cut off the Red Dragon Emperor. "Now let's go!" Spreading his bat wings, he took to the sky and faced the Cerberus's. He wasn't sure how thick their skin was, but he knew a weak spot all beings had.
Before he could fire however, the Cerberus turned its heads toward him and spewed fire from its mouth forcing him to dodge. He tried to get a clear shot but again he was assaulted by fire.
Dodging once more, he aimed for what he was looking for and fired. The bow twanged as the arrow shot from the bow. It zoomed towards its target and hit it dead in the middle heads left eye.
It howled in pain at loosing visibility, but this also made it angrier.
The Cerberus now turned his full attention to them and spat flames at Asumoto once again, which he blocked by forming a magic circle before him.
"Koneko," he said to her. He drew his sword. "You will attack him exactly when I tell you."
"Yes."
1…2… 3!
Asumoto dived toward the Cerberus, Soul Eater drawn to slice into it's flesh. As he drew closer to the dog's open jaws he glanced to Koneko. Her body language showed she was ready to assist but felt the urge to jump in and help right now.
Her fears would be for nothing.
Just before he reached the three-headed beast, he shouted: "Now!", before turning sharply to the left. Narrowly avoiding the dog's teeth while at the same time burying his sword into side of the left heads flesh all the way up to the hilt.
He pulled away before its center head could catch him in its jaws again. He wasn't gonna be its chew toy.
As he pulled away he watched Koneko lunge forward, blue flames coating her hands, and deliver a powerful punch to the right head. So furious was her attack, that it broke the jaw and send the head slamming into the other two.
Dazed and confused by the powerful attack it was too slow to react to Asumoto's second move. This time however, his attack was coated in magic which gave off a silvery glow.
"YAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
With a powerful town handed swing he brought his blade down upon the dog. Slicing it down into the center!
If this dog was like supernatural beings, it'd have spurted blood everywhere. But it wasn't blood that came from the bisected body, it was fire.
"One more to go!" Asumoto said to Koneko while briefly looking to his comrades.
Exorcist after Exorcist came at Rika, Irina, and Xenovia, but their swordsmanship where no match for the Church Trio. They were like cars, zooming down a highway, blurs of blue and brown.
Like the Church Exorcist, Kiba cut down Fallen Angels that came to challenge him with skills too great for the enemy to handle.
Raynare was flying overhead throwing spears at whoever she could aim them.
Rias fired spell after spell of her Destruction magic. Although she was a prodigy, Rias Gremory - King of her Peerage - was, in all honesty, one of their weakest members. Weaker than Asia, but stronger than Gasper.
This reason being was because, unlike Gasper, she had full control over her magic. But like with Asia, she only used one spell. However, Rias didn't possess a Sacred Gear, nor was a healer. She was a fighter, and all the Gremory heiress had at her disposal was her family's signature move; the Bael house's Power of Destruction, which he always witnessed being used as a powerful blast to overwhelm an opponent.
When they survive this war, he could hopefully give her some tips on how to properly use her magic.
The sound of thunder cracking above forced the samurai to look up and see Akeno unleashing a blast of thunder. It consumed the Fallen that was targeted by it, leaving not remains, not even feather strands.
He saw two more come at her form either side. Before he could help the priestess, she flashed through hands signs and from out of the magic circle appearing on her outstretched hands each came a talisman. The paper tags slammed into the chests of the Angels.
Confused at first, it changes to panic when they realized talisman's where glowing and spreading magic seals around their body, restricting their movements. With a clear shot, Akeno killed the two with enormous fireballs.
A third came diving at her, his sword of light pulled back to gut her.
Sensing the threat, she moved to the left and ducked under the swing he sent. Akeno closed the distance and slammed her hand upon his shoulder, making yet another talisman appear. Forming a single hand sign, the talisman glowed like the previous two. Only this time, it erupted into flames that spread across his body.
The Fallen screamed and tried to douse the fire but it wouldn't go out.
"Ara. Ara. Shall I cool you down~ Ufufuf!"
The priestess tease was followed by blast of icicles that pierced the Fallen's wings and body, sending him crashing to the ground dead.
Asumoto stared in awe at skill and magic Akeno displayed. He knew she was proficient with thunder magic, which earned her the name Priestess of Thunder, but never thought she was so versatile in Shinto magic and elemental magic. Add those with her Fallen Angel magic and Akeno was truly a force to be reckoned with.
"Hey."
The tiny voice of Koneko brought his focus back to the real world. Asumoto looked at her and saw she was pointing at the other Cerberus.
Asumoto cracked a smirk. "What, you thought I wasn't gonna forget about that one?"
As he turned his attention to second Cerberus to do battle with it. His thoughts lingered on the Underworld briefly.
'I wonder how the defense down there is faring?'
Grigori's plan of attack upon the Devil's old capital - Lilith - had been delayed to allow their man on the inside to find a weakness within the Devil's defense. And while it did take time, the wait was worth it.
It was revealed that the left flank closets to the city had been weakened due to its commanding officer sending troops to reinforce the outer defense.
With the help of the magicians under Katerea's command, they managed to slip a handful of Devil's into the city and activate teleportation circles in key locations to allow their forces to breach their defense and swiftly obliterate them. This move caught the Devil's completely by surprise and where slow to retaliate. This allowed Grigori and the Old Satan Faction to sweep through the city killing all in their way, soldiers and civilians alike.
Kokabiel said he'd go to the human world to kill Sirzechs sister. That would leave Hazael - son of Baraqiel - in command of the attack on Lilith. This was why the twelve-winged Cadre was at the back of the army overseeing the attack.
From his position atop a mountainside, he could see and hear everything. Devils and Angels doing battle, colorful explosions filling the sky while fires burn through the city, buildings fall, and screams of terror, rage, and triumph.
If Kokabiel was here he was sure the war loving Fallen Angel would have an orgasm at the sight and sounds of so much death and destitution.
His thoughts drifted to the White Dragon and the Satans. He last saw Albion's host and Satan descendants lead charge toward the city.
How where they faring? How many did they kill? Had they been killed?
Shalba, Katerea, and Creuserey all where powerful individuals. However, none could stand against the might of the new Four Great Satans or Euclid's sister. If all three descendants confronted just one of those Devils together, they would not survive. Even with the Infinite Dragon God's power gifted to them, their powers couldn't match theirs.
Sirzechs, Ajuka, and Lucifer's son were said be Super Devils. Beings with powers surpassing Ultimate-class Devils. He still remembered that fight with the Crimson Satan all those years ago.
Sirzechs Gremory was truly a worthy opponent. He'd never faced anyone like him before in his entire life. He had pushed him to his near limits, which would have forced the Strongest Satan to use his true form. A form which Hazael would have love to see.
It would have happened too, if his father, Azazael, and Shemhazai hadn't returned to the fight with that magic draining machine the Governor General created.
Oh, how he desired to see what that Sirzechs truly looked like…
Suddenly a bright light caught his attention. When he focused on it he saw it the flash was of lightning—Holy Lightning to be except.
'Father...' He thought bitterly.
Baraqiel was still alive. That was good. This meant he could still kill the bastard.
But if he did... how would his sister feel?
He had heard Akeno hated Baraqiel but had reconciled.
The war had started, and she hadn't come to him.
This meant that she, like their father, were his enemy.
All over the town, Devils were fighting Fallen Angels and Old Satan Devils alike, fighters and civilians were being killed... and chaos was reigning.
Under the many Devils who were defending the place was also Riser, who had by now recovered somewhat - physically and mentally - from his defeat and his peerage.
Like the rest of the Devils, he was caught off guard by the clever tactic preformed by the enemy. They managed to slip into the city undetected and cast teleportation circles to allow the rest of their troops through.
But unlike the others, he was one of the first to respond to this attack. Before he charged head long into the fray however, he ordered Ravel to take the youngest servants, Ni, Li, back to the Phenex manor.
If this was a Rating Game he'd have no issue but since this was a war…
He wouldn't allow those children to get harmed.
Riser and his peerage swept through the town like a forest fire, killing Grigori troops and saving what civilians they could.
While they put up a gallant defense. Even the great Riser Phenex couldn't stand against so many.
Currently they were being surrounded by a large group of enemy Devils and a few Fallen.
All his servants where huddled together, but they didn't cower. They stood tall, glaring defiantly at their foes. Ready to take as many down with them.
"Riser-sama…what do we do?"
"What do you think?" He asked Siri as he produce flames from his hands. "We kick these bastards out of the Underworld!"
With a might swing of his hands, a massive gust of wind erupted outward, blowing away the Devil's and Fallen that encircled them.
With their way clear, everyone scattered and began their own fight.
Swords, firsts, fire, and spells, connected with an Old Satan Devil or Fallen.
These guys where weak! They didn't have the skill to take them down.
They where members of the immortal Phenex clan!
"Riser-sama! How did they get in!?" Xuelan asked while sweeping the legs out of a Fallen that Riser finished with a fiery punch to the face.
"You're guess is as good as mine. There's no way they could have gotten this far into our territory. Our defense should have stopped them in the tracks!"
"They might have found a gap small enough to slip through." The Chinese beauty said while preforming a very fast spinning kick.
'That might be a possibility' Riser thought as he began pondering on his Rook's theory. When he was out inspecting the frontline defense, he saw many of those soldiers were fresh recruits. Some even being recanted Devils. No doubt they would probably run at the sight of so many foes or leave gaps in the line that they'd forget to plug.
His thoughts were halted when he felt a spear plunge through him.
"Hmph. Really?" He sarcastically asked the Fallen who attacked him. "I think you don't realize I'm immortal."
His words were true. The wound sustained was already healing from his regeneration, which greatly surprised the Fallen. Two more spears where flung at the High Devil, one removing an arm and other outright missing.
"I don't think you realize who you're dealing with."
As flames began taking shape of a new limb, he threw it forward. Consuming the Fallen in fire.
While moving on to eliminate another foe, a though occurred in Riser's head. How much longer could they keep this up? Riser, being an immortal could fight at long as he could.
But what about his peerage?
They weren't true immortals and they could regenerate from wounds. So how long could they hold until they won or if reinforcements arrive?
He shook his head and redoubled his efforts in cleaning the town of crows and pro Satan followers.
Each man and woman he fought was such a fool. Either they didn't know who he was or forgot Phenex's are immortal.
An explosion outside the town shook the earth. No doubt Yubelluna was dropping bombs on the enemy. If she was out their then maybe the tide was turning.
As he bashed more and more faces in, he heard someone shout, "Fallback!"
Fallback!? Was the town lost? Where they being overrun!?
His fears were dashed at the sight of Fallen Angel and pro Satan Devils teleported out of their as quickly as they could.
It wasn't they who were retreating, but the enemy! They had lost too many troops!
When the last one left an eerie silence fell on the town. Only the sounds of battle far off in the distance could be heard. It was soon broken by Devils cheer of joy. They won! They held back the enemy and saved the town!
'But at what cost?' Riser though, surveying the aftermath of the skirmish.
Buildings could be replaced but lives couldn't. How many soldiers, and more importantly, civilians, died in this town? How many more will die until the Old Satan Grigori alliance is defeated?
He turned around to the place his servants had been fighting a few moments earlier. His own fights had been distracting him from them for a short time.
His servants, he remembered the words he had said about them during the last Rating Game. He regretted them by now. He had mostly said it to save face in front of Rias Gremory´s blasted Queen, he admitted now.
What he saw as he turned around made his blood freeze.
None of his servants looked in a particular good state. Their clothes were torn. Most of them had some minor wounds. (Phoenix tears would take care of that.) But the worst was...
... Karlamine, his first Knight, was lying face down some distance away. Her outfit was ripped to shreds exposing wounds and bruises all over, and her sword was shattered.
But those weren't what made the Phenex gape in horror at her.
It was blood pooling around her that his eyes were fixed upon.
And the fact that she was lying completely lifeless.
"Karlamine?"
She didn't respond nor move when addressed.
!
A single feeling began to fill his soul. One he hadn't felt in years.
Fear.
Fear that one of his precious servants was… was…
He was at her side in seconds. His fear doubling upon seeing some wounds where emanating smoke from them. Weapons of light had hit her.
Riser slowly reached a hand toward her, which was shaking uncontrollably.
"K-Karlamine-chan?" Mira's horrified voice alerted him to his other servants gathering around.
With a firm grasp, he gently turned the girl over. A deep smoking wound ran across her face, with another cutting into her right shoulder.
Her beautiful green orbs were wide open but lifeless.
"No…NO! NO!"
Riser's agonized screams filled the skies as he cradled Karlamine in his arms!
Sniffs and whimpers could be heard all around the Phenex.
Nel and Li, and Mira were sobbing at the loss of their fellow servant. Which Mihae, Brunet, Shuriya, did their best in comforting them.
Isabella, and Xuelan, Yubelluna looking on with sorrowful expression. Their hearts ached at the scene. They had seen death before, they knew the pain of losing someone.
And Siris… the black-haired warrior was trying to be strong. Her fists clenching and unclenching in an attempt to control her emotions. She wasn't going cry… she was a warrior.
And warriors didn't cry!
Riser dreaded something like this occurring and at last it had come.
His first and loyal Knight, Karlamine, was dead.
'They just keep coming!' Rias thought as she blew what was possibly her thirty Fallen Angel to pieces today. She hadn't been keeping count like the others where, but she was sure she had killed many since the fighting resumed.
Couple times they were close to breaking. But they held strong. That didn't stop them from receiving wounds however.
Cuts and ripped clothes littered nearly everybody partaking in the battle. Except Raynare, she was staying back providing cover for them while at the same time helping Issei protect Gasper and Asia.
Even Asumoto didn't escape unscathed. His armor had scratches and dents from the Cerberus and light weapons, including a gash across his forehead.
Asia was going to have a lot of healing to do.
After the slaying of the Cerberus's, Asumoto joined her in battling the Fallen Angels. While Koneko fought the Exorcists, who she noticed were also starting to wear down their own Exorcist allies.
Incredible as they were, it was Rika Moritsugu who stood out the most within the battle on the ground. She weaved her way through the hoard of Exorcists, slicing stomachs open, heads form the shoulder, and limbs from the body. She was like water flowing through a river.
Guess this explained how she obtained the rank of Saint.
But even a Saint like her wasn't invincible. She too obtained wounds, first by a bullet grazing her left shoulder, then many cuts all over. Yet this didn't keep her from slaying all who came at her. She, like her fellow Exorcists, where desperate to reach Valper and the Holy Swords.
As was Rias Knight.
Kiba was not fighting as he usual would. Not gracefully. But more barbaric. He hacked, slashed, and showed no restrain in how he dispatched his opponents.
Her Knight wanted to get to Valper as well and learn what happened to his friends.
"Agh!"
A scream nearby made her turn around, ready to launch a spell, but she stopped.
It was just Asumoto stabbing his spear through another Fallen's head. Rias could tell Asumoto was holding back is true power. He wasn't going to unleash it until it was necessary. He wouldn't waste energy on grunts like these.
That man could be quite brutal sometimes in how he kills.
"Ara. Ara. Ufufuf."
As Asumoto jerked the spear from the now dead Fallen's head. Rias heard a familiar giggle reach his ears.
Akeno.
She was surprised to learn she was a sadist. She never took the priestess to be one. Until witnessing firsthand how she killed her prey and was laughing about it.
Rias was lucky to have Akeno on their side. She'd hate to be the receiving end of her sadism.
"I just love the way you kill those nasty crow's Asu-kun. It makes me—agh!"
Asumoto pulled Akeno toward him. Before she could comment why he did that, the answer was given when a spear of light came flying through the spot she was just at.
Akeno furrowed her brow. If she had been their moments ago, a spear would have been jutting out through her. She scolded herself for getting distracted.
"You gotta focus on the battle, Akeno-chan," Asumoto said, as he released her and launched himself at another Fallen. Their spears classing against one another.
"Tch. You call that a spear?" taunted the samurai with a smirk. "That has to be the most ridiculous looking thing I've ever seen!"
"It's gonna be what will leave a hole in you Devil filth!" she Fallen called out.
Asumoto responded by kneeing the man in the stomach. He followed up by shoving him away. "Smoke him, Akeno!"
Akeno threw her hand out, thunder shooting towards the Fallen. However, to her surprise, this one was smart. He wrapped his wings around himself and was blasted away from them.
"Ara. Ara. This one knows how to fight." She licked her lips in excitement. "I might have fun with this one~"
"He's mine," said Asumoto while charging the Fallen, who regained himself and countercharged.
Their weapons met once more and soon the two were in a fierce duel of spears.
Asumoto ducked the Fallen, who he at last noticed had four wings, and tried to skew him like the last one. This guy fell back a few spaces and battered the spears blade away to give him a clear shot at Asumoto.
The samurai reacted by pulling his weapon closer and swinging the pole. He hit his enemy, but the hit was a block by the wing.
So close! He thought as the Fallen attacked one more but again his strike was blocked by the samurai raising his weapon above his head.
He had to give this dude credit for fighting him, instead of throwing himself at him like the others. However, there was no time to waste on thinking such things. Time to end this duel.
Activating his Rook trait, Asumoto easily pushed the spear away before delivering a powerful knee strike to his opponent's stomach, knocking him away again. Instead of closing the distance, he flipped the spear into a reverse grip and threw it with all his might!
The spear soared through the air at lightning speed, before hitting its mark square in the Fallen's chest! Blood sparing out of him like a fountain.
"Yah!"
Asumoto dodged a strike by a light of sword wielding Fallen. Before the black winged Angel could strike again, Asumoto drew his own blade, slicing his head clean off.
"Asumoto, look out!"
He turned on the spot at the scream. And he saw a large spear of light come flying toward him at high speed! Before he could even dodge the weapon, he felt someone crashing—no—shoving him out of the way!
The glimpse of red in the corner of his eye showed him who it was.
"Rias!"
Was all Asumoto could shout before watching the weapon pierce the heiress though the chest, instead of himself!
Blood splattering all over him! His red armor turning a shade darker. Sheathing his sword quickly, he caught the red head in his arms, silver eyes staring at the wound. It hit her dead in the chest and left a gaping whole which blood poured out like a leaking pipe.
Either he was unaware of the fact or not caring that the Fallen who hurt Rias was eliminated by Akeno in a display of rage and power.
"Why?" he asked still in shock that she took the spear. "Why would do that?"
"A servant... protects... their king Asumoto…" Rias panted heavily as more blood poured form her chest, but force a kind smile, "... but... the king...must do the same..."
With a sharp breath her head fell back, and green eyes shut.